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YouTube for me is about picking up some information here and there. As it relates to Explora Journey, they are still to early to rate so anything I could see would help me. Like all social media, I take everything with a grain of salt. A great example of how YouTube helped me was with a cabin tour. I just wanted to see the offerings. Each present told me a little bit more about the amenities. Must of us here read reviews and comments to fill in the gaps. I personally find the Marketing done by all brands to be OK but much less helpful. Brand marketing departments have never learned the art of, "Under promise and OVER deliver". Side note, just after covid allowed for cruises to come back, I called one of the travel agents that did GREAT ship and stateroom tours. This person claimed they cruised on the brand I was considering many times. Their video's were awesome and professional. This agent was horrible at communication, keeping telephone appointment and following up. So I now just watch the videos for the value they give me. That is my lesson on YouTube so called influencer. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Go to YouTube and look up the following: "gary bembridge cruise videos". Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@tcmagnum This answer is a bit tricky. When you get to the port, drop off your luggage, you go through the same security as everyone else. Once through security look for the Haven Signs which are not always easy to find but they are there. This will direct you to the Haven check-in, to the Haven Port lounge and you will then be escorted to the on-board Haven which YES is private entry only with your key card. Hope this helps you. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Thank you for the call out. Every cruise can have a similar feel to the NCL Haven even when we are not in the Haven. Every cruiser knows what they like and don't like when cruising. The most enjoyment I get is designing my upcoming cruises around what I truly LOVE in a cruise. If not in the Haven, then the Vibe, extra specialty dining, upgraded internet (for both really), and Premium Plus Beverage Package. When planning a cruise, I personally focus on one goal. Improving my next experience over my last experience without breaking the bank. One way to doing this is indeed Haven Lite as mentions above. Another way is to be open to smaller ships and luxury brands when again the price is right. Good choices take good research, due diligence and focusing on "Realistic Expectations". Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

The best word of wisdom comes from @Dr. Cocktail All contributors have something to offer. All Social Media influencers have something to offer. If you enjoy research and not everyone does, you are looking for comments or opinions that follow a trend or pattern. One over the top great review or video or one supper bad review or video does not outline the brand. Why so much about this subject. Personal for me. I have made some very expensive poor decisions in my life. My personality creates a self talk that is more degrading to myself then making the decision. Not saying this is healthy, just saying it is me. I hate making bad decision but less so if I did do my due diligence. Than, I knew most of the time what I was getting into. I can then forgive myself. Like knowing, Oceania Cruises misses port often. I knew it, I booked it anyway, and the missed a port so it did not effect my cruise to bad. Up to this point, very few video reviews are out there about Explora Journey. So hard to gain all the information we all might need from that. Nice to hear good stuff and look forward to more information in the next many months. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@ETHTrader I went Oceania Nov 2023 in the Mediterranean. We had a great time. I loved it. Cruise Well and Enjoy every Moment.

@Dr. Cocktail Gary B. is one of my favorites. I like his professionalism and style. Anyone that research cruise would simply have to agree. Others have good and bad point so take them all in and take everyone with a grain of salt. Simply stated, you are correct sir. Why would I every try to prove you wrong? You have been a GREAT contributor in every way. The best way we can all enjoy our cruises is to be open to all opinions. Sometimes social media and those that post have to remember. Even the worst cruise we have ever taken has some good about it. That is the power of cruising. Cruise well, have a cocktail on me, Enjoy every moment.

@Nashna My pleasure. The key to that video was they paid for it them selves. I have been researching YouTube folks on cruises for years. Some are authentic and others simply are travel agents that say everything is perfect and nothing is wrong. Then say, book with me. Nothing wrong with that and often good information. I am of the opinion, knowing the good and the bad help my orchestrate my cruise to exceed my expectations. Those gentlemen are some of the best along with Gary B. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@IWantToLiveOverTheSea Here is the answer to your question. There is a minimum bid. That is obviously in the Deep RED. As you increase your bid, the arrow starts heading for the green. It is indicating you have a better chance to win if you increase your bid. I have done this system many, many times. There is more strategy then this but that would convolute my answer to your specific question. Hope that helps. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

I just updated my Excel Calendar for my February 2025 Explora Journey Cruise. This is my page-at-a-glance. I then made a template that is editable for anyone that can utilize it. The color legend is on the bottom. I hope it helps anyone who wants it. Cruise well and enjoy every moment. Cruise_Agenda_February_2025_Explora_1_Calendar_Template.xlsx

@IWantToLiveOverTheSea This system is either the same or similar to NCL. Since NCL is the parent company, I would assume it is the same. I cruised NCL many, many times. The lower cost staterooms have a higher chance to go up a category or two for small amounts. As the cost of your stateroom gets higher, the cost get higher. Over the past few years, I have noticed that the "Upper end Suites" are sold out way before the ship departs. So to gain one of those, you have to hope for a cancelation or rare open inventory. Can happen but don't count on it. I personally always attempt to win a bid but I usually start from a penthouse. That means, I want an Oceania, Vista or Owners Suite. I will do this in October of 2025. I can say, I don't have much hope but it is fun to try as long as the amount I am bidding is reasonable to my budget. If I get it, GREAT, if not, I saved some money. Not everyone feels the way I do so to each his or her own. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

They both talked about that in this review and said, MSC refunded them and apologized. I like their style. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

This was a very specific question I asked with the call center. I am in the US so this might be different. I was told, i pay this when I pay my final payment. All that said, I check my account almost daily so I will see if they take the excursions off. Thank you for your heads up. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Dizer65 Step one, go to the Explora Website. Go the the upper left hand corner and select ship. I am on Explora 1 so that was the ship I choose. Step two: Select deck plan, your deck, and you will see the suites numbered. Look at the room you choose and see the color code or icon with that room. The legend is on the bottom of the page. See picture below. This gives you al the information you want. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@adelaidefc OK, so first on the twin bed question. Not every suite has this opinion however it is easy to look which ones do. You go to the deck plan, look at the legend and it shows the indication of which rooms have the twin beds. Usually these room have a tub for what every reason. Second issue, when you book and have your online account, you can go to preferences. Lots to choose from but specifically to your question, the firmness of your mattress. How I know this? I have a OS2 category, on the Explora 1, with twin beds and a soft mattress. Hope that helps. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.