moshek

I was on Explorer last week. Bar areas were crowded but we got a seat most times, may have had to wait 5 mins or so for someone to move, but no different from going into a popular bar at home.

Unfortunately can't comment on sunbeds, as we were in a suite we always found a bed in gold card area. They have created a new sunbed area on top of the new cabins on deck 12 forward so if you don't mind not being close to pools this area is usually quieter. There are also sunbeds near the flowrider at the back of the ship on deck 13 which were not there prior to the flowrider being installed as there used to be an inline skate track there.

Food was mainly good although I felt fish choices were not as good as previous years - we tend to go to MDR, and also ate in Chops Grille and Giovannis. They were doing a great offer on speciality dining - $40 for one booking at chops, one booking at giovannis and 20% off at Izumi. Steak at Chops was fantastic!

I just came back from 2 weeks on Explorer this week.

Let me add the ice show is now done by muster station so just check the cruise compass (daily list of events which is delivered to your cabin each evening for the following day). If you miss you slot don't worry go along to another show there is usually room for people on stand by. It is fab you won't want to miss it.

As a mum of 3 teens I would certainly recommend teens go to first evening meet up (8pm) they will make loads of friends on board if they want to, my youngest (age 15) has added 75 new friends on fb this week from our cruise!

You can do as much or as little as you want on board. Relax in the sun or be busy busy busy.

Hope you have a lovely relaxing family time x

On Explorer last week gold card holders (suites and pinnacle) could go to Chops for breakfast (similar menu and choices to main dining room), it was always very quiet and calm.

We could also visit windjammer at lunchtime and sit in Chops to eat.

Yes 3 games ( man utd v spurs, Bournemouth v villa and Chelsea v Swansea)were shown in The Tavern, think through ESPN on Saturday 8th - it was very crowded. Games could also be watched on tv in your stateroom.

Just back from cruise yesterday and booked for next cruise on board. Current offer on UK sailings is the US deal of 50% off second person. We paid $200 deposit which we immediately received back as an OBC (paid for my drinks package upgrade!). I had also checked UK price online the night before and for the 3 of us the offer saved us around £600 ($900) on our 14 night cruise next summer.

Note in some cases if there are 4/6 in your party if may be cheaper to book multiple cabins rather than squeeze 3 or 4 in a cabin.

Have the cruise blues kicked in yet?

Not yet thankfully, booked for next year on board so got another to begin countdown to.

You will be glad to know we successfully got train to Monaco, found our way to casino and up to palace and back to station, thank you for your tips. Next year's cruise we are at Villefranche again and plan to go to Nice by train.

Michelle x

Thank you for the review. Wonderful information. We're also booked on the Sept 2nd sailing from Southampton.

 

Would you be able to tell me if the helipad was open to passengers for the sail away from Southampton? Two years ago on Allure we were invited to the helipad as suite guests, and last year on Radiance the helipad was open to everyone. It's a great place to begin a journey!

Yes helipad is open for sailaway for all guests (unless it is too windy). It is my favourite spot for sailaway from Southampton.

For Monaco and nice you would need separate tickets unless they do some sort of day rail pass because from villefranche they are in opposite directions to each other. Nice is west of villefranche and Monaco is east.

 

If hard rock cafe is a tradition for the kids there is one in Palma.

Turn right out of the dock and walk along the marina towards the cathedral and you can't miss it.

Thanks,

Palma was last years stop (remember it well as air con had broken in restaurant - we went for lunch) and Lisbon the year before, hopefully Barcelona next year (stopped there last year too but boys had to do stadium tour!!)

24 hours and I will be on my way to port!

Michelle x

We were on Tender number 5 (I think) and were on it at 9.45am and went straight to the station in Villefranche.

 

We ended up on the 10.04 (I think) to Monaco and there were about 5 people on the platform waiting! There was another train about 10 minutes earlier so maybe that was a bit busier, but I'd definitely say the earlier the better.

 

We were in Monaco about 10.15ish and had a good 4.5 hours there before getting the train to Nice, where we spent a further 2 hours, before getting the train back to Villefranche, where we had about an hour - just enough time for a wander round and to sit and have a drink overlooking the bay. Mmm lovely!

That's good to know as my teens have hinted that they would also like to go to Nice purely to go to Hard Rock Café shop - bit of a tradition they have to go to one on each cruise.

Did you buy separate single tickets for each train journey?

Michelle x

Also tell the to watch their phones, apparently pick pocketing is prevalent on the trains. We made our girls keep them out of sight whilst on the station and on the train.

Climbing the stairs was kind of funny. I did feel the pressure of heading the correct way seeing as I gathered several folk following me lol. Phew I got it right. lol

Thanks for the tip, think I will tell them to leave them in the safe, they don't have EU calls and text on their phones anyway.

2 more sleeps!

Michelle x

Hi, we went to Monaco by train and it was a nightmare on the way there! Waited for about 50 mins - some of the first to arrive - and when train arrived the pushing began! I was last on and the doors were trying to close on me, reminded me of a busy tube train! Go early is my advice, we waited until lunchtime thinking we would beat the rush...

Thanks for advice, yes we are hoping to be off the ship as early as possible, luckily we are in a suite so get priority tender tickets (might be the best perk of the cruise).

I will prepare teens that train may be very busy, they are used to very busy tube trains so should be ok. I have already told them that even if lifts are busy when we get to station it is worth waiting rather than climbing stairs!

ive just sent her a text telling her to get herself on the roll call. Thing is she's not shy at all!! She's just new to CC lol. You'll spot them a mile off at the meet and mingle, chatty friendly Welsh lady with blonde hair. Shes travelling with her daughter who is 16 whilst on board and her 11 year old son. Also her sister and her partner are travelling and her mum and dad. So 7 of them - 5 of them first time cruising.

I'll keep bending her ear over the next day or two. She came round yesterday to look at our hundreds of photos and so we could show her the cruise compass' etc. Her son is beyond excited. His eyes lit up when we showed him photos and videos of the flow rider.

I'll look out for her - I'll be the chatty friendly Scottish one but to confuse people slightly our 3 teens have English accents because we moved south 16 years ago!

My two boys (15 and 17) also love the flowrider

Michelle x

Hiya

You are very welcome. Its well worth doing and was easy. Monaco is stunning but very hilly. It wasn't as hard to navigate as I'd expected. Looking down on the marina you have the palace up above one side and the casino up above the other. Pick yourself up a map in the train station or down load toms and you'll be fine. Leave yourself time to see Villefranche on the return. Also if you can, go upstairs on the train as you'll get better views of the coast as you zip along.

 

My friend who's on the same sailing as you, its her first cruise. I've been trying to get her to join in on your roll call but she hasn't liked to, but she is signed up to the meet and mingle!

 

Have a great time.

Thank you, what a pity your friend hasn't joined our roll call we are a very friendly bunch on there.

Michelle x

Thank you for a fantastic review. We sail on Sunday and your info on Monaco has been especially helpful as we are planning to go by train too.

Michelle x

I am doing this itinerary this weekend, looking forward to more of your review. Glad you enjoyed the ship.

Michelle

The pictures I have seen of the adult Solarium don't seem to show places where one can stay OUT of the sun. Does anyone know if there are indeed places to remain in the shade.

Thanks!

The adult solarium is fully enclosed by glass, the front section is mainly always in the sun but beds at the sides are shaded. It was really warm in there when I was there in May thought it was lovely but might be way too hot in high season in the Med.

I thought Anthem was a lovely ship with lots of areas to just sit and relax. I went on bumper cars, roller skating, north star but not ifly . We were only on a 3 night cruise so there was way too much to pack in.

I agree with others that there was no real focus area - the esplanade feels very different from royal promenade on other ships I have been on.

My only issue was the poor service in restaurants e.g. staff being told which table to seat us at but being unable to find that table, waiting over 20 mins for drink order to be taken and disappointment that as we were only on board for 3 nights they chose to give us the taste of anthem menu every night so didn't get to try the concept of dynamic dining even after selecting restaurants of our choice 10 months out. The night we dined in Chic there wasn't a main course from the Chic menu on offer.

3 formals is great. Means I can wear all three of my new evening dresses.

Yes Karen we will be having 3 formal nights, Day 2, usually day 11 or 12 and one somewhere in the middle.

Will be looking out for your evening gowns!!

Michelle x

We love sailing from Southampton, it is so easy. Children are very well catered for on board.

If you are looking at Anthem in addition to Adventure Ocean (kids club) which is available most of the day and evening, there are bumper cars, roller skating, circus school and of course lots of pools including a H2O zone for children. Explorer is smaller but has an on board ice rink, mini golf and kids club and recently had a flowrider added.

Both have large screen by the main pool which shows films at various times during the cruise.

My own children are teenagers and love meeting new friends on board. We have always sailing in July and there are lots of children and teens on board and you will also find that about 75% of cruisers are from the UK.

No experience of P&O sorry.

Michelle x

Thanks everyone, good point about luggage allowance as we are restricted that way

Only restriction is how much you can carry!! Think the rough guide I read somewhere is 90kg per person but that is 3-4 normal suitcases so you will be fine.

Love my no flying cruising - daughter and I have a suitcase just for shoes!

Michelle x

You will find quite a few people will be wearing kilts , especially on UK sailings. We are Scottish (although live in England) and my husband always takes his kilt, as did my eldest son (16) last year. There will be a fair proportion of Scottish travellers as Scottish schools will have finished for summer but English don't finish for another few weeks.

Skean Dhu will be an issue and most probably be removed from you. I had to go to security last year after boarding to identify it in one of our cases and had to be signed over and collected on our return. However another cruiser we met on board had managed to get his on wrapped up in his socks inside the shoes. Guess I needed to read the small print more carefully - no ceremonial knives!

From my limited experience of formal night over past few years I have noticed that the vast majority of people dress up on formal night s when sailing from the UK. Not sure whether it's because we take longer cruises with 3 formal nights and most cruisers are from UK so don't have the constraints of an airline luggage allowance or whether we just like to dress up more.

There are lots of long evening gowns, cocktail dresses, tuxedos, smart suits and even kilts to be seen. Even my teens wear suits for dinner then may go and get changed for teen club activities.

Interesting! So RCI has a private train? How much did it cost, do you remember?

Sorry I can't remember as it was 2 years ago, it was bookable as an excursion through the cruise planner as "Rome on your own" or something similar. There was a tour guide on each carriage who gave you general advice about Rome and a guide map, and of course tried to sell you tickets to queue jump at the Vatican!

We did our own tour of Rome (after lots of research). We got RCI private train then grabbed a taxi to Colisseum, amazingly the roads were not too busy and we were there in 5-10 mins. I had pre-booked our tickets so we could get straight in and not have to join the huge queue.

Colisseum tickets also get you into the Roman Forum which is really interesting. We walked through the forum and up to Trevi fountain, stopped for lunch in a fab little restaurant where we had tourist menu for €10 and we had so much to eat. We then went to the Pantheon, along to Piazza Navona (lots of art sellers here), stopped for an ice cream just off the piazza then finished by walking up to Vatican and St Peters. We did not go into Vatican on this visit just took in the surroundings. I am planning to return to Rome (without teenagers) to visit St Peters.

It was then just a short walk back to the station to get our train back to the ship.

It was extremely hot in Rome (over 100 degrees in July/August) so we were glad of air conditioned coach on return train.

I have the ship charm on my Pandora bracelet as well as a Colisseum charm following my trip to Rome and the Eiffel tower. I am from the UK and only cruised in Europe so far so can't comment on US/Caribbean. I would love RCI to have proper Pandora charms but as my bracelet is full and necklace is on the way to being full my husband is probably glad they don't.

If you are sailing in the Med, Gibraltar is the best place to by charms, but note that they are still more expensive than in the US.

Nope it made it through in one piece :-)

That was lucky I had to unpack my handbag twice when I went through security at Southampton in May as xray scanner could see something, turned out to be a packet of chewing gum!

And on last year's cruise I was called to security after boarding to remove husband's Skean Dhu (Scottish ceremonial knife) from one of our suitcases it had to be handed over to security until we got back to Southampton. However another gentleman we met on board had got his skean dhu through tucked inside his shoes.

Michelle x