AJ28

Yeah, Brightons, actually, with a super view of the Ochills and Firth of Forth. I work in Bo'ness, regularly get my diesel from ASDA and visit the library and butchers in the precinct 😄 .

Just remembered something else, there are no longer daily news bulletins nor sudoko/crosswords.  This is to save wasting paper so I can sort of understand.  We like to do the daily crosswords/sudoko together in the evening but I guess in future I will take a crossword book instead... it's  no biggie.

Ah Sheila, I have just checked on my phone and I too can't see the photos (it mentions thumbnails but no pics).  How annoying.  I can see them on my laptop however.  Not sure how to fix this issue.

Forgot to mention, our cabin 5010 was right at the pointy end of the ship but it was peaceful throughout the entire cruise, no creaking nor slapping of the waves (remember Spirit/Celebration anyone?).  Really, really comfy bed, slept very well throughout.

Must mention the Coffee Port (see pic above), a large café in the middle of the ship with great seating and tables for chatting, playing board games/jigsaws (a large selection of them available to use) plus a small informal shelf of books to borrow (no need to book in and out, just take one, read it, and return it to the shelf).  My only gripe was that all the coffees and teas at the cafe were only free for passengers who had upgraded to Premium; no free coffee/tea available for A.I. As I only drink black coffee or tea this was very disappointing.  Needless to say, never spent any time here.

At all evening venues, including the marvellous Broadway Theatre (super comfy seats, great views from wherever you sat) there were tables of wines and cocktails handed out to all guests arriving for the shows, this was really handy and meant you didn’t need to attract a waiters’ attention to order a drink, unless you wanted something specific (my husband’s favourite tipple was a Jamiesons over ice).  Incidentally, the shows were spectacular, really, really good.  Chatting to entertainment staff later they are hoping to start Behind the Scenes tours and special afternoon plays in the future, once they are settled in.  Incidentally, the shows we watched (on a two  week rotation) where the first time the singers/dancers had ever performed them in public.  

All in all, a very promising start to Marella Explorer 2’s cruising journeys, and we are looking forward to booking another one next year.  To everyone who has already booked, you will have a marvellous time and please remember, the wonderful staff here want to do their best for you, tell them what they're doing right, and also what will enhance your experience even more.  They want to know!

Ah, the photo above is a bit blurred.  Sorry.  On top left you can see the three INCLUDED special coffees; Irish Coffee, Irish Cream coffee, and a third one that I cannot read. You can order these at the end of your evening meals even though they are not listed on the menu.

Note it does also say there is are a large list of other hot drinks (that are included) available from bars.  However in practice this proved difficult according to other passengers we spoke to as staff have to go elsewhere to get them and this takes time.

All inclusive drinks: hopefully I have been able to upload pics of the drinks menu in posts below, it lists all the A.I. drinks plus all the premium ones.  This is important because there are three special coffees included in the A.I. drinks menu but they are NOT listed on the dessert menu, only the premium special coffees (with an extra charge if you haven’t upgraded to Premium).  This is a rather naughty  omission and we had to insist on the first evening at dinner that a Jamiesons Irish coffee WAS available for A.I. even though it wasn’t listed on the dessert menu.  There is also a Scotch whisky coffee and an Irish Cream coffee included inn A.I.

On the first sea day there was a special Inaugural Gala Dinner but it proved disappointing so I wrote to Captain about it (and I presume many other passengers made their disappointment known too) and as a result we had another special Captain’s Evening Meal which was a vast improvement (I hope I have managed to upload a photo of the fantastic dessert ok).  I mention this because it is clear that, whilst errors will be made in the early days of this new ships’ launch, I was very impressed by officers and staffs determination to ask for and act on passengers’ feedback, making changes when necessary.  Captain Watkins spoke to passengers on stage one evening and stressed that he wanted to know what they were getting right but also what needed improvement (which was what lead me to write to him).  I met him later in the cruise and he thanked me for my feedback.

Oh, technology, I forgot to mention.  By all lifts are large touch screens where you can access all daily menus and loads of other information about the ship and events.  A hugely helpful and useful resource.  There is also a special app you can put on your phone, no internet access necessary, to access all same info.  Even I managed to do this and I am not particularly technology minded.  Additionally, when you first get your photo taken for your key card, facial recognition is then used to identify any further photos taken during the cruise and you can easily access these on smaller touch-screens around the ship so you don’t have to look at hundreds of photos on display when trying to find your own.  Then you can order any you want, or not in our case.

We ate at Latitude 53 (deck 5 and 6) usually earlier in the evening but there was also Vista on deck 5 on left hand side of Latitude which had two Italian-inspired menus depending on the day: highly recommended.  Menus are pared down (no separate salad or soup courses nor a coffee course) but included “available daily” options including the rather marvellous caesar salad with prawns or chicken.  I had this every evening (with the prawns, highly recommended) with one of the meat/fish dishes.  The Food and Beverage Manager I spoke to stated that there is no such word as “no” to passengers’ requests and that waiters should make all possible effort to accede to special requests.  After an initial hiccup, this did happen.

The Market Place is the main buffet on deck 11 and had the usual array of foods you would expect.  Speaking to officers later in the cruise they confirmed that they were hoping to receive feedback about improving the layout and watching passengers to see how they used the buffet, particularly at breakfast time.  As I don’t do breakfast I never saw how it worked at that time of the day and my husband only used the formal breakfast (for the smoked salmon) and he highly recommended this.   In the buffet there was the usual large selection of teas (I am a tea jenny) plus caffeinated/decaffeinated coffee, three wines on tap, also beers on tap plus ice and water stands (hands free and great for filling water bottles).

There were several other free to use food outlets for lunch and dinner options but I only used The Beach Cove for lunches as I spent a lot of time relaxing on the huge swinging couches in the conservatory next door.  This was one of my favourite places because I was near the pools (although freezing!) and jacuzzis (four of them), could see the cinema, and listen to music.  In my opinion the cinema (movies under the stars) was hugely under-utilised; only three movies listed for the whole week isn’t enough.  It wasn’t used for daytime movies or sporting events or documentaries, and rarely other filmed events.  Hopefully, as feedback and suggestions are given by passengers they will start to properly utilise this great resource.  Additionally, my husband watched on movie and said that there were no padded covers/blankets nor cookies/milk and popcorn like on Princess ships.  These would be a welcome addition if Marella really wants to enhance this resource.

Ok, here goes.  I am going to write down anything I remember about my cruise with Explorer 2(!), hopefully with photos.  I will do it in chunks.

This review is entirely my own opinion and doesn’t include all facilities available on ship as I only used some limited ones.

We had an inside cabin, 5010: Two hanging wardrobes, plus one wardrobe with shelving and drawers. Large vanity unit with mirror, behind mirror is safe and more shelving for storing items. Six drawers beneath vanity unit. Fridge (empty) with storage above, TV above that with another storage shelf above TV. Shower room holds a large shower cubicle (husband noted that we could both shower together!) with soap dispenser and two large corner shelves by sink.  Also two cupboards beneath sink unit. Gorgeous, generous-sized fluffy white towels.

Tea/coffee making facilities. One 1.5ltr bottle water to purchase for a reasonable £1.40 if required plus mini-Pringles and chocolate bar displayed.  We didn’t require these snacks and could have asked for them to be removed had space been an issue.  In fact I had brought my own small water bottle and noted that there were water dispensers on all floors near lifts precisely for filling of personal water bottles – really handy.  I used the one on our floor daily.  My advice would be to bring a .5l small bottle with you and just refill when required.

Very quick update, as still on holiday in Palma.

Excellent cruise experience. Lovely ship.

Super use of technology in evidence.

Officers (and Captain Watkins) keen to know of passengers good and negative experiences so they can make changes as necessary, very approachable.

Happy staff.

Our inside room was spacious with plenty of storage, didn't feel cramped. Quiet too.

Highly recommended! 

More later once I am home.

Can't believe it is only 3 weeks until we go on Explorer 2 on her maiden voyage, 2nd April, from Palma.  Hoping all goes well and minimum 'glitches'.

I like the lawn and find it soothing to sit and look out over it toward the ocean. Frankly, I'm not a big fan of taking what was once a public area and making it exclusive only to suite guests.

I second that, its a lovely space to relax and watch the sea.

Ah, interesting, Vitalsign

The last cruise we went on that was a maiden was Island Escape back in 2002. There were 'teething troubles' indeed and we eventually got half our money back no issue. I would have preferred a nice relaxing cruise though. We had vowed at the time we would never do another :o:o:o:o:o:o

Nothing to be done now, will just have to hope for the best and assume they'll have experienced staff (imported from other Marella ships) who have had enough time to familiarise themselves with routines etc. Also, I will focus on the three days in Majorca, when I get to meet an old friend who lives in the town we are staying at.

I've just booked this ship for the 2nd April 2019 7 night cruise and 3 night stay in Majorca. I am wondering whether it will be the actual maiden voyage or very near it.

I paid the balance of my cruise online with Celebrity a week before it was due.

The balance included gratuities because we had elected to have open dining. However despite that the screen said I still owed an amount that was the same as the gratuities I'd already paid. I got my paperwork out to check what I'd already paid and it was very clear that I had indeed paid in full and owed nothing further.

There was nothing I could do except wait for the receipt to come through, which it did the next day showing a nil balance to pay. There are obviously long term issues the Celebrities payment process. They need to sort these 'glitches' out because it causes unnecessary anxiety to their passengers, especially if they are sending out emails threatening to cancel cruises.

Thank you so much, Jerry, for starting this thread. We have the Classic Package for our cruise in July and I wondered how it worked.

Neither of us are big drinkers and don't care about premium brands but I would be unhappy to have pressure from staff to upgrade. That sounds like sharp practice :( and, like Gig stated in their post, I would be asking for clarification from the Bar Manager immediately and then taking it further if not satified. Hopefully, I won't have to do that as I am wanting to have a relaxing cruise not a confrontational one.

Ideally I would like to be able to order something from the Classic Package anywhere on the ship, and be offered advice and suggestions where necessary.

The bus seems to be very cheap but the tickets might be difficult to buy. Has anybody taken a taxi?

Taxi drivers were charging 100 Euros for a 'Tarquinia Tour' on the day we were there, despite it being a Monday and museums closed on a monday, and a local holiday too. Three Euros return is better value. Perhaps a CCer can find and photograph a shop that sells these tickets and post it on CC :D