well we too just returned from ex -- i finally had something to compare - my first cruise was carnival miracle but we went on her when she was only a couple months old so ship was very new - went on norweigan dawn (for a 2 niter) and it was okay and now i finally got the explorer.
we arrived by 11:00 coming from new york and could not believe how better organized they are in bayonne versus ny -- i like the way we went in terminal and was given a bus number (ours was 8) and then we proceeded right thru and did not wait long to board ship. as the cabin was not ready until 1:30, we toured this ship -- we noticed a little wear and tear on her but overall it was nice.
arriving in the cabin.....we were on deck 8 -- bedding was nice and i believe it looked like new carpet -- but the couch was old, stained and very hard. looked like they needed new drapes and the drapes looked like it matched the old bedding. -- luggage was a little delay and we got our just before muster drill. we packed a case of water (which was a mistake) because the refrigerator was just a cooler and rarely kept things cold. we had our steward empty it out so we can place our 3 bottles in there (that was the most we could fit) - we tried for bigger ice buckets but it was not easy. i must say ice is very hard to come by on explorer, especially in the windjammer where the lemonade/ice tea and especially juice was not really that cold.
okay we quickly unpacked...headed to muster drill....rushed back down to drop off jackets so we can head to top deck and watch sailaway -- we are glad we got to film the verrazano bridge (which it was windy) and then we had approximately 15 minutes to head down the the dining room - we are at table 344, deck 3. our waiter was oliver and service was excellent.
i do agree with mrpete --- weather was a little rocky sunday night but i was fine. we went to horseshoe bay that monday but during that dark cloud that appeared over our heads, we threw towels over our heads and waited about an 1 and then finally sun came out and it was just beutiful.
tuesday - compass said mostly cloudy -- which it was but not all day and we finally had time to sit on deck -- not much to see in king warf and did not feel like heading to hamilton for shopping.
wednesday...compass said partly sunny which i believe they made a mistake because it was mostly cloudy.
sadly to say, cruise is over -- we were a party of 7 (my 2 sisters/nephew) and yet we had a lot of laughs.
departing ship -- we could not believe that once we were in terminal, porter immediately helped us with bags and even took them to our cars (although he made a great tip) -- i will be working on pictures and hopefully will share with all -- thanks to all that helped me with all the questions i have had about cruising -- i can only hope next year, i can do it again.
JUST BACK! Explorer to Bermuda 08.09.08
in Royal Caribbean International
Posted
well we too just returned from ex -- i finally had something to compare - my first cruise was carnival miracle but we went on her when she was only a couple months old so ship was very new - went on norweigan dawn (for a 2 niter) and it was okay and now i finally got the explorer.
we arrived by 11:00 coming from new york and could not believe how better organized they are in bayonne versus ny -- i like the way we went in terminal and was given a bus number (ours was 8) and then we proceeded right thru and did not wait long to board ship. as the cabin was not ready until 1:30, we toured this ship -- we noticed a little wear and tear on her but overall it was nice.
arriving in the cabin.....we were on deck 8 -- bedding was nice and i believe it looked like new carpet -- but the couch was old, stained and very hard. looked like they needed new drapes and the drapes looked like it matched the old bedding. -- luggage was a little delay and we got our just before muster drill. we packed a case of water (which was a mistake) because the refrigerator was just a cooler and rarely kept things cold. we had our steward empty it out so we can place our 3 bottles in there (that was the most we could fit) - we tried for bigger ice buckets but it was not easy. i must say ice is very hard to come by on explorer, especially in the windjammer where the lemonade/ice tea and especially juice was not really that cold.
okay we quickly unpacked...headed to muster drill....rushed back down to drop off jackets so we can head to top deck and watch sailaway -- we are glad we got to film the verrazano bridge (which it was windy) and then we had approximately 15 minutes to head down the the dining room - we are at table 344, deck 3. our waiter was oliver and service was excellent.
i do agree with mrpete --- weather was a little rocky sunday night but i was fine. we went to horseshoe bay that monday but during that dark cloud that appeared over our heads, we threw towels over our heads and waited about an 1 and then finally sun came out and it was just beutiful.
tuesday - compass said mostly cloudy -- which it was but not all day and we finally had time to sit on deck -- not much to see in king warf and did not feel like heading to hamilton for shopping.
wednesday...compass said partly sunny which i believe they made a mistake because it was mostly cloudy.
sadly to say, cruise is over -- we were a party of 7 (my 2 sisters/nephew) and yet we had a lot of laughs.
departing ship -- we could not believe that once we were in terminal, porter immediately helped us with bags and even took them to our cars (although he made a great tip) -- i will be working on pictures and hopefully will share with all -- thanks to all that helped me with all the questions i have had about cruising -- i can only hope next year, i can do it again.