SandG

I just got off the Explorer on Thursday (5-day Bermuda). The freestyle soda machines are for use with the soda package. I believe there is a chip in the refillable cup that it recognizes. I noticed there are different prices for adults using the soda package vs. children. You can check out this website from Coke: http://www.coca-colafreestyle.com/ or search for freestyle coke machine on YouTube for more details.

Not much change in the internet wifi spots or packages. I got the smallest package which was $25 for 36 minutes (and there was a $5 discount coupon for C&A) for the sea days, and there was wifi at the wharf for $3/hr or $10/day (buying 1 hour each day was plenty for my needs). I'd read someplace you can connect from your balcony, but my cabin was on the opposite side of the ship and there was no signal there.

We were a large party so I wasn't paying too much attention to where the tables for two were. Others answered this better than I could have.

We enjoyed sail-away on deck 12 and then when it came time to go under the bridge (don't miss this!) we went up the stairs behind the sky bar as seaworthy had mentioned. This is a great place because you get a good view of the both forward mast and the crown lounge as you go under the bridge.

Sue

Are the Freestyle Machines still on the Explorer? What flavors are available?

Hi, I just came off the Explorer yesterday and they did have the Freestyle soda machines. Sorry, I didn't use them, but from a distance there sure seemed to be a ton of flavors. (I recall seeing a video with list of them somewhere.)

Sue

Has anyone had the pleasure of having Alex on the Fun Tour?:)

Alex was our guide for our tour with SPB on May 20-21 just last month. His English was wonderful, his knowledge amazing, and you could tell he had such a love of history! (And he was quite funny.) We enjoyed having him as our tour guide very much.

We'd thought about doing the fun night but there were not enough people signed in our group to do it (there was a min. of 10) and so we ended up going to the "Feel Yourself Russian" folk show which was actually very nice.

Sue

So one would be wise to look at Alla, SPB tours (and by the way is it that or spelled out?), and TJ tours. Any others come to mind?

It's often spelled SPb Tours and the website is spb-tours dot com, if you see the owner Viktoria on the home page, you've got the right place. I once landed on a different website when searching for them since their name is so generic. We were very happy with their service.

In addition to SPb, TJ and Alla, I've also heard of people using Red October.

Sue

We used SPb and several people we met on our ship used TJ and we were all happy with our choices. I had researched them all before the cruise and the prices were very similar, so compare the itineraries and see what fits you best.

Sue

We decided to prepurchase as much as possible this trip as RCL seems to have a delay in getting into your room (where, I assume all your prepurchased receipts are).

 

These wine questions made me wonder: We have prepurchased both wine and soda. Does this mean the purchase proofs will be on our seapasses when we board or will we have to get to our room to get them? Buying a soda is not a big deal, but we were hoping to get a bottle of bubbly (as in champagne) from the WJ to have at sailaway in our room.

 

Since we prepurchased, how will we show this to the WJ waiter? Can't imagine a sailaway without that bottle of bubbly!! On Princess you need to order such a purchase from their "gifts and gear" and they have it in your room, which - on Princess - they won't let you on the ship until you can get into your room.

 

Thanks to you more regular RCL trippers for this kind of guidance. We will be first time RCL cruisers.

Not sure how the receipt works if you pre-purchase, 'cause we bought the wine package when we got on board, but I can confirm that you can pick up a bottle from the WJ in time for sail-away (we needed to bring the receipt for the first bottle). We waited a little too late in the afternoon because the waitstaff was rather busy and it took a bit of a wait to get our bottle, and they were apologetic for the delay anyway, but next time we would do this before the muster drill instead of after. After the first night, we would order an extra bottle at the end of dinner to bring back to the room whenever we were running out.

Sue

I can not remember from our last cruise on Explorer but can someone tell me, do they supply helmets at the ice rink? [...] Bob

Hi Bob!!!!

When we cruised together in 4/09, they did not require helmets but did have a supply of them. When I cruised in 4/10, they both required all guests to wear helmets and supplied them. They also have wrist guards, knee pads, elbow pads too but they are not required. At least they weren't in 4/10.

I went ice skating on the EOS a few weeks ago and can confirm that helmets are required, other safety equipment is available but not required. I was happy to find that the skates were pretty comfortable because I'd considered bring my own (yes, I'm 55, and I have my own skates) but I could barely carry all my luggage as it was. I noticed they have a special skating session for those with their own skates, and that would have been cool, but no big deal... so many other things to do on board.

Sue

Deck - 8 Vista

Cabin # - 8243

Class – 2A

Starboard or Port Side - Port

Bed near?(balcony or bath) – Bath

Quiet Cabin (With comments on problems. Note if connecting. ) – Quiet

Balcony View - Great view. Balcony Size? Normal or oversized for class? - Normal

Was wind a problem? No

If an aft cabin, was soot a problem? N/A

Any specific problems with this cabin? None

Any other comments? Cabin has an upper berth which folds down over the sofa. Great location! Cabin is midship a little forward of the hump - a very stable location and convenient to the elevators.

This was my first cruise too. I think it was 1987 (but it might have been 1988) and we sailed out of San Juan. My husband and I didn't have much money back then and we got an inside cabin on the lowest deck. It was really tiny and sleeping was tough because there was a lot of engine noise and vibration down there, but when we weren't in our cabin, we had a good time. We decided at the time we'd never get an "inside" again, although I'm sure they're much nicer now.

Sue