highway6161

Our location during the rescue:

If you haven't seen the coverage/video of the rescue, please see here:

https://www.app.com/story/travel/2021/11/21/royal-caribbean-anthem-seas-back-nj-after-coast-guard-rescue/8709882002/

We were watching from our port side balcony. Awesome job by the Coast Guard (and after what must have been a long trip out to us).

Okay, it's not secret-secret, but it's not on the deck plans either. I think we'll give it a try at some point!

We are also on next week! Regarding masks inside - how is that actually working out on the Esplanade and the bars and 270? 

How about the Solarium - the hot tubs? 

Looking forward to being back at sea!

Booked May 4! Excited to have Hamilton and St. George's right outside the window! (Well, outside someone's window!)

Can we conclude that between April 30 in Miami and May 4 in Bayonne, the ship will have a mini-refurb/cleaning/maintenance, or is there another sailing/repositioning that I'm missing?

Did you go back to the dock after sailaway? It was too foggy to see from the webcam, but that's what it looked like on the map.

Going on Anthem this Friday! What is the different between Prince and Green and Michaels?

RC Describes them:

Prince & Greene

An authentic English pub offering a great meeting place for pints, people, performances, and more.

Michael's Genuine Pub

James Beard Award-winner Michael Schwartz brings you delicious yet uncomplicated pub fare, plus his namesake craft beer.

.... But how does that actually work in real life? Thanks in advance!

I'm in to Kings Wharf on Liberty of the Seas, this Sept 7 and 8.

Since Mon, Sept 7 is Bermuda Labor day, will the ferrys be on weekend schedules?

In particular, my wife and I wanted to ferry to St. George, but it looks like that only runs during the weekdays. May need to ferry or bus to Hamilton and then bus to St. Georges? (Or wait till Tuesday?)

Yep, that was Gem leaving around 4:00 - nice photo!

We had three great cruises on Explorer. Wishing her smooth sailing and many more great trips!

Explorer of the Seas will complete an extensive, month-long drydock revitalization before starting seasonal service and boast a wide range of new innovative features to offer guests an unforgettable onboard experience. Guests can test their surfing skills on a new FlowRider surf simulator;

watch a film come to life in a magical 3-D Movie theatre;

and sample cuisine from around the world in a new range of onboard restaurants.

Now I wonder how they're doing that?

Taking my teens on their first cruise May 31 to Bermuda.....anyone had teens on this ship? Did they have plenty of things to occupy their time?

My kids (a girl and a boy) have been on Explorer three times - at ages from about 11-15, and they always had a great time. I'd definitely encourage yours to go to the first night meet-and-greet in the teen area. They may decide they like hanging out there - or they may not - my kids went back and forth. But at the meet and greet they've got the best chance at finding other kids they get along with. There are a lot of organized activites (games, volleyball, parties), but it seems the kids also set up their own 'manhunt' games as well.

Last time, it seemed like they were using the library as an alternate meeting place to the teen area. (Not always great for the readers, but fyi.)

More generally, you can also use cruisett.com - for instance, here's St. Maarten for the month:

http://ports.cruisett.com/schedule/St_Martin__St_Maarten/511-Philipsburg/January_2014/

There are some busy days!

I happened to notice the hotel cam today looked very crowded, and according to the schedule (on cruisecal) this was Phillipsburgh today:

Disney Cruise Line Disney Fantasy

Costa Cruise Lines Costa Mediterranea

Oceania Cruises Riviera

Princess Cruises Crown Princess

Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Epic

Royal Caribbean Legend Of The Seas

That must have been awful...

I've never seen Beer Bags on Explorer (three trips in three years). I think you can get a 'bucket' of 5 Coronas, on ice, but that's not exactly the same.

Yep, just got a 'thanks but no thanks - see you next year' from New York Blood Center, because of a stop in Labadee this summer.

8/22 Explorer - escargot not on the menu, but our waiter was able to get it for us the last two nights (and yes, it was reflected in his tip!)

Also, we stopped in San Maarten, and headed for the "Le Escargot" restaurant in Phillipsburgh - closed while they hunted for more Escargot! (really)

On the French side, in Magrigot - we were able to get escargot - simply broiled in shell - not with a heavy sauce like on Explorerer. Both good, though!

Hi -

Wondering who is the cruise director on the Explorer? Sailing in her next year and although it can change, I was just wondering?

 

Also, what did you think of the condition of the ship?

 

Thanks

Marita

We sailed the 9 day on 8/22/13 - the cruise director was John Blair (as the list notes) and the Activities Director was his wife Katrina. I thought they were excellent - I don't know how people maintain that level of enthusiasm for that long a time!

They even both hosted a Sunday morning interfaith service that I really appreciated and thought was very well done.

Oh, and I thought the ship was in very good condition - no problems with our rooms or any of the public spaces I saw.

For recent cruisers - do they still offer "advanced" skate for those that bring their own skates? If so, are these typically on sea days only?

I just sailed on the 8/22 9-day. In my cruise compasses, I see one 'Advanced Skating' session - 9 am on day 4, which was a Sunday and a sea day. Plenty of other regular sessions at other times, of course, and don't miss the Ice Show!

The New York Harbor webcam facebook page has a picture up indicating the Explorer came back to New York last night, after leaving NY for New England yesterday afternoon. Any insights?

We've got two rooms on 8/22 - travelling with our teens - and we'll be going back and forth quite a bit. Can/will they program they a sea pass card to open both?

On the Explorer, the top sundeck in front of the spa has a sign saying "San Tropez" without any further explanation. Haven't seen anyone nude or women topless up there, though...

I know that people have discussed this before, but now that I've read some of the live reviews of Breakaway...

I've been following the Norwegian Breakaway arrival with a lot of interest. If nothing else, competition with a big new boat should keep Royal Caribbean on their toes in New York.

That said, I see no reason to 'jump ship' from the Explorer. We're a Long Island family of four - kids 13 and 14, and we've been out on the Explorer two times already (booked for a third).

What we care about: teen activities; pools, space around the pools, bars around the spaces around the pools(!); destinations and excursions; space and some quiet.

What we care less about: shows; extra $$$ restaurants.

The Breakaway's ropes course and water slides are appealing, but I see that as a tie against the Explorer's ice skating.

And of course, Breakaway is the one with premium pricing now! So what do other people think - am I missing anything?