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brian1
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Just off D2,which is described as a new ship.They were replacing the steel strapping which holds the wooden handrail on the top deck.It was totally rusted in half in some places.I think this will be a continuous process for the rest of the life of this "new" ship,with gangs of welders and painters roping off areas.Will not stop me going back to Marella,but a bit misleading to describe a rust bucket,tarted up with a paint job and new carpets as a new ship.Just saying.

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Just off D2,which is described as a new ship.They were replacing the steel strapping which holds the wooden handrail on the top deck.It was totally rusted in half in some places.I think this will be a continuous process for the rest of the life of this "new" ship,with gangs of welders and painters roping off areas.Will not stop me going back to Marella,but a bit misleading to describe a rust bucket,tarted up with a paint job and new carpets as a new ship.Just saying.

Morning Brian 1

just look at fred olsons ships Boudicca and black watch around fourty six years old and still cruising.

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It’s always advertised as new to Marella, not new to the universe. Besides brand new to the world ships are notorious for teething and snagging problems: you are never going to get away from works being done

 

Maintenance and replacement of elements occur on all ships all the time: the ocean is hard on the structure, as are large numbers of people.

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Just back from Explorer, When Celebration and Dream are retired there is talk of a new build, a real new new build

 

I was interested to see a year old Celebrity ship getting paint tripped and rust removed!

Hi Dave

i see your just back from Explorer i have done two cruises on discovery, and going on Explorer in march can you give me your opinion on the vessel IE getting around is it easy, food about the same ,shows as per normal very good, bar service, and restaurant as per the same is it still freedom dining. thanks in advance.

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IMO a better ship all round, Fixtures and fittings are good and especially nice is all cabins have a large shower with door plus a free safe and fridge. 50 million euros was spent on refurbishing the cabins and public areas when it joined TUI and it shows!, A lot of soft carpets and soft furnishings were replaced when it joined Marella and some public areas were remodelled, primarily the main bar Squid and Anchor and the Indigo Lounge, bar, casino and nightclub on deck 12.

 

The main public rooms are on decks 5, 6 and 7. Deck 5 has the reception, dining club and the lower tier of the main dining room Latitude 53. The dining room and reception is divided by the galley so you have to go up or down a deck. Deck 6 and 7 are continuous. the highlight for me on Deck 6 is the large coffee port serving Lavazza coffee and home made cakes and chocolates. Deck 6 also has the Lounge, a large bar with weird bar and pink piano Deck 7 has the pub with a premium gin and whisky bar in the far left corner The pub does not get as noisy as the Live room on Discovery. On deck 11 aft behind the buffet you have the Mediterranean bar and eateries with a terrace.Food there includes tapas, pizza and pasta.

 

overall the ship is a bit like Hogwarts school, things seem to move overnight. The lift lobby carpets help green aft, red midship and blue forward.

 

IMO food is better than discovery. There are 10 eateries and even the free ones are good IMO, The Italian Vista in the mdr evenings is very popular. The market place buffet is also good especially if you like salads etc of which there is a large choice including many cheeses I had never heard of. the cold meats etc are better quality than discovery and there is a larger choice as well. They have even improved the sausages. freedom dining

 

Entertanment is good, I am not a show person but watched a couple of shows, COGS is weird. The theatre is good, you get drinks handed out as you enter and there are small tables along the rows, plenty of room to get along the rows as well.

 

Bar service is the same although I never had to wait long for a drink. The basic drinks package is good and for many it seemed the premium upgrade at £50 per week was popular.

 

Of course the crew are as brilliant as ever and I kept running into ones I had met on several ships all the way back to my first cruise on Celebration over 10 years ago.

 

Look for the facecloth closed group Marella Explorer for a host of information

 

I will be back aboard next april for the transatlantic repositioning and next summer for the Iceland fire and ice from Newcastle

 

IMO if Marella can get all their ships up to Explorer standard they will be on to a sure fire winner

 

ps they have onboard wifi with their own app that does all the round ship touchscreen stuff that you get on Discovery including your account details. Great for those who, unlike me can't leave their phone switched of in the cabin.

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IMO a better ship all round, Fixtures and fittings are good and especially nice is all cabins have a large shower with door plus a free safe and fridge. 50 million euros was spent on refurbishing the cabins and public areas when it joined TUI and it shows!, A lot of soft carpets and soft furnishings were replaced when it joined Marella and some public areas were remodelled, primarily the main bar Squid and Anchor and the Indigo Lounge, bar, casino and nightclub on deck 12.

 

The main public rooms are on decks 5, 6 and 7. Deck 5 has the reception, dining club and the lower tier of the main dining room Latitude 53. The dining room and reception is divided by the galley so you have to go up or down a deck. Deck 6 and 7 are continuous. the highlight for me on Deck 6 is the large coffee port serving Lavazza coffee and home made cakes and chocolates. Deck 6 also has the Lounge, a large bar with weird bar and pink piano Deck 7 has the pub with a premium gin and whisky bar in the far left corner The pub does not get as noisy as the Live room on Discovery. On deck 11 aft behind the buffet you have the Mediterranean bar and eateries with a terrace.Food there includes tapas, pizza and pasta.

 

overall the ship is a bit like Hogwarts school, things seem to move overnight. The lift lobby carpets help green aft, red midship and blue forward.

 

IMO food is better than discovery. There are 10 eateries and even the free ones are good IMO, The Italian Vista in the mdr evenings is very popular. The market place buffet is also good especially if you like salads etc of which there is a large choice including many cheeses I had never heard of. the cold meats etc are better quality than discovery and there is a larger choice as well. They have even improved the sausages. freedom dining

 

Entertanment is good, I am not a show person but watched a couple of shows, COGS is weird. The theatre is good, you get drinks handed out as you enter and there are small tables along the rows, plenty of room to get along the rows as well.

 

Bar service is the same although I never had to wait long for a drink. The basic drinks package is good and for many it seemed the premium upgrade at £50 per week was popular.

 

Of course the crew are as brilliant as ever and I kept running into ones I had met on several ships all the way back to my first cruise on Celebration over 10 years ago.

 

Look for the facecloth closed group Marella Explorer for a host of information

 

I will be back aboard next april for the transatlantic repositioning and next summer for the Iceland fire and ice from Newcastle

 

IMO if Marella can get all their ships up to Explorer standard they will be on to a sure fire winner

 

ps they have onboard wifi with their own app that does all the round ship touchscreen stuff that you get on Discovery including your account details. Great for those who, unlike me can't leave their phone switched of in the cabin.

Dave

very informative,thank you very much.

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Thanks Dave, really useful info as we are going on board this Saturday. Sorry to ask the dreaded question but how dressy was the dress to impress night? My DH has always taken his tux but seriously considering leaving it at home this time.

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Thanks Dave, really useful info as we are going on board this Saturday. Sorry to ask the dreaded question but how dressy was the dress to impress night? My DH has always taken his tux but seriously considering leaving it at home this time.

 

I never noticed it as I did not go to the main dining room that evening or the captains chat. I dressed smart casual as I always do in the evening.but with my smartest shirt and trousers. there were people dressed 'posh' around the ship but not hordes of them IIRC.

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hI Dave,are there more than 2 menus in the Italian themed MDR.That annoyed me a bit on the D2,even though the food was good.

Still 2 menus but lots of choice on each menu. You can also use the Italian side of the Mediterranean which in the evening is waiter service with tables laid. Great for Pizza and Pasta. You get bread starters and desserts as well. The atmosphere is not like in a buffet.

 

When I went to Vista two ladies decided to have steak and reported it tender and tasty and of course free on the menu.

 

I will try to find vista menus

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I never noticed it as I did not go to the main dining room that evening or the captains chat. I dressed smart casual as I always do in the evening.but with my smartest shirt and trousers. there were people dressed 'posh' around the ship but not hordes of them IIRC.

Thanks for this, I think we will do the same this time. More room for my stuff:)

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  • 2 weeks later...
Just back from Explorer, When Celebration and Dream are retired there is talk of a new build, a real new new build

 

I was interested to see a year old Celebrity ship getting paint tripped and rust removed!

 

I doubt if TUI will go down the new build route for Marella, despite the few hints that have been dropped, until they think they can get their money's worth from the investment. It's more likely that if they replace Celebration and the Dream it will be with more second hand ships probably from Royal Caribbean or Celebrity.

 

As for rust having worked on ships I can tell you its an uphill battle to keep rust at bay. Even new ships get rust within weeks of coming out of the building yard.

Edited by bishop84
added rust comment
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I doubt if TUI will go down the new build route for Marella, despite the few hints that have been dropped, until they think they can get their money's worth from the investment. It's more likely that if they replace Celebration and the Dream it will be with more second hand ships probably from Royal Caribbean or Celebrity.

 

As for rust having worked on ships I can tell you its an uphill battle to keep rust at bay. Even new ships get rust within weeks of coming out of the building yard.

There are two Millennium class cruise ships for sell Celebrity Summit and Infinity as there two new ones arrive Celebrity Edge and Apex 2019 2020

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There are two Millennium class cruise ships for sell Celebrity Summit and Infinity as there two new ones arrive Celebrity Edge and Apex 2019 2020

 

Think they are looking at the other RCI Vision Class ships, believe the adverts for these two ships are not really adverts but speculative posts by brokers.

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