RJ2002

We have our first Explora 'journey' coming up soon, and have recently received an email from Explora regarding our onboard preferences.   One of the items was this:

WELCOME TOASTS AND BEVERAGES

Toasting the launch of a sea-faring journey is a long-held maritime tradition. So, to help you begin your journey in style, please let us know about your beverages of choice.

Share Your Preferences >

When I log on to the Explora website and access my booking, I am getting a message to contact my travel advisor or Explora to make selections.   I am guessing these are beverage preferences for our suite (we are in a Penthouse).   Does anyone know if this includes both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages?   Are we able to request full bottles of spirits, or is it just the mini bottles?  Can you request a bottle of wine for the suite?

Thanks for any guidance.

There is a discussion of the Voyager situation over on FB in the RSSC Social Club Group.  One guest on board has already been in touch with their TA.  Regent is apparently evaluating the options as a result of a delayed arrival in Barcelona.  Lots of rebooking in store, it would seem.

48 minutes ago, TheShag said:

I always thought it was 210 days from departure regardless of room status.

 

Correct.

From RSSC:

Beautiful shots of Sydney harbor!

Great picture of you with the dolphin.  I'd have paid $30 for that shot.  Good job.   

Thanks for sharing all the pictures and commentary.  Enjoy!

7 hours ago, KJB416 said:

I would book Marble and Sakura on the first two nights and if you like them, then go to the reservation agent on deck 5 outside the Crema Cafe and see if you can get another nights reservation at each of those places.
 

Go to med yacht club and Fil Rouge the other two nights. Sakura is open for lunch (Sushi bar only) so you can try that as well. We would hit the Emporium Marketplace (the buffet) for oysters, crab/shrimp and a cocktail pre dinner every night. We thought Emporium was great for breakfast and lunch.  Their dinner offerings were very good as well, but with only 6 nights I’d just try to get in again to wherever you enjoyed most and if nothing stood out then go to Emporium for dinner. 
 

Enjoy your cruise  

Very helpful advice, thank you.

Does Explora have an evening "welcome aboard" affair at the beginning of the cruise?  We are most familiar with Regent, which frequently does something like that on the second evening after embarkation.  Not that we always attend, but on Regent it can impact the dining venues with the number of guests hitting the restaurants right after the reception.  Just curious.

We will be on our first Explora cruise soon, for just a short six night West Coast segment.  
 

For those here who have sailed Explora already, what would your recommendation for a dining strategy?   We would like to experience as much as possible, but give the limited number of evenings onboard, we want to make the best of it.  
 

We enjoy all cuisines.  
 

Great pictures of this beautiful ship.  Thanks for sharing.  

28 minutes ago, Pcardad said:

I would guess their first priority is getting everyone to Istanbul. 

And getting the disembarking passengers from Istanbul.  

Thank you for your posts on this discussion. 

Our travel agency hosted a webinar yesterday with Aimee Price, one of Explora's North American sales heads.   A few comments stood out.

+ She acknowledged right off that both Explora 1 and 2 were being redeployed, and that the new itineraries would be published online in a couple of weeks.  She did add that TA's should have some advance info on the new schedules now.

+ Aimee acknowledged that they would continue to evaluate the dining situation onboard.  She  specifically referenced the issue of only being able to secure one reservation in each venue per sailing, rather than each segment on a B2B.  She made a point to distinguish the difference between Emporium Marketplace (cooking station concept) and other line's 'buffet' setup.

+ A participant asked about the ability to bring wine onboard.  She didn't know the answer and is to get back to the webinar participants.  If an answer comes through, I'll try to remember to post.

+ Someone asked about duplicate bridge.  Aimee acknowledged there is no card room onboard, but that tables were available in areas of the ship for card playing.

+ Aimee noted the number of connecting cabins onboard (60ish?) and specifically brought up multi-generational families - and that they will have youth programs during holiday and summer sailings.

+ There was a noticeable 'plug' for the onboard boutiques - specifically the high end watches.

The bottom line was that Explora will be continuing to evaluate and fine-tune onboard operational matters after these initial sailings.

Say it ain't so!  Already in packing mode.

Thank you for sharing your wedding anniversary cruise with us all.  Loved all the commentary and pictures.  

Enjoy your London overnight, and safe travels back home.

1 hour ago, SLSD said:

Here's the menu from the Patio Grill  and the results of our order.  It's the Napa Burger.  A good burger--I've had better, but don't have real complaints about this one. But Mr. SLSD says these Napa Burgers did not have quite the "zing" of Napa Burgers in the past.    Service was absolutely superb at the Patio Grill--in fact, it was the best service in that area we have ever had on a Seabourn cruise.  

 

As we were leaving the Patio Grill, a waiter (perhaps the manager of the are) told us that they have just unloaded Danish Carlsberg Beer onto the ship.  Mr. SLSD was glad to hear this as he likes it.  

Enjoying your reports!  Thanks for sharing your experiences, and for posting the Patio Grill menu.

We missed out on the Yountwurst dog recently on Odyssey...  it was not available.  This was our first Seabourn cruise and I was on a mission to try all things Thomas Keller.  Maybe next time!

56 minutes ago, FLcruiser2011 said:

Given that Odyssey is scheduled to leave the fleet in a year, does anyone know whether and when Seabourn plans to install Starlink on Odyssey?

Thanks.

 

 

I can’t answer your question on their Starlink plans,  but I was onboard Odyssey a couple of weeks ago and thought the Wi-Fi was pretty good.   We were round trip out of Vancouver.  

Oh boy!  

Can't wait to follow along, again.  I always enjoy your Live reports.

Safe travels to Miami and London.  You'll both be aboard Spendor before you know it.

Thanks for sharing your cruise with all of us.

On our day of embarkation recently (Odyssey), we left a note for our steward/stewardess team when we left the suite for dinner.  Our requested items (one spirit and one wine) were waiting for us when we returned to our suite from dinner and the show.

1 minute ago, Jotravels said:

Hello all, Ive been enjoying searching these boards for all the advice I can find regarding a Seabourn cruise. We’ve just booked a fairly last minute Alaska cruise on the Odyssey. We are new to Seabourn and look forward to the experience. When I try to get a table at TK grill I get a “not possible” reply.. Is it best to try and do it via phone, or just wait until we are onboard?

Thanks!

We were in your same situation just a couple of weeks ago.  Last minute Odyssey booking, first time on Seabourn, no advance TK reservations available online.

After we boarded, we were familiarizing ourselves with the ship and happened to pass by TK Grill.  There was someone at the podium assisting another guest.  When we were able to speak with her, she worked us in that very night.  It was an 8:30pm booking, I believe, but she suggested that we might want to show up earlier.  We arrived a little after 8pm and were seated.   We were also able to make reservations for the special TK nights in Colonnade.  We were onboard for 2 weeks, so we reserved for both the fried chicken dinner one week and the rib dinner the 2nd week.  We also made a reservation for the second week in TK Grill.

So, my suggestion is to stop by the TK Grill after you board, and see what they can do for you.

1 hour ago, MightyQuinn said:

You should have no problem navigating Canada Place or waiting in long lines during embarkation, even if several monster ships are also in port.  Just follow the signs for Seabourn or mention to any onsite CP staff that you are sailing with Seabourn and they literally will trip over each other trying to help you.  You'll also get a magic card (ours was yellow) to slip into your passport/travel docs.  Once a CP staffer sees the magic card, you are whisked away to a priority line for quick access to US Immigration and Customs.  Once inside, there are separate lines for Canadian/American or International passport holders to reach APC terminals.  Pick your line, scan your passport and get a printed ticket to give to the Immigration officer at the door.  Then proceed to the Seabourn check-in area and wait to board the ship. 

 

All went very smoothly for us up to this point but we got stuck in the Seabourn waiting area for almost an hour since the Canadian Coast Guard decided to do an unannounced inspection of Odyssey before any new guests could board.  Set that aside and embarkation was a breeze!

We boarded the same day, and upon entering CP and approaching a Seabourn rep, we were handed a card that I recall was more brown than yellow.  We were indeed routed to a very short queue for luggage screening, but then were funneled into this horrendous line for US Immigration - despite flashing the Seabourn boarding card.  There were other Seabourn passengers in the long line with us.  
 

3 hours ago, nancygp said:

Looking forward to following along.  We’re doing the same in a couple of months.

 

question, is there one show in the grand salon at night?  If so what time is the show?

 

enjoy and thanks

 

Nancy

We just disembarked.   There was generally one show in the grand salon, at 9:30pm.   Entertainment was either the ship's resident 4 singers and 2 dancers, or entertainers brought onboard.  We had a vocalist, magician, comedian and pianist.

I think one or two evenings they showed a movie.

6 hours ago, CalmSea said:

Regarding jackets,  In a previous post, @2ws wrote: " We like the blue jackets. Others vocally preferred black." Was there an option for you to choose a different jacket, and did you see any black ones?

We’ve been onboard since Vancouver.  During our jacket distribution for the Vancouver-Juneau segment, only the blue versions were offered.   They are nice, and appreciated.  

Welcome aboard.  I was told this morning in Colonnade that there are about 200 disembarking, and about the same number embarking.   Odyssey is in fine shape, IMO.  Glad you are joining us.  

Explorer arriving in Juneau this morning.  (Taken from Seabourn Odyssey) 

Beautiful weather today for Brilliance OTS in Haines Alaska. 
 

Millennium leaving Ketchikan on Mother’s Day. 

Would these Seabourn jackets provide sufficient warmth and protection for the Zodiac excursions?  I know that layering for warmth is an option, and of course, that the weather conditions can vary.

I'm mainly interested if we need to bring an additional heavy jacket on the ship in additional to the Seabourn jacket we will presumably receive.

Are the zodiac excursions in Alaska staffed by Seabourn personnel or would these be local operators?