Explorer Live Now And Then

[debalex]

Good morning, Suzanne!

 

We are all waiting to hear how it's going! We know that you and the Explorer are just fine, but we need confirmation. LOL

 

Back home tomorrow, hang in there!

[ontheopenseas]

aqhacruiser, I've so enjoyed reading about your ocean adventure! Thanks for taking the time to share with us. Your positive attitude is quite refreshing. I'm so glad that you have been able to make the best out of your situation and still enjoy yourself. You must be a wonderful travelling companion! Best wishes for a safe return, seems the captain is doing an amazing job and you are certainly in good hands! I hope you have a happy and not too rocky last day of cruising!!!

[HappyFamilyNJ]

Hey Suzanne & Explorers!

 

How's it going this morning? We'd love an update!

 

I'm departing on the Explorer tomorrow (hopefully) ... RCCL's website as of right now says that you'll be on time, I hope that's the case for all of our sakes!

 

Thanks for posting, I've now got one more thing on my to do list for today... get BONINE! I've never gotten seasick before (knock WOOD) but there's a first time for everything...:( Oh well, as long as I get on that ship tomorrow I'll be happy!

 

Hope you at least get to enjoy your last day on the Explorer and saying a little prayer for you all....

[mlbtange]

The cookies are in the Promenade Cafe and also the Windjammer.

 

Dee

 

AND room service!!!! :p

[sea-cruise]

I'm sending checking in on you who are aboard. Sending good vibes your way...(not that you need vibrations adding to the rocking ). ;)

Keep safe...We can't wait to hear word from you.

[MrPete]

Well, the winds have finally started kicking up here in NY. Wife just called and said she had a hard time crossing the Tappan Zee.

 

Hopefully you'll stay just south of the storm, but it sounds like it gonna be a doozy.

 

Looks like in gonna be one of those inside days.

[mlbtange]

Thanks KJ and Lynn for weather reports at home. I wouldn't care if we came HOME to a few feet of snow at this point! :D Yes, it's a requirement to be insane to be an IOS member LOL! You better LOVE storms at sea too! :D

I've been in a few bad ones on this ship but Noel is pushing the envelope here!

 

Oh Suzanne!!!! You and Christie and the others are in my thoughts and prayers all the time!!!! Please just get home safely!!!!!

Uhhhhh - BTW - when I said about how much I would really like to go on a cruise with you - I'm rethinking that!!!!! Just kidding, just kidding!!!!! :p

[sea-cruise]

Well, the winds have finally started kicking up here in NY. Wife just called and said she had a hard time crossing the Tappan Zee.

 

Hopefully you'll stay just south of the storm, but it sounds like it gonna be a doozy.

 

Looks like in gonna be one of those inside days.

We've been on the Tappen Zee when the wind whips up the river...Yikes! :eek:

[mlbtange]

7pm update

 

The Captain announced the following about 15 minutes ago. We did turn a bit to avoid the weather and we are now at our farthest from Noel. However to avoid this storm completely would put us at sea a couple of days so we are once again traveling on Noel's GOOD SIDE in order to keep our scheduled arrival in Bayonne on Sunday. SO in my opinion this means we are in for a nasty night basically. It is formal night and the Captain suggested that ladies do NOT wear high heels and for us all to use the handrails on stairs and in hallways and to be very careful going outside at all due to gusts of wind. We are now experiencing very rough seas and motion so I don't think formal night is on anyones priority list right now! We certainly were not going to begin with and headed for a relaxing ( HA! ) meal in the Windjammer this evening. Well normally it would be relaxing.....tonight it's just going to be the goal of walking from point A to point B as we are now getting hammered with very strong winds that is causing the entire ship to shake violently and pitch. The Captain will give us another update of weather tomorrow morning he said but they are watching Noel very closely but as of now her tract is stable.

 

Suzanne - Just pull the drapes and call room service!!!!!

:eek:

[sea-cruise]

I'm checking in on you who are aboard. Sending good vibes your way...(not that you need vibrations adding to the rocking ). ;)

Keep safe...We can't wait to hear word from you.

 

Is anyone else having trouble correcting their own posts this morning? Maybe it's my computer. The only way I can do it is to quote my own post. Getting white screens (and stalling like mad).

[LuvMyVette]

Suzanne & Others on EX:

Hope all of you made it through the night. Really curious to know how all of you are doing. You had one heck of a cruise thanks to Noel but hopefully you made the best of it and had a blast.

 

Any updates would be appreciated. Many of us are worried about all of you!

Enjoy your last day and stay safe!

Sea ya!

[LuvMyVette]

Dall:

HeyLetsParty - Hello to you too. I must admit, its pretty rare to see a poster from Maine. I know lots of people who cruise and they are computer literate - where are they all? Oh, they must have a life and not hang around the boards like I do. lol

Great to hear from you! I've only seen a handful of CC members from Maine since I've been on these boards. It's very rare and I usually will say hi to them. ME is wonderful and DH/I love traveling up there to our timeshare. We met some great people over the years and enjoy the peace/relaxation. Love the "laid back" attitude. Wish NJ was like that! LMAO You definitely have a life being on these boards. Just think of how much knowledge you'll gain prior to a cruise!!! :)

Sea ya!

[sha88]

Hello, all. We have to return our computer modem by Noon, so won't be able to post later. Last night was VERY rocky, woke up several times and finally locked the balcony door, too.

 

There is actually sun out right now, but it is very rough seas and very, very, windy.

 

Okay, off to play final bingo, we'll be walking very funny today!!

 

Thanks for all the good words. I am sure Suzanne will give you a great detailed account of all the stuff that is going on.

 

See ya later, Suzanne.

 

Shoo

[Ocean Boy]

This morning I was working out and there are TVs in the room and of course the weather report kept talking about the storm. And I realized that everytime I heard an update my first thought was... where is Explorer and how is everyone doing aboard her.

 

Then I started to think about this whole internet thing. Day after day you sit here talking (writing) with people who you don't really know but in some way you do kind of know. Then you reach a point where you start becoming concerned about how they are and whether or not they are ok. What a rather odd on phenomenom. I know our ship will get everyone home safe.

 

OK, that was my dive into the phylisophical depths of my head for today....

 

It is miserable outside today. Time to fire up the microsoft flight simulator. I think I shall fly to Princess Juliana airport on St. Maarten today.....:) :) :)

[Seaworthy01]

All this talk about the rough weather, I'm sure the Captain is more than qualified and experienced to get her home safe! It's not the first time for this kind of thing to happen!

[debalex]

Hello, all. We have to return our computer modem by Noon, so won't be able to post later. Last night was VERY rocky, woke up several times and finally locked the balcony door, too.

 

There is actually sun out right now, but it is very rough seas and very, very, windy.

 

Okay, off to play final bingo, we'll be walking very funny today!!

 

Thanks for all the good words. I am sure Suzanne will give you a great detailed account of all the stuff that is going on.

 

See ya later, Suzanne.

 

Shoo

 

Oh thanks for the update -- we have all been thinking about everyone on the ship. Hope everyone had their bonine. :)

 

We never thought there would be any sort of problem, we have just been kind of living the storm with you guys. LOL

[Ocean Boy]

we have just been kind of living the storm with you guys. LOL

 

Well, I'm pretty much living the storm right here!

[crisperjr]

I see on RCCL's web site that Explorer has had to reduce speed due to high winds and is now expected to arrive at Cape Liberty Sunday at 3pm. They are advising the Nov 4th cruisers not to arrive at the terminal until 4pm.

 

Oliver

[MrPete]

Oh goody. Now we get to start reading once again people looking for compensation for the missed hours for a good safety decision.

[JJSMaine]

It is miserable outside today. Time to fire up the microsoft flight simulator. I think I shall fly to Princess Juliana airport on St. Maarten today.....:) :) :)

 

 

Here is another Mainer on the boards... I've been lurking for years, since 99 even... check out my Triumph review from then.. labeled as coming from JJS.

 

I too have been following along with this cruise as we 3, STBW, DD and myself are on the 1/28/08 sailing.

 

Thanks to those that take the time to post from sea.. I tried one time but never seems to have enough time to sit down and type it all out... however, if it gets interesting on our trip, I'll be apt to check in and post something.

 

Feeling the big ship in heavy seas is a sensory experience best recalled from the stablility of mother earth under the feet!

 

OceanBoy - just built a computer for a retired cust... 2! ( count em) $500+ video cards, a quad core INtel, 8GB Ram, and 4 Hard drives ina striped mirrored array... it takes a 1600 Watt power supply to run it and it consumes 650 watts at running idle... all for flight simulator... he got a 27 flat panal, and will be running with two monitors...:D what a toy.. over $5k for the machine alone...:D

 

It just strated to rain here, and the weather service is calling for rain and wind with gusts to 60-70... RichBum is looking at even higher winds...

 

cheers All...

[JJSMaine]

This morning I was working out and there are TVs in the room and of course the weather report kept talking about the storm. And I realized that everytime I heard an update my first thought was... where is Explorer and how is everyone doing aboard her.

 

 

 

Then I started to think about this whole internet thing. Day after day you sit here talking (writing) with people who you don't really know but in some way you do kind of know. Then you reach a point where you start becoming concerned about how they are and whether or not they are ok. What a rather odd on phenomenom. I know our ship will get everyone home safe.

 

OK, that was my dive into the phylisophical depths of my head for today....

 

It is miserable outside today. Time to fire up the microsoft flight simulator. I think I shall fly to Princess Juliana airport on St. Maarten today.....:) :) :)

 

 

 

THIS IS NOT MY POST IT IS A SW ERROR..jjs

[aqhacruiser]

It's 12:10pm and I was hoping for a full report from the Captain before posting but he just made a brief one a few minutes ago saying he'd be back in an hour with more details on the weather. We are in 20 ft seas at the moment and nearest land mass is Cape Hatteras about 300 miles away. We had a VERY rough night and I do not think there was anything on this ship that was not shaking. This morning we woke up to brighter skies and I can still see an occasional patch of blue now and it was calmer this morning but the swells are huge again now so getting rocked badly again. As far as I know right now we are still on schedule to dock tomorrow but I'll try to confirm that after Captain gives an update in an hour. It is odd he spoke so briefly at noon but Noel is a storm to watch so he may be waiting for more information. It is becoming very tiring to walk around as it's so unsteady. I see by CNN the storm is moving up New England Coast late this afternoon/evening and it remains an extra tropical storm which is not good for us with the high winds. Sun is peeking thru heavy clouds so at least that's something! If we could only stop the huge swells we'd be doing good! Of course this stretch of ocean is normally rough to begin with so Noel is just adding to it. BBL

NEW UPDATE 1:30 PM

Ok, here's the scoop. We had to turn last night and slow down to stay out of harms way. Thank God because last night was bad enough as it was! Anyway because of the severity of Noel it has delayed us and the Captain announced our ESTIMATED arrival in Bayonne will be Approx. 3pm. He said it was impossible to give an exact time due to wind speed and heavy seas but he did say sea conditions SHOULD improve overnight but until than it will be rough. I'm sorry that the next group will have to wait for us to return but this storm is not fun for us either and I would have loved to be in Bayonne MUCH earlier but I know there is nothing we can do about the weather and as you know Noel is still a dangerous storm and they will continue to watch it.

Hi Terri and Shoo! :D

We are almost packed now so I do not know if I'll post later or not but if there is any change in plans I will try to. Our tip envelopes and luggage tags arrived this morning and the tags are pink so we are first off the ship! Yay!:D People are being told to make changes to their departure plans now so everyone will be busy calling or using computers soon to do so. So if you do not hear from me that may be why!

[aqhacruiser]

Then I started to think about this whole internet thing. Day after day you sit here talking (writing) with people who you don't really know but in some way you do kind of know. Then you reach a point where you start becoming concerned about how they are and whether or not they are ok. What a rather odd on phenomenom. I know our ship will get everyone home safe.

 

OK, that was my dive into the phylisophical depths of my head for today....

 

It is miserable outside today. Time to fire up the microsoft flight simulator. I think I shall fly to Princess Juliana airport on St. Maarten today....

 

 

 

 

 

THIS IS NOT MY POST IT IS A SW ERROR..jjs

 

Interesting glitch and observation but the fact is many of us do actually know each other in person on this thread as we've sailed together and also have future cruises together! :D

I appreciate everyone's concern about all of us as we sail thru Noel AGAIN and back home. :)

[aqhacruiser]

Oh goody. Now we get to start reading once again people looking for compensation for the missed hours for a good safety decision.

 

I hope not! I wouldn't wish 3 days of this storm on anyone not to mention getting hit with the blasted thing on the way to the Caribbean! A few people I know have commented to me they were not even able to enjoy their balconys that much due to the weather on this cruise and several were ill. I've sailed in a few storms on the Explorer and I understand why the decision was reached to keep us out of the direct path of Noel. This ship is really getting hammered by the gale winds and heavy seas, many passengers are sick, and it's just tiring after awhile. They only had one small front section of windjammer open last night as so many were sick and staying in their cabins. According to our cruise tickets nothing about our cruises is ever guaranteed ( including the condition of the ship!) so people can complain but it won't do them any good and ALL cruiselines are the same when it comes to cruise contracts. I just hope they have MUCH better weather on their cruise! :)

My balcony door was locked with handle half way up not all the way and we just got hit portside with such a jolt it swung my balcony door wide open! I used all my strengthy to pull it closed and lock it AGAIN this time with handle all the way up! DH just went down to the casino and now I am going to go find him and smack him just for general purposes as that did startle me for a few minutes! LOL:D

[4merlurker]

THanks for the live blog - I've been following daily!

Stay safe everyone! You'll be home and on dry land soon...

 

~Connie