MedicKen

We've cruised with Radio on a few occasions. What a nice guy.

Drink Of the Day

Very nice review, I'm looking forward to more. By the way my wife and I agree with you, it isn't San Juan until you've gone to the CVS.

Thanks again, and please keep the good work coming.

Erie,

The sewage system is fantastic at handling SEWAGE. It just doesn't do well with diapers, feminine products and other stuff flushed in the toilet.

BTW The poor grade of diesel fuel used in ships is called bunker oil, hence the fueling process is called bunkering. This stuff is so thick it has to be heated in order to flow through pipes.

As has been stated before, the most common cause of the odor is people flushing things that are not to be flushed and clogging the system. I have been on Explorer for 3 cruises and have not smelled an odor at all. So, PLEASE, only flush the tissue supplied by the cruise line and your personal "deposits"

Is it easy to grab a cab in Bayonne once the cruise is over, or is it better to reserve a car ahead of time?

If I remember correctly you will have to prearrange for transportation at Bayonne. Might I suggest going to the East Coast Departure board where some very kind and knowledgeable folks are ready to answer your Bayonne and NYC questions.

Oh, I do love this ship!!!! Just wish they would take her to dry dock and do all the work that she needs done. Balconys, water pipes, etc. She's one of my favorites!

 

Patty

Ours too Patty, ours too.

Oh and for anyone that has rented a mobility scooter, will they take you (wheelchair assist) or let you go to your cabin as soon as you get on the ship to get it?

 

Any experience with this would be appreciated!

 

Thanks again

Donna

Because I have always been with my DW, who is a scooter user, they have always taken us to the Windjammer. Most of the time we ask to be left off at the poolside tables. I go get the scooter and bring it back to DW. We reverse this process when we debark. When we were on Oasis the cabin stewards did allow me in early to pick up the scooter. (and that's all I did, I left our carry-on bags with my DW)

Since we drive to Explorer we take our own scooter and avoid this situation, she refuses to fly with her scooter. That negates the above process.

Have a great trip on our favorite ship.

There is no entrance or exit on deck 5 of the Voyager class ships. The lifeboats hang outside on deck 5 which is the Royal Promenade. In Florida Voyager class ships receive passengers on deck 4 and at ports of call they use deck 1 for gangways and tendering. In NJ they also use deck 1 as this is not a typical terminal.

sorry wrong ship. Thanks for the correction

The 9/11 memorial is where in relation to the ship? Can you get close to it?

 

I would like take some photos of this and would like to get close up views.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

-Lisa

Opus,

If EX is docked to her starboard side the Memorial is directly off her starboard bow. That means right in front of her to the right. If you go to Radio's site and look at his pictures of the EX cruises there are some great pictures showing the relationship. DW & I stopped at the Memorial on the morning of our 9/11/10 cruise and it took an extra 15 minutes (10 of which I was paying my respects). And, of course, we'll get to see it up close and personal in 29 days.

The bus is a city coach type of bus with wheelchair access. It drive a few hundred yards and drops you off at the ship where you enter on deck five into the Royal Promenade.

You could walk to the ship however it is very dangerous as this is a working dock so the bus is for safety purposes.

I know this cruise (3/13) is far away but I like to book as soon as possible and I have 3 questions.

 

Is there no place to park in the terminal where your car won't get paint on it?:confused:

 

And what is the abbreviation for Explorer because isn't Enchantment EOS?:confused:

 

Cruised on Enchantment before - this will be our first cruise on Explorer. Sounds like a nice ship. Anyone know when she is due to go to drydock? Thanks :)

The only time you MAY get an over spray is if the dry dock is painting while you are at sea. There are three ways to minimize/eliminate it; #1 Get a car cover, #2 park close to the building on the side opposite of the dry dock #3 leave the car at home/hotel and take a car service. I have read, on this board, that the dry dock company will make it good, IF you are affected.

The two letter abbreviation for Explorer is EX, Enchantment is EN.

We will be on the Explorer our first time 11-10-2011. I hear nothing but great things about her. Has anyone had any experience in or around cabin 8372 a D2. Thanking you in advance. :):)

Wally, You'll love the ship. The crew is what really sets this ship apart from the rest. They are the best on the water. I hear the folks cruising with you are kind of special too.

Please tell us how you have used this.:eek:

So they can call the ship back while they are standing on the dock watching it sail away without them. (LOL) ;)

You could consider bringing something from the Cruise Critic store (click on Store above), such as a beach safe, luggage tag, highlighter, tote bag, or lanyard, etc...;)

Way to go for the brownie points.

Beautiful pictures. Thank you very much for sharing them with us. I especially like the whale trio.

Hi Ken,

DW uses a scooter and when we don't take hers, it's a pain to fly with, we rent from either one of the vendors mentioned with great results. To beat on the drum, PLEASE contact your cruise line's special needs department for a handicapped room as well as letting them know there will be a scooter delivered to the cabin.

Another tip, if I may. If you board before cabin access is permitted, ask the stewards if you can go to the cabin JUST to retrieve the scooter. And please just do that as they are probably not done cleaning, but they may appreciate the room you make by removing the scooter.

We could not cruise, at least the wife couldn't, without the help of a scooter. Enjoy your cruise

this will be my wife and i first cruise with royal caribbean and to this location. any tips or info would be appreciated.

If you haven't done so already, bop on over to the Meet & Mingle Roll Call for your sailing. It can be found in the Roll Call section of CC. Choose the Royal Caribbean Meet & Mingle, then Explorer of the Seas and finally the date of your cruise. You can meet a lot of folks that will be sailing with you both seasoned EX (Explorer) folks and new to our favorite ship. And don't forget to sign up for your Meet & Mingle (M&M) on the RCI page.

We, Meg, Radio, CruiseDIva, Me (with my family) and a whole slew of others love this ship.

Enjoy.

We have never done a b2b on the Explorer. What happens ? Do we get off the ship and have to take the bus back to the terminal & wait there till the ship is cleared?

According to my DS, who has done a b2b and is planning another, they escort you off and lead you immediately around and re-board.

We've found ginger, capsules and candied, to work very well for us. Both as a treatment and a Representative.

This might have been asked already but on the 5 night to Explorer do they change to Bermuda time? I know 3 years ago they did but has that remained the same

 

We have dolphin quest from 2:30-3pm on the 2nd Bermuda day. They kick us out of dophin quest right away at 3pm so we should be back on the ship by 3:30pm

The two times we sailed EX they stayed on Eastern time, as I think Bermuda is anyway. (I might be wrong) but nevertheless, we did stay on Eastern time One cruise was in March, the other in September.

We went to the chocolate breakfast on Oasis. It was interesting. Maybe we can share a table in November.

yes and yes...just keep in mind that it may take longer and they will seat you with others most likely.....it's fun though but it too can get busy....also the hours are more limited so don't sleep late! lol

And, if you have a good sense of timing, you get the chocolate breakfast buffet. YUM YUM chocolate milkshake for breakfast.

essgee_ca,

DW, DS and I were also on that cruise, our first on EX. The arrival delay was due to the Captain searching for a waiter who jumped overboard, he has not been found. Captain Olav, as all ships Captains, have an obligation to assist in the search for anyone who is missing from the ship until relieved by the Authorities responsible for the search and rescue. On that sailing we sailed at midnight with muster the next day (they have 24 hours after sailing to do muster). Our second sailing left on time from Bayonne. I would plan for her to arrive and leave on time. If my memory serves me correctly, RCI did allow free telephone and assistance re-arranging flights and other travel plans.

By the way, if you go to Radio's "Live from Allure" thread there are links to his reviews of all his "Live from...." cruises.

Here it is, your last day on Allure and I made it to the "awake state" before you. Just getting ready to go to work and had to give you one last on-board holler.

My friend, you have done one of the best jobs ever at what you do best, taking us all with you on a cruise. Hope to be with you soon and share a cigar, real or bubble gum.

Ken