Just Off Explorer - Ask Away!

[OceansOfTravels]

Hey y'all,

 

I just got home after a great 9 nights away on the Explorer of the Seas. I am planning to write a little review on here later detailing the hits and misses I experienced, but in the meantime, I'll take any questions from any future cruisers and answer them to the best of my ability!

 

Happy cruising!

[Clarea]

Did you see any drink cards for sale, and if so, when did they appear and what was the cost?

[OceansOfTravels]

8 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

Did you see any drink cards for sale, and if so, when did they appear and what was the cost?

 

No, all I remember was seeing a $13.99 per day soda package, but that wasn't really a card ... it came with a cup to fill at the soda stations ... Unless there was a card that was being swiped that I didn't notice. I didn't look up too much info on this though because I am not a soda drinker, so it did not interest me. Hopefully that's what you're looking for though, and if not, hopefully someone from my cruise will come in and answer!

[GMoney]

Cards were offered  most notably at cafe promenade. I don’t recall what day, but it was late in the cruise as you’d expect 

[Clarea]

2 minutes ago, GMoney said:

Cards were offered  most notably at cafe promenade. I don’t recall what day, but it was late in the cruise as you’d expect 

 

Thanks.

[Heatherco]

Did you do the main dining room for lunch on a sea day?  

[gdy0354]

Did you visit the casino? If so, what were the Black Jack minimum bets?

[robtulipe]

17 minutes ago, gdy0354 said:

Did you visit the casino? If so, what were the Black Jack minimum bets?

It was $10 minimum when we were on Explorer last month. I believe there was a few early in the day sea-day special play when the minimum was $5 for a few hours.

[gdy0354]

Happen to have copies of menus?

[OceansOfTravels]

41 minutes ago, Heatherco said:

Did you do the main dining room for lunch on a sea day?  

 

Yes! And I loved it, I found the selection to be good and it was nice to get away from the Windjammer, which I don't feel like was all too crowded - just repetitive on a 9 night cruise. Definitely plan to go on one of the sea days.

[OceansOfTravels]

11 minutes ago, gdy0354 said:

Happen to have copies of menus?

No I do not, I'm sorry! Is there anything in particular you're hoping to have while onboard? Maybe I can remember if and on what days they were offered.

[retired dude]

could you tell me if the following were still entertaining on the ship this past week, as we sail this fri...Midnight avenue a great cover band, finis henderson, the hott band at the pool, horizon motown band from detroit???thanks much

[gdy0354]

There is another post currently on wearing shorts in MDR.

Just coming off ship, what did you notice with shorts being worn?

[dani negreanu]

My in-laws are booked in an inside (we’re in a balcony), and they’re worried that the room might be too small.

Were u in an inside by any chance?

Thanks, 

[Fa-Li]

How was the internet?  Were you able to at least access email?

[Palm City Cruiser]

How was the dining room service and meal b quality? Leaving Friday.

[Crism]

1 hour ago, Fa-Li said:

How was the internet?  Were you able to at least access email?

 

I was on Jan 5 and while it was slow, we could email and text without any issues.

[GMoney]

I agree with the above. Internet is very slow. I had surf and stream, but couldn't stream most ofd the time. I knew I wouldn't be able to. The network was unavailable on the morning of the last sea day. 

[GMoney]

3 hours ago, gdy0354 said:

There is another post currently on wearing shorts in MDR.

Just coming off ship, what did you notice with shorts being worn?

 Hope the OP doesn't mind others responding. I was on the same sailing. There were definitely people wearing shorts to the MDR. 

[OceansOfTravels]

7 hours ago, gdy0354 said:

There is another post currently on wearing shorts in MDR.

Just coming off ship, what did you notice with shorts being worn?

 

Lots of people wore shorts to the MDR. Not gym shorts, but oftentimes, men, particularly those between 15-25, wore flat front khaki shorts. I felt like this was common amongst many passengers. However, on formal nights, no one wore shorts. I felt like the formal occasion was observed very well by the passengers. 

[OceansOfTravels]

8 hours ago, retired dude said:

could you tell me if the following were still entertaining on the ship this past week, as we sail this fri...Midnight avenue a great cover band, finis henderson, the hott band at the pool, horizon motown band from detroit???thanks much

 

None are ringing a bell ... sorry! I know they did announce, though, that whatever band we had was leaving after our cruise, so there is a new band on the ship right now.

[OceansOfTravels]

7 hours ago, dani negreanu said:

My in-laws are booked in an inside (we’re in a balcony), and they’re worried that the room might be too small.

Were u in an inside by any chance?

Thanks, 

Nope, sorry! I had a panoramic OV, which I found to be quite large. Sorry!

[OceansOfTravels]

7 hours ago, Fa-Li said:

How was the internet?  Were you able to at least access email?

 

I heard it was pretty slow. A member of my party, as well as people I met throughout the trip, complained about not being able to do easy things, like check emails or search Google, much less post on social media. However, I found these claims odd, as I noticed many (and I mean many; at least 2-3 per day) people carrying out full video chats/facetimes to family, which means the wifi had to have been strong. So, I'm not sure if it had to do with the package chosen or what, but I heard reports of both.

[GMoney]

7 hours ago, dani negreanu said:

My in-laws are booked in an inside (we’re in a balcony), and they’re worried that the room might be too small.

Were u in an inside by any chance?

Thanks, 

I was in an interior and loved it, but I was by myself...

[berbician]

13 minutes ago, OceansOfTravels said:

 

I heard it was pretty slow. A member of my party, as well as people I met throughout the trip, complained about not being able to do easy things, like check emails or search Google, much less post on social media. However, I found these claims odd, as I noticed many (and I mean many; at least 2-3 per day) people carrying out full video chats/facetimes to family, which means the wifi had to have been strong. So, I'm not sure if it had to do with the package chosen or what, but I heard reports of both.

I was just on Explorer and had the surf and stream. It was horrible never really worked much at all extremely slow to stream anything at all. . One day I think it was the last sea day it was totally down for a bit. 
Royal should be ashamed to offer that service to guests just not good at all !