New Year's on the Explorer + An Added 5 Nights ~ 12/27 and 1/4 ~ My Diary

[maxs mom]

Monday ~ December 29, 2014 ~ Labadee

 

We docked in Labadee at 8 o'clock and it looked like a nice day. We had a very good breakfast and chatted with others at a large table.

 

We met Steve and Veronica at 9 in the CL, then walked off the ship. We booked a cabana on Barefoot for the day. We had Cabana S 9. We've had that one before and liked it.

 

On the way to the island:

 

 

 

 

There were no golf carts available to take us to Barefoot so we walked the short distance very slowly. We met up with Denzil and Roberto there!

 

 

 

We were escorted to our cabana and got all settled in. Ahhhhhhhh..........

 

[maggieq]

Jane, so happy you are cruising more and sharing these reviews with us is a gift. Thanks!

[maxs mom]

We relaxed and read all morning. There was hardly anyone here. So nice!!!

 

 

 

 

 

We were invited to a gathering with the Captain and the Hotel Director at the Dragon's Breath Pub at 11:30. Steve, Veronica and I went.....John stayed in the cabana. They took us there in a golf cart. This was a beautiful venue that I have never been to before. We thought there might be some free alcohol involved, but had no idea what a nice party this would be......and it was lunch as well.

 

We walked up the steps to the Dragon's Breath Pub.

 

 

And yes.....there was alcohol involved!!

 

[maxs mom]

It was just beautiful up here. And the lunch was incredible. There was all kinds of grilled shrimp, scallops, chicken, everything imaginable. I got one of these wonderful creations. It was shrimp ceviche in half a cantaloupe and some lobster thrown in there. Amazing.

 

 

 

 

 

The good old Labadoozie!!

 

 

I couldn't believe that more people didn't come to this......but the invitation didn't say it was lunch.

 

 

Not every ship does this. This is something that the Hotel Director on this ship, John Denton, does. It sure was nice.

[maxs mom]

Jane, so happy you are cruising more and sharing these reviews with us is a gift. Thanks!

 

Thank you, Maggie! What a nice thing to say!

[maxs mom]

Here are some more pictures from the lunch venue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SherriZ366]

Have been looking for your review and so glad I found it tonight!!

 

Chuck like the WJ on EX also -- especially the back part -- Island Grill. They had so many stations -- I think around 4 of each just in the Island Grill. He thought the food was better than other WJs.

 

We and most every D+ had the same issue with the Concierge Lounge key. I thought Denzil was great -- we kept having IT problems and he fixed them.

[SherriZ366]

It was just beautiful up here. And the lunch was incredible. There was all kinds of grilled shrimp' date=' scallops, chicken, everything imaginable. I got one of these wonderful creations. It was shrimp ceviche in half a cantaloupe and some lobster thrown in there. Amazing.

 

 

 

 

 

The good old Labadoozie!!

 

 

I couldn't believe that more people didn't come to this......but the invitation didn't say it was lunch.

 

 

Not every ship does this. This is something that the Hotel Director on this ship, John Denton, does. It sure was nice.

The event/lunch looked fabulous. The ceviche sounded incredible. I thought John Denton was one of the best HDs we have met. He helped us with our IT issues, which was great as Amanda and Josh are house-hunting and wanted advice from Chuck (he was a mortgage loan officer with Wells Fargo before he retired). Edited January 22, 2015 by SherriZ366

[rwright261]

I love a Max's mom review... I've been waiting for you to start posting this trip report since I finished reading your last over the Christmas holidays.

 

Your lunch in Labadee looks amazing.

 

Thanks so much for taking the time out to post your reviews, I really do enjoy reading them!

 

:)

[sharonlacey]

We have been on the Expl 4 times will miss this ship in NJ.:(

[maxs mom]

Have been looking for your review and so glad I found it tonight!!

 

Chuck like the WJ on EX also -- especially the back part -- Island Grill. They had so many stations -- I think around 4 of each just in the Island Grill. He thought the food was better than other WJs.

 

We and most every D+ had the same issue with the Concierge Lounge key. I thought Denzil was great -- we kept having IT problems and he fixed them.

 

Hey Sherri! I don't know what it is, but the food IS better in this WJ.

 

I didn't feel so bad after I saw that everyone else was having trouble with their cards. He must have made at least 8 new cards for me!

[maxs mom]

I love a Max's mom review... I've been waiting for you to start posting this trip report since I finished reading your last over the Christmas holidays.

 

Your lunch in Labadee looks amazing.

 

Thanks so much for taking the time out to post your reviews, I really do enjoy reading them!

 

:)

 

Thank you so much! It's such a good way to re-live the trip!

[maxs mom]

We have been on the Expl 4 times will miss this ship in NJ.:(

 

We've been on the Explorer quite a few times out of Bayonne. She's a great ship.

[cathykb]

Jane,

 

Looking forward to your review. Sorry it got off to such a rocky start - only one way to go from here!

 

Cathy

[njmomof2]

Jane,

 

So happy to see a review from you again and to read about your fabulous 2 week trip on the beautiful Explorer.

 

You and John look wonderful, as usual, and that picture of you slugging wine from the bottle on the shuttle is priceless!

 

I agree with you about breakfast in the separate section of the MDR...mom and I loved it on Explorer, missed it on Freedom.

 

I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the review. And thanks for the wonderful pictures. Again, you look terrific!

[maxs mom]

Jane,

 

So happy to see a review from you again and to read about your fabulous 2 week trip on the beautiful Explorer.

 

You and John look wonderful, as usual, and that picture of you slugging wine from the bottle on the shuttle is priceless!

 

I agree with you about breakfast in the separate section of the MDR...mom and I loved it on Explorer, missed it on Freedom.

 

I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the review. And thanks for the wonderful pictures. Again, you look terrific!

 

Wow! Janet....thanks! I think the breakfast perk is one of my favorites. And you're right......very disappointing that it is not on Freedom. Independence can do it......I don't know why Freedom can't.

 

Good to hear from you!

[Mary&Jim]

Maxs'mom,

 

Great review. My DH and several friends were just on this trip in mid-December. I feel like I'm reliving it, including the great lunch on Labadee! John D. is a friend of ours and this was the first time we we're on "his" ship while he was there. He and his staff are the best!

 

Enjoying your review.

 

Mary

[irishgal432]

We are going on the explorer shortly. Do you know when Mr. Denton will be leaving.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[ClemsonMBA]

We were also on this cruise. The food in the WJ was better. I actually stopped one of the supervisors and commented about it. We thought the portions in the MDR were smaller than usual and the quality wasn't what we expected. We ate dinner in the WJ twice and were pleasantly surprised by the selection and quality.

[maxs mom]

Maxs'mom,

 

Great review. My DH and several friends were just on this trip in mid-December. I feel like I'm reliving it, including the great lunch on Labadee! John D. is a friend of ours and this was the first time we we're on "his" ship while he was there. He and his staff are the best!

 

Enjoying your review.

 

Mary

 

Hi Mary! That lunch was fabulous. I really enjoyed it!

[maxs mom]

We are going on the explorer shortly. Do you know when Mr. Denton will be leaving.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

 

Sorry.....I don't know exactly when, but I think it's soon.

[maxs mom]

We were also on this cruise. The food in the WJ was better. I actually stopped one of the supervisors and commented about it. We thought the portions in the MDR were smaller than usual and the quality wasn't what we expected. We ate dinner in the WJ twice and were pleasantly surprised by the selection and quality.

 

Hey fellow Clemsonite! Sorry that we didn't have the chance to meet. I hope you had a great cruise!

[maxs mom]

After a while we got a golf cart back to Barefoot. Some scenery on the way:

 

 

John got his lunch then and we had some dessert while he ate.

 

After lunch there was a hike up the hillside for me and Veronica. They have now walled off the area that connected to Nellie's Beach, so no one can come over to Barefoot from that area.

 

 

Nice scenery up on the hillside.

 

 

 

 

[maxs mom]

You can't go wrong with any of the cabanas on Labadee.

 

 

On the way back from our hike:

 

 

They have reupholstered the cushions since the last time we were there.

 

We spent some time in the water in the afternoon. Very nice.

 

 

 

 

[Scotty G]

 

Not every ship does this. This is something that the Hotel Director on this ship' date=' John Denton, does. It sure was nice.[/quote']

 

John is the best!!!!