Dr. Cocktail

Unfortunately, we will all bring our individual biases to this conversation so I think we will have to amiambly disagree! Applying logic, facts and basic science to a decision making process is giving far more credit to a cruise line than I am willing to give! As a TOTALLY unscientific observation, as final payment is days away for my sailing and just past when the rules were changed, there has been ZERO movement in the number of cabins sold. No one has canceled but ... no one else has booked. The change in rules and decisions based therein will be related to where a person lives, their socioeconomic status ,the cruise line they choose and many other influencing factors ...

.... which are more than made up for by those who won't cruise until there are some minimal entry level requirements! When I tell friends/clients that I'm booked, the majority are still shocked ....

We were flying to the States about 5 or 6 years ago and took a sandwich and snacks (I know, cheap but what can I say?)(It was actually because the Buy-on-Board on Air Canada was truly wretched). The agent asked what was in the brown paper bag? I cheerfully admitted to a sandwich and a bag of chips (crisps)... The response was Biblical .... We WERE marched into The Small Room, had both of our bags have their locks cut off (I was so shocked that I couldn't find the keys!)(switched to combination locks immediately thereafter...) and were very seriously threatened in numerous ways with the punishments, fines and lack of entry into The United States that we would face! He then turned on a dime and wished us a good flight! We gathered our belongings, staggered onto the plane, purchased our stale Otter's Nose and Pickle wrap and sat shaking until the 5th purchased cocktail!

I think you're overthinking it ... (a lot) ! As a Canadian, we also travel with a similar pharmacy and like the UK, brand names may be different! From what I can see, the only drug not available in Canada or the States is Stugeron - I mean, if a customs officer was interested enough to open up your bag, find it and look it up, he would (probably) have the right to confiscate it but that's a real stretch! Original packaging or blister packs are more than enough! Problems could occur with people (like me!) who will just take the trip's worth of Vitamin D's, Ca and other supplements and put them into unlabelled medicine bottles - now that looks suspicious! In all my hundreds of trips to the States, they've never been concerned. Their main "everyday" contraband that they're very concerned about remains food products ....

It's funny you say that ... my partner and I see about a dozen shows every year on Broadway or "slum" it by seeing shows at the Stratford Festival or in Toronto! The (insert-name-here) Lounge proudly presenting (noun)! with the (insert-name-here) click-track singers and dancers usually strangely falls short .... I sound like a shill for a product that may totally suck (well, I hope not 'cause I've booked a lot of nights ...) but Explora and McKinsey & Co. surveyed 20 000 people to see what people wanted. A large theater production was not among the choices ... it makes sense. On extended voyages, do you want to see the same shows over and over again? As someone who likes to have dinner late every night, I've always been frustrated in either having to miss the show or go for an early performance ... when I knew I likely wouldn't like it in the first place!!! Having two "big" lounges with continuous performances of bands/singers/comedians makes a whole lot more sense.

I sound like a shill for the company but if you look at all of the computer simulations of the suites, restaurants and cabins you have a pretty good idea! They've been pretty clear to show you what you’ll be getting. Their leadership and Captain are luxury travel experts.

Explora will be 63 900 grt with 922 passengers as compared to Splendor/Explorer/Grandeur at 55498 grt but with 722 passengers. So a 15% increase in size but with 25% more passengers - still a very high space ratio. As a comparison, the Viking ships are approximately 47 000 grt with 930 passengers. The vast majority of Explora’s suites will be Ocean Terrace Suites at 301 square feet + balcony - there’s nothing smaller. They really don’t have a huge amount of “grand” suites. The design is very contemporary, sleek Italian and I love the myriad of outdoor lounges and spaces. Also - no show lounge or production shows! But - tbd!

I have really enjoyed this threat with my "return" to cruising being on Regent. My follow-ups will be on Explora .... I've been fascinated to see how little presence they've had, especially as there is soooooo much money behind their start-up. It appears that the concept that they'll be offering really lines up with what I want.