happy cruzin

12 minutes ago, Critically Cruising said:

If anyone has the original Explora brochures, they are fun to read now.  Fun in a masochistic way.  Maybe I'll post them so people can compare and contrast with reality.

 

 

Please do!!  Or, can you email them to me?? I’m looking for something specific that I can not find in the current literature. 

7 minutes ago, travelberlin said:

I am very disappointed about the cancellations, shifting from originally marketed “freedom to choose “ with respect to restaurants (this is my biggest disappointment) and inefficiencies in organizing shuttles in ports. Somehow they are not providing the “luxury” experience they have promised.

Ivi

Agreed.  I know there are less than 1000 passengers, but I do feel like the restaurant situation could be troublesome. 

37 minutes ago, Dr. Cocktail said:

I’m sticking with my answer in post #13!

 

 

Agreed…I’m in the “nothing ventured, nothing gained” camp at the moment. 
 

But it could definitely be a one and done for us. We will see! 

1 hour ago, Critically Cruising said:

As the glow from the raves from "influencers" and TAs starts to fade, is anyone else having some buyer's remorse?

 

Unfortunately, my upcoming cruise is in the window where I would take a complete bath if I cancelled, so I'm going forward with the trip.  But I'm having more and more feelings that disappointment will be the end result.  The restaurant situation was initially presented as complete choice, then shifted to having limited access to some restaurants.  All-day ala carte dining turns into a buffet, that isn't even open all day.  Restaurants can't handle the guests wanting to dine, with the assumption being that folks can just eat in the buffet.  Included spirits are less than inspiring.  And the shore-side management experience is less than inspiring.  Is this to be an Italian Viking?

 

In some ways, I wish that I had a cruise that is cancelled.  One where I could take my money and look for a different experience.

 

 

I don’t think anyone can deny that things have shifted from original release of information to now. Only time will tell how big a deal it is! 

55 minutes ago, jethapgun said:

Hello - we are on the 10Nov sailing (2nd half of a Caribbean, San Juan to Miami 7 day). I was hoping once it was paid in full, we could see more excursions (and select them), but unfortunately could not. I called Explora Journeys and the representative walked me through the site, asked me what I saw, etc., but I was still unable to book excursions. He told me to contact my travel agent or he would book them for me.

 

I can view a small description of a total of 27 tours for 6 ports - if you include San Juan and Miami (+ the 4 islands). I'm not truly ready to book one of these, as they don't interest us and several are over-priced. I asked if they would be adding excursions and he said he didn't think so, but anything was possible. I understand that some of the offerings are more unique, but would like (a few) options of some more traditional tours - not necessarily the party boat - but a simple shuttle from St Kitts to Nevis would be nice. We've been to Ocean Cay a couple of times, and I'm pretty sure they had more than 4 choices for rentals/excursions, if you include 'rent the beach mat'. (Maybe they will be included, ha ha). A few days ago I was looking at one of the other luxury lines and they had 27 offerings just for St. Lucia. Was just wondering if anyone else is missing some of the traditional offerings and larger selection of tours? Thank you and have a great day!

Interesting…now I can see the “experiences” and I am also disappointed in the limited choices. 

3 hours ago, Stickman1990 said:

We sail next month and I still haven’t worked out his to access Tours on the portal let alone booking them. Managed to get ourselves checked in but can’t find anything about booking restaurants or tours online (not saying if isn’t there and happy if someone can tell me hod to access it) 

 

I’d talk to your TA or direct with Explora Journeys by phone and they San send you the list of excursions and the pricing - they did that instantly when I rang them

 

I’ve got to ask - do you really have 14 cruises booked with Explora as per your signature? - now that’s commitment!

Lol…it’s days booked in my signature. 🥺

6 hours ago, daleandrews said:

I added a tour the other week for a substituted port on our Glasgow to NYC trip and also found that there was absolutely no payment button that would "click" to enter payment information.  I sent Explora an email asking about this and they sent back an email letter with a link at the bottom for payment.  When I clicked the link to pay, however, and after selecting "credit card" and providing my card information, the site returned a page asking if I wanted to proceed to payment BUT the amount shown on that page was the total price of the whole cruise (which I had long since paid), not the cost of just the newly added excursion.  I wasn't going to click that (!!) so I emailed Explora again and was told that I had to delete the erroneous total cruise price on the page and insert the amount for the newly added excursion.  That worked but . . . the experience indicates that all of this is still pretty much a work in progress.  🙂 

We sail in November and I can log on to the website and see our itinerary and booking. But there are no tours/excursions listed. When did those open up for you to book??

5 minutes ago, Stickman1990 said:

I received this list of services and pricing from Explora Jouneys yesterday

EJ Ocean Wellness Menu Pricelist.pdf 45.76 kB · 5 downloads EJ_Ocean Wellness_Menu.pdf 2.49 MB · 1 download

Thanks!!

Has anyone seen a list of services that are available in the Spa of the Explora? 

According to a customer service representative for Explora Journeys, when I contacted them, the app does not become active until 45 days prior to sailing. 
 

2 hours ago, Mr Luxury said:

You only get one chance to make a first impression 

EXACTLY!!

3 hours ago, uktog said:

How are folks who were cancelled getting on with Explora. The more I hear from my agent about the assurances they were given at a senior level from senior MSC staff that the cruise was not cancelled AFTER the cancellation timeline per the subsequent communication the more annoyed I am. Never mind the undervalued feeling re the 30%
 

Ive been trying to move on but it’s very hard when it’s proving pretty impossible to get sensibly priced flights so late on.  We thought we had a solution last weekend but the provider had released back key elements to the airlines and hotels as it was within seven days and so far haven’t managed a fix. 
 

Let’s see what today brings. 

Sadly I’ve not heard of anyone that has an a “easy” time getting rescheduled. Many seem to have the same challenges as you…time, increased cost and limited availability of cabins. 🥺

19 minutes ago, CJANDH said:

Seems you need to subscribe to the FT to read it.

Google “Financial Times Explora” - it will come up and I was able to read it without subscribing. 

My other post was removed because it wasn’t linked. Here’s the article - lined to the website. 
 

https://www.ft.com/content/8cfa4fdf-6d8d-486f-8be9-e14cafb36a43

7 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Looking more like a December Inaugural.

Let’s hope not!! 🤞🏼🤞🏼

2 minutes ago, Ljames23 said:

I would check with your travel agent again as mine told me the new cruise is on August 1. I also called Explora and they told me the same. 

Agreed - I’ve heard the pushback is just until August 1. 

17 minutes ago, peder said:

Interesting that the Euribia is called out, and presumably the Seascape (they mention that another MSC ship, built by Fincantieri, used the same panels, and I'm guessing it's the Seascape since it was produced around the same time).

 

Also mentioned Meyer Werft, so I even wonder if other recent launched ships like the Disney Wish are impacted. And then if they are impacted, would we expect them all to be taken out of service for a few weeks?

Hmm…maybe!

5 minutes ago, mungojerrie said:

According to our TA, the first cruise will be August 1st. We are very disappointed! Especially since I have an AirTag in my luggage, and it is currently on its way across the pond. We have been told that all our expenses will be reimbursed (cruise fare, air, luggage, transfers...), and that we will get (I think) 30% future cruise credit. Double drats.

Oh man….that stinks!! 🥺

11 minutes ago, mungojerrie said:

Our TA just called. Cruise is cancelled.

🥺

24 minutes ago, PaulMCO said:

I know its frustrating.  But -- When you buy something and it is not to your liking do you accept it.

There must be some open issues that are better handled in port that are delaying the ship after its acceptance trials.  With supply chain issues every thing is speculation.

….or it’s a safety issue that needs to be resolved. Which comes back the “why” and lack of information. 

16 minutes ago, rd_cruise said:

Feeling very concerned about this and find it strange that Explora is not more forthcoming. Is this a safety issue? Or is it cosmetic? The lack of communication is leaving too much up to speculation..

Yes - it is frustrating!

3 hours ago, mungojerrie said:

Thank you for keeping our hope alive😄. 

That would be great for those holding reservations for the Inaugural sailing!

2 minutes ago, steamboats said:

 

As the inaugural is not yet officially cancelled the change on the Southampton website is totally correct.

 

steamboats

But they have certainly set the groundwork for adjustments - if necessary!

47 minutes ago, peder said:

What types of changes would prompt such a late cancellation? Is MSC going to make a strategic change, or did they identify issues after sea trials? I can't imagine that cosmetic issues would prompt MSC to make a decision like this.

I'd think this close to handoff that something was discovered during the final inspections.  But the "why" of the delay has not been reported yet.

29 minutes ago, mungojerrie said:

Meanwhile, our luggage was picked up yesterday (Luggage Forward) and on its way to Southhampton.🙃

. 

Rut-roh!!  😳