Queen of my Heart Posted Thursday at 11:39 AM #1 Share Posted Thursday at 11:39 AM I'm joining the Explora 1 cruise between Athens and Barcelona between 31 October and 10 November. I have only done one ocean cruise before (Seabourn) and am a solo traveller. Has anyone got any tips for me about the ship, excursions and/or the cruise line? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrivateIdaho Posted Thursday at 01:41 PM #2 Share Posted Thursday at 01:41 PM If you have specific questions, I’d be glad to answer. We will do our 4th EJ cruise in Dec. We are huge fans. Beautiful ships, amazing food, we really enjoy the gym and the included steam and sauna areas of the spa. Entertainment is what you would expect on a smaller ship. More lounge type shows which we like in a lovely venue. So many pools and hot tubs to choose from! Speciality restaurants are outstanding, especially Sakura and their amazing sushi bar. Excursions are pretty standard, perhaps a bit pricey. My negatives: need more bar seating, better ice cream selections and they need to bring back the Moët Champagne. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johng75370 Posted Thursday at 07:28 PM #3 Share Posted Thursday at 07:28 PM (edited) 8 hours ago, Queen of my Heart said: I have only done one ocean cruise before (Seabourn) and am a solo traveller. We've done a couple of Explora sailings and a bunch of Seabourn. Both are great in their own ways, just different (Explora aims to be a resort hotel, Seabourn aims to be a luxury cruise). In terms of differences from Seabourn, here's a few: - no Officer-hosted tables or much interaction with the ship's officers on Explora - Explora has a "solo host" and solo activities (same person who hosts other groups like LGBTQ+ or Friends of Bill) - no special food orders or changing menus on Explora - no unlimited caviar 24/7 on Explora (just a few specific menu items that contain caviar, but no caviar for purchase) - fewer entertainment or guest speaker options on Explora - Much nicer/newer/bigger "hard product" on Explora as @PrivateIdaho highlighted - More pool/hot tub options, but prefer SB's service around the pool (chair massages, cold fruit on sticks, etc). - Excursions on Explora are more expensive and less certain to run than SB; can't use OBC on Explora for excursions you've booked in advance. - Spa on Explora much bigger/modern than SB, but treatments are more expensive. - SB has "signature events" like caviar in the surf or marina day or evening at Ephesus - SB has a loyalty program, Explora does not - Explora can have more people (~900 vs SB's 450 or 600) FWIW, my brother was a solo traveler on Explora II recently and had a fantastic time. Congrats on giving Explora a try; please share your experience after you sail. Edited Thursday at 07:45 PM by johng75370 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisr Posted Thursday at 07:34 PM #4 Share Posted Thursday at 07:34 PM No special orders and no caviar? So is there caviar for purchase? Which restaurants are open for breakfast and do they have things such as Avocado Toast or would that be a special order and not be able to be ordered? I love Seabourn and love that there is always a bar person circulating to take drink orders. Do you have to get up and go to a bar to get a drink (the horror) or do you flag down a waiter….hmm I mean host. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare uktog Posted Thursday at 08:36 PM #5 Share Posted Thursday at 08:36 PM Avocado toast is available everywhere including room service. You will have no problem getting drink service - they’re over eager you won’t even have sat down and gathered your breath before they pounce on you. There is no caviar for purchase 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisr Posted Thursday at 09:19 PM #6 Share Posted Thursday at 09:19 PM 42 minutes ago, uktog said: Avocado toast is available everywhere including room service. You will have no problem getting drink service - they’re over eager you won’t even have sat down and gathered your breath before they pounce on you. There is no caviar for purchase Thanks. I guess I will have to suffer through a week without caviar LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gail gelber Posted Friday at 12:25 AM #7 Share Posted Friday at 12:25 AM My husband and I will also be on this cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saminina Posted Friday at 12:50 AM #8 Share Posted Friday at 12:50 AM 5 hours ago, johng75370 said: - Explora can have more people (~900 vs SB's 450 or 600) So true. Also true that SB will go out with at least 85% capacity. Unlikely Explora goes at 60% 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen of my Heart Posted yesterday at 11:35 AM Author #9 Share Posted yesterday at 11:35 AM Thank you all for your replies. Can I ask what a resort hotel vs cruise experience is? This is only my second ocean cruise as my husband and I used to do villa/home swap holidays and I've only ventured into cruising since he died. Also, are any events put on for solo travellers? Seabourn offered a daily dinner hosted by a member of crew or guest speaker, but nothing further as far as I know. Regarding dis/embarkation I think I read that someone said that there was little assistance from the ship's crew? They don't seem to offer the door to door experience of Seabourn so is it the case that you're on your own until you cross the threshold? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare uktog Posted yesterday at 12:09 PM #10 Share Posted yesterday at 12:09 PM Yes unlike Seabourn you are on your own until you cross the threshold and then when you cross it when you leave. However a good travel agent and arrange the missing elements of door to door experiences. I noted a couple of solo events advertised but am not aware of nightly hosted experiences. I did see several people dining solo but that might have been out of choice. Given the multinational guest list it will be easier to connect with others if you also speak a language in addition to English. Even as a couple we found we did not have the same interaction with other guests as we’ve had on other ships over dinner or in the bars We also find excursions good places to connect with others but unfortunately our excursions never happened. Hope you have a good opportunity to interact with others onboard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sololux Posted yesterday at 01:34 PM #11 Share Posted yesterday at 01:34 PM 1 hour ago, Queen of my Heart said: Thank you all for your replies. Can I ask what a resort hotel vs cruise experience is? This is only my second ocean cruise as my husband and I used to do villa/home swap holidays and I've only ventured into cruising since he died. Also, are any events put on for solo travellers? Seabourn offered a daily dinner hosted by a member of crew or guest speaker, but nothing further as far as I know. Regarding dis/embarkation I think I read that someone said that there was little assistance from the ship's crew? They don't seem to offer the door to door experience of Seabourn so is it the case that you're on your own until you cross the threshold? That’s why I was thinking of using Blacklane for the taxi from the ship to the airport, booking well in advance. I think some of the cruise lines use this taxi company and their website makes it clear that they operate globally. Perhaps some of the CC’s can provide input. I suspect they won’t be much cheaper than if the taxi was ordered by the ship though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare uktog Posted yesterday at 02:09 PM #12 Share Posted yesterday at 02:09 PM Blacklane are certainly thought of as a very reliable company in the UK in relation to the services they provide at UK airports. As with Welcome Pickups whom we also use, they are only as good as the in-house franchise in that country but they do have pretty high standards overall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiseCrew123 Posted 23 hours ago #13 Share Posted 23 hours ago @Sololux. We were a couple but found the quizzes to be a great way to meet other people . There were several solos in our 5pm quiz team 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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