atush

7 minutes ago, lisa6191 said:

 

So you were on the same cruise as us, leaving 11/19 right? Are you talking about the comedy magician? Jason somebody? If so, we thought he was hysterical. What we hated was the Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons tribute thing, that was just godawful. We lasted about 6 minutes.

 

Always good to read opinions but obviously everyone has a different experience! I find a lot of it has to do with expectations also. If you are the kind of person who is always scrutinizing things and looking for things to complain about, chances are you will find them. On the other hand, we had somewhat low expectations for our cruise after reading some recent reviews about how the Explorer was a pit in horrible condition and needed to be totally overhauled. We did not find that to be the case at all and were delighted with the ship and our experience. Was there a little rust on our balcony? Sure, but I honestly didn't even think about it, and it certainly in no way ruined our time! I doubt I would have even noticed it if I hadn't been looking because of those reviews.

 

Anyway, hope everyone who is yet to cruise has an amazing time! 

I agree about the Frankie Vallie thing.  The back ups were fine but the main guy was awful

18 minutes ago, lisa6191 said:

 

I think the bottom line is that food is just too subjective to really review for someone else. I have read everything from the MDR is exceptional gourmet quality food to the MDR is inedible garbage, and everything in between. Obviously the answer is that it depends on the sailing and the chef and the crowds and a million other things. I think it is very hard to make a generalization about cruise ship food.

 

Our experience on the same cruise that atush took was different from hers. We had the 3-night dining package. Our one MDR dinner was not good at all, our dinner in Chops was okay, we really liked Izumi, and we loved Giovanni's (best meal of the cruise by far, although I have read that others have been disappointed). We actually really liked the food that we had in the Windjammer, especially the one dinner we had there. We found the WIndjammer too crazy at breakfast for our taste, so we had all of our breakfasts after day one in the MDR and liked them very much. All lunches were from WIndjammer (unless we were off the ship) and we liked them fine.

 

Does that mean I'm right and atush is wrong? Of course not. And maybe the MDR food would have been better on a different night, but the night we went we disliked every item that both of us ordered, which pretty much never happens. 

 

That being said, we are getting the Unlimited Dining package on our next cruise, which is on Oasis. Mainly because there are so many choices on that ship, and I want to be able to try all of them if I can. I'm guessing we won't eat in the MDR for dinner because of our experience on Explorer, but who knows, maybe we will be missing out. I don't think we will go hungry though. 🙂

Well said

I think though as far as MDR is concerned is the dished offered on the day.  And we had no past cruise compasses or menus to consult after several years in Eurooe/far east/australia so could not choose the One day we took at giovannis.  And you only had one day int eh MDR which may have been a 'off day'.  Our last day we didnt like the menu or our meals all that much, but if we'd had the menu befoehand we would have chosen that day for our Giovannis meal as we liked the offerings more th ngith we skipped MDR.

Also length of cruise.  we were only 5 nights, 4 in MDR. Migth be different for those there on longer sailings.

And again, would stress that our embarcation lunch from "chops' served in the MDR was very poor for first 2 course, ok for 3rd (dessert would have gotten good if served at an appropriate temperature- this was a constant probem with all MDR offerings)

123 Mark Twn Nov19 (1).docx

19 hours ago, kruzerci said:

I’m not arguing this with you. I don’t know what skin it is off your back that the food is terrible. Everybody on this thread has agreed about that. 
 

I have eaten at those chain restaurants when necessary in the past year. I don’t eat there when there is an option. What I’m saying is that the MDR was that quality and I don’t find that acceptable. If you do, more power to you, but if you find that quality acceptable, you are not “a foodie”. 

The food i ate in t he MDR wasnt bad.  Maybe it was for you, but not for me. Maybe it was what you chose to eat?   For me itt was generally OK, good in some places.

The Windjammer was awful, but that may have been the choices i made.

Applebees is pretty awful in general.

Insulting me, just because i disgree, is just juvenile. 

On 12/21/2019 at 12:31 AM, TinkBellaMom said:

I know that many have been reporting that the food in MDR is terrible.  We appreciate good food and we are not picky eaters.  On all of our cruises we have always found the food to be good, sometimes excellent.

We are cruising on Explorer in Jan.  I am wondering if since food is subjective, is it really that bad.  Maybe someone could describe the reasons.

Also, we have been looking forward to the Chefs Table.  I am wondering if anyone has done that lately on the Explorer?

Deb

Sorry OP, I didn't mean to hijack your thread, I thought since you are on the ship now you could answer.

i was on her in Nov.  Fro the most part the MDR meals were fine.  Not fine dining in the main but fine.  But the one time i ate in Windjammer it was poor.

I ate all breakfasts and most lunches in the MDR as well. 

And before you think i am a person who will eat anything, think again.  I am an avid home cook and foodie.

My chops lunch in the MDR on embarcation was poor, and my one paid dining in Giovannis was good.

On 12/20/2019 at 1:33 PM, retired dude said:

we too would like to know if there is any live music onboard, i.e dance music in a lounge. We just got off of the brilliance and were blessed to have two great bands onboard, locomotion and the M band. They drew nice crowds whenever they played in the R bar and it was fun using our diamond drink cards to have a libation and watch all of the arthur murray grads go through their gyrations...great people watching  and the drinks were great....I have heard no mention of live music onboard this ship and since we sail on her in a couple of weeks, thus the question. thanks in advance for any info.

Star Lounge most nights

On 12/17/2019 at 2:59 AM, sisocialworker said:

Relaxing sea day. Had about 10 people for room crawl, great time, Izumi lunch, again the server says unlimited dining package is $30pp.... I had to train them.... thinking of speaking to loyalty ambassador?  After went to ice show... ok, not as good as show on harmony.... the story line was the four seasons..... really no story at all.... dinner at Giovanni, service is great, food good.... went to comedy show, very funny.... spent some time in schooner bar, a few drinks and some music.... good time.... tomorrow is Bonaire, breakfast in Giovanni, as suite guests, off the ship by 9ish.... doing rci excursion, best of north and south, 3 hours, than just probably walk around town.... dinner at Giovanni again, headline show is mark Preston, former member of letterman music group

I was on the first post TA sailing.  I found most staff incl all port staff and many on ship were new.  So knew nothing.  Paid for The Key, but al most all employees never heard of it.

On 10/31/2019 at 7:07 PM, dani negreanu said:

 

We were relocated for 5 years to Brussels. I had the opportunity to “sample” my fair share of Leonidas, Neuhaus & Godiva. Leonidas was my favorite, especially the coffee cream with the whole hazelnut 😜

Their dark choc with Cassis is a game changer.

I loved the look of that menu ay Cheofs table.  But all white wine?  No red?  That would make me unhappy.

4 hours ago, xpcdoojk said:

True!

 

Do you get to watch any of the Tar Heels on the IOM?  Especially basketball.

 

That said, beating Dook at anything is awesome.

 

jc

They had the Basketball on and i saw that,i havent seen any football but my OH might have.  He has control of the TV in the room that all the sports packages are on.

10 hours ago, Domino D said:

Perhaps for your birthday, we should all send you a gallon of gas.

A great idea but you cant even send Pam cooking spray thru the post here lol;

Been trying to get some since TSA took my last can.

7 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

A friend of mine refers to them as Tar Holes

Must be a Duke fan lol

6 hours ago, xpcdoojk said:

Yeah, Mizzou has apparently completely gone to crap.  On the upside the Tarheels beat Duke despite themselves.  The Blues sucked in the Stanley Cup rematch against Boston, and Tiger is still killing it in Japan.  Verstappan is on pole tomorrow from Mexico City, and Lewis Hamilton has his work cut out for him tomorrow.  Bottas crashed at the end of Quali and may have to start from pit lane.  The Chiefs play the packers Sunday night without Patrick Mahomes which is sad.  

 

There is your sports update.

 

jc

Always a sunny day when the Tar Heels win

23 minutes ago, xpcdoojk said:

Wow, a Tar Heel from the Isle of Man.  As long as we have chatted in this forum I am surprised we never made that connection before.  I arrived with my DW in July 1981 and left June 1988. Lovely town.

 

Wish we could have seen Prince.  The loudest concert I ever attended was the Clash in 1983 in the old Carmichael Arena. Remember walking into the Record Bar on Franklin street one evening, and the Tubes were in that tiny record shop.  

 

JC

 i am not from the isle of man, i just live here.  I am from Maryland lol.  Now resident for us voting and tax purposes in Florida.

The old Carmichael is where i saw Prince.  It was quite small then.  Would have loved to see The Clash.

4 hours ago, mjkacmom said:

Under 20? 18 year olds are adults, free to do what they want. Both dd23 and ds21 traveled internationally without their parents under 20, so did I. Cut the strings.

Why are over 18s babied like this?

They are adults, they can vote, marry, have sex.  More importantly, at that age and even younger are treated as adults of they break the law.  Teach your children to be adults before the time they are 18.

4 hours ago, Arzeena said:

NO DO NOT DELETE PLEASE,

We enjoyed it.

No one is forcing anyone to hear the song, move on!

It was a joke- the song is an ear worm.  You cant unhear it.

13 hours ago, xpcdoojk said:

I think I mentioned this sometime in the past year, we saw Hall and Oats at Keenan Stadium in Chapel Hill in about 1983.  I remember the music, it was OK, the DW loved H&O.  Donny Iris, the girl band that sang Vacation and somebody else, but what I remember from that summer concert, was when the people in the upper decks ran out of beer in their coolers they started dumping empty somewhat icy coolers onto the people below, which happened to be about 3 rows behind us.  Ever since when I go into a venue I look up to make sure that we are not directly below the balcony.  That is my Hall and Oats remembrance.

 

Hopefully, yours won’t be similar. 

 

JC

I was at chapel hill until 1982 so missed that, but i did see Prince.

On 10/14/2019 at 6:57 PM, dramamama628 said:

Going on Explorer out of Miami end of November.  I am hoping you can post and do a favor for me.  We love going to the Karaoke and shows.  Could you check the Cruise Compass and tell me what time the karaoke usually is for adults?  It seems like when we have a late seating for dinner, we were missing the time to go for my son to sing.  I would appreciate it so I can change our MDR time if necessary.  Enjoy your cruise!!!

Remind us closer to sailing date!

i'll be getting there for 10.  Think thats when they open.  I have the key though. 

if i didnt might arrive 10":30

On 10/6/2019 at 2:57 PM, cruiseguy1016 said:

 

Wow, kind of a general statement. It depends on what time of year you are sailing, which side of the ship your are seated on, and what direction the ship is heading.

i'm crusing in Nov.  Will be dark.  YMMV

29 days til Explorer

i paid $52 pp/pd.  Less than what you were shown.  My other prices were $56 and $62.  $66 is high.

I think if you can get a low price before, that is the way to go (although you may have waited too late for this).  I have never heard of a sale onboard that beat the prices available in the cruise planner.

A B2B cruise is 2 separate cruises.  you actually have to disembark and reboard for leg 2.

So you should, in every case be able to have the upgraded status in the second cruise (not the first).

So make sure you visit C&A on your first leg.

19 hours ago, Iamcruzin said:

I never looked at the compass because we had reservations. I guess MTD doesn’t open before 6:30. 

I have booked MTD for 6 pm on first day of cruise in my planner.

On 10/18/2019 at 8:06 PM, twangster said:

With any dining plan just stop by specialty restaurant upon boarding and have everyone switched to the same restaurant and time. We boarded with 8 people in 6 cabins and had no problem getting everyone in Chops that night.  

 

Who ever is going to board first should go with a list of all cabin numbers and names.  Easy.  

This.

But each of you can book on your cruise planner for my time dining in advance. If you c an be bothered to do so.