All Things Explorer of the Seas! -- Part 2

[catcruisers]

Our final payment is coming up next month for our Nov. cruise. Since we have mostly cruised Princess the last few years, and always 10 day ones, I know what a good/fair price to pay for one. I don't know that with RC. I booked the 10 nite on the Explorer when the WOW sale was going on. I booked at $2800. with the OBC from RC of $200. plus the TA gave us a $206. OBC. I was hoping that there'd be a price drop. I think $2800. for a E1 is high for Nov., even with the $400. OBC. We never pd that on Princess. Yes, we won't have to get airfare, but I never usually pay for it, I use FF miles. The ship doesn't appear to be near full, and people might cancel with final payment approaching.

 

I'm thinking of cancelling and hoping to re-book. Has this worked out for anyone that's done it?

 

Thanks!

 

There are only three E1 rooms showing available for this cruise, so a price drop is probably not too likely in this category. You are leaving during Jersey Week, so that may affect the prices a bit, even though people would have to pull their kids out of school the following week. If you don't have kids and are flexible with dates, you might consider trying the 12/1 10 nighter. It's the same itinerary, slightly lower prices, and likely to be less crowded (because there will be few kids on board).

[jessicalorene]

Just wanted to jump into the post to say hello to my fellow Explorer cruisers! I am getting ready to book a cruise for next June (yeah, we have to do them far out :() out of NJ to the Bahamas. I really WANT to do the 9 night that also hits the Caribbean but a 5-er may be all the time we can get off from work. Do you know if I go ahead and book the 5 nighter and it turns out we can take the longer one if I can switch my reservation assuming the longer cruise isn't sold out?

[kleo30]

Just wanted to jump into the post to say hello to my fellow Explorer cruisers! I am getting ready to book a cruise for next June (yeah, we have to do them far out :() out of NJ to the Bahamas. I really WANT to do the 9 night that also hits the Caribbean but a 5-er may be all the time we can get off from work. Do you know if I go ahead and book the 5 nighter and it turns out we can take the longer one if I can switch my reservation assuming the longer cruise isn't sold out?

 

We switched our reservation. Originally we had booked for April 28th this year, but had to reschedule it and are now going in November. I did have to have a larger deposit, it was a 10 night instead of 9, which required a larger deposit, and we switched to a GS, which is also a larger deposit.

 

But we had no problem switch our reservation. We have the same reservation number, too. We booked this cruise before the price drop changes came into effect, which makes me happy too, just in case there happens to be a price drop after final payment.

[MillbrookMom]

For all those who have cruised explorer, could you share some of your favourite things about the ship? meals, entertainment, etc.

[teddie]

For all those who have cruised explorer, could you share some of your favourite things about the ship? meals, entertainment, etc.

 

We love the Ex; cruising her again this December. This ship is big, beautiful, and in Bayonne...haha--seriously, though, the fact that it's in Bayonne makes it that much more affordable for us to cruise, since the port is less than fifteen or so miles from home. This will be our fourth cruise on the Explorer come this December.

 

My favorite spots are the Solarium pool--quiet, adults-only, pretty, and with padded loungers. The ice show is not to be missed. Lunch in the MDR is excellent, especially with the fabulous "Tutti" salad bar. We will do Portofino's once per cruise...it is well worth the nominal fee per person. I dream about the sweet bread that is served in the Windjammer at breakfast. This week, someone posted a link to the actual recipe, and tomorrow, I am going to make some. If I am actually baking bread in my kitchen, then that is true love :)

 

Having a balcony and looking out on the ocean rounds things out perfectly for me. I am sure that many others will offer more of what they love about the Explorer.

 

Have a great cruise!

 

teddie

[karinad]

Thanks everyone for the input about the prices for this cruise. We do want to try something different then Princess. When we were on Princess last Nov., we were kind of feeling that we wanted to see something different. Don't get me wrong, we love Princess and we have good benefits on it with being Platinum level. It'll be nice to get off the ship and not have to wait in the airport for hours!

 

I will keep my eye on all the dates/prices on the Explorer until final payment. After that, if I make final payment, I won't aggravate myself by checking prices!

[megr1125]

prices for the nov 10 Ex seem to have gone up! :eek: I only ever got one, HUGE price drop....:eek: mi think we wound up with like $600 or more OBC.....(that was when you could still get OBC...)

 

i look at it this way...i don't have to fly.......i love the ship.....and well.....if i can work it into the budget then i go........

[karinad]

I just noticed that the E2 on Nov. 10, dropped $50.pp. We're booked in the E1. Which is the higher cat. E1 or E2?

[marci22]

E1 is higher.

[demodawn]

For all those who have cruised explorer, could you share some of your favourite things about the ship? meals, entertainment, etc.

 

 

Not flying and wasting 2 days! I love the voyager class nothing special just to be cruising. Oh I guess the staff which I feel is one of the nicest!

 

Kelly we are glad you changed too!

[papajak]

has anyone ordered the chocolate covered strawberries for their room from gifts and gear on the Explorer? I have read some reviews that they are great and some reviews that they are soggy. I don't know if the bad reviews were from people on the Explorer and wondered if it made a difference.

 

I would like to order them for my MIL, this will be her first cruise ever and she loves chocolate covered strawberries.

 

Thanks,

 

Loralie

 

We had them on the Explorer in October and they were wonderful!!!!

[beachbuddy]

E1 is higher.

 

E1 is the higher category.............the difference between the 2 is the location of the cabin.

[Loralie]

I asked the question about the chocolate covered strawberries, sounds like they are really good on the Explorer and I feel better about ordering them for my MIL. Thanks! :)

 

Now I noticed that you can also order cupcakes for your room. Has anyone ordered the cupcakes for your room on the Explorer? My 2 boys (16 nad 14) will be in their own room and I thought that would be a nice surprise for them. They would prob like the vanilla better than the red velevt. Has anyone ordered the cupcakes and were they good? Were they fresh?

 

Thanks,

 

Loralie

[wovenwonder]

I asked the question about the chocolate covered strawberries, sounds like they are really good on the Explorer and I feel better about ordering them for my MIL. Thanks! :)

 

Now I noticed that you can also order cupcakes for your room. Has anyone ordered the cupcakes for your room on the Explorer? My 2 boys (16 nad 14) will be in their own room and I thought that would be a nice surprise for them. They would prob like the vanilla better than the red velevt. Has anyone ordered the cupcakes and were they good? Were they fresh?

 

Thanks,

 

Loralie

 

If they are anything like my son -- save your money. Instead just give them a bunch of one dollar bills for room service tips and tell them to 'have at it'! My son LOVED to order cookies and milk every night - just because he could. ;=)

[HB Cruiser]

My son LOVED to order cookies and milk every night - just because he could. ;=)

 

Heck with the kids, this Grandpa wants cookies and milk every night, I just pick mine up at the cafe promenade though. LOL

 

Tim

[Mewissy]

Has anyone ordered the cupcakes and were they good? Were they fresh?

 

Not sure about the cupcakes, but the chocolate covered pretzels were VERY good. I ordered a set for each room our family sailed in and they were gone very quickly. Next time, I'm ordering them to be delivered a few times during the vacay!

[Mewissy]

For all those who have cruised explorer, could you share some of your favourite things about the ship? meals, entertainment, etc.

 

How about the Captain? ;) We were on with Captain Henrik and he was really charming. We hit a storm the first full day and he handled it so well.

 

Also, I though the crew was very nice. Enjoyed a lot of the dealers in the casino as well as other crew members throughout the ship.

[papajak]

Are the chocolate covered strawberries available through room service once on the ship or only through gifts and gear as a pre-order?

[figmental]

Can someone clarify the soda situation for me on the Explorer of the Seas? I've spent the last 45 minutes searching for an answer but I think I may be more confused than ever!

 

My sister and I are considering the soda pass...however I'm not totally sold on it. Do you get a refillable mug that you use over and over again to fill up at self serve fountains? I've read that not all ships have that yet. If EoS doesn't have the self serve fountains, do you just go up to a bar and ask for a glass of soda?

 

I'm thinking that we can get by with just drinking the lemonade/iced tea/water at the buffet if we are there for a meal. I've also read that you can just pop into Windjammer for a drink during the day...can you take it with you or do you have to sit at a table to finish it? Not a big deal...I'm just trying to figure out what to expect.

 

For excursions we have Camelbaks that I am hoping we can just fill with ice in the morning and it will melt and keeping us going all day. (Large-ish quantities of ice are readily accessible, right?) At home neither of us drink a ton of soda so I'm just not sure if we really even need to spend the money.

 

I promise I am not this obsessive about everything...I'm just trying to end a 2-week long debate with her about soda! :p

[crookedhalo]

At this point ExOS does not have the redi-fil dispensers. You do not have to carry the cup around with you just go to any bar and show them your seapass with the soda sticker on it and they will give you a fountain soda. Now, you need to know that the soda package generally runs about $7 per day PER PERSON (including 15% gratuity) so unless you are going to drink 3 or more sodas per day, most people find it is not a good deal for them (a can of soda runs about $2.25 including 15% gratuity). You also cannot share a soda package, each person must purchase their own.

 

As to ice tea etc. available in the WJ, yes it is available when the WJ is open. Some ships have a beverage station outside of the WJ on the pool deck (haven't been on ExOS yet myself so don't know about her), but ExOS has the Cafe Promenade on deck 5 that is open 24 hrs so you can always get beverages there.

 

As to your camelback, yes you can get ice BUT you will have to get it by the glass full and put it into your camel back. Please do not try to fill the unit directly as some people will be concerned about contamination. The same this goes for any water you want to put in the unit - glass first then your camelback :)

 

HTH:D

[marci22]

E1 is the higher category.............the difference between the 2 is the location of the cabin.

 

Or sometimes it is a connecting cabin, or a higher-occupancy cabin.

Edited July 25, 2011 by marci22

[rncruiser]

To fill a camelback, just ask at a beverage station in the Windjammer. They can scoop ice for you there.

[Celebrategoldens]

We have done some reading and in the past it seems people have had issues with some sort of rosin getting on their cars at Port Liberty in the parking lot. Has anyone who sailed recently (as in 2011) had issues with this or is it resolved? We are trying to decide if it is safe to leave our car for 9 days in the parking lot there.

 

Thanks,

 

Mary Ann Bruton

Sailing 9/1/11 on Explorer of the Seas

[figmental]

At this point ExOS does not have the redi-fil dispensers. You do not have to carry the cup around with you just go to any bar and show them your seapass with the soda sticker on it and they will give you a fountain soda. Now, you need to know that the soda package generally runs about $7 per day PER PERSON (including 15% gratuity) so unless you are going to drink 3 or more sodas per day, most people find it is not a good deal for them (a can of soda runs about $2.25 including 15% gratuity). You also cannot share a soda package, each person must purchase their own.

 

As to ice tea etc. available in the WJ, yes it is available when the WJ is open. Some ships have a beverage station outside of the WJ on the pool deck (haven't been on ExOS yet myself so don't know about her), but ExOS has the Cafe Promenade on deck 5 that is open 24 hrs so you can always get beverages there.

 

As to your camelback, yes you can get ice BUT you will have to get it by the glass full and put it into your camel back. Please do not try to fill the unit directly as some people will be concerned about contamination. The same this goes for any water you want to put in the unit - glass first then your camelback :)

 

HTH:D

 

Thank you for your help. I'm mostly convinced now that I don't need a soda package. I can live on iced tea, water, and lemonade for 5 nights. If I find myself dying for soda I will fork over the $2.25 or whatever and just deal with it.

 

To fill a camelback, just ask at a beverage station in the Windjammer. They can scoop ice for you there.

 

Good to know. We will probably only have to fill it up twice so it won't be a big production every day.

[megr1125]

We have done some reading and in the past it seems people have had issues with some sort of rosin getting on their cars at Port Liberty in the parking lot. Has anyone who sailed recently (as in 2011) had issues with this or is it resolved? We are trying to decide if it is safe to leave our car for 9 days in the parking lot there.

 

Thanks,

 

Mary Ann Bruton

Sailing 9/1/11 on Explorer of the Seas

 

it comes and goes.....i have read recently (within the last few months..) that this has been happening again ......some people buy a car cover....the drydock DOES cover the cost of repairs.....only you can decide if you want to take the chance....i would say it is less than 50/50 that something would happen....but you never know when they are painting and which way the wind blows.....

 

i have a new car and will NOT be parking at the pier...(actually i never have parked at the pier for a cruise..)