Explorer of the Seas in the South Pacific - short review

[Missusdubbya]

I have always loved reading other reviews so am paying it forward 😁

 

My husband and I sailed on Explorer of the Seas out of Sydney to the South Pacific on 24 January. The 8 night itinerary included ports we have been to numerous times (that we love).

 

[voyager70]

Looking forward to your review.  Would love to visit the South Pacific someday.

 

[Missusdubbya]

We love sailing out of Sydney, and spent a few days before the cruise hanging out, including a trip on the ferry to Manly Beach. We visited the 4 Pines Brewery for lunch, it was excellent (and the food was good too 😁)

 

[Missusdubbya]

Next day was cruise day! We ignored the boarding day times email and rolled into the port by train at 10am. Boarding was super quick (still priority boarding for Diamonds in Australia 😁).

 

After hitting a few bars, we checked out our cabin. I had snagged the corner aft 7388 and it did not disappoint! Excellent party balcony and after a while you do not notice the superstructure.

 

 

 

 

[Missusdubbya]

Sailing out of Sydney Harbour is always lovely.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 2, 2019 by Missusdubbya

[Missusdubbya]

We loved the outdoor seating outside the diamond lounge, and spent a lot of time out there. I had no trouble getting the cocktails I wanted (including Long Island Iced Tea and Rasberry Collins) after a tip to the waitstaff. 

 

After dinner in the MDR (excellent all cruise) we hit the bars....

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Missusdubbya]

Day 2: At Sea

 

Thank goodness for a sea day after too much partying the night before!

 

We spent a lot of time on the balcony today 😁

 

 

 

and then hit the pools 

 

 

The first formal night was tonight, MDR dinner and then bars again....

Edited February 2, 2019 by Missusdubbya

[Missusdubbya]

Day 3: Sea Day

 

Rinse and repeat....

 

 

 

Also 10 drink cocktail cards $79 were available today. Plus we were able to use our Diaomond 3 drinks vouchers in the MDR each night.

Edited February 2, 2019 by Missusdubbya

[Missusdubbya]

Day 3: Noumea, New Caledonia

 

We love Noumea and have visited a number of times. The port is in an industrial area, with free shuttles to town.

 

 Today was a Sunday, so we hit the markets, and then headed to Baie des Citrons (Lemon Bay) for an excellent French lunch and beers at the microbrewery Les 3 Brasseurs. 

 

 

 

 

[Missusdubbya]

Day 5: Mystery Island, Vanuatu

 

Mystery Island is paradise! A tiny uninhabited island, you can walk around it in about 30 minutes. 

 

You tender over, and the locals visit from a neighbouring island and set up markets, food and massage booths.

 

It has wonderful snorkelling right off the beach from a number of points around the island. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 3, 2019 by Missusdubbya

[Missusdubbya]

Day 6: Isle of Pines, New Caledonia

 

Just another day in paradise. Another tender port, and the section of the island you arrive in is mostly uninhabited. The locals set up markets and tours here too.

 

We went snorkelling (coral still recovering from cyclone) then hit the beach bar when it started raining.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 3, 2019 by Missusdubbya

[Missusdubbya]

Day 7: Sea Day

 

Today we went to the ice show - which was pretty good. 10 Beer cards for $59 were offered today also.

 

Spent the afternoon playing mini golf and hanging at the Diamond lounge. Then I was unsuccessful in the casino but successful buying booze in the Port Merchant shop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Missusdubbya]

Day 8: Last Sea Day

 

Time to hit the Flowrider! The pool decks were pumping too.

 

 

 

All too soon it was time to pack, always so sad.

 

 

[BuzzBuzzen]

thank you for the great photos and review , enjoying it all , cheers Buzz.

[Missusdubbya]

Day 9

 

Sailed back into rainy Sydney, the sky looked how I felt at the thought of departing the lovely Explorer.

 

[Missusdubbya]

Wrapping up:

 

Disembarkation was easy, and for anyone flying Virgin it looks like they might offer luggage valet to the airport? 

 

We loved the Explorer - it is a great sized ship. The staff (with the exception of the grumps in the Diamond lounge) are lovely and work very hard. 

 

Next Cruise offerings were abysmal, it definitely isn’t worth booking anything on board for us anymore.

 

We loved the South Pacific islands (again), however we are looking forward to our next few cruises (hello Freedom from San Juan!!!) in the southern Caribbean later this year for some more action.

 

Happy to answer any questions 

 

 

 

[Missusdubbya]

2 hours ago, voyager70 said:

Looking forward to your review.  Would love to visit the South Pacific someday.

 

 

18 minutes ago, BuzzBuzzen said:

thank you for the great photos and review , enjoying it all , cheers Buzz.

 

Cheers!

[voyager70]

Stunning pics, gorgeous review thank you!

 

[Chiliburn]

We were on the explorer,8th December 

love noumea and mystery,we usually go to la barka in lemon bay.

 The French maintain its territory well ,can’t say the same for the independent islands such as Vila or Fiji.

didnt see the drinks cards.did you have to ask for them?

[Missusdubbya]

5 minutes ago, Chiliburn said:

 

didnt see the drinks cards.did you have to ask for them?

 

They were advertised in the Compass and you can ask any bartender 

[M-H-B]

Thanks for this review! I have about 32 days til boarding the Explorer for the 7 night version of the South Pacific. Your review has answered some questions for me, much appreciated. 

[Missusdubbya]

On 2/6/2019 at 9:22 PM, M-H-B said:

Thanks for this review! I have about 32 days til boarding the Explorer for the 7 night version of the South Pacific. Your review has answered some questions for me, much appreciated. 

 

No worries! Have a super cruise

[kj_connections]

Thanks for the photos.  Do you know if there was Splashaway Bay section for kids on the ship?

[Missusdubbya]

7 hours ago, kj_connections said:

Thanks for the photos.  Do you know if there was Splashaway Bay section for kids on the ship?

 

Sorry, I didn’t see one (although I didn’t go near the kids area)