M/V Explorer

[foxrunroad]

Thinking of using this ship for an Antarctic trip this winter. Looking for general feedback. Also, how long did it take to cross the Drake's Passage. Understand rough usually. Best time to go? Were excursions included in price and how many?

[eleanordew]

They are two different ships. As you probably know by now, the MS Explorer was the cruise ship that sank off Antarctica.

 

The MV Explorer is the ship run by Semester At Sea, which is fine and getting ready to set sail for its spring 2008 voyage right about now.

[insidevoicemp]

Thinking of using this ship for an Antarctic trip this winter. Looking for general feedback. Also, how long did it take to cross the Drake's Passage. Understand rough usually. Best time to go? Were excursions included in price and how many?

 

Marco Polo is doing still 3 cruises.

Drake passage crossing with them is smooth as she is biggest currently operating ship in there...

[whyme]

They are two different ships. As you probably know by now, the MS Explorer was the cruise ship that sank off Antarctica.

 

The MV Explorer is the ship run by Semester At Sea, which is fine and getting ready to set sail for its spring 2008 voyage right about now.

 

 

Have you eevr sailed this ship ??? Looking into the Nassua into the Amazon??? drop me a not eif you could ..WHYME71842@AOL.COM

[az.kuehn]

We are also thinking about booking the Nassau to Amazon....Dec. 18th sailing and would like any info about the ship. Seems like it is hard to get info. and there are no brochures! Thanks

[ghstudio]

I have also discovered the explorer and the trips look interesting...but I really can't find anyone who has been on the ship. I know there is no casino and no photographers (now there's a plus)..but how is the food? Even a bigger question is how much to the field excursions cost...they aren't even priced yet for the May 2008 trip.

[eleanordew]

Hi, all - I was on the MV Explorer this past summer. I wrote a longish message in another thread on cruise critic: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=82706

 

It's a great opportunity, but there are certain differences from a normal cruise. You have to remember that the Explorer is essentially a college campus. In fall and spring there are 800+ undergraduates on board.

 

Re: Photographers - Yes, there is a photographer and a videographer, but it's not like the photogs on a cruise ship. They don't really expect you to buy the photographs -- they are merely documenting the voyage.

 

Also, the information on the field trips is on the Semester At Sea website. If you are interested, email me at eleanordew@aol.com and I will give you details. - Jean

[eleanordew]

PS - The food is basically a step up from a college cafeteria, but not haut cuisine.

[Woofhounds]

We are also thinking about booking the Nassau to Amazon....Dec. 18th sailing and would like any info about the ship. Seems like it is hard to get info. and there are no brochures! Thanks

 

My husband [Jim] and self [ Eydie] will be on this cruise . Would love any imformation.

[Bellingham Belle]

My DH and I are flying to Nassau on Sat (5/10/08) to board the M/V Explorer. I know what you mean about not being able to find out much about the ship. I have been reading some positive comments on another thread from a man who is on board for 39 days. He has been on since 4/3/08 and I think must be getting off the day we board. The thread is "Wine and food on the M/V explorer" and the poster writing is "patkusps". When we get back I will try to get some answers for you. This is apparently not his first trip on this ship and he has already booked a 30 day cruise next year so they must do a pretty good job. From everything I've read this is a little different from ordinary cruises and we think it sounds like it will be a great experience. I'll try to let you kmow in a few weeks.:p

[Sunstone]

Why can't they be more creative with the names.

 

Two new Explorer ships will be out soon.

 

Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic Explorer will arrive Sept 30th in New York 130 passengers

 

American Safari Cruises Explorer will debut Memorial Day weekend in Seattle and then start her trip up to Alaska. 32 passengers.

 

I will be at both exciting ceremonies.

 

Note, neither ships are brand new but torn down and rebuilt.

[Florida Library Lady]

Hello,

We just returned from our first Transatlantic cruise and are checking the web to book our next trip. The MV Explorer and the Enrichment Voyages sound very interesting and we'd love to know what you think of the ship.

 

Please do post your comments when you return.

 

Best Regards from Florida

My DH and I are flying to Nassau on Sat (5/10/08) to board the M/V Explorer. I know what you mean about not being able to find out much about the ship. I have been reading some positive comments on another thread from a man who is on board for 39 days. He has been on since 4/3/08 and I think must be getting off the day we board. The thread is "Wine and food on the M/V explorer" and the poster writing is "patkusps". When we get back I will try to get some answers for you. This is apparently not his first trip on this ship and he has already booked a 30 day cruise next year so they must do a pretty good job. From everything I've read this is a little different from ordinary cruises and we think it sounds like it will be a great experience. I'll try to let you kmow in a few weeks.:p

[Woofhounds]

looking forward to any imformation - was there a self service laundry on board ? thanks Eydie

[Bellingham Belle]

We are in Honduras at the present time, our 4th full day on board. So far things have been great. There is no self serve laundry, the charge for a bag of laundry,folded is $5.00, $8.00 ironed. Haven't used it yet but will be soon. Prices are much cheaper than the other cruise lines we've used. Forty-one cruises (last two, Nov., 3 week T.A. on Prinsendam, Mar ., 2 week T.A. on Jade) Cokes or bottled water $1.00 ea., you can bring on your own wine or buy it in port, I even heard a woman say she had bought a bottle of Contreau ( sp.?) and no questions asked. The field trips (tours) seem a little less expensive then we've been on before. The dinners have been very good. Open seating except for two special occasions but no long wait any night so far. The breakfasts and lunches are buffet and not the greatest selections but we aren't starving. Each night there are at least 3 selections, great fish, meat and usually a pasta.

[Woofhounds]

you can bring on your own wine or buy it in port, I even heard a woman say she had bought a bottle of Contreau ( sp.?)

NO CORKAGE FEES ? when we were on celebrity last year the fees were $25.00 . hope you are having a wonderful time Eydie

[Bellingham Belle]

I checked today with a waitress and she didn't know but immediately said she would find out. She came back and said "No corkage fee on this ship." I know that on NCL there is a charge of $15.00 for each bottle even if you are having it in your cabin. We are still having a great time and have not really heard any "gripes" from fellow passengers. It is a different kind of cruise--no photographers taking your picture every minute hoping you'll pay close to $20.00 for the pics. There are other changes too, no mints on the pillow, no casino, no smoking except a spot, I think, on an outside deck, every one seems O.K. with all of this. We had some laundry back today, it was wash and fold and my husbands polo shirts were all clean and folded.:)

[Woofhounds]

thanks for all the imformation - can live without my picture being taken - mints on pillow and no smoking. Glad you are having such a good time. was a little concered as this is a different cruise then any other that we have been on [17] .

[Woofhounds]

other question : are you dressing for dinner ?

[Bellingham Belle]

The dress for dinner is very casual. We usually wear long pants and a nice Tee shirt but lots of folks come in shorts even in the main dining room where we always eat dinner.(We like the tablecloth and cloth napkin.) We bought a blazer and shirt and tie for DH. He wore it for the Captains Welcome Dinner. I think he may wear a silk casual shirt and blazer for the Captains farewell dinner as there weren't many ties before. I just wore nice slacks and slightly dressy top. There were a few ladies in dressier outfits but only a few. They say "semi-formal" but a few people were pretty "informal". There still is never a line for the dinners, at least in the main dining room. The same meal is always served in both dining rooms but the hours for the buffet are usually longer. Today we were late returning from an independent tour and called room service. It is very limited but we asked for two sandwiches and a couple of cookies. We couldn't believe how fast it arrived my husband hadn't left to go up to get two cokes from the pool bar yet. There weren't two cookies either instead, there were two plates with three kinds of cookies (6) on eqch plate. We were expecting a "bare bones" cruise and have been pleasantly surprised as have many of our fellow passengers. We are even thinking about joining the Dec.cruise to the Amazon.:D

[Woofhounds]

as my personal imformation person - thank you so much for answering all my questions. Hope you do join us in Dec.

other question : is it possible to get any sugar free foods ?

[eleanordew]

Hi - You need to remember that this is essentially a college campus. If you are voyaging during the intersessions, it's more like a normal cruise, but if you voyage during the terms (fall, spring, and summer), you are an academic community (like Thomas Jefferson's "academical village"), and it has a different feeling.

 

The food is a step up from a college cafeteria. I did not see anything specifically "sugar free" on my voyage, but they have a reasonable variety.

 

Speaking of casual dining -- As the voyage goes on, the students start coming to breakfast in their jammies and slippers. It's quite amusing.

 

Re: alcohol. The point is, the students are not allowed to bring alcohol on board. (They are allowed a certain alcohol allowance, but they must buy what is available on the ship, usually beer.) The adult passengers, faculty, and staff can buy cocktails, and bottles of wine and liquor (and cans of beer), in the faculty lounge. If you want to bring wine or liquor on board, you are asked to keep it discrete.

 

My 76-year-old mother loved it. She's raring to go again! -- Jean

[Bellingham Belle]

We had such a good experience on the May Cruise, we signed up for the same cabin on the Amazon Cruise. Several couples on board said we'll be seeing you in Dec.! Looking forward to meeting some of you I've met on this thread. I'm going to try to get a roll call going for the trip. I tried it for the May Cruise but never got any replies. :mad: Hoping for better luck this trip. Jeanne

[Woofhounds]

where is your roll call ?

[rascalrider]

Bellingham Belle or eleanordew or anyone who might know... how are the accessible issues for a wheelchair or mobility scooter on board? I have foud out that there are 5 handicap cabins on deck 5, but they are already booked. I need to know if my small mobility scooter (37" long x 17" wide)would fit in a standard cabin and have space to turn around, park and plug in to charge.

 

Are there any bump overs into cabins and to outside decks? Could I get into any of the public restrooms? Are there any areas that I could not access due to stairs only? Are the elevators reliable and of a decent size? I am painfully aware of the step-up into the cabin bathroom, but by bringing a half step along, I could manage that with a little struggle. At the buffets, are there crew that will assist with serving and carrying the food trays?

 

Have you seen any wheelchair/scooter users on this ship? And how is tendering handled for w/c in ports if tendering is required. Or is this ship small enough that it is always is able to dock?

 

Any other useful informatiion would also be appreciated.

 

Ruth

[Bellingham Belle]

I did not see any scooters on our trip in May. eleanordew was most helpful when I was looking for information before booking our May trip. She had her e-mail address on another thread and was very helpful. eleanordew@aol.com. She may be able to help you or know someone who can. Good luck, hope you will be able to manage it and that we will be able to meet you on the Dec. trip.:)