JDR1986

Making me rethink my packing list seeing how few people there are out on the deck. I have lots of layers but definitely no heavy coat like the one you were wearing in your pictures...

Can't wait to see the rest of your pictures! We are on the Explorer sailing out of Seattle on June 30

Does anyone have any favorite items at Giovanni's Table? I have no dietary restrictions and everything on the menu looks good to me but I wanted to hear if anyone had any favorites that I had to be sure not to miss.

Pictures would be helpful too if anyone took them.

Thanks!

My wife is having some trouble deciding what to pack for our sailing on June 30 to Alaska. We have reservations in the specialty restaurants each night (Chops three times, Giovanni's three times, and Izumi once). Her concern seems to be what to wear to dinner that she can then wear outside on the deck in the late evening without having to go back to the room to change.

We are a younger couple (30 and 28) so she does not want to wear pantsuits. She would like to be able to wear jeans with a nice blouse but isn't sure that is acceptable for the "Smart Casual" recommendation listed on RCCL's website.

Does anyone have any insight on this? We are doing a "practice pack" this afternoon to make sure we have everything we need so any tips are appreciated.

Thanks!

Here is day 2:

https://goo.gl/photos/6PVbV3TQNEEw9Q6A8

 

Day 5:

https://goo.gl/photos/YFjX8r26L8ZvZ1Ye6

 

Day 6:

https://goo.gl/photos/YpcnR4oYWSDLCNaWA

 

 

Hope this helps!

Thank you very much!

I did not take pictures of them, but I do still have them for the most part (still haven't fully unpacked). If you are looking at a particular day I am sure I can assist.

 

I would book a Spa treatment for earlier in the day compared to later in the day. For example, the love and marriage show was in the afternoon compared to later in the day like on some other cruises.

Hopefully this isn't too much to ask, and I really do appreciate your insight, but would you be willing to upload images from days 2, 5, and 6?

Just got off this cruise a week and a half ago.

Amazing time. Amazing views. You could do no wrong.

 

Going into Alaska (morning of Juneau) watch for whales, they're all over. They do a 360 in the middle of the Fjord several times so everyone can see the glacier. It was incredible. Get up early that day (5:30am)

 

Windjammer is SLAMMED for breakfast and lunch, was difficult to find seats even for a party of 2 at times.

 

If you have any questions specifically I would be happy to answer as best as I can.

 

Also--the cruise director is FANTASTIC. He is retiring the end of July so you will still have him. He is hilarious!

Thanks for all ththe info! We leave in 16 days and couldn't be more excited! Did you take any pictures of the cruise compasses for the various days? We are trying to plan out spa treatments and other activities and seeing these in advance would certainly help.

I am hoping there is something to celebrate the 4th on this sailing. If nothing else, as others have said, hopefully the skies will be clear enough to see some fireworks in the distance somewhere.

I've been searching for 2017 sailing reviews for the Explorer of the Seas out of Seattle. I'm on the June 30 sailing but I haven't seen much in terms of reviews, Cruise compass postings, tips, etc.

Anyone have any insight? What to do/not to do? We are staying in a Junior Suite, Port side, got the beverage/specialty dining package.

Thanks in advance for any insight!

I was on the Explorer of the Seas when a rouge wave damaged two of the lifeboats ...

 

 

 

 

The cruise was allowed to continue because the ship had enough lifeboat capacity for all the passengers on the ship, even though with the loss of the two lifeboats the number of beds exceeded the lifeboat capacity.

When did this happen?

Biker19,

Missed you at the M&G, did you attend? It was a mess checking in, we waited for over 4 hours. I am writing a letter to Adam Goldstein about the cruise terminal.

 

Candie

 

JDR1986,

Same as Biker19, just got off of the Explorer and the weather was absolutely the best of the 6 Alaskan cruises I have done. Sunny and warm.

 

There was a terrible problem at the terminal trying to get on the ship. I am handicapped and was forced to wait outside for 4 hours, no chairs, nothing. It was very poor planning on RCCL and Intercruise (terminal people).

 

The ship left over an hour late because of the terminal mess.

 

The food was good, I loved the MDR and even the Windjammer but had the worst meal I have ever eaten on board a ship at Johnny Rocket's. I had heard the hamburgers were better then Guy's Burgers on NCL but no way, they were terrible. Asked for a refund of my cost of my burger.

 

I am use to a much larger ship but it was easy to get around the ship. The Royal Promenade is where all of the Cruise Director's shows are held, so you can't get into the shops or cafes when there is something going on. The 70s Disco, British Invasion, and a few others were held there and blocked the whole promenade.

 

The entertainment, Ice Skating Show, Kivi Rogers, comedian, Hayden Smith, saxophonist/singer and the production show, Fast Forward and the ballroom dancers, Amanda and Sebastian, were out of this world, you have to see them if they are still on the ship.

 

Graham Seymour, Cruise Director, was fabulous, but I have heard that sometime in June or July he is retiring and will only fill in as CD when Royal desperately needs him. He wants to go home.

 

Hope this helps.

Candie

Thanks for the info, Candie! Very helpful! Did you by chance save any of the Cruise Compass for any of the days?

Not to commandeer this thread - but has anyone see any reviews of the Explorer sailings in Alaska for 2017 yet? I'm boarding on the 6/30 sailing and have been looking for reviews but haven't seen any yet.

I ended up booking a PH3. Couldn't convince myself that I needed the Oceania Suite, especially with no days at sea. Very excited for my first Oceania Cruise though!

Just booked 7111 for this cruise. I really didn't see a need for anything more, and loved pictures of the larger balcony.

 

 

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I was looking at that one earlier today! I am considering the Penthouse Suite (PH3), Concierge Level (A1), and the Oceania Suite right now. I know, the Oceania Suite is insanely expensive but my wife's parents as well as her brother and his wife will liekly be joining us on this cruise. The Oceania Suite would give us sufficient room to entertain when the ship closes down on the earlier side (we are all night owls).

Hopefully I'll see you on the ship!

Hello Everyone!

I am considering taking an Oceania Cruise for the first time with my wife and her parents. I have been on 26 other crusies (mostly RCL, NCL, and Princess) but have never taken a "higher-end line" such as Oceania.

We are very close to booking the "Gondollas and Goddesses" cruise from Venice to Athens leaving July 4, 2018 through July 12, 2018 on the Riviera. We would spend a few days in Venice before the cruise then several in Athens after to extend the trip.

Has anyone done this sailing before? Any tips? Room suggestions? We are open to anything from the Veranda Stateroom to the Penthouse 1. The issue isn't the money so much as whether we would be spending that much time in the room to justify the added expense.

Any insight on this Oceania sailing, ship, excursions, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

-Jon

Make the 6:30 reservation in person as soon as you board. Or even better, when the suite concierge introduces themselves before the cruise ask them to do it for you.

I apologize for my ignorance, but the suite concierge? I've been on ten RC Cruises but don't really being contacted ahead of the cruise by a suite concierge in the past.

Hi All:

I am sailing on the Harmony of the Seas out of Barcelona next week and am having a slight issue making reservations for dinner for the first night.

We have reservations to see Grease at 8:45 on Embarkation day booked through the online Cruise Planner. I want to make dinner reservations for 6:30 but the Cruise Planner requires you to have 2 hours and 15 minutes free between each event to make a reservation. Is there any way around this so I can make a 6:30 reservation? We are my time dining. Coastal Kitchen is the preferred dinner spot but I am open to any location, including specialty restaurants if that makes it more feasible.

My other thought was having room service. We are staying in the Owner's Suite and as I understand it, we are able to order food from any venue on the ship to be delivered to our room for a full service dinner. I would like to have them set up dinner in the dining area but I am not sure if this is possible on the first night.

Does anyone have any input on the two options? Any other options?

Appreciate the help!

-Jon

Hello,

My wife and I have a trip planned on the Harmony of the Seas for this September out of Barcelona. We will be staying in the Owner's Suite (11240). We have been trying to find pictures of the Harmon Owner's Suite but have not come across any.

If anyone has stayed in this room, or another Owner's Suite aboard the Harmony, please post some pictures.

Thank you!

-Jon