Just Back from Explorer 5 Day 4/29 - Review

[capnlars]

Just back from a 5-day Explorer cruise. The Explorer is doing two 5-day itineraries before relocating to New Jersey. We are a mid-40's couple, travelling without kids; cruise about 5 times/year, and have been on Monarch, Sovereign, Vision, and Mariner. Overall, it was a good experience, not great - as most of our other trips have been.

 

The Explorer was a nice ship, with a good crew. The crew didn't seem to "connect" as they have on the other ships we've been on. The only crewmembers that really spent time talking with us was the barman in the dining room and the bartender in the 19th hole (usually empty).

 

Day 1: Embarkation

This was our first time at the Port of Miami. We figured it would be a zoo with Freedom, Explorer, and 2 Carnival ships there (figured about 20,000 people on/off that day) - but it was not crowded at all. Pulled in around 11:30am, dropped luggage, parked and were in line to enter in no time. Checkin went very quickly, and we were onboard within 10 minutes or so. Checked out our dining room seating - we had requested a table for 2 - and found the request had been granted. Nice. Went to the Windjammer, which never seemed crowded our entire trip, for lunch. Love the Honey Bang Chicken - too bad they only serve it on day 1. Finished lunch around 12:30 and went exploring. Had a drink at the Aquarium Bar, and in our "good karma" tradition, bought the next couple in line a drink. Asked them to pick another couple during the cruise and do the same thing. It's a nice way to start vacation. Went to our room at 1:00pm. We had an OS, 1320, middle of the hump. We've had the same room on Mariner twice. On the Explorer, it's definitely smaller than on Mariner. We were concerned we'd miss the room on the balcony (balcony on the OS on Explorer is the smallest of all the suites - on Mariner it was about 130 square feet vs 65 square feet on the Explorer), but the way it's laid out it was very private and we enjoyed it a lot. Some of the new Suite Amenities were present - for example the pillow menu and afternoon treates, some were not - we were not contacted before sailing, no wine in room other than what we ordered. No big deal for us. Met our room steward (Leslyn) just before Muster Drill, she brought a body pillow and isotoner pillow from the menu. Muster drill was very quick and painless. The crowd this cruise was very diverse. Average age about 45. We heard many many different languages being spoken. There were very few teens on board. Went to our balcony for sail-away. The sail-away was a bit strange. We pulled away from the dock, and just sat there for about 10 minutes. Then we started drifting backwards towards the Freedom, about 20 feet away from the dock. Drifted for several minutes, and some crewmembers on the Freedom started yelling at crewmembers on our ship, and the bridge crew on the Freedom were all watching out the front - a lot of time on walkie-talkies. I can't tell how close we got, but we did seem to drift backwards a lot. There was still a lot of yelling going on from the rear of the ship and from the Freedom. We then moved back to the dock, and they brought a gangway up and we off-loaded a dozen or so boxes. Then we left as normal. Had dinner in the dining room (as we did every night). We both had entrees that we'd not seen before....Chicken Breast stuffed with prociutto ham and veggies, and Shrimp Ravioli with Lobster sauce....both delicious. We were definitely pleased with the food for the entire journey. The bartender in the dining room took great care of us, and we had the best assistant waiter we'd ever had. The head waiter was very unpleasant to the staff, and seemed to pick out one staff person each night to chastise - in public and not very quietly. You could tell the staff did not like working for this man. When he came to speak with us, he made no eye contact whatsoever, and made the same speech to each table in the same manner. No big deal, just different. Dropped some money in the casino, had a drink at 19th hole bar and went to sleep. The new bedding great!!! I slept like a baby the entire cruise!

 

Day 2: At Sea

We just love when the first and last days are at sea. You really get a chance to unwind and get into "vacation mode". We explored the ship, did some shopping, did some drinking, and spent a lot of time on the balcony. Our balcony location was perfect - right on the middle of the hump, as was very private the way it was laid out. We had one lounger chair, a table, and 2 regular chairs. Later in the day our room steward asked if we would swap one of our regular chairs for a lounger - as she had an elderly couple in another OS with a wheelchair and could not use their lounger. That was great for us, and of course we agreed to the swap. Spent most of the day lounging and relaxing. Booked a future cruise. While we were booking the cruise, there was a constant stream of people interrupting and complaining about everything and anything. Maybe it's a Miami thing. I felt really bad for the Future Cruise Consultant/Loyalty Ambassador. Dropped some more money in the casino that night.

 

Day 3: Labadee

This was our second time at Labadee. Where the ship moored is just beautiful. Our balcony faced the island, and we moored in a little cove there. We did the Ocean Kayak tour which we really enjoyed. It is a very physical tour, be aware if you book it - also take water along. We kayaked around the lagoon, stopping for them to point out landmarks and give history of the places we were seeing. You stop at a little beach for awhile where there are some vendors. It can be a little depressing how poor the country is - and should be understandable how pushy the vendors are. We bought some art work from one of the artists from whom we had purchased our last trip. You can see the new Zip Line, and it looks very cool. Goes from the top of a big hill that is well outside the fenced area, across a bay, and down to a beach. It was not open yet, but looked pretty complete. As this is not a normal stop for Explorer, they didn't know when it would be open. Had lunch on the beach, and tendered back to the ship. Tendering was also quite painless, there were not a lot of lines or waiting.

 

Day 4: Ocho Rios

This was our fist time at Ocho Rios. We signed up for the San San "Ultimate Yachting Experience". If you have a chance to go on this - PASS!!!!!! Total ripoff. I wrote another posting about it and won't go into it here. Suffice it to say that this tour should be avoided. First bad tour we'd ever had. After the "experience", we hopped a cab into town to the craft mart. You can really tell the poverty of the people there, and you don't want to be rude, but it was hard to say "no" so much. We walked back to the ship and checked out some other shops and stuff. There was virtually no security on the Jamaican side, which we found strange. We had read about authorities pulling teenagers out of line for a dog "sniff", etc. The ship's security screening was standard though. We were offered drugs only twice while on shore - which we politely declined. Less hassle from the drug dealers than at the craft mart! As always, there was a couple of late people. They were blowing the ship's whistle, and everyone on our side was out on their balconies watching and cheering the latecomers. Pretty funny. Spent a quiet evening after dinner.

 

Day 5: At Sea

Spent most of the day on the balcony. Did some shopping on board, and watched the carribean parade. Really a very quiet day for us. We did get to go on a bridge tour, which was lots of fun and very enjoyable. The Captain met us and told us stories about pirates actually boarding his ship from his Cargo Ship days as a deckhand - he was very interesting. After that we went to the C&A Diamond reception, which was pretty standard fare. They told us about the ship's new itineraries from New Jersey year-round, and joked about having to get the crew ready for snow - which many have never seen. Since debarkation was scheduled to start at 6:30am, we turned in early after packing and putting our bags out. Around 12:30am we were awakened by lots of noise and lights. I could feel that we weren't moving, either. I recognized the sound as a Dauphin Helicopter (it makes a very distinct whining/screaming noise) that was circling the ship. Eventually the Coast Guard helicopter landed on the ship. Stayed there about 15 minutes and left. We assume it was a medical evac, but no one said anything.

 

Day 6: Debarkation

Again, very painless. We were a little late docking, so our color was called about 6:45am. There was little waiting, under 10 minutes, to get through. Again, not a lot of security could be seen, which was suprising considering we came from Jamaica. We were on the road by 7:30.

 

Overall, we had a wonderful time. For Voyager class ships, we still prefer the Mariner to the Explorer - but that's a personal thing, realizing that the Mariner is much newer.

[capnlars]

Pictures at: http://community.webshots.com/album/558941401CLIYba

[Merion_Mom]

Great review, Larry or Nancy, whichever one of you wrote it!

 

I love the Explorer - she was my first. <sigh> :)

 

Thanks for the excursion warning in Jamaica.

 

Just curious: did you ask for the bridge tour, or was it offered to you?

[kruzerci]

We were on the July 2005 Emily Mariner cruise with you! It was fun looking at your pictures from that cruise, glad you enjoyed Explorer, too.

[Javadelcamp]

Hi capnlars!

 

We were on this cruise with you, and had a great time. At the Captain's talk on Thursday we learned why we left the dock in Miami and then returned. Apparently there was a Make-A-Wish child on the Freedom, and a package that was supposed to be for them was mis-delivered to the Explorer. Because of the special nature of the package and its recipient, the Captains of both ships decided that it was worth it to re-dock in order to get the package onto the correct ship. I thought that was pretty cool.

 

Great review, and I'm glad that you enjoyed yourselves!

[capnlars]

Merion_Mom - We asked in the concierge lounge for a bridge tour. Also asked for an Engineering tour, but was told that wouldn't happen. Maybe when we are Diamond Plus in another couple of cruises.

 

Javadelcamp - Thanks for the info. That makes sense - the boxes were marked from Baxter Healthcare, we knew they were something medical-related. Glad you had a good time, too.

 

KruzRCI - Were you in the CC group? Our thread was quite active for a year after the cruise. Thas was a great cruise too.

[RareBird]

we're in NJ and will be on EOS in 2 weeks on a 5 day to bermuda. I can't wait :)

 

how did you get a bridge tour? We're only gold members (will be platinum after this cruise). Is this for diamond only?

[kruzerci]

KruzRCI - Were you in the CC group? Our thread was quite active for a year after the cruise. Thas was a great cruise too.

 

No, that was before my CC days ;) . That was a great cruise, the best yet.

[GSuitesailing]

Just got back from the same sailing. We booked a GS and a OS for my parents just a few doors from you. I requested the chair and placed the lounger in the hall, those balconies are just so small. Whellchair access is impossible.

 

Just thought you might want to personally thank me...or not! lol

 

Second time on the Explorer, still love the Navigator. The crew was alright, except your stateroom attendent, I thought she was excellent.

 

Ports were nice. Actually enjoyed labadee the most. Ocho, besides the falls was actually sad. Very impoverished.

 

I still can't get over the calmness of the seas, slight seas all week. And 80 degrees in Haiti, it was warmer in Chicago!

 

Well, 160 days till we embark on the Liberty...maybe we'll see you!

[Sylvia and Rich]

Hi Larry and Nancy

Sounds like you had some fun. Nice pictures.

Rich and I are going to book for June 25 2008 to get married on the ship.

Would love to hear from you.

Sylvia and Rich

[juniorsmom]

We were on the 4/29 cruise as well in a grand suite. It was our first cruise in twenty six years. Right now I am suffering from cruise withdrawl syndrome. I am looking at booking another one. I loved the explorer and I had the best time.

[aqhacruiser]

We were on the 4/29 cruise as well in a grand suite. It was our first cruise in twenty six years. Right now I am suffering from cruise withdrawl syndrome. I am looking at booking another one. I loved the explorer and I had the best time.

 

Yup! That's the only way to cure cruise withdrawal! :D Glad to hear you all enjoy the Explorer.:)

[capnlars]

GSuiteSailing - Thanks - we really wanted the second lounger.

 

Rarebird - we just asked. If you don't have concierge access, I'd try either the Loyalty Ambassador or Guest Relations.

 

Sylvia and Rich - That's great you are getting married on Mariner. How fun. Haven't heard from anyone since last year's cruise with Joe, Lila, Kim and Andy. Saw an old posting from Joe about Lila's having another stroke, and he seems to have fallen off the boards since then. Hope everything is OK. We're liking it here in Florida - a little warm for Nancy, but she's getting used to it. Hurricanes vs Fires?....about the same for me.

[Sylvia and Rich]

Hi Larry and Nancy

Glad to see you checked in and saw we read your post. Things are fine here still have the fires :eek: Rich and I moved in to our place a few months ago and love it. Work is busy for the both of us. Glad to see the both of you are having lots of on the ships.

Tell Nancy hi.

Sylvia and Rich

[roadnut]

we're in NJ and will be on EOS in 2 weeks on a 5 day to bermuda. I can't wait :)

 

how did you get a bridge tour? We're only gold members (will be platinum after this cruise). Is this for diamond only?

 

We'll be on that cruise also. Almost skipped this thread, just so I would be surprised as to what I find on the ship when I get on it. Hopefully I (or any of us, for that matter) don't get the same head waiter though!!!!

 

Looking forward to the new bedding options!

[shamrox91]

So glad I stumbled across your post. We're doing a 5 day to Bermuda in October and are staying in the same suite. Our daughter and her boyfriend are going as well and they'll be using the sofa bed. Was that a divider curtain that I saw in your pics? I'm sure we won't be in the room too much but just want to know if we'll be too crowded. Thanks for the pics of the concierge lounge too. Were you in there a lot? Does it get crowded at night before dinner?