cruisingxpert

Funny story about the Terrace Grill for dinner.  I have a friend who has been on Oceania a number of times  When we suggested we go to TC for dinner, she said "I don't do buffets" with a sneer.  We finally convinced her to try it one night and now it's the only place she wants to have dinner- she will even cancel specialties if there is something in TC she wants for dinner.

I have always said, I wouldn't go to a buffet on on a cruise line but Terrace Grill is not the buffet most people think of when dismissing buffets.

Really enjoying your live, Jim(now that I have figured out that you are not Iain lol}

25 minutes ago, Dr. Cocktail said:

Your picture doesn't particularly say "fun"!

But the chairs say" comfortable"😛

I don't understand why people try to use Lobby Bar when the Astern Bar is spacious and and has nice seating.  It was almost empty when I went there in May. 

The explanation given to me was people have complained about ridge in middle when the beds are convertible.

By the way the beds are large king beds.  See Post#8

Balongo Bay Resort is open but when I emailed them to come for a day, the answer was yes but I can't use the pool according to the Reservation Agent, Reneity Malone

3 hours ago, ak1004 said:

I will continue watching EJ, really want to try them. I think they have sales from time to time. If they come to $650 range for European cruise, we will definitely give them a try

For 1 week last Nov, Explora had a true 30-50% off sale

5 minutes ago, EJL2023 said:

I keep on checking Explora but never find an itinerary that is not something already done for the most part.

I agree that the itineraries aren't that stellar but in the cold Canadian winter, I just want to float around in a warm climate.  Our Dec cruise does have a stop in Anguilla, Virgin Gorda and Bequia which I'm looking forward to.  I did go to Bequia a few years  ago on O.  It was a sardine packed catamaran from St Vincent to Princess Margaret beach with an included BBQ where they ran out of everything😬

2 minutes ago, Vallesan said:

Have you sailed Seabourn, Regent or Silversea? If so how would Explora compare? Price wise they are all similar now. Have sailed on the ones I’ve mentioned but not Explora. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

I have looked at all 3 and had a Regent booked just before Covid but haven't sailed with them. I was a Celebrity and Holland America regular til I got bored and found Oceania.  When they went to Simply More and rising prices I decided to look at other options.  I did go back to Celebrity Solstice in April but was disappointed.

I really enjoyed my first Explora and hope my 14 day Dec one will be as good.. their excursion prices are somewhat similar to O but the group size was quite a bit smaller.

Something interesting about their wine by the glass- they have a list but often you get something else.  I was drinking Rose and got 3 different brands on 3 requests for a glass.  none were bad and one was realy good..  Besides a bottle of champagne in the cabin, you also get a note to choose 2 bottles of alcohol for the room( not the litre size but still a nice touch).  The balconies have 2 chairs, a table and a daybed.

Has anyone looked at Explora Journeys?  I have been on 22 O cruises and went on my first Explora cruise in May and have a second booked in Dec.

Food is comparable to O and the Culinary Director Franck Garanger used to be Culinary Director at O.  You would even recognize several of the menu items if you have been traveling O for a number of years

OT cabins are a bit larger than O balcony cabins

Ship size is similar with approx 300 less passengers

Everything is included, Specialty restaurants(4) gratuities and drinks at anytime in the day- not just lunch and dinner

More pools and hot tubs than O

Beautiful loungers- even nicer than O ones which are very nice

Like O they have a great Terrace buffet which is even larger with lots of made to order items.

I took a look at 2 10 day itineraries in Feb 2025 and O with just grats priced at $675pp per day and Explora (all inclusive)  priced at $652pp per day  Canadian dollars because I get rerouted to Canadian pricing.

16 minutes ago, johnwelch62 said:

My sister will be in a twin OT-3 when we sail in January. Are there two twins in the room? Is it just  a"queen" that can be split into two beds?

It's large king bed that can be separated

From Explora

BEDROOM

• Bespoke king-sized bed sleep system - size: 180 x 200 cm (71 x 79 in). Some suites with twin beds - size: 2 x 90 x 200 cm (35 x 79 in)

34 minutes ago, Waltershipman said:

Dinner at Emporium last year 

I don't see any Oysters Rockefeller in that picture.  Are you say that Explora had them?

Oysters Rockefeller are cooked but I didn't see any.  I really enjoy raw oysters but I was disappointed when I tried them on Explora in May.

55 minutes ago, NM2020 said:

Hi Folks

 

Thinking of booking a Caribbean cruise. Not a great choice of remaining cabins and those that are on offer appear to be grouped together. I am suspicious and wonder if they are where the balcony is obstructed by the life boats.

 

Thoughts?

 

ta

Where are you looking to see available cabins?  A lot of websites only show a small number of choices even though there are more cabins available. For example the cruise line I am most familiar with is Oceania.  If they show 7 cabins available then there are more choices but if 6 or less then they don't have any more that are open to book.  They could be holding some back but we wouldn't be able to check that.

49 minutes ago, Cruising Maryland said:

They also don't show the hot tub on the deck that used top be there before the refit. Haven't been able to get a definitive answer on if they are still there or not. My guess is that if there is no hot tub, there is room for a 2nd lounger. I plan on sking the butler for one if there isn't one out there.

With the hot tub gone.  It might work.  That balcony isn't that deep which may make it difficult to move around.

3 minutes ago, Arizona Travelers said:

There's nothing for my 11/22 cruise either. Having been there before (and hope to retire there one day), we are renting a car and going to our favorite spots (Anguilla Sand & Salt, Rendezvous Beach and back to Sandy Ground to Elvis' Beach Bar).  There's not as much to do there outside of beaches (they have 33!) and great food.  

That may be what we do as well.  Several years ago we took a boat tour from St Maarten to several of the beaches and  Sandy Island where there is a restaurant and that's it.  We stopped at Da Vida for lunch.  It was a great day and I would love to do it again.  I have talked to the people who ran the tour and they would do it from Sandy Ground but I don't want to be on the hook to get 10 people to share the cost.

22 hours ago, Nashna said:

That's too bad.  We really enjoyed their sail.  I am just starting to look at options for our January 28th Explora 2 cruise.  When are you sailing?

We are on the 14 day Dec 6 sailing.  Excursions posted for every stop except the one I am most interested in- Anguilla

8 hours ago, Waltershipman said:

Does anyone know if a booked excursion is cancellable and is the cost refundable thanks

I asked Guest Relations and they said you can cancel up to 72 hrs before.   Forgot to ask if refund was back to original credit card used.  Read somewhere on this forum that refund went to your on board account.  As long as that was refundable on board credit I guess you could get it back at end of cruise 

On 8/5/2024 at 10:05 AM, Nashna said:

It was Aristocats.  Home - Aristocat Day Sails in the BVI

They were excellent.  They provided an excellent lunch.  The cat was in great condition and the crew were very pleasant.  

Unfortunately, Aristocat sails out of Road town Tortola and we will be in Spanish town Virgin Gorda  Explora hasn't posted anything for Virgin Gorda that I can see

These ones that just posted covered the Oct 25 transatlantic which only had Med excursions til yesterday.  Good news is look at these and you will probably have a good idea what will be offered.  

Unless they dropped it, the GDR serves baby lamb chops for breakfast.

Going to be following with interest.  Regarding Duck and Watermelon salad, it is very nice except  for one thing.  They usually cook the duck so long that I feel that it tastes like a wood  shard. I love the watermelon in it.

In Polo I have always found the French Onion Soup to be the best appetizer- some people really love the beet salad.

Toscana has the best bread basket in my opinion.

If the weather cooperates, I recommend trying the Terrace Buffet one night.  I wouldn't say that about any other cruise line.

It was Wagyu beef on initial copy of menu

Thank you for posting the menu and great pictures.  I thought the Millefoglie picture was a piece of Bacon lol.  The tomato coulis seems to take over the red shrimp dish.  I was looking forward to this dinner as I enjoyed the Claude Le Tohic one but now I'm not so sure I want to do it.  I thought the sample Italian menu that I saw when they introduced it, had Wagu beef- not whatever that was on your menu.

1 hour ago, Nashna said:

For example, Virgin Gorda is a wonderful, quiet, beautiful island.  We will spend the day on a sail around the islands with a stop for swimming and walking on amazingly beautiful beaches. 

Would you mind sharing what tour company you are using in Virgin Gorda?  I have been hoping to see what excursions Explora are offering before booking privately but it seems we won't have any info on excursions earlier than 90 days out and maybe not then.  I have been looking at the Oct 25 cruise that does a crossing and no excursions have been posted for their Caribbean stops. I am on the 14 day Dec 6 cruise.

Thanks Paul.  This is exactly the kind of thing I was hoping someone had saved.  Unfortunately, only Fort De France and Barbados are ones that we stop at but it gives a great idea of cost.  Cost seems fairly reasonable in comparison to Oceania.  It's unfortunate that they charge in Euro. For us poor Canadians that's 1 EUR, 1.48 CAD