2SailingNomads

Agree as Diamond members we often find wines at a great value, and knowing the Sommelier can often find you a bottle of 2 or 3 that since low stock they can't put on the list.

Yes we had that list too, although when we tried to order a couple were told last bottle was just sold at Marble when in Yacht club

Food is subjective but in your opinion was it worth the price? We considered it but some of the courses we were not thrilled with.

We had heard there were going to be a large contingent of travel agents for the segment after Vancouver. Maybe TA's and so called influencers are their true market. 😁 I know my TA was on for a 5 day cruise several months ago. Interesting about the 5% discount, we were on for 18 days and never received anything mentioning it. On other lines you usually get, more than once, a note in your suite offering an on-board booking discount. Not sure why they think a loyalty program is a bad idea, I like to obtain perks after spending some amount of $ with a company - unlimited laundry for example on Seabourn. Discounts on revenue wines, etc.

Le Commandant is the ONLY in the world PC2 ice class ship, it can go places no other ship except for Russian ice breakers can go. We went to the geographic North Pole on it. A true expedition ship like no other. It is a totally different experience than being on Explora which is not an expedition ship nor claims to be. Explora was a great ship for warm weather cruises with all the outside bars, deck space. Now if they solve the lack of shaded places it would be even better.

Let me say there is a lot to like about Explora but at the same time... Lots of up charges for certain spirits, not a single decent rum on board even if you wanted to pay for it (and one of the head bartenders agreed and said they have gotten a lot of negative feedback about the limited non-upsell spirits. And totally agreed about rum selections.) Excursion prices absolutely ridiculous, in Kauai where we were only there for 4 hours between ship clearance and all onboard they wanted over 200 Euros to go for a less than 10 minute ride to Gaylords for a rum tasting (Kohola rum, not bad stuff) and train ride and some food. I have had great dinners there multiple times and with a good bottle of wine nowhere 400 Euros for 2. Departure documents claimed a taxi to airport was 80 Euros. Ours cost with tip $42 US.

Menu looks great, looking forward to experiencing it on Encore come August.

And no where capable of going to the same destinations..

Phillipe is my favorite. Knows his stuff, takes great care of us, and also always have a good time just chatting with him.

Back in the day crew had to learn a certain number of passengers name. I recall more than once seeing a new crew member studying a book of pictures and names. No longer the case now it is people mostly who we have sailed with before who address us by name. On Explora and Ponant crew asked your name if you engaged with them, but first names as opposed to Mr. Or Mrs. which was old Seabourn. On Regent only a handful knew us by name, no one on old Crystal. Scenic since so many ex-Seabourn we are well known.

Agree with you especially as regards Regent & Seabourn. Explora Journey is very good in a lot of aspects but I don't think it is the absolute best, and found it to have a lot of really good and some things lacking. Interesting how some folks after 2 days on board claimed it is the best ever. To each their own.

Le Commandant Charcot was an amazing ship and experience, but as a PC2 ice breaker IS nothing like Explora 3+ will be.

I agree but the cruise lines keep practicing the "if you build it they will come" mentality. For MSC they can build 6 ships that sail basically empty with how much the parent company makes per day on the super profitable cargo business but other lines will likely be in trouble with all the new product coming online. (See expedition ships now a saturated market).Anyone else getting daily offers from Atlas??? Too cheap to understand how they can be profitable.

Problem with B2B coming back to FL is you have to go thru the face to face zero count US immigration exercise, with the always present pax who think they are exempt. 7 days does not work for us at this stage of life.

Only saw 2 children on the prior segment and like Maggie saw none on the one we disembarked from yesterday. I know some posts had mentioned a lot of children over the holidays, I liked our 18 days on Explora but have no desire to sail with a bunch of children especially at this price point.