Cruise lines, tour ops monitor conflict in Ecuador, some cancellations announced

This article was updated on Thursday, January 11 at 11:32 p.m. EST

Some cruise lines that call in Ecuador (which includes the Galapagos Islands) have begun modifying and, in some cases, cancelling some itineraries as the country on South America’s west coast copes with nationwide civil unrest.

Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency on Jan. 9 after Adolfo Macías, the leader of the Los Choneros, a powerful gang in the country, vanished from a prison on Jan. 7, triggering riots at six correctional facilities across the country.

Decree 110, signed by President Noboa, declared an emergency that suspended the right of assembly and imposed a night curfew from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Reports say at least 125 prison guards and 14 administrative staffers are being held hostage in five prisons in Ecuador.

The situation has raised tensions in the country, which is also a popular tourist destination.

Gunmen stormed a TV station in the city of Guayaquil during a live broadcast on Tuesday, taking the hosts hostage and calling for Noboa to end his crackdown on crime. (The men who stormed the state-owned show were later arrested after a standoff with police).

Present Noboa that day called the unrest an "internal armed conflict," saying the perpetrators were "terrorists."

The President has deployed armed forces throughout Ecuador to "establish control," his office said in a post on X.

Travel industry responds 

In response, cruise lines that visit the destination are pivoting. 

In a statement to PAX on Thursday (Jan. 11), Lindblad Expeditions confirmed that it has cancelled its upcoming Jan. 12 and Jan. 13 departures of National Geographic Endeavour II and National Geographic Islander II in the Galapagos Islands. 

All impacted guests are being notified of the changes, the company said. 

“The safety and security of our guests and team members in the region remains our top priority. We are closely monitoring the situation in Ecuador and its impact on air travel in partnership with local authorities,” the company said. 

In addition to playing it safe, there’s also a “lack of clarity” regarding flights, Lindblad added.

Current active expeditions on board both ships will continue as planned, however.

“We have implemented additional security precautions in the region, and we are working diligently to quickly and comfortably reaccommodate all travelling guests impacted by flight delays and cancellations in the region,” the company said.

“We will continue acting in the best interest of those travelling with us and keep guests and team members closely updated in the event of future changes.”

Silversea Cruises has so far made one adjustment, cancelling Silver Nova’s scheduled call in Manta, a port city on Ecuador's central coast, on Jan. 12

“The safety of our guests and crew is our top priority,” a Silversea spokesperson told PAX. “Our global security teams are closely monitoring the evolving situation.”

All Silversea guests have been informed of the change, and should any additional changes be necessary, impacted guests will be notified directly, the company said.

Cancel pre-cruise arrangements, says Celebrity

Celebrity Cruises also operates in the Galapagos region.

Allan Brooks, the brand's national director of sales for Canada, told PAX on Thursday that the cruise line has not cancelled any sailings to date and that the airport remains open.

However: “We strongly recommend all guests arrive one day before our sailing and cancel any pre-cruise arrangements,” Brooks said. “Air change fees will be covered, and we have our Celebrity Cruises team on the ground to ensure safe transit and have made the appropriate changes to ensure the safety of our guests.”

To that end, Celebrity is also being flexible with guests who wish to cancel.

“While we look forward to welcoming our guests on board, we understand they may wish to sail at a later time due to the evolving circumstances,” Brooks said. “If they wish to cancel at this time, we will gladly refund them with no penalty and will price protect them when they are ready to rebook.”

Brooks said Celebrity is working closely with the Government of the Republic of Ecuador, law enforcement, and tourism authorities to ensure the tourists’ visits to their country “are as enriching and safe as always.”

“The safety of our guests is always our top priority,” he said.

PAX has also reached out to Hurtigruten Expeditions, which sells Galapagos voyages, for comment.

On the tour operator side, G Adventures, which hosts sailings and land tours in Ecuador, says all systems are a go. 

"All G Adventures groups on the ground are safe and accounted for and tours are continuing with adjustments being made to itineraries as necessary," the company told PAX late Thursday. "We are monitoring the situation closely. The safety of our clients is our number one priority and we will continue to provide updates as this situation develops."

Matt Berna, president of the Americas at Intrepid Travel, says company tours in Ecuador are unaffected and proceeding as planned.

“We will continue to monitor the situation on the ground to ensure the safety of our groups by following the advice of local authorities and avoiding areas of increased security activity,” Berna wrote in an email. “As of today (Jan. 11), things in Quito are calm and returning to normal, with more people on the street."

“We have groups currently travelling as usual in the Galapagos which fly in and out of Quito before heading to the islands, none of which are travelling around the mainland this month.”

Don't miss a single travel story: subscribe to PAX today!  Click here to follow PAX on Facebook.