"LIVE" from Explorer of the Seas / Nov 10, 2011

[Radio]

Been enjoying all you informative posts, and so happy everything is great. I was directed to you for a question I have. We will be on the Explorer in January and our friends going with us need to use the internet for over an hour a day.

If you can help us with any info about whether there is any internet connection in the Jr. Suites, and also the costs of the packages available. Also have you heard of any hot spots around the ship?

I hope you continue to enjy your cruise , and whenever you could help us with any answers or info, I would be so grateful.

Thank you so much.....

 

 

 

I would start with the 500 Min package. . .It is only .30/min that way.

 

The fastest speeds are on DECK 14 and DECK 11.

 

The Prices for all of the packages are below. . .

 

In-Cabin WiFI should be completed during the Explorer of the Seas Royal Advantage Enhancements (2013-2014)

 

 

 

 

Radio

;);)

 

 

Wireless Pricing for RCI

 

 

 

 

 

.

[Diamond Girl]

Radio:

 

Thanks so much for posting the compasses. We are on the 1/6/12 and it will be nice to start planning our activities. Thanks also, for the live report. I really enjoyed it. Thanks for all that you do for the enjoyment of others.

[TableFor2]

Radio,

thank you so very much for taking the time to post all the internet info. I apreciate it more than i can say. As always, the friends on this board are so important to helping everyone have a perfect cruise.

Thank you again.

[karinad]

Been enjoying all you informative posts, and so happy everything is great. I was directed to you for a question I have. We will be on the Explorer in January and our friends going with us need to use the internet for over an hour a day.

If you can help us with any info about whether there is any internet connection in the Jr. Suites, and also the costs of the packages available. Also have you heard of any hot spots around the ship?

I hope you continue to enjy your cruise , and whenever you could help us with any answers or info, I would be so grateful.

Thank you so much.....

I brought my on laptop and only used it to check and receive emails. Our cabin was on deck 8. I went down the hall to the internet cafe'. I found the conection there to be fairly good. My computer is 5 yrs. old. It's a pain to have to go out of the cabin to get on the internet, but it did save me money, because it wasn't convenient. The library is right below the internet cafe. This was a peaceful area, also.

[mamaza]

Thanks again and again, Mark.

 

Less than three days to go and this is really helping with our schedules. You have everyone on our board reading them.

 

Marc

[Mykie99j]

We will be sailing the same ship and reverse route on March 9-19, 2013. 116 days till we sail! This will be our 2cnd cruise on Explorer and our 6th with RCCL. We have also sailed on Voyager, Grandeur, Adventurer and Radiance. Voyager was our first cruise. Set the bar high and we never looked back. Can't wait to hear about your adventures.

 

Hey Red Cruiser we are also going on this same sailing in March and are from Waterloo NY so we are practically neighbors.... Love to chat... come to our meet and mingle or join our board....

[MillbrookMom]

Hello everyone. . . I had a great day in St Maarten today ! I left the ship at about 10AM, and walked directly over to Hertz at the Rental Car area. I took the car up to Pointe Blanche, which is up above the Cargo Pier area to take a few pics of the 2 ships in port today.

 

I decided not to go to Maho Beach due to the construction I heard that has been going on there. I was told that it should be completed next month.

 

Instead I went to Little Divi Resort that was only a few miles away. They have a nice facility there. . .It is a quiet beach that offers changing rooms and showers. Clean bathrooms, as well as a Beach Bar, Beach grill, and chair rentals are also available.

 

I met some Cruise Critic members over there and they were relaxing in the calm water as well. The Little Divi Beach is a nice place, and it is a great place for families. The water is calm and the beach is clean. There is a small drop off about 10 ft into the surf.

 

 

I headed back over the Front St shopping area, and I stopped off at the Sonesta Beach resort. This place had a lot more tourists, and there were several restaurants and bars there. I asked if I could use the Beach there and was told “No worries” There were rentals available but I didn’t need a lounge chair or umbrella. ($10)

 

I wanted to go over to one of the many Casinos on Front St in Philipsburg, but the parking was nutty, and I didn’t want to pay $10 to park. I just decided to take the car back, and walk around the local pier shops.

 

The Albatros joined our ships today over at the new Pier. The Albatros is owned by Phoenix Reisen and is a German based Cruise Line.

 

 

I made it back by around 3PM, and I was glad I came back when I did. It got really hot today (88F), and I was ready to get back to my “Home” on Explorer of the Seas.

 

 

Here are a few pics from today. . . I hope the connection gets better, as these 12 pics took forever to upload (It normally only takes 3Min=12pics)

 

 

 

We are only going at about 8kts for the short ride over to St Thomas, USVI. We are scheduled to arrive at 8AM.

 

 

 

Thanks for tuning in. . .

 

 

 

Radio

 

 

 

OK, it’s time to go ashore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These 2 beautiful ships look like this port was made for them

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A view of Explorer of the Seas and Silhouette from up on Pointe Blanche.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The beaches at Little Divi Resort seemed to go on forever

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were plenty of loungers and shade for all guests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The beaches at Sonesta Resort were the best !

 

 

 

 

.

 

Question about renting a car. Do you book ahead of time to reserve? or are there usually plenty available. We are a group of 6.

 

Also, do they provide maps of the island, or is there somewhere close by that you can buy one?

 

Thanks.

[workinmom3]

 

I went over to Sapphire Beach next to check things out. They still have the best scenery in St Thomas, with wonderful blue water, and shaded beach areas. You can rent lounge chairs for 2 ($10), and there are also snorkel, mask, and dive rentals. There is a beach Bar and Grill with changing rooms, showers, and rest rooms. I stayed there for about 2 hours, and may have dozed off a little while enjoying the cool breeze.

 

Thanks so much for your informative reviews. We have booked the 10 day Bermuda/Caribbean cruise for August & your "live" review was so informative.

 

I think we will probably do St Thomas on our own, but was checking out Godfrey Tours & he stated on his website that he will not take guests to Sapphire Beach b/c the restrooms are not kept up & dirty. I know you stated that they are 3 star...but were they adequate & fairly clean?

 

Thanks in advance for your help....

[Radio]

Thanks so much for your informative reviews. We have booked the 10 day Bermuda/Caribbean cruise for August & your "live" review was so informative.

 

I think we will probably do St Thomas on our own, but was checking out Godfrey Tours & he stated on his website that he will not take guests to Sapphire Beach b/c the restrooms are not kept up & dirty. I know you stated that they are 3 star...but were they adequate & fairly clean?

 

Thanks in advance for your help....

 

Thanks for the nice comments. . . Sapphire Beach has alot of condos that people can rent if the fly into St Thomas, but Cruise Passengers will not be part of that facility (3STAR)

 

Cruise Passengers will go have to go to the beach / Bar / Rental area that does not have resort stlye bathroom areas. . .There are showers and changing rooms there, but they may not be as nice as Megans Bay, Morningstar, or Bolongo Bay. They changing areas and restrooms are still MUCH nicer than at some locations in St Thomas. . .

 

I go there for the beauty of the beach, and water ! On a sunny day, Sapphire Beach is a Paradise !

 

 

Radio

;);)

 

 

.