Just back from Explorer

I thought I would give a short version on my views about some of the topics discussed here. We just sailed the Explorer. Sail date was 04/10/2004.
First of all the food was good. Not just o k but good. We had seen a drop off in recent years but our whole party of 11 thought the food was greatly imporved. We ate in the dining room every night except one night we dined at Portofino's. Portofino's was excellent. Where can you eat in a restaurant like that with great service for $20.00. That $20.00 does include the tip, but we asked and out of that $20.00, your waiters (2 at our table) each get $2.00. So we tipped them a little more. Well worth it. Caribbean night is the best night to go, in our opinion.
We had a ton of families on our ship due to Easter week. Our cabins in the front of the ship on deck 8 and never once did we hear kids running in the hall ways. There is a curfew for kids under 18. They have security on the ship after mid night asking kids for their cards and making sure they are old enough to be out.
Soda card stickers are $42.00 for adults and 26.00 for kids. You get a Coke insulated glass with a cover. They are great for the pool to keep your drink cool. You do not need the glass to get a drink, just your card with the sticker.
We did not get to Labadee (of course) We did nothing in the Bahamas because it was Easter Sunday and all stores were closed. We stayed on the ship.
We missed Grand Cayman. Very windy that day and cloudy. Rough sees. So sad we did not get to go with Captain Marvins. So we had alot of time on our ship. A little to much. I enjoy the ports.
We ate at Johnny Rockets once for lunch. There was no charge and about a 5 minute wait for a table. Food was delicous but our service was slow. I think it was just our waiter because all the other tables seemed to be getting their food faster.
The ship does not look old and worn. It is still beautiful. The carpeting look older but not terrible but the rest of the ship is in excellent condition.
All in all we had a great time. Our group had ages from 10 to 70. Everyone loved it. Whats not to like about a cruise. Its the perfect vacation.
If anyone has any questions I will try to answer them.

Ditto! I just walked in from our second trip on Explorer! No complaints here! Food was much improved since 2 years ago! Very pleased with everything, but utterly exhausted right now! Will give more details later!

Bonnie Voyager...a.k.a. "Bon Voyage"

“Enjoy whatever cruise you choose....just be sure and choose to cruise”

Inspiration 9/99
Triumph 6/00
Victory 8/00
Victory 6/01
Regal Empress 7/01
Explorer 4/02
Triumph 6/02
Carnival Legend 10/02
Norwegian Dawn 12/02
Disney Wonder 3/03
Pride 7/03
Explorer 4/04
Victory 6/04
Voyager 7/04
Carnival Legend 10/04
Adventure of the Seas 4/06
...and more in the works :-)

Thank you jburp. Do you, or Bonnie, happen to have your Compasses/daily planners? If so, any possibility you could scan them?

Glad to hear the cruise was enjoyable!

Welcome back you 2. Glad you had a good time. I'm considering a return trip to the Explorer this fall so I'm interested in the crew as well as the usual stuff.

Rest up and then more details please.

Victoria, Atlantic, Nordic Empress,Tropicale, Oceanic, Grandeur, Nordic Empress, Legend, Destiny, Rotterdam,
OceanPrincess, Monarch, Grandeur,Navigator,
Monarch, Sovereign 5x's, Explorer, Enchantment of the Seas, Radiance 2x's
Up next Mariner of the Seas
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=dc143c&cdt=2004;6;20;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Then Jewel of the Seas
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=008080&cdt=2004;12;18;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] Good to hear the food was better than average. We're heading out on the Explorer May 16th to the Eastern Car. and I've been reading these posts for a few months now. Seems like people complain here more than they give praise; not sure what their looking for when they cruise. I've always believed if you just take things in stride you'll have a much better time in life!

I can't wait until it's my turn! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
I'm glad to hear that you all had fun.

[img]http://www.thisnthatgraphics.bravepages.com/goodiessigs/0sigs/jennifer2.gif[/img]

Explorer of the Seas
(Royal Suite) 4/17/05, 7 Day Eastern Caribbean (2nd Anniversary)

Carnival Pride
(Category 11) 4/25/04, 7 day Mexican Riviera (1 year Anniversary!)

Carnival Conquest
(Category 12)4/27/03,7 Day Western Caribbean(Honeymoon & 1st cruise)

Notail
[img]http://a7.cpimg.com/image/DD/51/31841757-4e83-0080005F-.jpg[/img]

Jennifer & Shaun on the Conquest
[img]http://a8.cpimg.com/image/DE/51/31841758-8d64-00670080-.jpg[/img]

Sorry I did not keep any of the Compass Papers. Is there something in particular you are looking for?
As for the staff they were very friendly. Always greeted with a hello or good morning, etc. However our 2 dining room staff were slow. One night we first got waited on when other tables were getting their main entree. This was do to the fact that the other tables they had ordered wine. And the waiter handles that now. No wine steward. He appologized and then things sped up alittle. We all had coke stickers and we always had to ask for refills in the main dining room. Other cruises they came without asking. Just little things like that were not up to par with our waiter and asst. waiter. Overall all staff were great.

Thank you for taking the time to write a review of the EOS. Counting down the days before we go as well.

Can you tell me if anybody was lucky enough to get a pier upgrade upon embarkation or was the sign out that said ship was full.

Thanks in advance for helping me.

BonnieVoyager - what do you think the chances are of getting a pier upgrade when we cruise on Sept 19/04? As of right now there is still about 9 Owners suites available.

Thanks you once again.

Grand Princess - Sept 2002
Voyager - Sept 2003
Explorer [img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=9400d3&cdt=2004;09;19;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
until EOS with friends from the VOS
- Sept 2004

Also thanking for the review. We leave next month on Explorer and it will be my parent's first cruise. I would like them to be impressed. Still deciding if we will try Portofino's or not. I have heard only good things about it though.

Izzy

[img]http://www.xpectmore.com/images/cat2_anm.gif[/img]

Until Carnival Pride:
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;10;17;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]

[url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=1683059817&m=8863007657"]Roll Call Explorer 5-23[/url]
[url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=6963067357&m=95510335"]Roll Call Pride 10/17[/url]

Hey jburp,

We were on the Grandeur docked next to you in Cozumel! The weather sure was great that day! Sorry to hear you missed GC. Tender ports are always iffy.

"LET THE WINDS OF TIME BLOW OVER MY HEAD, I'D RATHER DIE WHILE I'M LIVING THAN LIVE WHILE I'M DEAD" - J. BUFFETT

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img] jburp: thanks for the information. We sail next month and any insight is good to know. There will be about 32 of us going wedding cruise. The wedding will take place on St.Thomas. Glad you had a great time. I can't wait.

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=e9967a&cdt=2004;5;30;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Explorer of the Seas