kleo30

I was on the Explorer in November with MedicKen and megr1125. I didn't notice any smell. We were all over the ship; our cabin was on deck 10.

Kleo 30

 

Congratulations on your weight loss. You look great!!! Your dresses are beautiful. I especially like your last one, the long purple one. May I ask where you purchased this one.:rolleyes: Great souvenir pictures!

Thank you.

I bought the purple dress at Dillards. I'd go in every few weeks and check their clearance rack and scored that at 75% off :)

After drooling over this thread for a year and a half, we're home from our cruise and I can post pictures.

I spent a year looking for things on ebay and Dillards on clearance and bought the size I hoped would fit (I lost 94 lbs. in the past 3 years). All but 1 fit :)

I bought this one in St. Thomas. Now I wish I would have bought the purple one too.

It was our first cruise, and I had so much fun dressing up every night (10 nights).

We responded at almost the same time!

 

Actually it was your review I read that I was referring to in my post:)

 

Thanks for writing a great review. It sounds like you had a great time and I hope we have as great a time (we're travelling on the same itinerary you did).

I was just about to post the same thing, but you beat me to it.

I loved writing the review almost as much as I loved our trip. I hope you have a fabulous trip. We sure did. St. Thomas was my favorite, although Labadee is very relaxing and beautiful.

When doing MTD, do you get the same wait staff every night if you have reservations at the same time each night?

We requested the same time and same waitstaff every night, and were accommodated. They even went out of their way to make sure 3 couples could sit together half way through the week when we realized we enjoyed dining together. The first night they had to change our tables, but it was fine the rest of the time.

We are going to be in a GS on the starboard side in 9 days. Thanks for posting these. I am so excited! Hope you had a great cruise.

You're welcome. It was our first cruise; we had a most excellent time. And it's fun to be able to answer questions now instead of just asking them!!

Have a great trip!

Great pic! DH, DS, and I will be sailing on EX June 2. I was trying to guess which suite was 1574 on deck ten. Anyone have a pic of cabin 1574?

We just came off of Explorer on Sunday and were in room 1574.

To the left of the bed (while looking at it) is the dressing table and a cabinet with the safe in it. There was a small coffee pot and electric kettle, which we didn't use.

The balcony had two chairs with a large table on one side and two lounge chairs on the other.

We're less than 3 months from our first cruise and cannot wait!!

I anticipate the thing I'll dislike the most is coming home to my house and finding what state it will be in. I'm leaving my 3 young adult guys home for 12 days :eek:

I noticed on the first or second night between 5 and 9pm I'm nauseous. Not throwing up but just intense nausea.

 

(This past time it had to with too much tequila but still lol)

 

 

Also take dramamine(they make a non-drowsy) or bonine every day at the same time whether you feel sick or not

Do you have any problems drinking and taking bonine? I am slightly concerned about that.

Just wanted to jump into the post to say hello to my fellow Explorer cruisers! I am getting ready to book a cruise for next June (yeah, we have to do them far out :() out of NJ to the Bahamas. I really WANT to do the 9 night that also hits the Caribbean but a 5-er may be all the time we can get off from work. Do you know if I go ahead and book the 5 nighter and it turns out we can take the longer one if I can switch my reservation assuming the longer cruise isn't sold out?

We switched our reservation. Originally we had booked for April 28th this year, but had to reschedule it and are now going in November. I did have to have a larger deposit, it was a 10 night instead of 9, which required a larger deposit, and we switched to a GS, which is also a larger deposit.

But we had no problem switch our reservation. We have the same reservation number, too. We booked this cruise before the price drop changes came into effect, which makes me happy too, just in case there happens to be a price drop after final payment.

There is usually not price drops on the explorer. Our price has gone up $500 pp since we booked. I think you booked when prices were at the higher end. Our kids got their room d1 for less than 1200pp. Dont know if that helps

We were so lucky to change our cruise from last April to this one at the perfect time. The price for our GS was only $300 more than what we were paying for a E2 balcony cabin in April and an extra night. It went up the next week. It's my little luxury for having to postpone this trip, yet again.

Our final payment is coming up next month for our Nov. cruise. Since we have mostly cruised Princess the last few years, and always 10 day ones, I know what a good/fair price to pay for one. I don't know that with RC. I booked the 10 nite on the Explorer when the WOW sale was going on. I booked at $2800. with the OBC from RC of $200. plus the TA gave us a $206. OBC. I was hoping that there'd be a price drop. I think $2800. for a E1 is high for Nov., even with the $400. OBC. We never pd that on Princess. Yes, we won't have to get airfare, but I never usually pay for it, I use FF miles. The ship doesn't appear to be near full, and people might cancel with final payment approaching.

 

I'm thinking of cancelling and hoping to re-book. Has this worked out for anyone that's done it?

 

Thanks!

This is my first cruise, so no advice. But I think we're going on the same cruise. Nov. 10th on Explorer?

Our room category is sold out. I keep checking for a price drop. I'm wondering if after final payment perhaps cancellations and drops will happen. I'm very happy with our cabin, and the price we got for it, and it's paid for, so I'm not at all considering cancelling.

Anyway.....

Kelly, not sure but would pack one as with cameras, iPod and not mention hair stuff you will need it. I forgot to add computers if you take one. I do to download pics.

We were only in a lowly inside, but we had plenty of outlets to plug in all our stuff. We never had anything plugged in for hours at a time, except when charging batteries, but we would do that when we were sleeping and didn't need the outlets for anything else. I was able to charge my camera battery while my boyfriend charged his electric razor and that was probably the only time we had two things charging at once.

 

Unless you are bringing a lot of things that need to be plugged in all the time, I wouldn't worry about it. It has never crossed my mind in 13 cruises to bring a plug strip!

We stayed in a GS our last 6 cruises and never needed one. You have plugs in the bathroom, near the vanity, by the bed, and more on the other side of the room.

You don't need over the door hangers you hear so much about either. Bathrooms are LARGE.

Also plenty of closet space with plenty of hangers.

Thanks. I'll cross those two items off of my packing list :)

We are sailing on Explorer in November (Our first cruise; I can't wait!).

In all the packing threads I've read there is mention of bringing a plug strip. We will be in a grand suite. I am wondering if there are ample outlets in a GS, or do I need to bring the plug strip?

I always enjoy your live reviews and am looking forward to this one.

We'll be on that cruise with you in November.

Thanks for the pictures.

We have cabin 1574 booked for our November cruise. We cannot wait!

Thought I would chime in...I just ordered these two dresses...do you think they'll be nice enough?

 

http://www.igigi.com/plus-size-sale/l-artiste-maxi-dress.html

 

and this:

http://www.igigi.com/plus-size-sale/sorbetto-delights-dress-in-magenta.html

 

 

I'll need to pick up a shawl for both - but I think I should be able to get something that will match both.

They are loving. I really like the first one a lot.

Celandine ~ What a gorgeous dress. I love that color.

I don't know if you really see the dress, but I wore this one on my last cruise:

 

Here is the other, which was really just the shorter version:

 

 

I think I'm gonna try more color this Jan.

You look lovely. I've enjoyed your cruise blog and seeing all your clothes.

I don't tend to have many photos of me dressed up (I'm never happy), but here's a couple. (I include the "bottom half" photo to show the petticoat I made for the second outfit) I have to admit that the first one, although silk chiffon and beaded, is actually a thrift store find! The second one is a silk/cotton from Bravissimo in the UK. At that store I can get away with a UK 16 because they leave extra room for breasts. I'm knocking at 50's door, too!

 

 

Ack! sorry for the gumpy face...my husband usually catches me talking out of the side of my mouth, so it's actually one of the better ones.

So pretty! And I LOVE your shoes.

Let me get this straight!!!!!! You ladies have been ordering plus size Formal wear from Ebay and it fits??: Can you tell me more about this please??? It sounds very interesting.

 

Rhonda

For the first time in my adult life (I am 41), I am not plus size. But what I did was go to Dillards and try on all kinds of things, then look for them on ebay. That way I knew what they looked like on me and what size I should get.

And I figure if I get a $10 dress, I don't mind having it altered if I need to.

 

I've been lurking on ebay for months looking for a formal dress for our cruise next month, and I finally found something! Got it for $13!! It obviously needs to be pressed, but I'm so excited. A nice pair of silver heels and a wrap and I will be ready to go!

Oh very pretty!!

I just love ebay. I've bought 3 dresses (2 cocktail and 1 maxi) from ebay in the past 2 weeks. They were $40, $22, and $10. The way I see it is I can save money on all the casual and cocktail dresses and spend more for the formal one I really want.

Woo Hoo. Love a good deal.

What is the seller's name? I am not finding Moda sos, well, except for a quilt store.

ETA: I think I found it.

Hey, kleo30.....are we there yet? LOL

It's getting closer and closer!

And right after we come home, my 18 year old will be coming home, too. He'll have been gone for a year traveling the country with a ministry. He'll have visited a couple short times, but I am looking forward to him being home and graduating!! So two fun, exciting things to look forward to.

I totally agree! Love that dress!

 

I just ordered this dress yesterday, even though we don't cruise until next September. I wanted to order it before they sell out of my size, as they often do on Igigi.com. Check their sale dept. too, they have some gowns marked down. http://www.igigi.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/694x901/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/e/s/estrella-front1-1.jpg

 

I got one of their little bolero things to go with it. I can wear it with my other black cocktail dress I am taking too. Now just to find some striking jewellry. I can't believe I have my dresses already. I agonized for months last cruise. I am tall, so it is hard finding gowns that are long enough.

Your igigi dress is gorgeous!