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LIVE from Explorer 6/19-24

subtchr

By subtchr,
in Royal Caribbean International

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ahawco

ahawco

Posted
Posted

What a great review! Your pictures are just fantastic...especially the ones of Bermuda and the snorkel pics...just stunning! I have always wanted to go to Bermuda and now I want to go even more! Can't wait to see more pics and read your continuing review :)

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newcruiser48

newcruiser48

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Hi, I'll be on the Explorer in February. Can you ask Noel if he was on Grandeur in July 2006? If so, he was amazing as our waiter. Will he still be there in February? Thank you very much. Debbie

edit to add: Love your updates and pictures!

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travelgip

travelgip

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Your review/tour is fantastic:D I'll be on Explorer in October to Bermuda and it's so nice to see all the pics. Your getting me excited for my trip! Any menus or Daily Compass pictures would be great. I would especially love to see a menu from the Champaigne Bar. Thanks, and enjoy yourself.

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Tankminder

Tankminder

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Great Review!

 

Did you notice any of the rehabbing that was being reported a few weeks back on the Explorer? At that time folks were talking about painting, pipe removal (and the associated banging), railings being varnished, rugs being glued, etc. Would love to know if it's complete.

 

Meantime - more pics, they're great!

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Radio "Live from...." Rare

Radio

Posted
Posted

Wow. . . I love the photos ! It sounds like you are having alot of fun. ..

 

 

Keep it up , and keep em coming !

 

Thanks for posting. . .

 

 

Radio

;);)

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Pomperaugrr

Pomperaugrr

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Sue,

 

Can you tell me where the Maritime Museum is. I've been to Bermuda twice on Explorer and have yet to see. I board her again tomorrow.

 

 

It is right in the fort at the Dockyard. Well worth the visit! See ya' on board tomorrow!!

 

Eric

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subtchr

subtchr

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Hi, all,

 

Bags are in the hall....:(

 

Wow, what a great cruise! Much too short, of course, but we knew it would be.

 

Will do my usual daily report next post, but I thought I would try to answer some questions while I am waiting for some pics to upload.

 

Great Review!

 

Did you notice any of the rehabbing that was being reported a few weeks back on the Explorer? At that time folks were talking about painting, pipe removal (and the associated banging), railings being varnished, rugs being glued, etc. Would love to know if it's complete.

 

Meantime - more pics, they're great!

 

The only thing we personally noticed was a strong paint or glue smell in our hallway (not our cabin) today only. But our tablemates said they heard people rather strongly complaining about the paint smell, that it was really bothering them. I didn't even see what they were doing to cause the smell.

 

What underwater camera did you use? We took a cheap kodak disposable needless to say they didnt turn out that well!

 

We have always used the disposables in the past, but this time I decided to try a small Nikon Coolpix (that was included with the purchase of my DSLR) in an Aquapac. It took some time to get the hang of it, and I did have lots of "throaway" shots, but some turned out really well. With practice I think it will be great.

 

It is right in the fort at the Dockyard. Well worth the visit! See ya' on board tomorrow!!

 

Eric

 

Of course Eric is right - you have seen it every time you got off the ship! ;)

 

It's $10 per person, but there is a lot of information about Bermuda, such as military and tourism history, and artifacts. Plus great views from the fort and the Commissioner's House. We're very glad we had time to explore it.

 

Eric, the friends I thought had access to the concierge lounge did not, so I don't know about the coffee machine, sorry. You'll know soon enough yourself!

 

Report from today and photos next post...

 

Sue

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subtchr

subtchr

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If you wouldn't mind. I would really love a few pictures of the casino. As many as you can post. Sailing in 3 weeks and can't wait.

Thanks.

 

Here you go, Sheryl...we are not gamblers, so I can't tell you how stingy the machines are, but you probably already know that!

 

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subtchr

subtchr

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A great sea day, a fitting end to a great cruise.

 

Long walk on Deck 4 (and 5 at the bow) in the morning, then a breakfast of pastry and fruit from the Promenade Cafe on our balcony.

 

A very warm day, lots of folks by the pool all day, with sunburns in the evening to show for it.

 

Cheered on Team USA, watching part of the game in our cabin, part of it at the Sports Bar, which was packed. Lots of great energy and "U. S. A." cheers. All cruise, in fact, the World Cup games were shown on stateroom tvs as well as the sports bar, and it was great to talk to crew members about the games. One of the Windjammer greeters (wow, what GREAT positive energy there!) is from Brazil, so she and I would talk soccer whenever she was there.

 

After lunch I played trivia with a fun group of folks, enjoyed a drink of the day, and just chilled for a while. Caught a bit of the belly flop contest, which had been rescheduled from the first sea day because of the rain storm that afternoon.

 

We went to the 5:00 ice show, what great entertainers! We got there about 4:45, and it was pretty empty. At the start of the show the theater was maybe 2/3 full. I guess because it was the last show of the cruise? Who knows?

 

Our last dinner was wonderful - lobster tail and cherries jubilee for dessert.

 

Farewell show comedian was hilarious - Eric Lymon. Final Promenade parade was high energy as always.

 

Now I am sad to think we have to leave tomorrow morning! I was surprised to see how late the disembarkation times are. Self-disembark is 9:00 - 9:15, and some colors don't leave until 11:30. Now I know why we did not board until after 12:30 on Saturday! Our color is slated for 10:30 - 10:45, which is fine with us because our flight is not until 2. Hmmm...wait in the airport or on the ship?? There's a no brainer.

 

A couple random thoughts (I will think of many, many more later I am sure!):

 

- CD Jimmy Rhodes grew on me as the cruise went on. Not quite so glib as the other CDs we have had, but a funny guy who seems to love (and appreciate) his job.

 

- Food was (for us) very good to outstanding. No problems with food in the MDR not warm enough, or Windjammer not having enough variety. Yes, there were some of the same things offered each day, but something different each day as well. I had a WONDERFUL lunch today from the noodle station - stir fried veggies and noodles with shrimp, made to order from my selections. Yum!

 

- Internet speed really not bad at all. I was obviously able to upload photos, which is a good test. Had a minor issue getting the 10% C&A discount (we are just gold...for now!) on the package I got, but we figured it out.

 

Love love love our cabin location on the hump, deck 7. I could not get wireless in the cabin, but just had to pop out the door a few steps to get to the library. So convenient to everything!

 

Much more info later, now on to the photo tour for today!

 

DoD at the Schooner Bar before trivia:

 

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Belly flop contest and the crowds at the Solarium today:

 

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The line you have to wait in for Guest Services on the last day:

 

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More.................

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subtchr

subtchr

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Couple more from the ice show:

 

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Our waiter, Noel, from the Philippines. For the PP who asked, he has been on several ships, but not Grandeur. He is headed to Allure in the spring. We asked about the new ships "draining" the qualified wait staff from the older ships, and he said that's not really the case, that for example, Explorer is sending 16 waiters and 11 assistant waiters to Allure, so it's not too significant. Not that he would admit if it WAS...

 

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Assistant waiter Ice, from Macedonia. Great guy:

 

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Chefs during the Parade of Nations at dinner:

 

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Off to bed to let the (very) gentle rocking lull me to sleep. Man, will I miss that.

 

Will update and upload more pics tomorrow from home. awwww.....

 

Sue

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sarahc78

sarahc78

Posted
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Yes thanks so much for taking us along on your cruise, although I am sure you had more fun than us lol!

 

If you have more pictures of the ship that you could post that would be great. We were on the Celebrity Summit in May and our considering going back to Bermuda next year and would like to see the differences in the ships, especially since we will be taking our children with us. Also if you have any insight on the childcare/adventure club that would be awesome too!

 

 

Thanks so much again.

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subtchr

subtchr

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worst view of the week.

 

Truer words never written.

 

The mai tais and room service snacks on the balcony took a little of the sting out, but it was still painful.

 

In the Black Executive car to the airport now. Disembarkation smooth and quick. Like pulling off a bandage with one yank.

 

2:00 flight to Ohio. Real life with a bang.

 

Sue

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BluEyed445

BluEyed445

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Posted
Truer words never written.

 

The mai tais and room service snacks on the balcony took a little of the sting out, but it was still painful.

 

In the Black Executive car to the airport now. Disembarkation smooth and quick. Like pulling off a bandage with one yank.

 

2:00 flight to Ohio. Real life with a bang.

 

Sue

 

Thanks for posting Sue! We will be on her in October. Getting really excited when I saw your pictures! Especially of the Schooner bar...my fav place on the ship :-)

 

The day of disembarking has got to be the worst feeling...so sad :-) Just start looking forward to your next cruise! :D

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