Explora 2 vs Crystal Serenity

[Whipsnade]

8 hours ago, mike@sea said:

When were you last on Explora ? How can you say all these things, when none of what you say reflects the actual experience on Explora ! 

Please accept that Explora has evolved ever since you sailed. Period. The staff by the way are excellent. Why would you think that someone who worked at a hotel in Dubai is not qualified enough? And besides, only some of the staff have not worked on ships before. Some even worked on Crystal before. But do not go back, because they have no opportunity to grow on Crystal. On Explora they do.  

We spent the month of Sept on the ship. And part of August. 
what do you mean by “evolved”?

[Whipsnade]

6 hours ago, Stickman1990 said:

I was on Explora at the same time (or at least part of it) as Whipsnade and had a great experience clearly very different to his 

 

I’m over the inaccurate claims about Explora v Crystal so will take a minute to rebut some of them 

 

1. Piano - the claim there are no live pianists on board Explora is absurd - if they never heard Natalia play then they must have not been to many of the lounges on Explora. She is an excellent pianist who was the equal or better of any I’ve heard on Crystal 

 

2. Entertainers - while true they don’t have the ensemble that Crystal have they do have live singers and band and the guest entertainers were of a similar standard as Crystal in fact one on our cruise was an artist Crystal has had several times, Rachel York. Guest entertainers are rarely exclusive to one line - we’ve seen many of the same ones across multiple luxury lines. Entertainment is very subjective - for us it was fine on both and I enjoyed some new material as having seen the production shows on Crystal many times over the years I’m ready for something new 

 

3. Enrichment - There were interesting speakers and programmes on Explora, some very similar to Crystal and equally interesting 

 

4. Dress - It’s just the same as Crystal without some of the formality eg formal nights - just as tidy as I’ve seen on Crystal over the years. Will there be exceptions from time to time, of course just as you will find on every line. I don’t understand the angst that dress violations seem to cause some - what impact does someone have on you that doesn’t comply? Just judge if you must but then get on and enjoy your cruise. I see Silversea made changes to their formal dress code yesterday - the trend is without doubt to less formal attire - no that doesn’t mean shorts and flip flops after 6pm - but it does mean no jackets and ties as mandatory requirements 

 

5. Food - on this one Whipsnade and I are a thousand miles apart - we loved the dining options and delivery in terms of quality on Explora - and rate it very highly. This constant commentary about menus not changing is strange - let’s not forget that on Crystal the menus in Umi Uma, Tastes and Osteria don’t change either (although Osteria does seem to change sometimes at the moment as they try and find dishes that suit guests) - sure Waterside changes and is very good - but Fil Rouge and Med provide a wide range of options between them and The Emporium is in another class again over Crystals marketplace - to be fair they’re different styles and the food in both is good but you don’t get French Oysters and Lobsters or Filet steak and Foie Gras in Marketplace. We are very happy with both lines offerings and have favourites on both 

 

6. Marketplace - both provide great service across the ship - sure Crystal have some crew who have been on that line for many many years, a new line can’t match that but we were very happy with the quality and standards of the Explora crew during our cruise and some even got to know our names but I’m not sure I’d rate service on that alone 

7. Accomodation - with entry level cabins that are 50% larger than Crystals and very well appointed we were very happy. You would need to take an Aquamarine suite on Crystal to get an OT1 level cabin equivalent. I can’t comment on the higher categories except to say that physically they’re lovely on both lines and you get what you pay for 

 

8. Loadings - both lines are sailing well below capacity (and that’s being kind) - I hear numbers re increasing on Crystal when the ships start Alaska and Med seasons over summer and I guess time will tell when Explora returns to the Med. the big challenge for all luxury lines is capturing new customers to expand their base - for Explora I think the challenge is itineraries more than anything (relatively easy to solve with more ships coming online) while for Crystal it’s evolving to attract a new customer who I’m not sure will find the older music and dancing etc to their tastes. Changing that and retaining the fiercely loyal customer base is going to be a challenge. Plus of course Crystal needs to deliver those 4 new ships that have been announced and just when that will happen remains unclear. Both need to understand who they are targeting and then make sure the onboard offering aligns to what they are selling and that it’s delivered to the quality that new luxury cruises are expecting. Of course each line will be different - if they weren’t I’d be amazed as what would then be the point of differentiation? Price? - well that’s a race to the bottom in a commoditised market. So cruisers will make choices based on those differences 

 

9. Whipsnade seems surprised there’d be an up to 40% off sale at Black Friday on Explora - really? What lines don’t have a sale? Some are in constant sale mode eg Seabourn. Some are tightening up on changing bookings with some fare types forfeiting large percentages of deposits or in some cases full payments. As always know what you’re signing up for and expect it to be enforced 

 

As I’ve said several times already we’re very happy on both lines and will have different cruising experiences on both - both equally as good for us. I simply don’t subscribe to the theory that one line is so profoundly better than all others that one wouldn’t sail on certain others given the right circumstances (and price etc) 

I actually agree for the most part with all Stick’s comments. Perhaps they ditched the player pianos since I was on board. Yes, Rachel York seems to live in ships. And we have seen so many of the same production shows we no longer attend. 
Menus in Osteria, Tastes and Umi do not change. So we visit them sparingly. Waterside however changes frequently and every item is well prepared and beautifully presented. In Fils Rouge after five days you have pretty much had it all. 
But there are the little things. Maple syrup is real on Crystal. Butter comes in actual pieces on bed of ice and not in plastic containers or foil wrappers. You only need to ask once for heavy cream on Crystal. Explora is trying to figure out what that is. Crystal gives you fruit knives not butter knives. And so on. This stuff may not be  important to some but it is to us. 
I agree with Stick 100% about Emporium vs Marketplace. Emporium is one of a kind for everything. And then there is bread. Explora has the best bread on the ocean. They have it milled in France from non enriched wheat. Crystal’s bread, like most is “feh”. 
And new ships that Crystal keeps promising? Still promising but no contracts announced so we are years away. And as much as we love Symphony it is 29 years old and that is pretty much the end of useful life at sea no matter how many refurbishments are made. All cabins on Explora are larger than similar cabins on Crystal even those that have doubled in size. 
The thing that turned me off completely was not the race to the bottom pricing that most ships have one way or another it was their outright refusal to gave us the same discount. So we were penalized for our booking on board and being among first longer term cruisers, the very passenger every company salivates over. 
And so it goes. It is good to be all of us here and not in some of the ports we visit   We can debate over lots of silliness and degrees of pampering and qualities of food  and wine. Aren’t we lucky bears!!? 
 

[Whipsnade]

1 hour ago, crickette said:

For us, one key difference is the ship clientele.  EJ has many more travel agents and influencers than Crystal.  Someone that is cruising for business reasons has a totally different persona than someone who is travelling for pure pleasure, and they present themselves differently.  They interact with fellow passengers and crew differently.  Crew and officers respond to them differently.  There are many nuances, and more conspicuous differences, and it is especially noticeable when they are onboard for one segment and we are onboard for 2 or more segments.  Yes, Crystal has brought onboard agents and influencers (I remember one who went by the name of "blonde") but not in the numbers that EJ has seen in its first year.

Cricket is right. Forgot that one. TAs and “influencers” are everywhere and in the best accommodations for free. It is offensive and makes me feel like a chump. And some if them have never booked a cruise. Others have never been on a cruise. The “influencers” are the worst. Prancing and posing. Yikes!!

[Stickman1990]

2 hours ago, crickette said:

For us, one key difference is the ship clientele.  EJ has many more travel agents and influencers than Crystal. 

Let me assure you Crystal has had plenty of TAs cruising with them since the restart

 

We’ve all come across groups of TAs on cruises living it up in the Avenue and the restaurants - and I wasn’t impressed by that. That’s happened since the restart as well. Having said that I know TAs who don’t abuse the invite and used the opportunity to find out about the line and the options.

 

Personally I want my TA to be we informed about the lines I want to consider so they can advise me on what might or might now suit me - and without having been on the ship that’s a lot harder for them to do 

 

I’ve also seen plenty of influencers posting from onboard or attending events on land promoting the line - these are often people who would not fit your typical Crystal guest profile - will their posts result in bookings from their followers? - well only time will tell. The luxury industry is afloat with influencers being used by many brands - it’s hardly surprising that the cruise industry should adopt the same strategy. Now just what influencers one would consider appropriate is open to debate but I suspect we’re not really aware of who actually does influence the target market for these cruise lines (and whether those targets are indeed the same although I suspect there’s considerable cross over)

 

But I do believe Crystal need a substantial new wave of guests coming onboard - and lots of them to backfill the aging guest population, who are typically very loyal, and grow the occupancy rate 

 

Now Explora don’t have the old customer base to maintain but they’re faced with winning new customers from other lines and maybe those new to cruising - that new wave of cruisers that everyone wants. So why wouldn’t they do exactly the same as Crystal (and others) and enlist TAs and Influencers to try to get the word out? Does one seriously expect them not to?
 

So are we debating whether they should do that or how they’ve done it? If it’s the latter I’m sure there will be varying positions on just what number per cruise is acceptable 

 

Let’s keep it in perspective - neither line is one year old yet! They have a big challenge ahead of them to win new customers in sufficient numbers to make them viable 

[Whipsnade]

8 hours ago, Stickman1990 said:

I was on Explora at the same time (or at least part of it) as Whipsnade and had a great experience clearly very different to his 

 

I’m over the inaccurate claims about Explora v Crystal so will take a minute to rebut some of them 

 

1. Piano - the claim there are no live pianists on board Explora is absurd - if they never heard Natalia play then they must have not been to many of the lounges on Explora. She is an excellent pianist who was the equal or better of any I’ve heard on Crystal 

 

2. Entertainers - while true they don’t have the ensemble that Crystal have they do have live singers and band and the guest entertainers were of a similar standard as Crystal in fact one on our cruise was an artist Crystal has had several times, Rachel York. Guest entertainers are rarely exclusive to one line - we’ve seen many of the same ones across multiple luxury lines. Entertainment is very subjective - for us it was fine on both and I enjoyed some new material as having seen the production shows on Crystal many times over the years I’m ready for something new 

 

3. Enrichment - There were interesting speakers and programmes on Explora, some very similar to Crystal and equally interesting 

 

4. Dress - It’s just the same as Crystal without some of the formality eg formal nights - just as tidy as I’ve seen on Crystal over the years. Will there be exceptions from time to time, of course just as you will find on every line. I don’t understand the angst that dress violations seem to cause some - what impact does someone have on you that doesn’t comply? Just judge if you must but then get on and enjoy your cruise. I see Silversea made changes to their formal dress code yesterday - the trend is without doubt to less formal attire - no that doesn’t mean shorts and flip flops after 6pm - but it does mean no jackets and ties as mandatory requirements 

 

5. Food - on this one Whipsnade and I are a thousand miles apart - we loved the dining options and delivery in terms of quality on Explora - and rate it very highly. This constant commentary about menus not changing is strange - let’s not forget that on Crystal the menus in Umi Uma, Tastes and Osteria don’t change either (although Osteria does seem to change sometimes at the moment as they try and find dishes that suit guests) - sure Waterside changes and is very good - but Fil Rouge and Med provide a wide range of options between them and The Emporium is in another class again over Crystals marketplace - to be fair they’re different styles and the food in both is good but you don’t get French Oysters and Lobsters or Filet steak and Foie Gras in Marketplace. We are very happy with both lines offerings and have favourites on both 

 

6. Marketplace - both provide great service across the ship - sure Crystal have some crew who have been on that line for many many years, a new line can’t match that but we were very happy with the quality and standards of the Explora crew during our cruise and some even got to know our names but I’m not sure I’d rate service on that alone 

7. Accomodation - with entry level cabins that are 50% larger than Crystals and very well appointed we were very happy. You would need to take an Aquamarine suite on Crystal to get an OT1 level cabin equivalent. I can’t comment on the higher categories except to say that physically they’re lovely on both lines and you get what you pay for 

 

8. Loadings - both lines are sailing well below capacity (and that’s being kind) - I hear numbers re increasing on Crystal when the ships start Alaska and Med seasons over summer and I guess time will tell when Explora returns to the Med. the big challenge for all luxury lines is capturing new customers to expand their base - for Explora I think the challenge is itineraries more than anything (relatively easy to solve with more ships coming online) while for Crystal it’s evolving to attract a new customer who I’m not sure will find the older music and dancing etc to their tastes. Changing that and retaining the fiercely loyal customer base is going to be a challenge. Plus of course Crystal needs to deliver those 4 new ships that have been announced and just when that will happen remains unclear. Both need to understand who they are targeting and then make sure the onboard offering aligns to what they are selling and that it’s delivered to the quality that new luxury cruises are expecting. Of course each line will be different - if they weren’t I’d be amazed as what would then be the point of differentiation? Price? - well that’s a race to the bottom in a commoditised market. So cruisers will make choices based on those differences 

 

9. Whipsnade seems surprised there’d be an up to 40% off sale at Black Friday on Explora - really? What lines don’t have a sale? Some are in constant sale mode eg Seabourn. Some are tightening up on changing bookings with some fare types forfeiting large percentages of deposits or in some cases full payments. As always know what you’re signing up for and expect it to be enforced 

 

As I’ve said several times already we’re very happy on both lines and will have different cruising experiences on both - both equally as good for us. I simply don’t subscribe to the theory that one line is so profoundly better than all others that one wouldn’t sail on certain others given the right circumstances (and price etc) 

 

[Whipsnade]

15 minutes ago, Stickman1990 said:

Let me assure you Crystal has had plenty of TAs cruising with them since the restart

 

We’ve all come across groups of TAs on cruises living it up in the Avenue and the restaurants - and I wasn’t impressed by that. That’s happened since the restart as well. Having said that I know TAs who don’t abuse the invite and used the opportunity to find out about the line and the options.

 

Personally I want my TA to be we informed about the lines I want to consider so they can advise me on what might or might now suit me - and without having been on the ship that’s a lot harder for them to do 

 

I’ve also seen plenty of influencers posting from onboard or attending events on land promoting the line - these are often people who would not fit your typical Crystal guest profile - will their posts result in bookings from their followers? - well only time will tell. The luxury industry is afloat with influencers being used by many brands - it’s hardly surprising that the cruise industry should adopt the same strategy. Now just what influencers one would consider appropriate is open to debate but I suspect we’re not really aware of who actually does influence the target market for these cruise lines (and whether those targets are indeed the same although I suspect there’s considerable cross over)

 

But I do believe Crystal need a substantial new wave of guests coming onboard - and lots of them to backfill the aging guest population, who are typically very loyal, and grow the occupancy rate 

 

Now Explora don’t have the old customer base to maintain but they’re faced with winning new customers from other lines and maybe those new to cruising - that new wave of cruisers that everyone wants. So why wouldn’t they do exactly the same as Crystal (and others) and enlist TAs and Influencers to try to get the word out? Does one seriously expect them not to?
 

So are we debating whether they should do that or how they’ve done it? If it’s the latter I’m sure there will be varying positions on just what number per cruise is acceptable 

 

Let’s keep it in perspective - neither line is one year old yet! They have a big challenge ahead of them to win new customers in sufficient numbers to make them viable 

The customer that Explora is chasing are the ones that are in their 40s-50a and might spend $15K every other year on a cruise and they might be around for another 30 years. I spend $100K+ a year and expect to be around for 20years. Hmmm. Which customer would you choose to chase??

This argument has been going around in the cruise industry for at least 50 years. And as most of the decisions are made by 30year olds who have a slight disdain for old folks with money many mistakes are often made. 
TAs are one thing and if course you want yours to know what is out there. “influencers” are quite another, often snotty and superior even though not a single one could pay for one night on their own. Ban them all!!

[Stickman1990]

6 minutes ago, Whipsnade said:

The customer that Explora is chasing are the ones that are in their 40s-50a and might spend $15K every other year on a cruise and they might be around for another 30 years. I spend $100K+ a year and expect to be around for 20years. Hmmm. Which customer would you choose to chase??

This argument has been going around in the cruise industry for at least 50 years. And as most of the decisions are made by 30year olds who have a slight disdain for old folks with money many mistakes are often made. 

You know Explora’s business strategy? Interesting they would share that with you 

 

The rest is your opinion - which I don’t agree with so we will just have to agree to disagree 

 

All I ask is that you post factual information going forward - that will save me and others from having to correct your misstatements 

[Whipsnade]

7 minutes ago, Stickman1990 said:

You know Explora’s business strategy? Interesting they would share that with you 

 

The rest is your opinion - which I don’t agree with so we will just have to agree to disagree 

 

All I ask is that you post factual information going forward - that will save me and others from having to correct your misstatements 

I happen to agree with many of your opinions and certainly I am entitled to mine even if they conflict with some of yours. 
 

[Wheelhouse]

6 hours ago, Whipsnade said:

I happen to agree with many of your opinions and certainly I am entitled to mine even if they conflict with some of yours. 
 

Whip, the problem here is that you were a very early traveler on Explora and the experience today is much different from the one that you project. 

 

I get you are unhappy that they didn't discount the more expensive rooms, but there aren't that many available and they were most likely selling well enough that it was unnecessary for the line to drop those fares.  

[saminina]

Has anyone sailed on Explora not figured out their Steinways play with or without?  Good as Natalia might be, she operates at a much lower level than the Korean young lady doing a two week gig on Serenity.  Talent beyond belief was consensus.  Coming from Royal Caribbean.  Not SS, not Celebrity.  RCCL, to which she will return.  Why?  Because she is 25 years old and has a life better lived there.

 

We currently have two favorite lines for North American market.  Both being compared here.

[saminina]

45 minutes ago, Wheelhouse said:

I get you are unhappy that they didn't discount the more expensive rooms, but there aren't that many available and they were most likely selling well enough that it was unnecessary for the line to drop those fares.  

Plus, where else were they to house the influencers?

[Whipsnade]

Well they now have a more expensive cabin they can give away because we canceled three btbs. 
I have just seen a post with a pic of the same bkfst tray we had presented to us five mos ago. Plastic containers covered the dishes. Serve yourself. Looks more like a hospital tray. I am not paying $2K a day for that. Fine for the young discounter pax paying $400 per day. 
So I guess they have not “evolved” very  far.  Certainly not in my direction. 
I do post factual information directly from my own experience. As far as my knowledge of ship marketing goes I have been cruising for fifty years and my wife spent ten years as VP marketing for a major cruise line and i cannot count the nights I listened to strategies to entice younger pax to book out of fear the “fossils” would die off. Well the “fossils”, although a generation older are still around and many of us are trying to spend it before we disappear. Too bad the young marketers, like the old young ones cannot grasp reality. 
I do not wish to offend anyone here but this “fossil” brain can still calculate pretty well what is up and what is down. Experience counts. 

[saminina]

10 minutes ago, Whipsnade said:

 
I do post factual information directly from my own experience.

Over and over.  Subtitle to a song....."the world we knew."

[magnus1977]

Thank you all for your thoughts, really appreciate it🙂

 

It looks like some have «desided» that Crystal is better that EJ and vice verca. I like brand new and luxurious things, I am 46 years old so I guess the EJ suits me a bit better. So I have to deside if the $1500 in difference is «worth» it for a Brand new ship plus bigger cabin and a balcony. I think so… Get $500 obc as well.

 

I have looked at some itineraries, anyone here that have any thoughts of which to choose?

 

EJ 1: Bridgetown Barbados-Fort de France Martinique-Castries St Lucia-St Johns Antigua-San Juan Puerto Rico-sea-sea-Miami

EJ 2: Miami-sea-sea-Road Bay Anguilla-Roseau Dominica-Basse Terre Guadeloupe-Marigot St Martin-San Juan Puerto Rico

EJ 3: San Juan Puerto Rico-Gustavia Sain Barthelemy-St Johns Antigua-Bassererre Saint Kitts and Nevis-Spanish Town Virgin Gorda BVI-sea-sea-Miami

EJ 4: Miami-sea-sea-St Thomas UVI-Road Bay Anguilla-Roseau Dominica-Saint Pierre Martinique-Bridgetown Barbados

 

[Wheelhouse]

21 minutes ago, magnus1977 said:

Thank you all for your thoughts, really appreciate it🙂

 

It looks like some have «desided» that Crystal is better that EJ and vice verca. I like brand new and luxurious things, I am 46 years old so I guess the EJ suits me a bit better. So I have to deside if the $1500 in difference is «worth» it for a Brand new ship plus bigger cabin and a balcony. I think so… Get $500 obc as well.

 

I have looked at some itineraries, anyone here that have any thoughts of which to choose?

 

EJ 1: Bridgetown Barbados-Fort de France Martinique-Castries St Lucia-St Johns Antigua-San Juan Puerto Rico-sea-sea-Miami

EJ 2: Miami-sea-sea-Road Bay Anguilla-Roseau Dominica-Basse Terre Guadeloupe-Marigot St Martin-San Juan Puerto Rico

EJ 3: San Juan Puerto Rico-Gustavia Sain Barthelemy-St Johns Antigua-Bassererre Saint Kitts and Nevis-Spanish Town Virgin Gorda BVI-sea-sea-Miami

EJ 4: Miami-sea-sea-St Thomas UVI-Road Bay Anguilla-Roseau Dominica-Saint Pierre Martinique-Bridgetown Barbados

 

I have your EJ2 and EJ3 booked B2B for next January, with Miami as both the departure and arrival point.  If you are doing only one St Barts and Virgin Gorda are great ports.

[maggie.1008]

EJ number 3. Love St.Barts

[travelberlin]

3 hours ago, saminina said:

Over and over.  Subtitle to a song....."the world we knew."

Not only that, this poster makes generalizations about things that he doesn’t even know. For example „every body at Crystal have got their money back”. He discusses and discusses and wants to have the final word and the absolute truth. Tiring really.

[May B]

19 hours ago, Waltershipman said:

Many wait staff on EJ came from Oceania 

Is that a plus or a minus? In 2014, I can’t think of any great wait-staff on Oceania, but that was almost ten years ago.

[Waltershipman]

57 minutes ago, May B said:

Is that a plus or a minus? In 2014, I can’t think of any great wait-staff on Oceania, but that was almost ten years ago.

A hugh plus 

[Whipsnade]

8 hours ago, travelberlin said:

Not only that, this poster makes generalizations about things that he doesn’t even know. For example „every body at Crystal have got their money back”. He discusses and discusses and wants to have the final word and the absolute truth. Tiring really.

I never said everyone got their money back. I did say everyone COULD  have gotten their money back via EI. Some chose not to do so. Seems strange they would blame new Crystal for that. 

[Lord Haw Haw]

I'm sure you would have a wonderful time on any of the journeys you are looking at, I guess it all depends on if you are cruising for the itinerary or the ship. For me the most striking port on our current journey has been St Lucia with St Barts as a close second.

[Lord Haw Haw]

Virgin Gorda was also very nice.

[mike@sea]

Hey Magnus, the ports are all nice, some more than others. St Barts was one of my favorite. I noticed that the ship will next year partly dock at different ports over this season. That could make a slight difference, e.g Castries being on the other side of the island in St Lucia, not so nice from what I heard. 

Anyway, I think you should look at it from a more practical side. The problem with San Juan and especially Barbados are the very high cost for flights. AA is mostly dominating the market, some UA and AC flights, and that is it. Barbados from Europe is in the hands of BA and VS along with a few Charter flights, think TUI. 
 

Also Hotels in both, SJU and BGI are crazy expensive and not really good. You will want to fly in at least a day early, so that must also be taken into account. I am currently looking at SJU for Feb next year, where my next cruise will end, and I am not impressed to say the least. I will therefore probably head straight back to MIA, overnight there and fly back the next day. MIA is equally expensive , and I would suggest using points if you have any for a hotel brand. Interconti runs at 500$ a night minimum , and although freshly renovated , is not necessarily worth it. 
 

These are my thoughts and experiences. 
 

One last remark, use the ships tours. They are expensive but since you have OBC , that helps and saves you a lot of stress. Most destinations are not necessarily the best place to go on your own. It is not like Europe and some of the islands are quite poor. 

M

[Stickman1990]

On 3/22/2024 at 11:59 PM, saminina said:

Good as Natalia might be, she operates at a much lower level than the Korean young lady doing a two week gig on Serenity.  Talent beyond belief was consensus.  Coming from Royal Caribbean.  Not SS, not Celebrity.  RCCL, to which she will return.  Why?  Because she is 25 years old and has a life better lived there.

Who is the pianist you’re referring to on Crystal Serenity - she’s certainly not on there now and hasn’t been on for at least 3-4 weeks. Maybe she came on as a guest entertainer as opposed to a resident artist in the Cove/Palm Court

 

Anyway my point stands - Explora have excellent live pianists to take advantage of the Steinways - and they even had several Steinway pianists come on and play them  on one of the cruises late last year 

[Waltershipman]

13 minutes ago, Stickman1990 said:

Who is the pianist you’re referring to on Crystal Serenity - she’s certainly not on there now and hasn’t been on for at least 3-4 weeks. Maybe she came on as a guest entertainer as opposed to a resident artist in the Cove/Palm Court

 

Anyway my point stands - Explora have excellent live pianists to take advantage of the Steinways - and they even had several Steinway pianists come on and play them  on one of the cruises late last year 

We were fortunate enough to have sailed on EJ when multiple Steinway virtuoso piano artists were on board performing.  It was truly  fantastic and entertaining.  They combined artistry wit and humor