Explorer of the Seas Cruise Compass, Meuns & Photos 9 August 2015

[Mitey]

Is ice-skating complimentary? I see it says first come, first serve...I wear a common size for women 8 1/2-9m...do they offen run out of skates?

My mother told me that the ice shows require tickets and they fill up quickly. Was this your experience?

Also, I have seen a video with people roller blading on deck. I noticed in the Compass it says advanced skating on deck, must have own skates. Does anyone have knowledge about this?

Lastly...I forgot the name (something "Kettle") place to get fish-n-chips...is there a surcharge?

Thanks in advance.

:)

[Clarea]

Is ice-skating complimentary? I see it says first come, first serve...I wear a common size for women 8 1/2-9m...do they offen run out of skates?

My mother told me that the ice shows require tickets and they fill up quickly. Was this your experience?

Also, I have seen a video with people roller blading on deck. I noticed in the Compass it says advanced skating on deck, must have own skates. Does anyone have knowledge about this?

Lastly...I forgot the name (something "Kettle") place to get fish-n-chips...is there a surcharge?

Thanks in advance.

:)

Ice Skating (both the show and the guest use of the ice rink) is free.

[sky0000547]

Is ice-skating complimentary? I see it says first come, first serve...I wear a common size for women 8 1/2-9m...do they offen run out of skates?

My mother told me that the ice shows require tickets and they fill up quickly. Was this your experience?

Also, I have seen a video with people roller blading on deck. I noticed in the Compass it says advanced skating on deck, must have own skates. Does anyone have knowledge about this?

Lastly...I forgot the name (something "Kettle") place to get fish-n-chips...is there a surcharge?

 

Ice skating is complimentary and it is indeed first come first serve. They will limit the amount of people in the ice rink per session. There are plenty of skates in different sizes, chances of running out are slim.

 

The ice show on Explorer is determined by your muster station number (see day 3 page 2 compass). You can always line up at Studio B for getting in as standby if they have spaces.

 

There is no longer roller skating on Explorer. The skate park has turned into the FlowRider. The advanced skating is for advanced ice skaters with their own ice skates.

 

There is a crown & kettle pub in the Royal Promenade as it is a pub it serves drinks. You can get fish & chips at lunch in the main dining room (take a look at my lunch menu on day 13 as a sample). The Windjammer also serves a lot of fried fish for lunch for many days. The fried fish I am talking about are small fish pieces and not the big haddock or cod you get in a UK fish & chip shop. It is all complimentary.

[sky0000547]

Deck 5

 

 

Helipad

 

 

You can get to the helipad as I previously mentioned from deck 4 but you can also get to the helipad from the Star Lounge on deck 5 and you will come out of this door. The door is located on the starboard side only at the back of the lounge. There are no steps if you go this way compare to deck 4.

 

 

Star Lounge

 

 

The Connoisseur Club/Cigar Lounge

[sky0000547]

 

 

 

Royal Promenade

 

 

Rock Britannia Dance Party

 

 

 

 

R Bar to the left and Guest Services to the right

[sky0000547]

 

Positive Vibrations playing in the Royal Promenade under the bridge with Crown & Kettle Pub to the left

 

 

[sky0000547]

Deck 6

 

 

Next Cruise Office

 

 

And the current offers

 

 

 

 

I really do like these models in the next cruise office

[sky0000547]

Deck 7 has the library and card room which unfortunately I don't have a photo of.

 

Deck 8

 

 

The new digital way finder on each deck

 

 

RC Online

 

Deck 9

 

 

The very secretive looking Concierge Club

Edited August 27, 2015 by sky0000547

[sky0000547]

Deck 11

 

 

 

Peek-a-Boo Bridge

[sky0000547]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fitness Centre

 

 

And strangely there is a jacuzzi inside the fitness centre and most of the time it is empty

[hammerbees]

Can you confirm if there are kettles in the cabins please. We have a balcony booked and want to check if i need to take one or not. Many thanks

 

many thanks for the reviews and pictures, very informative!:):)

[sky0000547]

Can you confirm if there are kettles in the cabins please. We have a balcony booked and want to check if i need to take one or not. Many thanks

 

many thanks for the reviews and pictures, very informative!:):)

 

Yes there is a kettle in the stateroom

[hammerbees]

Thank you for your quick response!

[sky0000547]

 

Solarium Pool

 

 

Solarium Bar

 

 

Pool Towel Exchange, you will still need your seapass card to check in & out pool towels

 

 

Dive Shop on Starboard Side

 

 

Main Pools Looking Forward

 

 

Main Pool Looking Forward and new big screen

 

**A major note for the smokers or in some cases non-smokers, smoking is allowed in certain areas of the casino and on starboard side of deck 11. There is no smoking on port side of deck 11 so walk on that side if you want to avoid smoke.

Edited August 27, 2015 by sky0000547

[sky0000547]

 

Paella cook off on the pool deck on day 11

 

 

Hot dogs, ribs and salad being served on the pool deck at lunch time on certain days

 

 

Pool Bar

 

 

I like this gents bathroom on the port side next to the Windjammer with the floor to ceiling view.

 

 

Soft serve ice-cream machines. The machine on the left serves more like frozen yogurt and the machine on the right serves more like soft serve ice-cream. This is located on the starboard side only and it is self service.

[sky0000547]

 

Chops Grille

 

 

Windjammer Marketplace

 

 

The bar inside Windjammer Marketplace. This is where you get your freshly squeezed orange juice in the morning or lunch.

 

 

 

[sky0000547]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A short selection of food and desserts available for lunch in the Windjammer Marketplace

[Mitey]

Can anyone elaborate on Brassarie 30? Is this worth a visit?

[sky0000547]

Can anyone elaborate on Brassarie 30? Is this worth a visit?

 

It is basically a waiter serviced lunch in the MDR on sea days. They have the infamous tutti salad bar where you go out and select the salad and the chef will toss it in front of you.

 

People prefer Brassarie 30 on a sea day over the zoo of Windjammer.

 

[Cruzinbabe06]

I am enjoying this picture review so much!

 

Thank you for taking the time to post.:D

 

We have an inside cabin booked on the 6th deck. We were able to book an Interline rate of $680 per person. The balcony was $300 more, per person. I'm sharing with a female coworker, and I think our October sailing is full. Did you find the inside cabin claustrophobic?

 

Also, we have 2 excursions booked for Cadiz and Gibraltar that were pretty expensive. Did you book an excursion in Gibraltar or toured on your own?

Edited August 28, 2015 by Cruzinbabe06

[Marianna49]

It is basically a waiter serviced lunch in the MDR on sea days. They have the infamous tutti salad bar where you go out and select the salad and the chef will toss it in front of you.

 

People prefer Brassarie 30 on a sea day over the zoo of Windjammer.

 

We prefer to go to the MDR for lunch and breakfast every day. It is much more civilized and relaxing than the Windjammer. Especially on sea days when lunch time seating is impossible in the buffet.

Edited August 28, 2015 by Marianna49

[sky0000547]

We have an inside cabin booked on the 6th deck. We were able to book an Interline rate of $680 per person. The balcony was $300 more, per person. I'm sharing with a female coworker, and I think our October sailing is full. Did you find the inside cabin claustrophobic?

 

Also, we have 2 excursions booked for Cadiz and Gibraltar that were pretty expensive. Did you book an excursion in Gibraltar or toured on your own?

 

 

I'm more than happy to be in an inside cabin than others. I quite like the total darkness of it, yes it could feel quite small but to me not claustrophobic small. Most of my cruises were done in an inside. Even when I had a balcony, I hardly ever used it as I like my air-conditioning so it is no big loss to me. It is up to you whether the extra $300pp is worth it and more importantly how close do you feel you are with your co-worker to be in an inside.

 

I didn't do any excursion in Gibraltar. I just walked 20mins into downtown and just had a wander. I was thinking of going up the rock via cable car but on the day it was foggy/low clouds over the rock so I didn't bother.

[Miamia65]

Thank you so much for this thread. We are cruising on Explorer to NZ in January when she comes to Australia.

 

The cruise compass mentions that Kate Spade is now "at sea". Did you notice whether there was a Kate Spade boutique of its own or do they just sell a limited range in the royal promenade boutique shops (the ones that have other handbag brands)? thanks

[sky0000547]

The cruise compass mentions that Kate Spade is now "at sea". Did you notice whether there was a Kate Spade boutique of its own or do they just sell a limited range in the royal promenade boutique shops (the ones that have other handbag brands)? thanks

 

 

There is no standalone Kate Spade boutique on the ship. The handbags are sold from the 'Fashion District' store on the Royal Promenade along with other brands. Choices will be limited.

 

Enjoy your cruise in January.

Edited August 28, 2015 by sky0000547

[Etta]

sky000057 - your information is incredible, what a gift you've given us prior to our sailing. Thank you.

 

Love to cruise!