Explorer of the Seas Cruise Compass, Meuns & Photos 9 August 2015

[laurieal]

Thank you so much for posting this! Your pictures answered many of my questions (some of which I didn't even know I had). I may have squealed when I saw that kettle. And the solarium pool!

[annbaby]

This might be the best thread I have ever read on Cruise Critic!

 

I'll second that. Thank you so much!

[jusrob]

Another Vote for the best review I think I've ever seen.

Thanks so much for your time & effort.

We have 2 months to go before our cruise and it's made it even more exciting looking at the wonderful pictures.

Happy Cruising, Rob

[cruiselover53]

Undoubtedly the most enjoyable review I have read in ages.Thank you

[goodycruising]

Fantastic photos. Great detail, along with everyone else, thank you for taking the time to both take the photos and post them.

 

We sailed Voyager a couple of years ago, and after that we decided a new camera was required. These photos and scans are a lot of work! They are excellent quality.

[Goodysj]

Thanks for a great review and photos I'm looking forward to my cruise even more now.:)

[DC Traveller]

Taking a closer look at the RCI remote photo, there may already be an input/source button on it. The one below the rewind button? Also the photo of the TV may already be in the HDMI source channel.

 

Sorry the buttons on the TV is something I have missed.

 

Thanks so much for your reply. Please don't apologize for missing anything. Who would ever think of photographing the TV buttons?! On closer look, it does seem like the button below the rewind on the remote might work.

 

Thoie, that's a good point about the wifi issue. We don't sail until September of 2016, so if you return with some options that worked for you I'd love to hear about them. We have a 24 day cruise with lots of sea days, so we'll have plenty of time to watch movies/listen to music.

[sky0000547]

Many thanks for all the replies. Glad you all enjoy the photos and information. It's the information I want to provide more than anything else.

[sky0000547]

Thanks so much for your reply. Please don't apologize for missing anything. Who would ever think of photographing the TV buttons?! On closer look, it does seem like the button below the rewind on the remote might work.

 

 

 

Thoie, that's a good point about the wifi issue. We don't sail until September of 2016, so if you return with some options that worked for you I'd love to hear about them. We have a 24 day cruise with lots of sea days, so we'll have plenty of time to watch movies/listen to music.

 

 

That's a long cruise, have a good time although it is a long while yet.

[bigdavefc]

Thank you sky0000547 for taking the time to post your review and your pictures. Without a doubt it is the best review I have read on these forums. We sail on Explorer in December and it is good to get an idea of what she is like :)

[boeckli]

Deck 5

 

 

 

You can get to the helipad as I previously mentioned from deck 4 but you can also get to the helipad from the Star Lounge on deck 5 and you will come out of this door. The door is located on the starboard side only at the back of the lounge. There are no steps if you go this way compare to deck 4.

 

 

 

The Connoisseur Club/Cigar Lounge

 

Very informative review.

Thanks for the info on how to get to the helipad without steps (will try and see if this is also possible on Voyager in October :) )

 

Do you know by any chance if the Cigar Lounge was actually being used for that purpose (DH would be very pleased - we'll be on Explorer in February)

Edited August 30, 2015 by boeckli

[aussiecroatcruisin2016]

Hi - first time poster here, the information here is fantastic, thanks Sky.

 

I will be going on my first ever cruise in Feb on the Explorer departing from Syd (South Pacific 10 days).

 

I have a couple of questions:

 

1. Is the MDR menus shown, the included meals dining? How do I know what is the free dining and what is an extra change? Same goes with the room service meals, are they free except for the 12-5am timeframe etc.

 

2. Are the drinks packages worth it overall? For example, alcohol wise, I would mainly drink cocktails/spirits (I don't drink beer) and non alcohol wise, what beverages are free?

 

Thanks :D

[jusrob]

Thanks so much for your reply. Please don't apologize for missing anything. Who would ever think of photographing the TV buttons?! On closer look, it does seem like the button below the rewind on the remote might work.

 

Thoie, that's a good point about the wifi issue. We don't sail until September of 2016, so if you return with some options that worked for you I'd love to hear about them. We have a 24 day cruise with lots of sea days, so we'll have plenty of time to watch movies/listen to music.

 

Not meaning to Hijack this thread, but I have been looking at the TV issue as well.

From what I have read on here & Google, you need a Samsung universal remote to put the TV out of "hotel mode" and then you can use the input select button. Not sure if our new phone with built in Samsung remote for the TV will suffice for this, as you need to input the code for the model of TV.

As for using Chromecast there apparently is a way to do this without using the ship wi-fi. You need to get a wireless portable hard drive and make a local network and then you can add the laptop or tablet and the chromecast and use it, but it is still dependent on being able to use the input of the TV for your own use.

Many hotels now have a box you can plug in to to view your own USB movies or pictures and I really don't see why they can't do this on the ships.

Not that we spend a lot of time in our cabin but would love to be able to have the choice.

I hope someone may be able to confirm the use of the TV inputs as there is a lot of conflicting information out there. :rolleyes:

[sky0000547]

Very informative review.

Thanks for the info on how to get to the helipad without steps (will try and see if this is also possible on Voyager in October :) )

 

Do you know by any chance if the Cigar Lounge was actually being used for that purpose (DH would be very pleased - we'll be on Explorer in February)

 

 

I told a very small lie about steps to helipad. Once you get to the helipad, there are about 3 or 4 steps to actually get up and on to the helipad. So whichever way you go, there will be some steps at the end.

 

The door shown on the photo leads you into the Star Lounge on deck 5 but can also lead you into the Cigar Lounge, once you opened the door the route splits, straight on to Star Lounge and go left to Cigar Lounge.

 

The cigar lounge can be used for smoking cigar and pipe. Take a look at paragraph 6 on the link from RCI http://bookings.royalcaribbean.co.uk/customersupport/faq/details.do?pagename=frequently_asked_questions&faqId=3101&faqSubjectId=333&wuc=GBR

[sky0000547]

Hi - first time poster here, the information here is fantastic, thanks Sky.

 

 

 

I will be going on my first ever cruise in Feb on the Explorer departing from Syd (South Pacific 10 days).

 

 

 

I have a couple of questions:

 

 

 

1. Is the MDR menus shown, the included meals dining? How do I know what is the free dining and what is an extra change? Same goes with the room service meals, are they free except for the 12-5am timeframe etc.

 

 

 

2. Are the drinks packages worth it overall? For example, alcohol wise, I would mainly drink cocktails/spirits (I don't drink beer) and non alcohol wise, what beverages are free?

 

 

 

Thanks :D

 

 

Let me say enjoy your first cruise and you might get very addicted.

 

1. The MDR (Sapphire Dining Room) is an inclusive venue along with Cafe Promenade, Windjammer Marketplace (buffet) and room service except times you mentioned. You can order as many dishes as you want in the MDR from the menu. Sapphire Dining Room deck 3 & 4 is for traditional dining at 6 or 8.30pm and My Time Dining is on deck 5. Your dining table and dining time will be listed on your SeaPass card. Specialty dining are Giovanni's Table (deck 4), Chops Grille (deck 11), Johnny Rockets (deck 12) and Izumi (deck 14), these are all paid for venues. The soft serve ice cream on deck 11 is free but Ben & Jerry's on deck 5 is paid for.

 

When you are on the ship, most will become very clear.

 

2. The descriptions of the drink packages are posted in post #41. From the sound of it, you might need a premium drinks package. Whether it is worth it will depend on yourself, can you drink 4-6 drinks a day every day for the entire cruise?

 

Water, flavoured water, lemonade, tea and coffee are included and you can get these in the Cafe Promenade, MDR and Windjammer Marketplace. There is also a coffee station on deck 11 starboard side next to the dive shop. Barring in the MDR, all these drinks in these venues are self service.

 

Premium coffee from Starbucks in Cafe Promenade or latte, mocha, cappuccino in the MDR will be charged for unless you have an inclusive drinks package such as the 'Royal Replenish'.

Edited August 30, 2015 by sky0000547

[aussiecroatcruisin2016]

Let me say enjoy your first cruise and you might get very addicted.

 

1. The MDR (Sapphire Dining Room) is an inclusive venue along with Cafe Promenade, Windjammer Marketplace (buffet) and room service except times you mentioned. You can order as many dishes as you want in the MDR from the menu. Sapphire Dining Room deck 3 & 4 is for traditional dining at 6 or 8.30pm and My Time Dining is on deck 5. Your dining table and dining time will be listed on your SeaPass card. Specialty dining are Giovanni's Table (deck 4), Chops Grille (deck 11), Johnny Rockets (deck 12) and Izumi (deck 14), these are all paid for venues. The soft serve ice cream on deck 11 is free but Ben & Jerry's on deck 5 is paid for.

 

When you are on the ship, most will become very clear.

 

2. The descriptions of the drink packages are posted in post #41. From the sound of it, you might need a premium drinks package. Whether it is worth it will depend on yourself, can you drink 4-6 drinks a day every day for the entire cruise?

 

Water, flavoured water, lemonade, tea and coffee are included and you can get these in the Cafe Promenade, MDR and Windjammer Marketplace. There is also a coffee station on deck 11 starboard side next to the dive shop. Barring in the MDR, all these drinks in these venues are self service.

 

Premium coffee from Starbucks in Cafe Promenade or latte, mocha, cappuccino in the MDR will be charged for unless you have an inclusive drinks package such as the 'Royal Replenish'.

 

Sky - thanks for your response, definitely cleared up a couple of queries I had!

 

Oh, I'm already addicted - reading great info on here, tips/opinions/advice etc etc, it's all very much appreciated especially for a first timer :D:D

[Clarea]

... Not sure if our new phone with built in Samsung remote for the TV will suffice for this, as you need to input the code for the model of TV....

Maybe your app is different, but we have tried a couple of TV remote control phone apps and they both required WiFi to function.

[gaechann]

Many thanks for all the replies. Glad you all enjoy the photos and information. It's the information I want to provide more than anything else.

 

 

Another big THANK YOU from me for all the time & effort you have put into this review! Explorer is coming Down Under shortly for our summer months so we're looking forward to a couple of cruises on her! :)

Gae

[2time_cruiser]

thank you so much for the photos.

 

regarding the fitness center where there foam rollers avaliable ?

 

Sendt fra min GT-I9295 med Tapatalk

[sky0000547]

regarding the fitness center where there foam rollers avaliable?

 

 

Sorry I'm not too sure whether they have them or not.

[goodycruising]

Do you know by any chance if the Cigar Lounge was actually being used for that purpose (DH would be very pleased - we'll be on Explorer in February)

 

We were on Voyager out of Australia in January 2013. Due to Australian law there is no smoking at all inside the ship. This lounge was closed on our cruise. I would be very surprised if that has changed with Australian laws only getting stricter.

 

There is no smoking on balconies either. There will be a couple of allocated smoking areas on outer decks.

[boeckli]

We were on Voyager out of Australia in January 2013. Due to Australian law there is no smoking at all inside the ship. This lounge was closed on our cruise. I would be very surprised if that has changed with Australian laws only getting stricter.

 

There is no smoking on balconies either. There will be a couple of allocated smoking areas on outer decks.

 

Voyager no longer has a Connoisseur Club (possibly went as part of the big refurb in 2014). The space is now called "The Golden Room" and I read somewhere it is a special lounge for VIP's from the casino.

We were on Voyager in Feb 2015 but did not check out that area in detail.

[2time_cruiser]

Let me say enjoy your first cruise and you might get very addicted.

 

1. The MDR (Sapphire Dining Room) is an inclusive venue along with Cafe Promenade, Windjammer Marketplace (buffet) and room service except times you mentioned. You can order as many dishes as you want in the MDR from the menu. Sapphire Dining Room deck 3 & 4 is for traditional dining at 6 or 8.30pm and My Time Dining is on deck 5. Your dining table and dining time will be listed on your SeaPass card. Specialty dining are Giovanni's Table (deck 4), Chops Grille (deck 11), Johnny Rockets (deck 12) and Izumi (deck 14), these are all paid for venues. The soft serve ice cream on deck 11 is free but Ben & Jerry's on deck 5 is paid for.

 

When you are on the ship, most will become very clear.

 

2. The descriptions of the drink packages are posted in post #41. From the sound of it, you might need a premium drinks package. Whether it is worth it will depend on yourself, can you drink 4-6 drinks a day every day for the entire cruise?

 

Water, flavoured water, lemonade, tea and coffee are included and you can get these in the Cafe Promenade, MDR and Windjammer Marketplace. There is also a coffee station on deck 11 starboard side next to the dive shop. Barring in the MDR, all these drinks in these venues are self service.

 

Premium coffee from Starbucks in Cafe Promenade or latte, mocha, cappuccino in the MDR will be charged for unless you have an inclusive drinks package such as the 'Royal Replenish'.

is cafe promenade really inclusive? I did not know that

 

Sendt fra min GT-I9295 med Tapatalk

[Clarea]

is cafe promenade really inclusive? I did not know that

Specialty coffees and teas at Cafe Promenade are included in the Replenish and Ultimate packages.

[sky0000547]

is cafe promenade really inclusive? I did not know that

 

 

All food such as Pizza, cakes, pastries etc from Cafe Promenade is all inclusive. You can also get inclusive tea, coffee, flavoured water in Cafe Promenade too and these drinks are self service. As mentioned by Bob above, the specialty coffee (Starbucks) and B&J ice-cream in Cafe Promenade is not included unless you have the relevant drinks package.