micmacmissy

We are looking at Seabourn as well. We don’t want a mass market (Celebrity, etc) experience for Alaska. A lot of the expedition style ships look a little too bare-bones for me…we want adventure during the day but beautiful dinners and spaces to hang out in at night!

Looking to spend no more than $7K per person, and would like a combination of a luxury ship and great, hands-on tour excursions (like hiking or kayaking). What cruise line would you recommend for the BEST Alaska experience? thanks!

We only have a week - should we do Juneau to Vancouver (which seems to go in coves/close to shoreline) or north bound which goes to Ketchikan and up to Hubbard Glacier? We also want one of the “venture” cruises which seems to have cooler excursions - hiking/kayaking/etc. Any advice for me? Never sailed Seabourn before but it looks like the way to go for Alaska…we want luxury but also a cool Alaska experience. thanks!

Stop looking at prices after final payment! There’s your solution!

Antigua was stunning…enjoy!

You will really be spoiled!

The only upcharges we paid for were nicer bourbon in the Whiskey Bar, and our spa treatments. My husband kept commenting how nice it was not having to wait for and sign slips for every drink! Unfortunately we had zero luck getting a 2nd reservation at Sakura or Marble & Co. And our ship was not at capacity. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how much nicer the Explora experience is compared to Celebrity Retreat. You will be spoiled and there’s no turning back! Enjoy!

What Explora really gets right: Communication pre-cruise, embarkation process. Comfort of staterooms, quality of bed/bedding and furnishings Lovely large tote bags and stainless water bottles for guests to keep Service and comfort of guests…everywhere we went we enjoyed excellent service Drinks! They make excellent cocktails and we found the included wines to be very good Food was consistently great across the ship, including in Emporium Marketplace. Layout of the ship…it is true that there are sea views everywhere, and plenty of pools to lounge around. It never felt crowded at all! Hot tubs…wow. So many of them, and they were huge and relaxing. Ambient music. This may sound weird, but this is a big one for me. I cannot stand loud music and pop music in public spaces. Explora does a great job of piping in music that is the right volume and perfectly forgettable. What they could improve (there isn’t much, so I’ll be picky) Double sinks in bathrooms Shower enclosures and vent fans in bathrooms Beer list completely unimpressive, especially for those who enjoy craft beers I would love to see a spa area with ocean views…we would’ve spent more time in the spa except it was dark and windowless Gym could be larger Rotate the menus so repeating a restaurant feels like a slightly different experience. The only other ‘luxury’ cruise experience we have had was on Celebrity Apex in the Retreat. I would say the food and service in Luminae was on par with Explora, and we liked that the menu changed nightly. The Retreat sundeck and pool area had kids in it, though, and Explora’s outdoor areas are FAR superior to the Retreat. Celebrity’s suites are laid out more nicely than Explora, with beds facing the ocean and bathrooms that feature two sinks and a vanity area and a private water closet, which we liked. But given the fact that our Explora cruise was about $3K less expensive than a similar week on Celebrity, we were blown away. I would consider Celebrity Retreat again if the price was insanely good, but I am pretty certain that Explora has ruined us and I doubt we are likely to cruise a mainstream line again. If anyone has any questions, I’m happy to answer. Happy cruising!

On Explora you don’t need to set your bags out until midnight, which is nice, as it allows you to pack away that evening’s clothes. The next morning we had a leisurely breakfast until it was time to leave the ship. Debarkation was smooth and our luggage was easy to find. Off the ship in San Juan we got in one taxi before we realized the driver would only take cash. The driver did hop out and flag down another taxi that would take a credit card and we were off to the airport and on our way home.

Back onboard that afternoon, we grabbed gelato in the solarium, read, and relaxed in the hot tubs. I made an attempt to get a reservation somewhere other than Fil Rouge or Med Yacht Club, but unfortunately everything was booked up. I know there are lots of folks who book 14-, 21-, and even 28-day cruises on Explora, but until they start rotating menus, we probably wouldn’t book longer than a week (or if we did, we’d probably do some dinners in Emporium Marketplace). That night we ate in Med Yacht Club for the third time, and I really wanted an appetizer that I had at Fil Rouge, so I asked for it, and was promptly and firmly told no. That’s okay…it just surprised me a little…the dining rooms are so close to one another and this doesn’t seem to be the type of company that so quickly turns down a simple request. Not a big deal, it just surprised us. I will say that dining service everywhere we went was friendly and attentive, and we truly enjoyed our dining experiences. After dinner, we had drinks in the Lobby Bar, in the Whiskey Bar, and caught the live music in Explora Lounge.

I’m not sure if anyone even cares at this point…but I am almost at the end so I’ll finish! Day 7…Marigot, Saint Martin We awoke to a lovely day and another great breakfast in Emporium Marketplace. All we had on the agenda for the day was taking a taxi to Orient Beach to relax. Marigot is a tender port, and the tender was pretty far out so it was a long ride. We don’t mind this at all, but the water was bumpy and the tender was a little rough for some older folks to navigate this morning. It was very easy to jump in a cab once we arrived, and made our way to Orient Beach, and got beach chairs and an umbrella at La Playa. The water was lovely and we spent time relaxing, reading, and swimming in the ocean. We walked south/east along the beach - fair warning that it turns into a fully nude beach at the end. That consisted mostly of old naked guys, so we promptly turned around. Service at La Playa was nice and we ordered food and drinks (can’t for the life of me remember what). Grabbing a taxi for the return trip took awhile longer - so allot extra time as you are a bit farther from Marigot.

We didn’t know to ask until day 2 or 3…by then most of the slots filled up, so I would suggest asking as soon as you board! It will have to be a port day but obviously you want early/late so it doesn’t interfere with shore plans.

Once back onboard, we hit the gym for a workout. The gym is definitely pretty small, and very crowded first thing in the morning. But at this time of day it was pretty empty and we were able to break a good sweat before heading to Emporium Marketplace for lunch. Wondering if anyone else onboard who is following this review noticed all the visitors from Guadeloupe on the ship that day! There were dozens of guests (identified by visitor lanyards around their necks). We figured some were travel agents, some definitely looked like locals, and there were even groups of kids as well. Later that evening, the activities director mentioned that the EJ captain brought kids from an orphanage onboard to have lunch and play in the kids area. Lunch as always was great - the made to order pasta, pizza, and salads were our favorites, and then it was time to hit the pools/hot tubs. As you’ve likely read in many other places, this is where Explora really shines. There are so many large beautiful hot tubs that were rarely occupied - what a great way to spend the afternoon! We also spent a little time at the adult only pool on the top deck, since it was a more overcast day. After lunch and hot tubbing, it was time for our Bridge Tour! Sadly, I have no photos as they were not allowed. Another couple we met onboard told us to ask at Guest Services about a bridge tour (they are only given on port days) and they had two slots left, so we got lucky! There is no charge for this. After meeting in the lobby bar, we were escorted through the crew area to the bridge. On the bridge, we met one of the junior crew members (great to see a female in training to be a captain!) who gave us the tour. We were in the bridge area for close to 90 minutes, and all the staff were super accommodating in answering questions and showing us all the different areas. I will admit I’m not the engineering/technical type, so a lot of the detail was lost on me - but I enjoyed seeing the plaques lining all the walls commemorating the first entry to each port EJ1 has been to. After our tour, it was time for showers and the Lobby Bar before dinner. Dinner was at Fil Rouge, and was again excellent!

Day 6 - Point au Pitre, Guadeloupe We had no idea what to do on this day…and I didn’t plan ahead, so a few nights before we boarded a booked a ships excursion to go on a boat through the mangroves to a snorkeling spot. We arrived in Guadeloupe and it was overcast; met in the lounge with others who were taking a ship sponsored excursion. After ten minutes we were escorted off, outside of the port area, and to another part of the port where a motorboat picked us up. There were probably about 15-18 people in our group. As we set out through the mangroves, it started to rain…and then rain harder…and then it was an absolute downpour. We kept checking our phones (which insisted it was sunny and would be so throughout the day), but the rain didn’t let up. The guides were French speaking but had good English mastery and narrated somewhat through the mangroves. When we got to open water at the other side of the island, the boat stopped. At that time, the captain explained that he was going to cancel the excursion and turn around, since the weather wasn’t going to clear up. That was fine with us (not much fun snorkeling on an overcast rainy day), and we made the 30 minute ride back to the port. They poured rum punch all around and assured us we’d get refunds. I actually appreciated that they made a decision rather than try and drag us through the day. Unfortunately a few days earlier I had an allergic reaction to my sunscreen, and my face was covered with little hives. Since Guadeloupe is a French territory, I convinced my husband that we should take a little walk to the town center (less than a half a mile) in search of a French pharmacy (they are notoriously good and well stocked!)…I mapped this out on my iPhone. Getting out of the port area required navigating your way through a lot of pushy tour folks, and the sidewalks/roadways of this area were pretty treacherous, especially in the rain. Lots of tall curbs and missing cobblestones, but a quick walk and we found a pharmacy. (Ladies, they had a great selection of La Roche Posay.) I had no problem finding some face wash/moisturizer - but no Benadryl/Claritin. I used my schoolgirl French to try and communicate, but alas, no luck. We walked through the town square and the rain let up a little. We decided to head back to the ship and just enjoy the day onboard!

I would agree that smaller-scale sofas/chairs in the lobby bar would create much more seating! We did not see our suite host at all throughout the week, but our suite was impeccably kept and replenished.

The kids that we saw on Explora had no impact on our cruise. They were with their parents, and well behaved, and mostly under the age of 5. I think kids 5-15 would be incredibly bored on Explora, as there is really nothing for them to do during the day and night, and the kids area seems mostly geared toward little kids.

I have never been on a nicer beach, anywhere!

As someone who works with kids 50 hours a week, I’m with you and I want a kid-free vacation. When we were on the Retreat there were definitely kids in the Retreat area and in the pool. I saw a total of about 4 kids on the entire ship. EJ does not seem to attract families with little kids for the most part. They also do have an adult-only pool area.

We booked EJ for $3K less than we would’ve paid for a Sky Suite in Retreat, and yes, the onboard experience definitively blows Celebrity away.

We’ve never sailed in the Med so I didn’t look at those ports - but their Caribbean itineraries are excellent!

You will love it, and be hard pressed to go back to another line, I think!

It seems like Straw Hat restaurant is a part of Frangiapani - we didn’t ask, but their concierge did call a cab and was very friendly. Their beach and pool were empty!

Hi everyone, We are former Retreat cruises who were tempted away by EJ this spring break…for those of you considering trying it out, here is my review. I’m happy to answer any questions comparing the two experiences. The review is still in progress but I will have comparisons at the end! Happy Sailing!

Dinner on night four was at Sakura, and we truly enjoyed it! The waiter encouraged us to order so much food - but the portions are on the smaller side, and we enjoyed sampling everything. This is a beautiful restaurant with again, lovely and attentive service! Day 5…Road Bay, Anguilla This was a tender port, and for us, the best day on the whole cruise. Anguilla is a tiny, underdeveloped island…but has showstopping beaches. Never having been there before, we decided a beach day would be great, and I briefly looked at Explora’s Savi Beach Club excursion, for which they charge $385. Friends, this price is insanity. It is very easy to get a taxi from the tender area directly to Savi Beach Club - maybe a 20 minute ride - and as long as you order lunch at Savi, your chairs are included. Instead of $770/couple you would maybe spend $200, max. A quick google search and checking some reviews led us to grab a taxi at the tender area with some other folks headed to Savi. Once we were let off at Savi, we walked on the beach maybe 1/6 of a mile to Straw Hat Restaurant/Frangiapani Beach Club. Chairs are free, as long as you eat lunch. You can make a lunch reservation online (which we did, although you don’t have to) and they greeted us on the beach, set up chairs/umbrella to our liking, and provided us with menus. I’ll let the pictures do the talking for the beach and the water - remarkable. At around 1pm, we wandered up for lunch. The menu was varied and the food was surprisingly fresh and delicious (you never know on these small islands…). We had chicken wraps, handcut fresh fries that were more like chips and twice as good, and drinks. Then back into the water to float and relax. A perfect day! The folks at the restaurant, who were so friendly, called a cab for us when we were ready, and within 10 minutes the cab was there to take us back to the tender area. He drove a different way back, overlooking the ship, and we stopped for a photo. The water was fairly bumpy that day and the tender ride was too, but I love being in small boats so it was no problem. It was a very close tender and before we knew it, we were back onboard! I think Anguilla made our list of “places to return on a land trip” - the beaches were that fantastic, the nicest we’ve ever been on - equal to Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman!

Day Four…St. Thomas We’ve been to St. Thomas several times, so we decided just to shop/walk around. If you are in the market for a luxury watch (especially Rolex), the selection in St. Thomas is great - jewelry stores *everywhere* with great selection. Do your due diligence beforehand so you can be sure you’re in a reputable spot. But we tried on so many gorgeous watches (and alas, left with none) and had fun doing it. The downtown area is walkable and safe and an enjoyable way to spend time in port. We jumped in a cab right at the port and they took us the 2 miles to the shopping area. (On the way back, we decided to walk, since we hadn’t had a workout that day. It was very hot, but they’ve built a lovely path from the downtown to the port area.) We stopped for lunch at Side Street pub, which was a lovely, shady area to eat outside. The food and service were casual but excellent, and we enjoyed chatting with our waitress (who wanted to know where in the US we were from). Her husband was serving at the coast guard base in Charlotte Amalie (which is teeny tiny). An enjoyable side venture…now back to the ship! Being on the ship while many others are out exploring is lovely. Adjacent to the conservatory pool is the crepe/gelato/ice cream area. Every day they rotate flavors - it was all delicious! It became our little post-excursion tradition to grab some and relax after a port day. (Do not miss the crunchy praline topping!) I had ONE negative passenger experience onboard, and it occurred that afternoon. I saw a pair of lounge chairs in the shade, and dropped my bag, towel, and book on one of them while I went to put my gelato bowl at the bar (I generally do not like leaving my dirty dishes unattended if I can avoid it). As I was walking away from the chair, an older woman on a walker yelled to her husband, and I wondered why. As I turned around, within seconds of me placing them, she took my bag, towel, and book, and tossed them on the floor and plopped down in the chair. I was amazed. I have no problem with people removing items on chairs that people have ‘saved’ and clearly abandoned. I said to the woman, “Excuse me, where are my belongings?” (As if I hadn’t seen her toss them.) She replied “I don’t know but I’m sitting here.” I replied, “Wow, it looks like they got thrown right here. I hope you have a wonderful day.” The irony is that had this very rude woman just said that she and her husband were looking for two shady chairs, and would I mind moving, I would have said yes - a simple common courtesy considering they were a couple decades older than me. But the rudeness and entitlement was…WOW. Thankfully all the other passengers we encountered were very kind, and overall, chair saving wasn’t a problem. We easily found shade in other areas, especially if you don’t mind looking away from the pool areas or at tables/sofas instead of loungers. Explora does a great job providing so much comfortable lounging space!