From a 4 A.M. Train to the Main Stage: What 14 Years and a Wetsuit in the Galápagos Taught Me About Finding Your Bucket-List Trip
By Sheila Gallant-Halloran | Lush Life Travel
Sometimes the most extraordinary trip of your life is one you didn’t even know belonged on your bucket list.
A few weeks ago, I caught a 4 a.m. train from Ottawa to Toronto to speak at the ACTA Eastern Canada Travel Industry Summit.
An early start? Absolutely.
But this was a particularly special occasion.
For the third consecutive year, I’d been invited to share my experiences with fellow Canadian travel advisors. And this time, the conversation about extraordinary travel experiences was moving to the main stage.
In my first year speaking at the Summit, I presented breakout sessions on luxury travel.
The following year, I participated in a panel discussion about expedition cruising.
And this year, I joined moderator Cara Matthew of Lindblad Expeditions and fellow travel advisors Mike Allard and Cynthia Davidson for a main-stage session titled:
“Connecting Your Clients with Extraordinary Experiences.”
We even dressed for the occasion!
All three advisors wore expedition parkas. Mine was the very same parka I’d worn in Antarctica.
But the most important message I wanted to share had nothing to do with parkas, cruise ships or even Antarctica.
It was about something much simpler.
Curiosity.
The Galápagos Trip That Changed Everything
Let me take you back to November 2012.
At the time, I was selling a lot of Disney vacations, and I had the opportunity to travel to the Galápagos Islands with Adventures by Disney.
Now, I wasn’t someone who had spent years dreaming about becoming an expedition cruise specialist.
In fact, I remember feeling rather unprepared for what I was about to experience.
So I did what I tend to do when I’m heading somewhere unfamiliar.
I started researching.
I read Darwin.
I learned about the equator.
I researched the extraordinary wildlife of the Galápagos, including those famous blue-footed boobies.
I wanted to understand what made these islands so special.
But reading about a destination and actually experiencing it are two very different things.
And nothing quite prepared me for what happened when I arrived.
My First Wetsuit — And an Entire World I Didn’t Know Existed
I’d never worn a wetsuit before.
And suddenly, there I was, pulling one on and preparing to snorkel in the waters surrounding the Galápagos Islands.
I slipped into the water.
And discovered an entirely different world.
Fish moving through the clear water. Marine life all around me. An underwater ecosystem that I’d previously known only from books and documentaries.
I hadn’t realized just how much there was to discover beneath the surface.
And that was only the beginning.
On land, we encountered flamingos, sea lions and marine iguanas.
We saw sea turtle tracks in the sand, carefully avoiding disturbing them.
Everywhere we went, the wildlife seemed completely unconcerned with our presence.
We weren’t the centre of attention.
We were the visitors. The wildlife ran the show.
And I loved that.
There was something wonderfully humbling about being in a place where nature dictated the experience.
You couldn’t manufacture the encounters.
You couldn’t schedule the wildlife.
You simply had to be present, curious and open to whatever happened next.
Somewhere in the middle of that extraordinary journey, I had a realization.
I’d just discovered a bucket-list trip I hadn’t known was on my bucket list.
And that experience changed how I thought about travel.
What If Your Bucket List Is Missing Something?
When people talk about bucket-list travel, they often start with destinations.
Antarctica.
Africa.
The Galápagos.
The Northern Lights.
The Amazon.
And those are all extraordinary places.
But I’ve learned that the destination isn’t always the best place to begin.
Because sometimes people don’t know what they want to experience until someone helps them connect the dots.
What if the trip that would excite you most is somewhere you’ve never considered going?
What if you’ve always loved wildlife documentaries but never thought about visiting the Galápagos?
What if you’re fascinated by history and exploration but haven’t considered following in the footsteps of Antarctic explorers?
What if you love photography, nature or learning about different cultures, but assume expedition cruising is only for extreme adventurers?
That brings me to one of the most important lessons I’ve learned during my years as a travel advisor.
The best travel conversations don’t always begin with “Where do you want to go?”
They begin with curiosity.
The Questions I Ask Before Recommending a Trip
When I work with clients, I want to understand much more than their preferred destination and travel dates.
I want to know what excites them.
What was your favourite trip, and why?
What do you love reading about?
What documentaries do you watch?
What interests do you pursue in your spare time?
Do you love wildlife, history, photography, science, art, food or meeting people from different cultures?
What experience would make you come home saying, “I can’t believe I actually did that!”?
Those conversations can reveal possibilities that might never appear on someone’s original travel wish list.
And they’re particularly valuable when it comes to expedition cruising.
Because I’ve met plenty of travellers who initially insisted:
“Oh, I’m not a cruiser.”
And sometimes, they’re absolutely right.
They don’t want a conventional cruise experience.
But expedition cruising is something entirely different.
Expedition Cruising Isn’t Really About the Ship
Of course, the ship matters.
I’ve sailed aboard expedition vessels in Antarctica, Newfoundland, Iceland and Canada’s boreal winter, and I’ve seen firsthand how different ships and expedition companies create very different experiences.
But for many travellers, the ship isn’t the reason to go.
It’s what the ship allows you to experience.
Imagine travelling by Zodiac through Antarctic waters, surrounded by extraordinary ice formations.
Or watching whales surface near your expedition vessel.
Or exploring the rugged coastline of Newfoundland with naturalists who bring the region’s history, geology and wildlife to life.
Perhaps you’re visiting remote communities, photographing seabirds or learning about the science behind the changing polar environment.
You might be following the story of Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance while sailing through the very waters that shaped one of history’s greatest survival stories.
These are experiences that stay with you.
And for travellers who love discovery, they can be life-changing.
I’ve seen people who never imagined themselves on a cruise fall completely in love with expedition travel.
Because it was never really about cruising.
It was about curiosity, discovery and the opportunity to experience something extraordinary.
From the Galápagos to Antarctica — And the ACTA Main Stage
Almost fourteen years have passed since I first pulled on that wetsuit in the Galápagos.
Since then, I’ve explored extraordinary destinations, sailed with leading expedition companies, met remarkable captains and expedition leaders, and continued learning about the world through travel.
I’ve also been fortunate to receive recognition within the travel industry, including being named a Virtuoso Cruise Icon for three consecutive years, from 2024 through 2026 — an honour recognizing the top 1% of Virtuoso cruise advisors worldwide.
But what I value most isn’t the recognition.
It’s the opportunity to bring that experience back to my clients.
To help them understand the differences between expedition companies.
To explain why one itinerary might suit them better than another.
To share what I’ve learned from the people actually operating these journeys.
And, most importantly, to help someone discover a travel experience they might never have considered.
That’s why being invited to speak on the main stage at the ACTA Eastern Canada Travel Industry Summit meant so much to me.
After our session, colleagues I’d known for years — along with advisors I’d never met before — came up to tell me how much they appreciated the energy and passion we’d brought to the discussion.
That meant everything.
Because the excitement I felt in the Galápagos in 2012 hasn’t faded.
If anything, it’s grown.
There’s still an enormous world I want to explore.
And I still get just as excited helping someone else discover it.
What’s the Bucket-List Trip You Don’t Know You’re Missing? 
Perhaps you’ve always dreamed of Antarctica.
Perhaps you’ve been fascinated by the Galápagos since watching your first wildlife documentary.
Maybe Africa, the Arctic, the Amazon or some other extraordinary corner of the world has been quietly calling to you.
Or perhaps you have no idea where your next great adventure should take you.
That’s perfectly fine.
You don’t need to arrive with a destination in mind.
Sometimes the most interesting journeys begin with a conversation.
Tell me what makes you curious.
Tell me about the places, wildlife, history or experiences that capture your imagination.
And let’s explore what kind of journey might bring those interests to life.
Because your next bucket-list trip might not be the one you’ve been dreaming about for years.
It might be the one you haven’t discovered yet. ❤️
Let’s Find Your Extraordinary Experience
As a Canadian travel advisor specializing in luxury river and expedition cruising, I help curious travellers discover extraordinary journeys around the world.
My recommendations are informed by extensive firsthand experience, relationships with expedition operators and a genuine love of exploration.
Whether you’re considering Antarctica, the Galápagos, the Arctic or another remarkable destination, I’d love to help you find the right experience.
The journey begins with curiosity.
Contact me at sheila@lushlife.ca or visit Lush Life Travel to start planning.
Sheila Gallant-Halloran
Owner, Lush Life Travel
Canada’s Award-Winning River & Expedition Cruise Specialist
Three-Time Virtuoso Cruise Icon | 2024–2026
Live Life. Love Travel. Return on Life. ❤️