Brummijam

1 hour ago, PJ's said:

Just one question. Do you attach your luggage label to your suitcase before flying out or wait until you retrieve it at Palma and attach before taking to the transfer coach? We have booked specific cabins.

Hi PJs

you attach luggage labels in the uk, it will save you messing about with them at the Palma luggage carousel.😉

Hi Kittyonions.

sockets on Explorer are euro two pin type so you will need a euro to uk adapter ,if you are in a junior suite or above there are usb points in the bedside lamps.

1 hour ago, paularmstrong said:

travel irons are big no no on ships

According to Marella they are ok to take onboard.🤷🏻‍♂️
 

Copied from Marellas website……..

I also throw in a roll of gaffer tape  (from screw fix)  The baggage handlers have managed to damage a couple of our suitcases over the years.🤦🏻‍♂️

1 hour ago, Pensioncruiser said:

Not allowed on a ship because of fire hazard ☹️

Hi PC. Hope you and mrs PC are both well.😉

I think that things have changed re travel irons as they are being allowed onboard these days.   Copied from Marellas website……..

1 hour ago, howmuch! said:

I may be wrong, but looking at FB reviews for the Caribbean ships, I get the impression that a higher proportion of  passengers go there to relax and soak up the sun on sunbeds,  than to get off and explore/visit a local beach.

We were on Explorer in November (Canaries), and had more difficulty getting a sunbed than on previous Med Cruises.

We were on the Canaries cruise last December and agree that the ship seemed to be quite full when docked at any of the islands. Most of the passengers that we chatted with had been on the itineraries at least once before and some had done them countless times including us. We only ventured ashore to stretch our legs at a few of the ports.

32 minutes ago, Coalman said:

You've saved me  a phone call, Augustman. I was going to call to see what date they updated the Nov 2022 rule.  Before the April 2023 rule it was Nov 2022 and I thought that I may get some indication of how far prior to the end of November they altered it to April 2023. That may give me an indication of how far in advance they would be changing their rules...or not! 🙄

Sorry you have lost me there mate.🤔🤔😳

2 hours ago, floridababe said:

Thanks for the reply!  £100 a day?  Thats a lot

They are always available 😂  (I have never seen anyone using

them…….ever)

from a quick google search…….

Explorer 2’s six private Veranda Cabanas offer a gorgeous ocean-view enclave, sealed off from the rest of the ship. Inside, there are two sun loungers with towels and a buzzer to conveniently order your next cocktail. There’s also a sun canopy, which can be drawn out or pushed back to create shade. 

The price is steep -- £99 for the day or £400 for the week -- but it's worth it for a day (especially with the free access to the Thermal Suite). There’s a beach club vibe on the Veranda Deck, where the Cabanas are located, and it feels more exclusive, with complete privacy when you’re tucked away in your own patch of deck space. You also get access to the spa’s divine infinity pool, which gives the Veranda Cabanas added value.
 

I would imagine it’s the same on the other ships.😳

They have private Cabanas on some ships, but the thought of paying one hundred pounds a day to hire them fills me with dread as well.😳

In my experience there are always sun beds available on one of the decks.😉

A useful website is “ What’s in port” lots of info.

https://whatsinport.com/    
 

Hope this link works.😉

1 hour ago, 2BACRUISER said:

It depends on your needs especially re health. We have used Staysure previously but intend to shop around as i have had recent spine surgery and DH skin cancer.

Make sure you get cruise specific insurance with covid cover too. We normally get an annual policy it can work out better if you travel a lot. We paid £309 for last years.  

I was looking at the transatlantic repositioning cruise to the carribean last December but the cost of insurance to cover that side of the world was two thousand pounds plus for an annual policy because of my pre existing conditions. The same policy conditions but to cover greater Europe for a year was only two hundred and fifty pounds for me and my wife.

Hey ho looks like my transatlantic days are over.☹️

Hi.Welcome to the forum.

As it stands at the moment………For sailings departing on or before 30 April 2023
• All customers aged 12 or over will need to have had all required doses of a World Health Organisation-approved vaccine to travel on these sailings.

They haven’t posted what they will require after 30 April as yet.

I would contact TUI/Marella nearer the sailing date for latest updates but giving yourselves time to organise vaccination if required.

3 hours ago, Pensioncruiser said:

Hi BJ it's certainly changed 

Hi PC.

That looks more like it.😉

Oh dear.!!

Happy Christmas RR.😉🎉🥂
Hope you have a great holiday in a couple of weeks.😉

1 hour ago, Rebel Rouser said:

Nice review BJ.

But my last Cruise on the Discovery in the S&T was our worst meal of the cruise, I will just leave a picture of my meal and let you all make up your own minds. I know all ships ate different but as a TUI/Marella Brand should all be singing off the same hymn sheet.

 

PS, Soon to try a new brand in 9 days time for 12 days.

What was that supposed to be according to the menu.?🤔😳
( I can make out the well done prawns)🧐

On 11/29/2022 at 4:20 PM, howmuch! said:

Bj - you could be right, everything else was great, no service issues at all. Have a good cruise and report back your thoughts to us if you don't mind. 

We arrived home after a two week Canary’s cruise last Tuesday. Here is our opinion on the Explorer as it is now.

The food in the MDR was an acceptable standard but were never served a HOT meal over the two weeks.food quality and portions were average. In the buffet the food was also ok but not much warmer. Announcements over the PA system apologising for shortages of certain foods due to supply chain problems and there were different things missing on different days. Eg no cornflakes at breakfast for about four days. No tomato’s,black pudding or mushrooms at b/fast for the first week then they appeared for week 2.

We had a meal at the extra cost restaurants……. The surf and turf was magnificent as usual, the best meal of the holiday…….The Kora la despite the good reviews was a massive disappointment, neither of us enjoyed the meal.

The entertainment in the Broadway show lounge was pretty much shows that they have been doing for the past few years so we didn’t bother as we have seen them over and over previously. The bands and solo singers were quite good and were all in the Xmas party mood. As always the jewels in Marellas crown were the staff who were all super friendly and efficient. Overall we enjoyed a good couple of weeks in the sunshine.

Feel free to ask any questions.😉

Seasons greetings from us to all of the Contributors on this board, Hoping you all have a lovely Christmas and an even better new year🎉🎉

On 12/16/2022 at 6:37 PM, Pensioncruiser said:

Greetings and best wishes to all for a happy and healthy festive season and to all you fortunates cruising this holiday have a fantastic time. 🎄🤶🍺. 

Hi PC.

Here’s wishing you and mrs PC  have a happy Christmas and a healthy and happy new year.🥳🎉🥂

Writing this whilst in the Squid and anchor on the explorer awaiting transfer to tenerife airport for the journey home.😢

We are on Explorer at the moment and the Discovery berthed next to us in Lanzarote yesterday.

1 hour ago, Jim The Scot said:

Have to agree with you D

 

On a side note.With it being BF deals(for the benefit of Brummijam thats Black Friday 😉😆)I,ve been tracking prices for our America cruise next year and noticed it had come down in price a fair bit so contacted our TA and moved our cruise  forward 2 weeks and saved ourselve

1 hour ago, Jim The Scot said:

Have to agree with you D

 

On a side note.With it being BF deals(for the benefit of Brummijam thats Black Friday 😉😆)I,ve been tracking prices for our America cruise next year and noticed it had come down in price a fair bit so contacted our TA and moved our cruise  forward 2 weeks and saved ourselves £550

Why would you contact the territorial army to move your cruise?🤷‍♂️😂

1 hour ago, Dinglebert said:

Bay of Biscay.

Thanks👍

Isn’t the BoB notoriously rough at that time of year?🤢

Good afternoon both

Quick question.....What is BOB?  I don't recall hearing that expression before.

thanks in advance

4 hours ago, howmuch! said:

We were on the repositioning cruise 28th Oct - 8th Nov, which we really enjoyed, but I have to agree with Jim about some of the food, compared to pre-covid cruises we have taken.

 

We have never used the speciality eating venues on board, as we have always found the food in Latitude fine, but I did wonder if Marella are trying to 'encourage' people to book the paid venues (which from what I have seen, seem to get very good reviews)

Hi Howmuch.

If their normal standards are dropping it’s usually down to cost cutting, perhaps they are trying to negate rising food costs etc.  In our experience the paid restaurants are usually well attended anyway so no real need to encourage more diners to attend.

We are away on Explorer soon so we will see.  As an aside do they ever show the later stages of the World Cup on board?

We have booked meals and excursions via credit card for a December trip and have been billed for them on our November statement.  They are very keen to get paid aren’t they.🤔

1 hour ago, howmuch! said:

The Tui website shows before and after shots for selected cabin refurbs, that would take place Nov 2022. I think they are going for the IKEA look

Does that mean that we need to pack a screwdriver and some Allen keys.?