dodgeball24

Booked week before and only rooms left were 2 inside cabins and there was plenty of walking around to get to the other side of the bed and the shower was a sliding door not a curtain. Very satisfied but we had a room on the 4th floor in the little hallway and maybe it was bigger but we were quite happy with it

For both, before I got on the ship and from guest services after everyone boarded and the fee was $ 500 from inside to suite total not per person and this was more then a 7 day cruise so double points also came with the suite which helped us hit diamond plus faster

1. There is a limit per person I think 1 liter per if i remember we had 4 of us and had 16 bottles, it was a 14 day

2. Not sure what islands you going to but if you like baily's look for charisma it is 10 times better think we got in Barbados

Won't tell u my secret before you board but will let you know that once you board visit the guest services and then go back again at 4pm when everyone has boarded and for a small fee I got upgraded from inside to suite

Portofino and Johnny rocket only options on explorer and I usually go the first formal night but Giovanni is better and after explorer gets it's facelift u will have more options. I have eaten at portofino's even twice on the same cruise and had 1 good and 1 bad experience so if u want to go, go because it seems that at Portofino it depends on who u get and what u order

Comparisons Explorer vs Seranade:

Embarkation/ debark- advantage Seranade but less passengers and a lot of people were doing back to back although they did break wheel on my new luggage and parking at explorer easier

Diamond status- Seranade by a long shot as they have a key entry to a secluded area with the loyalty person on site where the explorer has the 19th hole and people walk in and it is very smokey if games were on

Sports- Explorer wins here on the Seranade it was hard finding people to play and then we had 2 on 2 or 1 on 1 and the only team games were vs the crew on the Seranade which was good on their part because not enough people to get other teams

Food- mdr equal but huge advantage to Seranade with 3 specialty restaurants and Giovanni much better then Portofino

Pool area- split here as the solarium on the Seranade is covered and they have food and drinks free but the other pool had just one pool vs two on the explorer and idiots were smoking at the pool deck and flicking ashes on the deck and getting away with it

Cruise director and staff- Topi was good and because I played 3 sports vs the staff and crew on Seranade and got to know them I enjoyed them but as long as you don't have jimmy as your director on explorer the staff and crew on Explorer has always been great so a push here unless Jimmy then advantage Seranade

Guest services- Seranade was fantastic, I have had issues on the explorer with wrong info and such and other times fantastic so this comes down to one experience vs many and the one on the Seranade was fantastic

Things to do- Explorer is bigger and has more options

Entertainment- mixed bag here as a diamond plus person I have seen some of the acts before so I will try and be particular, singers and dancers not even close the Seranade much better although I didn't care for the song choices the one show, seating easier on the Seranade plenty of room vs explorer were you struggle to get seats sometimes, the atrium was a great idea on Seranade but only 10 percent of the people can view the show and the 4th floor where we were would get congested and cause issues getting to our room and for people getting to guest services, overall advantage serenade

Think wife still has but if you have a question maybe I can help

Yes I have never lost a team vs team dodgeball and was undefeated vs the crew but I did lose to the crew vs the Seranade and it was my fault since when there is just 1 player left for each team you can go anywhere so I had to chase squirley Chris activities director around had him 3 feet from me and could of killed him but lobbed it because he was cringed up against the net but the sneak flipped one backward and his ball touched me a second before mine hit me so remember No mercy in dodgeball.

All voyager class and above have dodgeball but I hated these really tiny balls on the Seranade but because the court is not anywhere near the bigger ships it was what it was. I also got to say the Seranade have all these tiny dancers playing on their team who were very hard to hit and topi was pretty good on his suicide runs but I got all the good guys and was hit by Chris the least athletic person on the cruise, sorry flashbacks.

Most cruises have teams playing teams and on another day crew vs teams I cruise a lot on a voyager class ship and end up playing for crew because I know the sports guys and sometimes the crew has issues putting a team out there due to when their contracts come up but it is fun time.

We pre-bought our package and when we boarded Seranade it was cheaper for the on board package on the ship and we got the times we wanted compared to when I booked online only having a few early or late choices. We had it changed at Giovanni they told us the first night was only 15 per person and since we were diamond plus it was buy one get one free so we ate there the first night for 15 total and still had the package for other nights.

Had this discussion with a loyalty person I know and they are not supposed to raise your status and will get in trouble if they do and another issue was turning diamond on the first leg of a back to back cruise you would assume the 2nd cruise you were on that your status is diamond but that is not guaranteed because the status change happens about 7-10 days from when you get off the ship. I just hit diamond plus and I had 3 weeks till next cruise and it took 8 days for my status to change then I had to call and have new documents sent, my online didn't change but my luggage tags did which meant my room key would be diamond plus, get things corrected BEFORE you get on board trust me there.

Another thing I upgraded to a suite and paid a fee for the upgrade and it took me multiple times calling crown and anchor for my double points, always check your cruises completed and the actual points you obtained.

Your weather was better then we were in New Orleans, won the pool tournament but learned not to lean on it hard because it would self level.

Dined at all 3 premium my choice was Giovani the best with a chop's second and I love Japanese but was not thrilled with Izumi. Fyi for some of you the first night on the ship Giovani has 25 % off so with our diamond plus we get 1 free dinner when we buy one so our bill for the first night was $15 total or if you are not it is still only 30 for two and it is well worth it.

Another FYI the diamond lounge was excellent, and I found myself eating lunch more in the solarium then going to the dining room or the windjammer.

I am like you always on the sports deck but you need to look at the ship as much as the line, I like voyager class because they have a full court and usually enough people to play sports. We tried a lot of lines before picking royal and now are diamond plus but princess was our second choice so if the ship you are looking at has a court then that is your choice, if both due the the princess would be my choice.

On a side note 7 days is better then a 3 or 4

I live on the sports deck so the age thing is not usually an issue because we have about 4 to 8 teams for all events the only time I had an issue was March during spring break we had nearly 900 kids and a lot with no supervision.

October thru February except holidays you get a mixed crowd but in January and February a lot of scooters so I take the stairs or be prepared to wait awhile after a show to get an elevator.

Dining is a mixed bag, Explorer still just has Portofino.s and Givonni I prefer(just off the Seranade and ate at all 3 of the specialty and twice at Giovanni) and as stated they have not had the upgrade to add the restaurant. Lunch with the salad is great and they have Johnny rockets which has great milk shakes. Dining room is good but I know the menu so I know what to choose suggest you listen to your waiter for one choice and pick another entree to be sure.

I am heading back to the explorer in a few weeks and any day spent on a cruise is a good day, enjoy the Explorer we all have.

Only 1 day leave tomorrow on the Explorer, can't wait.

last emerald cruise after mr 12/11 12day we are diamond