uktog

I know from experience it was virtually impossible to find a bra, swimwear or underwear in the time available in two Spanish ports in my size - and that was after the cruise line asked the port agent for help. So it’s unfair to assert it’s easy and just ask I pinned my hopes on Gibraltar M and S only to find they focus on sizes up to UK 18. Luckily for smarter tops I found a shop on the Main Street Jades Fashions - basic but helpful. Others may have more luck in M and S Gibraltar I’ve never seen a T-shirt I’ve been prepared to wear in the evening in my size in a port store. But then port time is excursion time for me and I still wanted my planned excursions so wasn’t actively shopping. For me though, I focus on meeting the dress code myself, I carry one smart top and some little scarves in my carry on. Worst case the trousers I travel in may be seen a lot and yes they are coloured denim. However I do not care if those around me are meeting the requested dress code or not. My evening is impacted on by the quality of food and Service and the “behaviour and chat” of companions - nothing else

We too were booked above most annoying by the onboard agent who assured us it was an excellent room. We were booking the day before disembarking so did not get a chance to check. It was also before the issue was reported onboard. I tried recently to get a change and was told as it was an onboard special offer the answer was no. We will just see how we get along. There are enough other places to sit out onboard but as we are b2b if it’s bad, we will see if we can swap mid holiday

Never had the burning problem even in the fierce Middle East sun. However I did notice last cruise there was virtually no space between any chairs. I need to get onto a chair from the side and that was an issue.

You will be sailing the Bay of Biscay unfortunately an unpredictable area of sea that can both pitch and roll or be as smooth as glass. Buying a guarantee room is always a risk. Fingers crossed you have the Biscay glass

Despite the issues in the earlier cruises which were entirely their fault due to cancellations, they issued future cruise vouchers and not full refunds to us. We enjoyed the onboard experience last year so decided rather than push to have the vouchers changed to cash based on new information we had about our rights under UK consumer law, we would use the vouchers for a cruise after all. However dates, prices etc required us to actually take two cruises hence the current arrangements. At present I cannot see any more cruises being booked with Explora before 2026 - maybe they will settle down by then but they have to sort out this Seaware software nonsense. Maybe overseas travel agents are happy to do all the leg work on shore excursions for guests and handle all the payments and changes, that is certainly not what UK agents expect to do. However my persevering agent has managed to take payment for the excursions though they now have to send a separate payment to Explora which is hassle for them. Dear Explora please let ALL guests book and pay for excursions direct preferably through an online portal!!!

It does say WiFi plus there 😀

Yes we have two cruises in quick succession and our November one has the same issue. However we need to use OBC on that one (no other uses for it) and have been told that unlike Azamara who allow us to use OBC in advance to secure excursions it’s a no from Explora. They seem blind to this service inconvenience

Explora really needs to get a grip on this one. It probably does not affect US guests as there is a different operating model between US travel agents and cruise lines. In the UK, the vast majority of guest working through larger agents, paying their cruises balances to the agency not Explora. (No risk payment protected by ABTA travel trade protections). We pay agents about 16 weeks before the cruise but the agency do not pay Explora until we join the cruise - again standard terms. However, Explora systems cannot cope with this and it has come to a head for us today. We went to book a shore excursion we have to pay for. We did not want to wait until we got onboard because it was something that is capacity controlled and might sell out. No problem, two places booked but then the problem. The call agent can only process the full outstanding balance which includes the cruise we have already paid for. There is no method that allows you to pay for excursions only. I need to revert to the travel agency to work out how we tackle this. (Note Azamara use the same software but they can take payments for excursions separate from the notionally outstanding cruise balance so this one is well and truly on Explora)

And most importantly have the same insurance standards or safety requirements (even if independently you go with a provider the ship used).

Actually wearing the bath robe was regularly suggested by the cruise directors as an option- and on chilly nights it was a very good one too

You can make reservations for dining on your second cruise at the back to back meeting- done it several times

Other lines using the same software have no problems refunding it to the card you use at check in to support onboard spending. The refund is in the currency of the ship and the foreign exchange is handled by your card provider

White is optional not compulsory

Never experienced that on other lines that use them. At least you can also pop ice into the bottles so you avoid the curse of the warm sweating plastic bottles. I’m all for everyone being asked to stop using single use plastic- it’s the least we can do for future generations and as Phil shows you can work around taste issues.

A defence if I can call it that is that the cruise lines with website and other e commerce issues are all using Seaware software. It became the go to provider in recent years. It evidently is extremely good at managing the whole experience onboard (things guests won’t be aware or immediately see but which do affect your experience). However there are elements that are flaky as all lines have discovered and fixes can be challenging. I do not think Explora chose to follow suit as you put it. At the time they and others made the choice to use Seaware all the challenges hadn’t surfaced. Fixing them take time. Explora could make the experience a lot better by allowing the guest to do more of the interactions themselves without demanding only the travel agent handles it. Other lines (eg Azamara using the same software) do let me book excursions and pay using either my credit card or on board credit without going through the travel agent or call centre

Any guest who has independent arrangements on Azamara can get an early tender. We have been on first tender a few times, we let guest relations know and they advise us where to meet. Unlike other lines Azamara do not prioritise ship marketed excursions at the expense of others. If needed in some ports there will be tenders dedicated to excursions eg in Santorini because the buses pick up at a different place to others. Captains will use more tenders (3 or even 4) early in the day to speed up getting ashore then reduce the number when appropriate.

Announcements in English only on our cruise that had a mix of nationalities

Quest has now gone to Dry dock. We understood water coolers were being added on each floor then

Agree with @crickette In particular flight costs can be brutal last minute. We discovered this last year when Explora cancelled our cruise with ten days notice. Whilst we could find a substitute cruise easily none of them could match up to scheduled flight availability. Our TA did very well finding us an alternative on a Scenic River Cruise (ok not what was originally planned) because Scenic hadn’t released back their flight allocation. We did have to forgo the included pre cruise hotel with scenic (price was adjusted) but were able to book the same hotel ourselves so all the transfers worked still. As an example 10 days before flying BA to Athens was going to be £1200 each return ex Scotland in economy!!!

They only have very expensive specialist shops

We have a large amount of obc for the transatlantic due to Explora messing up on an itinerary change. Our hotel booked through them was to be b and b but they claimed unable to get a rate other than room only so gave us obc to cover the extras. This was in addition to the obc (price reduction not given) when they reduced the cruise by two nights. My agent tried very hard to argue a refund but no. It was ridiculous and Explora just said obc for 4 nights breakfast and 2 nights less or nothing I accepted the position because I’d identified three excursions that whilst pretty expensive would use the credit. I will be very unhappy if we do not get these now we have to wait until we board to book them. I expected Explora to be like Azamara as they use the same software and to be able to use obc to book excursions precruise. Having been onboard before I know there is absolutely nothing else I would want to spend this obc on. I will be very very unhappy if I can’t get the excursions I want or close alternatives

I couldn’t imagine dragging bags in the heat for the sake of 10 euro taxi

They do a special every night. Many people who go align their visit to their favourite special. There is a board advertising the special every day by the Deck 9 lifts and if the chef has fixed on the special before the Insider goes to print you will find the details there.

Agree but there they do not act all insulted if you ask for a measured drink. As you say each to their own (the Patio is a once a cruise for us on a casual night after a long day’s touring but not an absolute must by the way )

Even the bartenders can be inconsistent- our experience was with those two. I am much more a fan of cocktails precisely measured rather than free pour guessing