u/alancar

He did say "We have been propagandized by liars and fakers in the media to believe that America is a vicious, racist country... Why won't the media just tell the truth? Why lie when those lies result in innocent people dying?" 

Why put his picture in a display on Journalists if he calls journalists fakers and liars?

If you are on the fence about booking the Celebrity Flora for the Galápagos, do it. I just returned from a 7-night loop navigating Española, Floreana, Isabela, Fernandina, and Santa Cruz (Puerto Ayora), and it exceeded every expectation.

Everything feels seamless—from the seamless tender boarding to the incredible views from the cabins. Though we’re not a fan of the infinite veranda and would’ve preferred the 5th floor cabins.

Nightly briefs from the naturalists were engaging, and the lounge crew kept things fun with trivia. Don’t skip the themed cocktails (ask for the Yellow Warbler).
Eating under the stars on the top deck and the lunch up there was hit or miss with slow service. Food in the dining room (other than the tomatoes) was fresh, varied, and catered well to long active days.

Excursions & Wildlife
Snorkeling: Deep-water snorkeling was world-class. Swimming alongside sea lions, marine iguanas, giant starfish, and schools of blue angels made every wet-landing worth it. It was even easier snorkeling off the innovative tenders.
Land Outings: Excursions hit a great balance between rugged adventure and immersion. Highlights included bouldering over harsh lava rock fields, observing blue-footed boobies up close, and visiting the Fausto Llerena Giant Tortoise Breeding Center.
Conservation: Celebrity incorporates local conservation directly into the itinerary. Participating in a native tree-planting rewilding project on Santa Cruz was an unexpected and rewarding highlight.
Pro-Tips for Future Cruisers

1. Pacing & Fitness: Be ready for active days. You will do multiple water and land excursions a day, so bring broken-in water shoes and durable hiking boots for lava rock.
2. Time Tracking: Be mindful of "Ship Time" vs. "Island Time"—it can get a bit confusing during navigation between islands, but the crew keeps you on schedule.
3. Lectures: Attend the daily naturalist chats before dinner—they add massive context to what you see on the trails the following morning.
4. The lab doesn’t really exist it’s just a library as they explained to us that the government took away their license to gather specimens.
5. Go soon or go much later as El Niño is going to have devastating impacts on the marine iguanas with 50% death rates and 20% for sea lions and 90% for pups. If you have someone sensitive to this keep an eye on what’s happening as it could be a bleak visit.
   Overall, it is an unbeatable blend of high-end comfort and intense, exploration.

Never forget when Westerville spent 1995 jackhammering curbs to install brand-new handicap ramps, only to return in 1996 to jackhammer them all out again. The sequel required pedestrians to do a little zig-zag—turning right and then left—just to cross the street. Talk about peak government efficiency.