Live Review: Explorer Alaska Cruise May 25th to June 1st (by a disabled vegetarian wi

[sellwingri]

Thank you so much for the fabulous review and pics! We’re on this cruise in August (still have time to wait) and your review was a great preview.

[BecciBoo]

Great review--thanks for sharing!

 

Also, for seasickness, I recommend to try to stick to bland starchy foods (nothing rich/fatty), and eating less, but more frequently (~ 5 times/day not 3). Also, note that for Bonine/Meclizine, it can be dosed up to 100mg/day (I take the 12.5mg tabs and do 4 every 12 hours). Some packaging says much less than that (only 25-50mg), but the dosing indications I have read online say up to 100mg/day, especially if well tolerated and for the short term. Hope he feels better soon! I too am very prone to it, and think prolonged mild seasickness is worse than short term severe seasickness. Usually that sea day between Seattle and Alaska is by far the worst for Alaska cruises that are round trip Seattle (we've done 2).

 

Good suggestion about eating frequently...my seadog Dad who was in the navy recommends a sleeve of soda crackers when arising for the day, but you could try rice cakes instead.....just for soaking up the bile in your stomach that actually causes all that nausea. Also any kind of ginger would help, ginger candy, ginger cookies (you might find some GF ones at the market before you cruise) or ginger capsules from health store.

 

We've done Alaska twice both our favorite cruises of all time. We like Hubbard glacier the best, much grander and larger. Loving your review.

[BecciBoo]

I was just going to post the same observation. ;)

All looks good to me anyway.

 

 

And due to your pics of the whales and other creatures, I've decided to do the boat trip. Yippee! Hopefully there'll be some there in September.

 

Don't worry there will be! Both our Alaska cruises were in September and the weather was superior, hardly any rain and animals everywhere!

[CatLadyFemme]

Waiting for a wheelchair escort off, so posting some of the towel animal menagerie we saw yesterday in the Star Lounge.

 

Do folks want more descriptions/pictures of food (both mine and the gluten/meat filled meals of CatDad), or have y'all gotten enough info about the food?

 

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[rockmom]

Love all the towel animals! Welcome back and thanks again for the 'live' reporting. Did I miss it or do you not have the Compass from Day 7 (Victoria)?

[CatLadyFemme]

Love all the towel animals! Welcome back and thanks again for the 'live' reporting. Did I miss it or do you not have the Compass from Day 7 (Victoria)?

I have it in my backpack and need to take pics of it. We have some down time I, the airport so will take and post them then!

 

Also, wanted luggage valet but did not see any info on it. However, they were listed as a special group on disembarkation instructions.

 

Oh! If you want a taxi, get a porter and tip them. Their taxi line is a fraction of the normal line.

 

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[rockmom]

I have it in my backpack and need to take pics of it. We have some down time I, the airport so will take and post them then!

 

Also, wanted luggage valet but did not see any info on it. However, they were listed as a special group on disembarkation instructions.

 

Oh! If you want a taxi, get a porter and tip them. Their taxi line is a fraction of the normal line.

 

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Great info! I also found this--if it's an airline you are on, this is a great deal, it's totally FREE. https://www.portseattle.org/page/port-valet-enjoy-seattle-luggage-free I actually live down in Vancouver, WA, so it's drive-able for me and I'll be the one shuttling my cruisemates to the airport and then heading home.

[cft8]

I enjoyed your review! We are going to Alaska in 2019 on the Ovation and I'm already excited!

 

This is more of a question for other people that have cruised recently, but about the menus - it looked like you have the new menu style, where all 3 courses are on the same menu. But, it seemed like the the options were different. I noticed you did have the chilled fruit soups (which I love) and that you also had the entrees that were the same every night under the heading "Classics" I'm wondering if they're maybe continuing to tweak the menu options. We are on Navigator out of Southampton in August and I'm curious about what the menu will be like.

[maweberpa]

Thank you so much for taking the time during your trip to post all of this great information. We'll be heading out in a few weeks, so this was incredibly helpful to see the menus and the compasses. I love knowing my food and entertainment options in advance. I really appreciate what a fantastic resource this site can be and it's due in no small part to the generosity of members like you.

 

Thanks again!!

[CatLadyFemme]

I enjoyed your review! We are going to Alaska in 2019 on the Ovation and I'm already excited!

 

This is more of a question for other people that have cruised recently, but about the menus - it looked like you have the new menu style, where all 3 courses are on the same menu. But, it seemed like the the options were different. I noticed you did have the chilled fruit soups (which I love) and that you also had the entrees that were the same every night under the heading "Classics" I'm wondering if they're maybe continuing to tweak the menu options. We are on Navigator out of Southampton in August and I'm curious about what the menu will be like.

These menus were the same in layout, and similar to but not the same as the ones we had on our Feb Enchantment sailing. Not sure if they are different ship to ship, whether Alaska is different, or if they are changing. I should have asked!

 

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[CatLadyFemme]

Here are the day 7 (Victoria) cruise compass.

 

I also forgot to mention on Deck 11, you can check out blankets where you check out towels, so you can enjoy those during the outdoor movies.

 

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[CatLadyFemme]

Thank you so much for taking the time during your trip to post all of this great information. We'll be heading out in a few weeks, so this was incredibly helpful to see the menus and the compasses. I love knowing my food and entertainment options in advance. I really appreciate what a fantastic resource this site can be and it's due in no small part to the generosity of members like you.

 

Thanks again!!

You are so welcome. I am a total planner and researcher (oh hey PhD skills popping up elsewhere in my life) and also have anxiety, so I really really appreciate all I have gotten from this site, and am thrilled to be ablento contribute back, especially since I was on an early sailing. I hope all of you who are traveling later this year on Explorer have an amazing time!

 

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[alexkrn46]

Thank you once again and safe travels home/

[PIR8LUVR]

CatLady,

 

In a previous post you mentioned the Solarium pool being heated. Is the Solarium enclosed? I know they usually are, but someone on another board said the Solarium on Explorer is not. I'm just curious.

 

Thanks! I'm glad you had such a wonderful time. I can't wait to go in July!

 

You are so welcome. I am a total planner and researcher (oh hey PhD skills popping up elsewhere in my life) and also have anxiety, so I really really appreciate all I have gotten from this site, and am thrilled to be ablento contribute back, especially since I was on an early sailing. I hope all of you who are traveling later this year on Explorer have an amazing time!

 

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[CatLadyFemme]

CatLady,

 

In a previous post you mentioned the Solarium pool being heated. Is the Solarium enclosed? I know they usually are, but someone on another board said the Solarium on Explorer is not. I'm just curious.

 

Thanks! I'm glad you had such a wonderful time. I can't wait to go in July!

NOT enclosed, though the Solarium hot tubs are covered. The pool is fairly warm, but we didn't go in until yesterday when it was in the high 50s/low 60s.

 

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[CatLadyFemme]

But we did hot tub frequently, either at night at the Solarium tubs, or when it was reeaalllly chilly, in the hot tub in the fitness center.

CatLady,

 

In a previous post you mentioned the Solarium pool being heated. Is the Solarium enclosed? I know they usually are, but someone on another board said the Solarium on Explorer is not. I'm just curious.

 

Thanks! I'm glad you had such a wonderful time. I can't wait to go in July!

 

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[Nessie07]

But we did hot tub frequently, either at night at the Solarium tubs, or when it was reeaalllly chilly, in the hot tub in the fitness center.

 

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Thanks for wonderful review! We were on Explorer last July and are headed back this July. A question about the hot tubs, how was the temperature of the water. We thought last year they were not warm enough. Other people agreed. And this was a port day when it was about 60 degrees. Just curious. And we didn't know there was one in the fitness center so that will be nice!

 

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[CatLadyFemme]

When it was fairly cold outside, the hot tubs felt very nice and very warm, and the one in the fitness center was toasty. Yesterday, when it was nicer outside, the outdoor Solarium tubs were not *as* warm.

Thanks for wonderful review! We were on Explorer last July and are headed back this July. A question about the hot tubs, how was the temperature of the water. We thought last year they were not warm enough. Other people agreed. And this was a port day when it was about 60 degrees. Just curious. And we didn't know there was one in the fitness center so that will be nice!

 

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[rockmom]

Thank you for the Day 7 Compass, my 'collection' is now complete! :'):D

[Queen of Adventure]

ADORE your octopus earrings!!!

[Beachiekeen]

The tea at the Empress looks divine! I must do this!

[CatLadyFemme]

Thank you for the Day 7 Compass, my 'collection' is now complete! :'):D

You are so welcome!

 

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[CatLadyFemme]

ADORE your octopus earrings!!!

They are from etsy! You can choose the color of the octopus and off the hooks or chain (I have a massive matching necklace that was too big/fragile to bring with).

 

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[CatLadyFemme]

The tea at the Empress looks divine! I must do this!

It was so incredibly fantastic. I have a few more pics of it to post once CatDad sends me the ones on his phone. We liked Victoria so much, we are considering a trip just to go there and maybe Vancouver.

 

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[tortoisegirl]

Thanks again for sharing your awesome view!

 

(Also, I second the suggestion for the fitness center hot tub. We used it exclusively, as you don't have to go outside into the cold, and it was much less popular. Plus they have nicer towels in the fitness center which you don't have to check out, vs. the old ones you have to check out at the pool.)