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

[maxs mom]

Most everyone left this area by two o'clock and we had it to ourselves!

 

 

It felt weird to be there with no people......so we left around 2:30 or so. We took back the remaining bottles of water with us to the ship. Ha Ha Ha Ha!

 

 

 

 

We got a golf cart back to security.

 

 

There was a little bit of a line there.

 

[maxs mom]

Back to the ship!

 

 

 

 

 

 

As usual, there was a Haitian dance group on the pier.

 

[maxs mom]

Veronica put some money in their basket and proceeded to dance with them!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[maxs mom]

We had a nice long rest time this afternoon. We left Labadee around 4. We were the only ship there today.....thank goodness!

 

The CL was once again, very quiet this evening. There was one very whiny child in there, though, which was very annoying when we were trying to have a conversation. Thank goodness they left after a while so we could have some peace and quiet.

 

 

 

 

On the way to dinner:

 

 

We had our same table and waiter at dinner. It was Italian night which meant, for me, Insalata Mista and lasagna.....which was delicious. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

 

Salud!!

 

Edited January 22, 2015 by max'smom

[maxs mom]

A stroll through the shops was next......then on to bed. We had to put the clocks an hour forward tonight. No casino this evening which meant no losses for us!!

 

 

We saw a few places around the ship that were fixed up for New Year's Eve. Vantage points over the Promenade......little tables for two. I believe you could purchase these spots and it probably came with some champagne.

 

[Champagne Cruiser]

Thanks, Jane. The Explorer

was my first RCI cruise. It's nice to revisit it with you.

[maxs mom]

Tuesday ~ December 30, 2014 ~ San Juan

 

In the CL this morning I met up with a past cruise buddy. Their whole family are Pinnacle members and we sailed together last year. Such a nice family. When we first met, they recognized me in the CL because they read CC. Anyway, they were also traumatized by having Gator Aid taken away from them at embarkation. They bring it because one of their sons takes some meds that dehydrate him pretty well. They were also treated like criminals and asked to prove that he needed the G2. Long story, but they relented and finally gave them the Gator Aid after they brought a box full of medicine down to them. This was very late in the evening after all kinds of hassle. Sooooo ridiculous.

 

Back to the gym after breakfast and it was very crowded. I had to wait about 10 minutes for a treadmill.

 

After that, I met John in the Library where I did some journal writing. This is a nice quiet area. Wifi works here as well. Speaking of which......the wifi is terrible on this ship. It has not been upgraded yet, so be prepared if you need to use it!!

 

 

I went to the Solarium next for some fresh air. It felt great. I even easily found a chair. I read for a while, then I heard someone say "Hey Max's Mom!", and it was the husband and one of the sons of my Pinnacle family friends. It was great seeing them again. We commiserated on how RC is treating their best customers these days!!! It was wonderful seeing and spending time with this family throughout the cruise. They are so special!!

 

The view from my Solarium chair:

 

 

We had an early lunch in the WJ and arrived in San Juan around 2 o'clock. We got off and walked up the hill to Starbucks to grab some Wi-Fi. Unfortunately it was not working very well today. We were able to get some e-mail and that was about it.

 

 

 

 

 

Back on board.....we had some good rest time this afternoon.

[maxs mom]

Tonight we were invited to eat at the Captain's Table with Manny, the Food and Beverage Officer. Very friendly guy. We had a nice dinner. We met in the Aquarium Bar first for drinks, then walked down to the dining room from there.

 

 

 

 

I had a delicious shrimp cocktail, then some tilapia for the entrée. It was good, but I should have ordered the surf and turf. There was a lobster tail on there that was HUGE!!! I also had a wonderful dessert. We really enjoy these special dinners and appreciate these invitations that we get.

 

 

 

[maxs mom]

From there, it was on to the Love and Marriage Game Show where we witnessed a proposal:

 

 

The L&M show was good, as those shows go.

 

 

It was on to bed after that.

 

[Barbiegator]

Enjoying your review. thanks for taking your cruising time to review your cruise. We will be on Explorer in 3 weeks. Really liked our Thanksgiving cruise on her and agree the WJ has a good buffet.

[maxs mom]

Enjoying your review. thanks for taking your cruising time to review your cruise. We will be on Explorer in 3 weeks. Really liked our Thanksgiving cruise on her and agree the WJ has a good buffet.

 

Thanks for reading!! We have a few cruise buddies cruising with you on the 12th! Enjoy!

[DreamingBig1]

As always enjoyed reading your trip reports. Fabulous.

 

Thank you for taking the time to do this!

[maxs mom]

Wednesday ~ December, 30 2014 ~ St. Croix

 

Really early arrival into St. Croix today.....7 AM! The breakfast times were adjusted for this.....there have been different breakfast times every day this week. Kind of hard to keep up with.

 

We met S and V in the CL at 9 and set out for our go to place here.....Sand Castle.....an old resort near the ship. We took a shuttle there for $6 pp....round trip. Takes about 5 minutes. For $25 you get two chairs, an umbrella and 2 very, very good and strong rum punches. (I got to drink both of ours because John didn't want his!)

 

 

 

 

There is a nice little pool there that you can use.

 

[SherriZ366]

Tonight we were invited to eat at the Captain's Table with Manny' date=' the Food and Beverage Officer. Very friendly guy. We had a nice dinner. We met in the Aquarium Bar first for drinks, then walked down to the dining room from there.

 

 

 

 

I had a delicious shrimp cocktail, then some tilapia for the entrée. It was good, but I should have ordered the surf and turf. There was a lobster tail on there that was HUGE!!! I also had a wonderful dessert. We really enjoy these special dinners and appreciate these invitations that we get.

 

 

 

Our dining table on EX was next to the Captain's table and we noticed that it was used a lot (second seating). We would check out what they were eating. One night the group had the big lobster tails you described -- we would have liked those too.

[maxs mom]

We set up camp out on the beach and settled in for the day. It was an absolutely perfect beach day and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

 

Now the beach is very rocky here. It's not the most gorgeous of beaches, but the sand is very soft.....no need for water shoes. The water is pristine. We really enjoyed swimming here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Thanks for making that picture, Matthew!!)

Edited January 23, 2015 by max'smom

[maxs mom]

They had floats that you could use and kayaks to rent. I really enjoyed the float.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[maxs mom]

 

Great restaurant and bar here!

 

 

 

 

 

We just ordered our food (which was delicious, by the way) and ate out on the beach. I got a mahi mahi sandwich. Yum!!!

 

 

We stayed until around 2:30 and caught the shuttle back to the ship. Great beach day! Our Pinnacle family friends were there as well, and it was great hanging out with them.

[maxs mom]

We got back to the ship and had a little rest time before the evening. Good thing because it was New Year's Eve.

 

 

 

 

So it was New Year's Eve, and can you believe it? The dress for this evening was casual!!!! We.ve been on many a New Year's Eve cruise and the dress was always formal. This was just disappointing. Many, many folks dressed in formal wear anyway. We didn't, but I wish we had. It just didn't seem right!!!

 

We enjoyed ourselves in the CL first.

 

 

 

Edited January 23, 2015 by max'smom

[maxs mom]

Denzil was looking forward to the evening himself!

 

 

We had reservations at Portofino again. It was very busy tonight. We had a excellent dinner here.

 

 

 

 

 

[DreamingBig1]

Denzil was looking forward to the evening himself!

 

 

We had reservations at Portofino again. It was very busy tonight. We had a excellent dinner here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is that Italian Wedding soup? Looks good.

[maxs mom]

We strolled through the casino after dinner.....and you won't believe this! I put $30 in a Wheel of Fortune machine and hit a spin very quickly and won $150! It's a miracle. I guess the casino gods felt guilty about ALL of 2014 and decided to give some back before the end of the year. I didn't complain!

 

We went back to Steve and Veronica's Suite and sat around there for awhile. Steve got a nice bottle of champagne for the evening so we got that and ended up in Dizzy's for New Year's. There is a lot going on down on the Promenade.....balloon drop and everything, but we've been there and done that. It is absolutely crushing and claustrophobic and John can't stand for that long a period of time......so Dizzy's was the place for us.

 

 

 

 

There was a band playing and dancing going on. It was nice.

 

Happy New Year!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

[maxs mom]

Is that Italian Wedding soup? Looks good.

 

You know what.......I'm not sure. I didn't order that, so I don't know what it was. Looks good though!

[maxs mom]

There were even balloons here!

 

 

We stayed here and partied for just a little bit. We headed back to our cabin around 1 AM or so. The Promenade was still going strong and it was pretty loud, but things calmed down around 1:30 and we got a good night's sleep.

 

 

This was our first.....and probably last...time getting a Promenade cabin. I know people like them, but this cabin is just not for us. Besides being too small......it was quite loud most of the time. I've read many accounts from people who say they are not noisy at all.......they must have been deaf! Yes.....you've got the window that overlooks the Promenade, but you couldn't keep the curtains open for much of the time because the people across the way could see right into your cabin. I really missed being able to see outside.....A LOT!!!! I kept wanting to look outside first thing in the morning to see what the weather was like. I really like to see the ocean. So .....probably no more PC's. But you never know! I learned a long time ago to never say never!

 

View from our cabin:

 

 

[CRUISEMAMI]

We had a promenade cabin two times (not more balconies available) we were on deck 8 and it wasn't too bad!!!

I won't say never, because if that's the only way I can go cruising, I will book it! I only need to be able to look out!!!

I, of course prefer a balcony!!!

I finally saw a feet pic: that's the sign that the cruises going well!!!

Thanks for the fantastic review!!!

Those are my feet enjoying Labadee!!!

 

 

HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Franca

[maxs mom]

We had a promenade cabin two times (not more balconies available) we were on deck 8 and it wasn't too bad!!!

I won't say never, because if that's the only way I can go cruising, I will book it! I only need to be able to look out!!!

I, of course prefer a balcony!!!

I finally saw a feet pic: that's the sign that the cruises going well!!!

Thanks for the fantastic review!!!

Those are my feet enjoying Labadee!!!

[ATTACH]337810[/ATTACH]

 

 

HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Franca

 

Yes......we will probably have to do a Promenade again at some point, but I won't seek one out!