saminina

14 days max is my suggestion when booking Explora. The max I can do on a ship is about 30 days and Crystal is the company where it can be done gracefully. Easy to buy idea MSC altering plans with Explora and selling two ships to Crystal would be a nice fit. It's not like the owner of one is a stranger to the other.

What are the three most important things to consider when booking a cruise?

The lady serving drinks in Avenue Saloon told me.

Regarding Crystal pricing. Posted rates are high because almost all past Crystal customers are sailing at deep discount. Dummy me and new to Crystal people are paying posted rates. Tough to see Crystal as a long term play. I'd say same about Explora. I find value in both today. Manfredi is the Crystal money and he is the A&K money. Explora will be fine, but it will turn from being a good fit for me into a fit for many more people.

Since November, 42 days Explora GT, Serenity 21 days Deck 7 midship. Solo. Basically subscribe to what has been written by Stickman. After 14 days I am ready to get off Explora. Not true on Serenity.

Maybe because not all children grow up equally.

We all have opinions and your post hit the mark for likes within four hours. Will be on Explora for three weeks during May. This will be third three week cruise with the company so I'll say it has been a good value if you enjoy three decent daily meals. Unlike SS and SB, no marketing about ultra luxury. A clue they are aware 1998 happened a long time ago. Just off three weeks on Crystal Serenity, which I do consider luxury.......all things considered. The main difference being I'd suggest limiting Explora to a 14 day experiment and wishing I did not depart Serenity after three weeks. Soon to do a crossing on SB to see what the product is like after 16 month absence. They offered an expiring deal that was too good to refuse. Hopefully, it tuns out as a good deal.

IME, SS standards have been slipping since 2006. I remember meeting a couple Brits in 2002 that told me standards had dropped so much that they will not return. The new ships have breathed life into a line that we had lost interest in booking. It's a fresh product, but hardly luxury. If I cared at all about food, SS and SB would not make the cut. A potential problem with Seabourn is that you have two interior bars. A band of transient players on deck 5 reading lyrics and notes from computer screen and hopefully someone that knows how to play the piano in the observation bar. Normally passable, but when it is not it can be too painful to tolerate. So many good crew have found their way to the new options that compete for this market segment. It's time for passengers to think beyond.

Searching for the areas of refurbishment in the bistro.......I'm missing it.

For an accurate passenger count, ask at gangway when boarding at next stop.

Paul, I've read your comments many times. Many times in agreement, many times not so much. It's the bedding on Explora that bugs me. Beds excellent as expected. Bed linens just OK. Frette brand made in India. I bought these sheets mail order and half the amount paid was refunded when the India tag was discovered. Eight month lifespan. What bugs me is the polyester mattress cover under the fitted sheet. You might not notice so much for seven days. Beyond seven, you should. They will remove the polyester cover upon request. Does Explora pretend to be a five star line? Silversea and Seabourn advertise ultra luxury and miss the mark by a mile. I believe Crystal to deliver a luxury product on two too old ships to too too many ultra aged passengers. I think Explora is drawing mostly from Oceania, Viking, Azamara + the mega crowd and not so much the luxury, or formally thought of as luxury market.

Did not know about laundry benefits. First cruise booked into grand ocean and it was fine. Second cruise booked into OT1 and I was unhappy. The layout seemed so different. Maybe it was, maybe not. Or, it might have been cabin location. They were very nice to move us to Grand Ocean and the large veranda made a difference on Caribbean cruise.

Probably same bottle from our holiday cruise. If you are satisfied with its contents that is good enough. We skipped having crepes our first week on board during December. After the San Juan stop and trip to store we finished the final two weeks with maple syrup. As previously written, a bottle contained maple syrup in October. Not true during December. It could have been a short supply issue, or not.

You are human and are able to adjust much better than me. I like Explora and make adjustments to enjoy time on board. And Explora has made adjustments to assure the time is enjoyed.

I know to bring my own maple syrup. Explora had it on the October trip, but not December. Also for Explora, pack own bathroom paper products and wine.

Agree, I remember your comments at the time. More like their original advertising.

Your Explora experience is dated and has been repeated too many times. The pineapple and blueberries during out first three week cruise were outstanding. Second three week cruise did not come close to first. But we all know how fruits can be spotty. Typing after a bottle of cab on Serenity. The house cab is so superior to that of Explora and SB. Someone commented that the bed linens were superior on Explora versus Crystal. Explora has polyester mattress covers. And the linens are Frette, well regarded Italian brand.....but the Explora linens are made in India and far inferior to the offering on Crystal, SS, SB and H-L. My entertainment interest does not go beyond the piano. As much as I enjoyed Natalia on Explora, she is no competition to Stephen Roberts on Crystal. One plays without reading, one does not. One plays without finding the next selection on a computer, one does not. But I am happy she is able to not be in Ukraine. The piano player (Neal) in Avenue Saloon is a very good player and does a set without pause. Food......too subjective to make a worthy comment. It's tough to top Crystal. Our second cruise on Explora did not have maple syrup. Will be on SB Quest next month and have zero expectation it will be competitive with either Explora or Crystal.

IMO, Explora will not come close.

They will have a loyalty program someday. More interesting to see if they will post retroactive stays. Also, please list three luxury hotel companies offering a loyalty program.

It's the WC and the players might know the answers to any question asked.

Cell phone.....wifi and airplane mode turned on. Can you call/receive without added charge?

Electrolux for EU market. Washer below dryer. Watched people loading opposite. Nice equipment in a very small space. Eco friendly dry cleaning means you do not send fine wool apparel to the laundry. Same as on any other ship we travel today. Ask your local dry cleaner what eco friendly means. More are going with this method.

It's just the way it is today. Explora did not do this in October. They did in December. One more vote for much ado about nothing.

It is a mental adjustment regarding the never changing menus. You either adjust the thought process as laid out by Stickman or not.

My partner packs her own and objects to the odor of the supplied product. I call it fragrance and apply it heavily. Works wonders. You might as well ask about food.