rubyted

Err...that was shown on our cruise🤣

35 minutes ago, PutnamNY said:

As long as they weren't screening "Barbie", it will be ok. It's a big screen to watch a movie. We used to do a lot of Summer movies in Bryant Park (NYC).  

Today (port day) nothing listed. Some evenings there are hosted get togethers in the astern lounge around seven p.m.

19 hours ago, PrivateIdaho said:

Do you mean Explora isn’t allowing you to pick-up extra available reservations in Marble & Sakura? We were able to check daily for open tables and always managed to get  more than our pre cruise allotted one reservation. 

Correct. Fully booked and no joy on waitlist requests.

3 hours ago, Bongomeme said:

Hi rubyted. I hope you are having fun! How many passengers are aboard now?do you know the expected number for the 1/31 “journey”? Thanks.

 

Not sure. Gymfreak had  found out there were 580 leaving Barbados on 19th Jan and 750 on the next cruise but I'm not sure if that was classed as from San Juan or from Bridgetown where we disembark next week.Whichever, plenty of space onboard, the only restriction is a clamp on marble/sakura bookings to the one per cruise. Emporium works for breakfast and lunch without any noticeable queues. Plenty of tables and I have never seen it approaching full. We generally eat around 730 and always get table at FR or MYC without waiting.

Hope this helps 

17 hours ago, Stickman1990 said:

Trap for young players - make sure you select the correct cycle programme - some will go for 3 hours from memory - but others will complete in around 30-45 minutes from memory

That's correct. Dials with various temps/times that you select

Photos from D12 port side at 1130 today. Starboard pretty much full sun. As you can see there is shade although you may need to move "with the sun" if you catch my drift

Hi, 

I'm on at the present with a shade lover who has not had any difficulty. There are some cabana like structures on D12 that can provide some shade and they have been able to move a bed around to a shadier spot. Tbh it is generally only an issue at the height of the day.

I will try to get some pics to post later today if that helps

Btw there are 2 self service launderettes, one on D9 and one on D10. Both have two washers two dryers and detergent. We have found them fine. No need to pay for laundry

Second the wine comments. I ordered a white wine off the list. First got a random white which was returned. Last night a random red appeared!

Hi everyone

Quick query ahead of our 'journey' ( not a cruise, obviously per exploraspeak 🤣) in a week' s time. 

Can anyone tell me what products are used in the bathroom; basically do I need to bring my own shampoo etc.

Also I note suites have dyson hairdryers but do they come with attachments or again should I bring mine with me 

(Sorry if this sounds vain but sea air + curly hair equals frizz!!)

TIA

Mine is a mustard allergy. Makes my lips and eyes swell like Kim kardashian and tyson fury respectivelyso at least desserts should be safe

Hi, this post is a little worrying for me. My booking was made 14 months ago when the dining options offered in the brochure were more extensive than offered now and apparently in practice.  I have a food allergy which has never proven to be an issue when travelling with non 'premium' lines such as celebrity, princess etc; I have simply placed an order the previous day.  Are explora seriously suggesting they will make no exceptions in these circumstances, particularly for a menu that is not going to change for the entirety of our 12 night cruise? 

Karen

On 6/23/2020 at 2:35 PM, kruzseeka said:

I'm not in a position of waiting for a refund so haven't been following this too carefully - though I have sympathy for all of you who are so frustrated.

 

Don't know whether this may be of any help but in next week's Radio Times in the section 'Your RT Money', Paul Lewis' article is about holiday refunds.  He outlines his strategy to nudge the Companies involved to pay up using the official Courts and Tribunals Service website at moneyclaim.gov.uk   You can bring a court action on line and suggests you fill in the claim but don't submit it but take a screenshot to send to the CEO with a threat to take it to court 8n 7 days if no payment if forthcoming.  It has prompted payment for others apparently. 

 

May be worth considering. Good luck!

 

 

 

 

Hi. I am a member of the 100+ club too. I gave notice of proceedings and heard nothing having phoned, emailed, Facebook messages, tweeted and any other way I could think of to attract attention. All I get is the 'your claim has been escalated'. No return calls and no action. 

So

I have complained via the competition and marketing authority and also issued a county court claim. Monday is judgment day so my experience is that p and o ignore the courts as much as their customers. Hey ho. Bailiffs to be instructed to take possession of Paul Ludlow s company car? Maybe that will prompt them to get the cheque book out! 

Well, payments are being made. Just look at the posts above.... Its just that UK customers are second class when it comes to refunds.

It is nothing to do with the travel agent. They cannot get the money from O UK operation

It is nothing to do with the trade associations in the UK who step in when a firm goes bump.

We have a contract. O broke it. O are trading. O should reimburse and are not.   

It is particularly galling that we are being told to wait patiently ona cruise due to leave 20 March and there are posters positively purring that they have been reimbursed for cruises which in some cases were not even due to have departed yet.  

Having spoken to TA today, it appears O are not even stumping up the cruise credit certs yet.... If you are in the UK at least 

It all seems somewhat unfair.

Rant over. 

On 4/17/2020 at 12:18 AM, Zesty Italian said:

We are still waiting for the $1000 rest of our refund.  O gave us 2 refunds which I've mentioned before that were not the total paid.  We had our TA called them several times now and all we have heard is "they are busy and things take longer."  I completely understand that, but how is it more efficient to send 3 refunds rather than total?  We are willing to be patient if I know it's actually coming.  Feel uneasy that O hasn't told us what the breakdown is and we got the first refund quickly, but now it's been weeks.  Anyone else waited awhile and gotten the elusive third refund?

Some of us in the UK dream of getting any refund from O! 

Well, we were booked on riviera on 20th and contacted TA immediately the cancellation of the cruise was notified on 13th March.  Neither we nor or TA have had any contact from O. So why are bookings for sailings subsequent to ours being refunded? 

Hi,

Any idea about taxi fare/duration from port to city - there are four of us so sometimes the added cost of a taxi is nominal

Thanks

I just booked the Ascot Parnell in Auckland for 3 nights. Great reviews on Trip Advisor. They'll even pick you up at the airport and are in walking distance of the harbour, downtown, the park and museums, etc. Plus they have free parking if you have a car, and public transportation is right at the corner, 2 minutes away.

Another vote for the Ascot Parnell. A little while since we stayed there but the rooms and service were excellent. We walked into Auckland city centre each day if you want a little exercise, although parking and public transport readily available. Some nice restaurants nearby too.

Thanks Phillygirl

If you were limited in the villages you could visit, would Vernazza or Monterosso be preferable (toileting facilities notwithstanding)

Karen

Thanks Hank

Karen

We are on Epic docking in Livorno from 7am to 7pm on Thursday 10 September. We are a group of four including one young at heart 83 year old. As we have been to Florence previously, I would like to book a driver for a trip to Cinque Terre.

Most trips (including the ship trip) suggest visits to 3 of the towns, but I have seen there can be long queues for the ferry and that things can get congested with little time in each place. Given the age of our eldest companion I would like to make things a little more relaxed.

I was wondering about travelling out of the port to Monterosso and/or Vernazza returning via Pisa for a quick view of the tower.

How does this sound?

If we were time limited to one of the villages, which would you recommend

Any suggestions for tour companies?

Thanks in advance

Karen

When we were in port klang we hired a guide called ck Shaw who was recommended on the tripadvisor boards. Picked up at cruise terminal and we did batu caves and city tour with trip up KL tower. He has spent some time in New York so his English was very good. We thought it was the best way to do KL in such a short stop-we had the flexibility to tailor make our stops and the length of time we spent there without having to consider a coachful of other passengers (selfish I know)

I too was on the 2013 Singapore round trip (think I was on with Mum and Son). Although I love the S class ships, there is something very traditional and homely about Connie and Mille. Tendering could be an issue, but I have also had issues in Australia and the Caribbean - it's one of the things you have to accept to get to some of the locations.

We have not long come off RCI cruise over top of Australia and I will certainly be heading back to Celeb (and very possibly Millie) for my next cruise

"The slection of wines offered by the glass does appear quite weak"

I was on Connie in January and made the most of cellarmasters - they have some extra wines by the glass which are not shown on the MDR menu and which could be included in the premium package. The sommelier was also amenable to collecting refills for me in the MDR as well :)

Overall, I had doubts about buying the package initially - however I am booked on two further X cruises in the next 8 months and have booked the premium package again for each trip.