"LIVE" from the Explorer 11/04/07

[Valerie]

Thanks for letting cruise with you, and sharing the great pictures. Have a safe trip home.

[Radio]

Hello everyone ! I made it home safe and sound. . . but was ready for a little nap !

 

Here are some pics, while I was leaving Explorer this morning !

 

 

Radio

 

 

The Pool has been refilled awaiting new Passengers !

 

 

 

One of my Favorite places is the Viking Crown Lounge

 

 

 

Many people ask how close the ship is to the Terminal. . .It is WAY too far to Walk !

Here is a layout , showing where some things are at Cape Liberty

 

 

 

Here was my final view of the Explorer of the Seas. . .Until next time ;)

 

 

 

.

[nlcentralchmps03]

Sounds like you had a wonderful time!

 

Glad you are home safe and sound.

[01Sweetpea]

Radio...it has been great "cruising" with you. I have really enjoyed your posts and especially your pictures!

 

Thank you!

[groinky]

Thanks once again for letting me cruise along with you. I will really miss

following your trip.

 

Glad you are home safe and sound.

 

Will be taking my grandson on the Explorer November 23rd for his very first cruise. My husband and I are excited to take him. It will be a whole new cruising experience for us. We may end up with another cruise addict in the family !!!!!

 

Thanks again,

Nancy

[tinker]

Thanks again Radio; really enjoyed cruising with you too! (AND I have no laundry!)

 

Please remind us before your next cruise in January.

[jjtt]

Hi Radio,

 

Glad to hear you made it home safe. Another thanks for your postings and photos this past week. I always enjoy reading about your travels. Our next cruise is in July on Adventure from San Juan. Have you cruised the southern route from San Juan? Once again thanks for taking us with you this past week. :)

[rachelandfamily]

Hello Radio!!

 

Thankyou for the posts during your cruise, I must agree that there is lot of enjoyment to be had from sharing the experiences you have onboard with like minded people!!

During your cruise I have booked on a 12 night cruise to the Southern Caribbean in 2009 and your posts helped with the decision.

Many thanks for your enthusiasm,

 

Rachel

[BuyReallyLow]

The Hot Spots are:

 

• Conference center
  
• Library
  
• Crown and Kettle Pub
  
• Viking Crown Lounge
  
• Cafe Promenade
  
• Solarium

I have also connected at the Pool area (deck 11)

 

Tonight is Formal Lobster night ! ! !

 

 

Radio

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

 

Isn't the concierge lounge also a hotspot?

[Radio]

Isn't the concierge lounge also a hotspot?

 

I think that it is only on Radiance Class. . . . But I did not try to pick it uo in there. On most areas of the ship you can pick up at "RCI POS" Network, but it is a secure network for employees only...

 

 

Radio

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Radio]

Hi Radio,

 

Glad to hear you made it home safe. Another thanks for your postings and photos this past week. I always enjoy reading about your travels. Our next cruise is in July on Adventure from San Juan. Have you cruised the southern route from San Juan? Once again thanks for taking us with you this past week. :)

 

 

No I haven't, but that is one route that I would love to take !

Lots of Caribbean ports on a 7 nt Cruise ! ! Perfect !

 

Have a great cruise, and dont forget to post "Live" ;)

 

Radio

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[jjtt]

No I haven't, but that is one route that I would love to take !

Lots of Caribbean ports on a 7 nt Cruise ! ! Perfect !

 

Have a great cruise, and dont forget to post "Live" ;)

 

Radio

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

 

There are still cabins and time for you and Mrs. Radio to us. :cool:

We have not cruised the Southern caribbean yet either. We have cruised the Western, Eastern, Bahamas, and Beautiful Bermuda! We would love to go back to Bermuda again some day. :D

[CruisinMommas]

Radio,

Thanks for posting your adventures. We will be stepping aboard The Explorer in less than three weeks. We thoroughly enjoy the Explorer. I am going to borrow your port picture of Bayoone and post it on on thread. You learn something new everyday. I am glad you had a great cruise and will be looking foraward to you next Live posts.

Hobie1976 if tou check back come over and check in on the 12/2 thread.

Thanks again

[Sugar*Magnolia]

I think that it is only on Radiance Class. . . . But I did not try to pick it uo in there. On most areas of the ship you can pick up at "RCI POS" Network, but it is a secure network for employees only...

 

 

Radio

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

 

Hi Radio,

Thanks again for answering a bunch of my curiousities! It was wonderful to read about your journey & Explorer! Pls stop by my December 23 Live Holiday thread/blog when it is up!

 

So,I guess if someone could 'get in' to the crew's network, one can access WiFi for free! :D :) :p ;)

[Radio]

Hi Radio,

Thanks again for answering a bunch of my curiousities! It was wonderful to read about your journey & Explorer! Pls stop by my December 23 Live Holiday thread/blog when it is up!

 

So,I guess if someone could 'get in' to the crew's network, one can access WiFi for free!

 

 

No. . . The POS (Point of Sale) RCI Network is for Local Network only (No Internet Connection)

 

I would love to visit your Blog when it opens. . .

 

Radio

;) ;)

[Radio]

I noticed this sign, while leaving Cape Liberty. . .

 

I am very sure that I will be back !

 

 

Radio

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

 

 

 

 

.

[Sugar*Magnolia]

No. . . The POS (Point of Sale) RCI Network is for Local Network only (No Internet Connection)

 

I would love to visit your Blog when it opens. . . Thanks!!

 

Radio

;) ;)

 

Ahhh, I had internet on the brain! lol

 

Happy Sailings,

CruiseDivaNJ

ONE HEART ♥ ONE WAY

SIGMA KAPPA SORORITY MOM

and Proud Balcony Snob

 

Just Cant Wait to be Sailing.....

[PC2]

Hi Radio: I also enjoyed all of your posts. We just got off the Explorer 3 weeks ago and hope to be back on her in February. I loved the jackets that the crew was wearing in one of your pictures. I sure could use something that warm on our Feb. cruise and on our Alaskan one in August. Glad you got home safely.

 

Sandy

[ChristieNJ]

POS (Point of Sale)

 

Good thing you clarified that. :p :p :p

[swooldri]

I noticed this sign, while leaving Cape Liberty. . .

 

I am very sure that I will be back !

 

 

Radio

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

 

 

 

 

.

 

Sorry... can not say the same here. We were on this same cruise and after 54 cruises this ranks near the bottom.

[neptune18]

Swooldri, what was the problem with this cruise?

[groinky]

Swooldri,

I would like to know what was wrong with this cruise as well.

Thanks,

Nancy

[danp]

Hi Radio,

We were on the cruise with you and really just enjoyed the pictures that you took for us all,LOL.We did get to see you hideing at the M&M behind the little counter.

We sat with Dawn and her husband and had a great conversation with them.

Hope thatall had a safe trip home.We were lucky to be in the first group off the ship and be home by 0930.Now I will be looking for my next trip.

 

 

----------------HAPPY SAILING----------------------

[demodawn]

Thanks radio just relived the cruise with you. sorry we didnt get to meet everyone in our thread as they changed the m&m time and about 1/2 didnt get the new time. :mad: . We enjoyed the cruise and it was not too much trouble for us with the wait but we got there at 3p went to the priority boarding area and we were on the ship by 715p. We were on bus 2. The only problem we had was not sure what to do when we got on but we went to our room and read the compass but many people we meet just didnt know what to do. It was cold and any one leaving you will need winter clothes for the first 2 days( last 2 too) i would plan on and if it gets warm the second day then good. The first few days i was cold every where but the last 3 it was warm all over inside. we were on the jersey turnpike by 930a best disembark every!!!!

[crisperjr]

Explorer of the Seas Review (Nov.4 - Nov. 11)

 

 

My wife & I booked this cruise to celebrate our 30th anniversary together over a year before we sailed. This was our 5th cruise overall, 2nd with RCCL. Our cabin # 7588 was our first balcony cabin. We traveled with another couple who stayed on deck seven as well.

 

Embarkation:

Due to Hurricane Noel, Explorer was going to be significantly delayed in its arrival to Cape Liberty from its previous cruise. RCI employees spent most of Saturday (the day before our cruise) contacting all the Nov. 4th cruisers and advising them not to arrive at the port until after 4pm. They also advised that boarding would not take place until 7pm and sail away might not happen until midnight. That’s about 7 hours later than originally planned. Dinner for the evening would be “open seating” buffet in the main dining rooms or the Windjammer.

 

We arrived at the port from home in Virginia about 4pm on Sunday. The terminal area was already quite crowded. But we were quite surprised in seeing that RCCL had set up table after table full of free food and drinks. Sub sandwiches, pizza, hot dogs, along with soda, water, or juices were abundant throughout the terminal. TV’s were also tuned to the Colts-Patriots game. I must say, RCI did a fantastic job in “damage control”. That said, there were a number of passengers that were unable to gain access to the inside of the terminal due to the sheer numbers of passengers already inside. These folks were left outside in the “tent” area without access to the food or access to updated information. That may be one of the many reasons that RCI issued $31 per person OBC (on board credit) – that certainly was a generous gesture by RCI. They cannot control the weather, and slowing down the ship to avoid direct contact with Noel – keeping passengers safe, was the right decision in my mind.

 

We carried on 12 bottles of soda aboard in a large tote bag. Had no problem going through security. We were in our cabin by 9:30pm and since there was no sit down seating in the dining room due to the late departure, we went to the Windjammer for food. Met Randy, our room steward and asked him to provide us with a LARGE bucket of ice, so we could put several bottles of soda in it. Also asked him to empty out the mini fridge so we could put our own soda in there as well. In our cabin we found our Crown & Anchor coupon books, as well as info on our Cruise Critic Meet & Mingle get together.

 

The Muster Drill was held at 10:30pm then we went top side for sail away, which took place about 12:30am. Nice to see the NY skyline all lit up at night, but it was quite chilly. After passing under the Varrazano bridge, we went to bed.

 

Day 2 at Sea

Still chilly outside, not a good day for pool activities. There were a fair amount of folks out on deck walking around, but in jackets or coats. Spent the day exploring the ship. Also did the Ocean and Atmospheric tour. You just sign up in the library for this and then meet in the screening room at the appointed time. This was quite interesting. Also went to our Meet & Mingle party at 11am in The Chamber. I’d say there were 25 or so people there. Nice of RCCL to do this. I won the insulated carry bag with pens, key chains, and a Bingo the Dog with 5 bingo cards!!!! ;)

 

This was our first formal night, and saw most men dressed in suits & ties, very few Tuxes. Not a lot of fancy cocktail dresses did I see for the ladies. Just well dressed ladies. We ate at the 2nd (8:30pm ) seating. I had told RCI that I’d like to acknowledge our 30th anniversary this first formal night. They came out with a large slice of cake and a “Happy Anniversary” sign on it and all the waiters sang happy anniversary to us. That was nice. My wife & I didn’t want an elaborate celebration, but an acknowledgement was real nice for us. After dinner we attended the 10:45 show, “Wild, Cool & Swingin”. Nice variety show, good singers, good band.

 

Oh, noticed some commotion on our deck 7 during the afternoon. Several cabins up from us we saw the caution tape along one door. Going in and out were crew members with masks and gloves and lots of high tech cleaning gear. I got a look inside – sure wish I hadn’t, looked like a scene out of a horror movie. It sure looked like lots and lots of blood, but was told it wasn’t. An elderly woman became quite sick and was taken to the ships hospital. I saw her back in the room the next day, then never saw the couple after that.

 

 

Day 3 Bermuda

Arrived about 9am at Kings Wharf Bermuda. Really enjoyed watching the ship pass the island on my balcony. Weather today is Much warmer, supposed to be in the upper 70’s and sunny. After leaving the ship we approached the “Taxi Lady” about getting us a taxi to take us on a tour of the island. She hooked us, and a few other folks up with Mack Bulford, of Bulford’s Mini Bus Service who started us out on a 4 hr tour. Mack was great - a wealth of information, and fun to be with! We traveled to the usual tourist spots, Fort Scaur, the Lighthouse, and Horseshoe Beach. But also stopped by Mike Douglass’s house, as well as the estate of the Mott family (of the Applesauce fame). But an interesting side story was the trip to a private home under construction. Several of us had asked why are the roofs of most of the homes made of concrete? Mack explained that Bermuda gets its water supply from rain water, so roofs are made to channel and collect rain runoff into underground storage tanks, where it is used for bathing and flushing. Drinking water comes from some wells, but mostly from store bought bottled water. We kept asking about these roofs, are they prefab? How heavy? So Mack took us to one of his family members who is a builder at a house under construction. There we learned that the roof frame is built to handle the load of these pre-cut concrete “shingles”. There is a stone mason on site as well to do custom cut work, as well as “weave” the concrete together to form valleys when needed. Quite an interesting side stop, and we thanked Mack for stopping. We returned to Kings Wharf and ate at the Frog & Onion. I loved the Fish Chowder. And the local beer. A bit pricey though, but very good food non the less.

 

Back on board watched the sun set and had a few drinks until dinner. The 10:45 show featured Jay J. Downs, who had performed with “The Foundations” and was on The Benny Hill Show. Very good multi talented (comedian, singer, and musician) performer, who did an hour show. Recommend you see him if he is performing on future cruises.

 

Day 4 Bermuda

Had breakfast in the cabin. Other cruisers had said that “if you don’t see what you want on you room service menu, just write it down” --- we did that. And example was a plate of smoke salmon with cream cheese. Not on the menu, so we wrote it in, it came! Had planned to eat on the balcony, but with the sun on our side of the ship (port side) it was just too hot. So we ate inside.

 

Took the ferry into Hamilton. You can purchase round trip tokens for 1 or 2 days at a ticket window just outside the ship. The ferry’s run about every 15 min. Hamilton is very busy, but very clean. We shopped, and walked around the town taking tons of pictures. Another nice day, a little more cloudy, but still up in the 70’s.

 

Since we were to sail away at 3pm, we were back on board by 2pm and had a bite at the Windjammer. While we pulled away from Kings Wharf, there was a Celebrity Ship waiting for us to leave – The Constellation. About ½ hour after leaving Bermuda we saw what looked like a military helicopter circle the ship. It was not a medical helicopter (to big for that) We were still standing on the bow when it first flew by. There were some rumors that it had landed on the ship, but this craft was way to big to do that. After it circled us, we never saw it again.

 

Went to the Welcome Back party at 7:45pm. I like this perk. For all returning cruisers, RCI holds a welcome back party (for sailings of 7 days or longer) with free drinks and food. Captain Erik mentioned that there were almost 1000 returning cruisers aboard this time.

 

After dinner we watched the “Love and Marriage” show. Very very funny. Can’t tell you what the funniest line in the show was as this is a PG board, but it caught everyone off guard! And I imagine it will brand the newlywed couple’s husband who said it, for life.

 

Day 5 at Sea

Had breakfast in the cabin again, but now it’s to cold outside to eat. Ate lunch at Johnny Rockets. Used the coupons from our Crown & Anchor books to get in without paying the $3.95 cover. Very good food, the waiters were fun to watch doing their “dance” routines. Saw the Ice Show at 5pm. This is not to be missed as everyone says. The shows theme was “Spirit of the Seasons”, very well done!

 

Two shows tonight, 7pm “Fast Forward” and 10:15 “Dancing in the Street 70’s Style”. Also, in the Promenade was the “Village People” show.

 

Day 6 Boston

Here is where we had a bit of a snag. Returning from Bermuda you must pass through immigrations before entering the US. We were instructed to meet in the dinning room at different time slots depending on your deck, or shore excursion. I have a shore excursion, so I am to be on deck 5 at 7am. I arrived at 6:35am to find the line has stretched into the Promenade and growing deeper and deeper by the minute. Took me 1 hour to get thru immigrations. All to show someone my passport. (I don’t think he even looked at it)

 

I left the ship at 9am for a tour of Fenway Park. It’s cold (about 35 degrees, but sunny) A bit disappointed that we were not able to actually get onto the field but it was a very informative tour. Our tour guide took us on a city tour of Boston both going and coming from Fenway. Now THAT was informative. Well done! We planned to meet up with the ladies at Quincy Market – Fanneuil Hall as they went shopping. Our tour bus driver had no problem dropping us guys off at the market while the rest continued onto the ship.

 

After rendezvousing at Quincy Market, we ate lunch at Ye Old Oyster House. GREAT Clam Chowder, the best I’ve ever tasted! Our traveling partners brother came down from CT to meet with them, and he drove us around the city for a bit as well. After that, he drove us back to the ship at about 4:30pm. We sailed at 6pm. This was our 2nd formal night and I had asked our waiter the night before that all of us would like 2 lobster tails for dinner and he delivered them! No problems! By the way, the lobster is listed under “Fisherman’s Plate”

 

The 10:30 show was “Sean & Dave” – a comedy duo. Lots of juggling knives along with jokes, it was OK.

 

Day 7 at Sea

Very cold outside, some decks are closed. Lots of wind and lots of white caps. Explorer seems to handle the 4-11ft seas very easily. I noticed some motion, and that “shudder” that some of the other cruisers had mentioned, but nothing I imagine to compare what the cruisers went through during Noel. Played bingo with the free cards I won at the M&M – no luck. The evenings show was Robbie Printz comedian. Very funny guy, very good show. By the way, I hadn’t mentioned Allen Brooks the cruise director. He is as good as everyone has said so. Very funny, very quick witted. I could see why everyone raves about him.

 

Got our luggage packed and set out by 11pm, then went for a final stroll on deck. Still very very cold, but not quite as windy.

 

Sunday we arrived at Cape Liberty by 7am and were cleared by 8am. I was off the ship at 10:30 and on the road by 11am.

 

To sum up:

 

We loved this cruise. Loved Explorer, loved our balcony. Loved Bermuda, never been there. Disappointed that we couldn’t spend more time on deck, but it was cold and windy on several days. That’s not RCI’s fault at all. But there is soooo much to do on board that we never felt that we had nothing to do. The staff, Randy, our cabin steward, Ruben our bar waiter, and our table waiter (don’t remember his name) were fabulous. I can’t remember when I was treated so “royally” --- Oh, yes I can – last time I cruised ---- on the Majesty of the Seas!

 

Many thanks RCI, we will be back.

 

Oliver & Linda Peters

crisperjr@verizon.net