campbell51

Excellent blog as always Linda can't wait for the next part

When choosing which show to go for bear in mind the show lasts 2 1/2 hrs with a 15 minute interval.

We'll be on the Independence next month. I knew about breakfast in Chops, but didn't know about lunch. Is this just bringing your food from the WJ into the Chops space, or is there a Chops luncheon menu that suite passengers order from?

Was on Indy last month Chops at breakfast and lunch was for gold card holders only. Breakfast made to order and was lovely , lunch you had to get from Windjammer, the waiter brought your drinks.

Just back from cruising on Independence and Allure two very different experiences when disembarking the ship.

On Independence Raj asked us what time we wanted to leave the ship we met him in the Concierge Lounge and he escorted us off the ship and all the way to customs.

Disembarking Allure was a very different experience you could have a light breakfast in Coastal Kitchen and then leave the ship when you wanted to but everyone had to make their own way off the ship.

The Concierges Dexter and Ana said they were no longer allowed to escort suite guests of the ship something to do with a problem at customs on a previous cruise.

Have been in 11327 and our friends were next door in 11325 we liked the location had a great view of the water and could watch the Aqua Show from the Balcony. We found it a bit noisy during show times but it did not really bother us.

Room 11327 the bed was by the wardrobe room 11325 the bed was by the window.

Great photo

Great review so far looking forward to reading more

Am on the 3 night cruise immediately before yours have already booked all my dining but so far the option to book entertainment is not available

Great review looking forward to more. We are sailing on the Anthem in April so am finding your review very interesting.

Have sailed on Independence several times and love that ship. Sailed on Oasis in September last year while I liked Oasis I did not love it felt the ship was just too big for me. The production shows on Independence are good as are the ice shows. The headliner shows change all the time . On Independence you don't have to book your entertainment and that suits me fine. A lovely , friendly ship so disappointed she has now left the UK for good.

This is the view from 11327

Was on Oasis in September in room 11327 great view of the ocean and the Aqua Theatre only drawback could be a bit noisy when the Aqua shows were on.

Have a picture taken from the Balcony somewhere will look for it and post it.

We were also told by dining room staff that Oasis was going to China during our Oasis cruise in September.might just be something in it

A number of the enhancements that will happen on the Explorer during the March refurb were talked about during the captains corner on the repo cruise. They are:

 

Adding a flow rider

Adding a big screen on pool deck

Portofinos being replaced by Chops Grill

Chamber being replaced by Giovannis Table

Deck 14 card rooms being replaced by Izumi Japanese rest

Cigar bar will become a high roller room

Sports bar relocate to the aquarium bar dont remember what replace it

Mahrajis being renamed

Major upgrades to the casino

Adding tender boats and fold down platform on deck one to load them

Offices and conf room (not sure what deck) being replaced with cabins

 

At this time there is "discussion" about Dynamic Dining and it is "set up" to accommodate it but not planned at this time.

Thanks for telling us about this will be on Explorer on May 4 just after all the changes. Hope they don't go down the Dynamic Dining route have yet to try that out but I like the MDR , like the same table and same waiter each evening.

Great report thank you

Campbell, how dud you find the room configuration for the 327 cabin. I understand the sofa is by the balcony door. Did you find access to the closet awkward.

 

 

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We did find the access to the closet very awkward indeed our friends were next door in 11325 their bed was by the window a much better set up in my opinion.

If booking a boardwalk balcony again I would prefer a room with the bed near the window .

We had the same problem on Oasis a few weeks ago got to our room to find a letter waiting for us with all the changes. Once the cruise had begun shows were cancelled or times changed often. We complained to Guest Services when our ice show for the last day did not appear in the Cruise Compass, we were advised to check the planner on our tv in our room as this was accurate. Advised them we just did and according to the planner we have an ice show to go see. There was no ice show on the day and time we were booked for.

We were told by a very unhelpful guest services staff member that nobody else had complained and it must only be us it affected.

Another member of our group was at bingo in studio B at the time of our scheduled ice show when loads of couples with children turned up expecting to see the ice show so apparently it was not only us after all. We never did see the ice show, my advice is keep checking the tv in your room and the compass and book shows you particularly want to see for early in your cruise so that if it is cancelled you can try and see it later in your cruise.

I am sure you will both enjoy the location

We had a Boardwalk Balcony on Oasis in September this photo shows the view from our balcony room 11327. Great for watching the Aqua Shows only drawback a bit noisy .

Thanks kftw and campbell51 for the words of encouragement. I really appreciate you taking the time to read and comment. The review is taking me much longer to get done than I thought it would. It's nice to know I haven't lost everyone :)

Planning on doing this itinerary in 2016 so I am following your review with great interest. Once again you are doing a great job.

Thanks for taking the time to do this loving the review looking forward to reading more

Our head waiter was a vault of info last week... they are gutting the dining room and adding another restaurant. (asian I think he said) And my husband said he heard a flow rider will be added. All the dining room furniture will be replaced. He told us the current chairs were $400 each- custom made in Italy. They will be trashed! Staterooms and bathrooms are also being gutted. Common bathrooms are in need of this renovation, imo.

He told us the worst part of dry-docking is that they never know exactly when, but at some point the toilets stop flushing. They have zones in the boat that may not have electricity or running water for a few days. Sounds like crew really hates Dry-docking. They spend their days cleaning with very little down time.

 

What else can you find out for us, Merion_Mom??? I'd LOVE to get back on EX after the dry dock and see all the changes. Bt our next ship will be Liberty instead.

 

 

 

High(er) speed internet would be a nice addition too. We were disappointed the speed of our internet connection last week. We bought 60 minutes, but most of those minutes were wasted waiting for things to load. FaceTime with our kids at home was impossible.

Sounds like there will be loads of improvements to the ship before she arrives in Europe.

Loving this review I will be on Explorer in May from Southampton England to Spain and Portugal.

Do you know what changes are being made during drydock?

We were on the Oasis last cruise before dry dock. We were personally not really affected at all though work did begin on the 'secret' balconies and the pools drained the last evening.

We were on the same cruise and our room was on Deck 11 right by the secret balconies. Workmen were in the corridor during the day and there was some drilling noise while work began to change the secret balconies into Grand Suites but it did not bother us at all.

Just been on Oasis in cabin 11327 here is a photo taken from the balcony

The view of the Aqua Theatre was great but it was noisy at night withthe Aqua Shows not finishing until 11.30pm. We thought it was very noisy but the balcony door was faulty making the noise outside more noticeable.

We loved the room itself and the location.