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

[maxs mom]

We stayed here until around 2-2:30. What a nice day for our last day in port.

 

 

 

 

 

[Canadian Tyler]

The dogs were there when we were in Cozumel a few weeks ago too. They warned us before getting off about fruit and the fines. The dogs found one lady and she looked like she had a whole apple orchard in her bag!

Thought the dogs were interesting. Haven't seen them sniffing for fruit before.

 

Another great review, Jane! You're not going to make us wait until May for another are you?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Edited January 29, 2015 by Canadian Tyler

[The Big Booper]

It could not have been any nicer!! AND....there were only about 40 people there all day! NICE!

 

 

 

Yayyy! A MM beer bottle photo. The report now has all the required shots.

 

We were at Coz a couple weeks ago on Lady O and did a dolphin experience to a place not sold thru the ship but sold at the pier. Very reasonable with free booze, lunch and taxis included.

[maxs mom]

We made a bee line back to the ship and the frozen yogurt machine!!

 

There is my favorite little Vision!!!

 

 

 

Made it to the CL around 7 and had a nice visit with Al and Phyllis, and then Margaret joined us. I like to play around with the ceiling mirrors!!

 

 

 

 

We were back in My Time tonight with Eric and Dwayne. I got an old favorite tonight.....the mushrooms and pastry. Then I got a salad entrée with snow crab legs. It was just OK. I probably won't get that again.

 

 

The casino called after dinner tonight and I made a donation. It was on to bed after that. We had to set the clocks ahead tonight.

[maxs mom]

The dogs were there when we were in Cozumel a few weeks ago too. They warned us before getting off about fruit and the fines. The dogs found one lady and she looked like she had a whole apple orchard in her bag!

Thought the dogs were interesting. Haven't seen them sniffing for fruit before.

 

Another great review, Jane! You're not going to make us wait until May for another are you?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Hey There, Tyler! We had no idea what the dogs were looking for, but then we saw a huge amount of fruit piled up there.

 

Oh My......I think sure enough......it will be May before there will be another one. Just booked the Jewel today for April 25th and the May 2 Panama Canal sailing. With these new prices they've got out these days.....can't cruise as often! Good to hear from you!

Edited January 29, 2015 by max'smom

[maxs mom]

Yayyy! A MM beer bottle photo. The report now has all the required shots.

 

We were at Coz a couple weeks ago on Lady O and did a dolphin experience to a place not sold thru the ship but sold at the pier. Very reasonable with free booze, lunch and taxis included.

 

The required beer bottle shot!!! LOL!!!!

 

Gotta love those tours you get at the pier!!

[smeck]

Loving your review. With all your issues at the beginning of your cruise with the water and attitude of the crew, I would of have taken advantage of the access you had with the captain, and hotel director to discuss your issues.

[The Big Booper]

So you're doing another b2b on the Jewel ending up with the PC transit to the Pacific. We're doing the California Coastal from Vancouver down to LA as it leaves Alaska in September.

 

This ship still only has the MDR, Jammie and the SeaView Café up above, right? All the other eateries will be added in 2016 for the rebuild?

[melk71]

Nacho Cocum looks really nice. We spent the day at Mr. Sanchos. I had picked that spot mostly because it had a lot for the kids to do there with the inflatables. But it truly was a perfect beach day.

Edited January 30, 2015 by melk71

[Coralc]

This ship still only has the MDR, Jammie and the SeaView Café up above, right? All the other eateries will be added in 2016 for the rebuild?

 

That is correct. We will board (join them) for the canal. I can't wait to read one of Jane's reviews for the Panama Canal portion. :D:):D

[maxs mom]

Loving your review. With all your issues at the beginning of your cruise with the water and attitude of the crew, I would of have taken advantage of the access you had with the captain, and hotel director to discuss your issues.

 

Thanks!

 

If it had been another ship, we probably would have. I'm trying to "Let it Go!"

[maxs mom]

So you're doing another b2b on the Jewel ending up with the PC transit to the Pacific. We're doing the California Coastal from Vancouver down to LA as it leaves Alaska in September.

 

This ship still only has the MDR, Jammie and the SeaView Café up above, right? All the other eateries will be added in 2016 for the rebuild?

 

Yes.....no refurb has been done on the Jewel except there IS new furniture in a lot of places and that helped. The Seaview is still there. Love it!!

[maxs mom]

Nacho Cocum looks really nice. We spent the day at Mr. Sanchos. I had picked that spot mostly because it had a lot for the kids to do there with the inflatables. But it truly was a perfect beach day.

 

Nachi is the next beach down from Mr. Sanchos. We stay away from places that have inflatables!! Great for kids, though!

[maxs mom]

That is correct. We will board (join them) for the canal. I can't wait to read one of Jane's reviews for the Panama Canal portion. :D:):D

 

Looking forward to welcoming you on board!!!

[maxs mom]

Thursday ~ January 8, 2015 ~ At Sea

 

Well.....our cruise is coming to an end!

 

 

It was pretty rough during the night and still so this morning. The barf bags were out in force!!

 

 

 

Thank goodness the motion didn't bother us!

 

Up early today and down to breakfast. Not many folks there today. We enjoyed eating with Rose and Carlo one more time.

 

 

The Captain stopped by our table to say hello. He sat down with us to chat for a while.

 

 

Captain Sullivan got off with us on the 9th to go home and Captain James McDonald came aboard and is there now. He's a great Captain, too.

 

We spent some more time in the library this morning. I logged on to the internet with a special code they gave me on turn around day so I could fill out the on line survey for the last cruise. There was 1 hour and 40 minutes on there!! It was working quite well this morning. We enjoyed that!! We also stayed and read for a while until this loud man came in and sat down. It was hard to read with him talking so loudly, so we left.

 

We checked on our account at Guest Services. Good thing because there was a charge on there that we did not make, so we had to clear that up. There was a similar charge like that on our account last cruise as well.......so check your accounts, everybody!

 

It was cold outside, so most everyone was inside and it was crowded everywhere. I went back to the cabin to read some more and I fell asleep and didn't wake up until 2 o'clock!! I had the best view from our bed!!

 

[maxs mom]

After lunch in the WJ and one last cookie and ice cream cone.....I went back to the cabin to get some packing done.

 

 

We still had some OBC to spend so we went shopping after that! The rest of the afternoon was spent reading. I was almost to the end of another book, so I kept reading and reading. When I looked at the clock, it was almost 6 o'clock.....past time to start getting ready for the evening, so I had to move fast.

 

We made it to the CL by 7. It was really quiet in here this evening. We had another great visit with Al and Phyllis and also Margaret.

 

 

 

 

After saying good-bye to the Concierge Lounge Crew, we headed on down to dinner at My Time one last time. Again not a fan of the last night's menu, so I tried something different. I got the Lentil soup, which was excellent. Then I ordered the salmon off the alternative menu and it was great. Will be doing this a lot more in the future!

 

 

Al and Phyllis both got the lamb shank and they said it was delicious.

 

[maxs mom]

After the Key Lime Pie we sadly said good-bye to our great wait staff......Eric and Dwayne. They were the best!!

 

 

Then the real sad part.....we had to say good bye to Al and Phyllis. This cruise was just too short!! We just love cruising with them!! Hope we can get together again real soon!

 

 

Here's a professional picture made of us at dinner one night.

 

 

Love you guys!!! Even though you are Florida State fans!!!!

 

 

 

You know what comes next!!!!

 

 

We tried to use some internet minutes, but it wasn't working at all, so we just went on to bed.

[The Big Booper]

When I 'm following along on one of your cruise reports, at the end of the trip I feel somewhat down as if my cruise was almost over, too.

 

Then I realize I've been sitting at a computer keyboard working to earn money so that we can do trips. And haven't been on a ship at all the last few weeks.

 

Tax season will be almost over when you go on your next cruise so I won't be missing your daily write-ups. :D

 

I'm going up north next week for 10 weeks or so for tax season, one of quite a few accountants who are reverse snowbirds.

[maxs mom]

When I 'm following along on one of your cruise reports, at the end of the trip I feel somewhat down as if my cruise was almost over, too.

 

Then I realize I've been sitting at a computer keyboard working to earn money so that we can do trips. And haven't been on a ship at all the last few weeks.

 

Tax season will be almost over when you go on your next cruise so I won't be missing your daily write-ups. :D

 

I'm going up north next week for 10 weeks or so for tax season, one of quite a few accountants who are reverse snowbirds.

 

Awwwww.....thanks, Dave. I feel your pain. I'm going to work a little in the month of February and some in March instead of cruising. I don't know if I can stand it.

[maxs mom]

Friday ~ January 9, 2015 ~ Port Canaveral

 

Up very early today. We were still sailing. We find it best to avoid the MDR on the last day, so we got up to the WJ before the crowds. You can get breakfast a lot faster that way. The omelet guys are working so we got our eggs to order and then built a pretty good breakfast.

 

When we got back to the cabin we were pulling in to port.

 

 

I was hoping that Terminal 1 would be a little more organized today!!

 

 

We went ahead and got everything packed up, said good-bye to Judy, and went on to the CL to wait for debarkation.

 

 

The continental breakfast is set up on debarkation day, so that is nice. You won't find that on every ship. A nice young couple came in and sat next to us....They were from Raleigh and were also driving home today. It was nice talking to them.

 

We didn't have to wait too long!

 

 

We were supposed to get off at 8:45........and at 8:45 on the dot......Denzil held the elevators for us and sent us away to deck 4......very nice.

 

 

Getting luggage and through customs was a breeze today. They are smoothing out the rough spots! There was a long, "Disney World" snaking line to get out, but it moved quickly. Probably took about 15 minutes. Keep in mind that we were first off.....after the walk offs, though. I don't know what happened later.

 

We found our hotel shuttle easily......but the driver wanted to wait to fill up the bus (It was smaller this time) before leaving. Now the 9 of us who were on there made arrangements to get of early so we could get on the road. We were certainly not going to wait for the last person to get off the ship!!! We nearly had a mutiny......so the driver finally relented and took us back to the Marriott.

 

We changed clothes there (did I say it was very COLD!!) and got some more coffee for the road. We made it as far as Savannah and spent the night. For those of you that make this trip on I-95......we stayed at the Embassy Suites at the Savannah airport....exit 104. THE NICEST Embassy Suites we've ever stayed in. Just beautiful and friendly. I highly recommend this for a place to stay if you are driving down.

 

I have a High School friend that lives in Savannah, so we got together with her and her husband for dinner. We had such a nice time. I hadn't seen her in 25 years.

 

We got home after lunch the next day. Our wonderful neighbor picked up our dog at the vet and brought her home earlier in the day, so we were warmly greeted by our little girl when we got home!

 

[nancronin]

Another GREAT review - thanks so much for taking the time to write your review for us to enjoy!

[maxs mom]

So I guess this is the end! It was really great to get to cruise with good friends and we enjoyed that very much. Will try to stay away from the holiday sailings from now on if we can, though!!

 

I can't believe that we have to wait until April 25th to cruise again. I don't know if I can stand it. But at least I am glad that we found something to book and I am excited about doing a full transit Panama Canal cruise. I need to get busy researching beaches. We have not been to those ports before.

 

As always......thanks for coming along with me.....reliving our trip. It's fun for me to put it all together. I love hearing form all of you and especially when we can meet on board a ship!!! So if you see us out there on the ocean, be sure and say hello!!

 

We love meeting people on cruises and have made some lifelong friends out there......so here's to all of you.....Cruise Critic Family and our wonderful cruise buddies!!

 

Salud!!

 

 

Happy Cruising, Everyone!!

[ckrobyn]

Jane - what a fabulous review (as always!) thanks for taking me out of my freezing cold winter for a little while :)

[maxs mom]

Jane - what a fabulous review (as always!) thanks for taking me out of my freezing cold winter for a little while :)

 

My pleasure!! You don't have long to wait now!!! You'd better start packing, girl! Wish I could go with you. Thanks for reading.

[Kik35]

Jane-Another great review with great beach pictures!!:D Always love to see your girls pic when you get home. We are heading to Nachi Cocum in March so really loved seeing those pix. Can't wait to read your Panama Canal review. Time flies so fast it will be here before you know it!!:cool: