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Explorer 9/3-9-15 early review


pdaniel
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Entertainment-

Shockingly bad. First night was a lecture. Informative but entertaining?

Second night Broadway singers. Females singers were strong, male voices weak.

Third night was New Generation. High energy, but low rating on vocals but high rating on dancers.

4th night- Same lecturer singing with his friend, Blue Weaver?

5th night- movie...(really, no folk Russian dancers?)

This is why we pay the big bucks!?!

 

Dinners -

Pacific Rim- excellent

Compass Rose- food excellent, ambiance-Lighting was too bright for fine dining.

Chartreuse- Appetizers & Service excellent. Beef dish entree was over cooked and inedible.

 

Destination services-

rating F

In Gdansk all excursions returned at same time creating a huge line. Nice try having the band and officers to greet us, but why end all tours at the same time?

 

These are early reviews from a platinum cruiser’s perspective but, so far, a bit disappointing.

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So, you're a Regent Platinum? Based upon what you've told us so far, I'd be really disappointed if I were on that cruise! Entertainment, Food, Excursions....there really isn't much left other than the suites, friendliness of staff, and the quality of the alcohol. Looking forward to more of your opinions/experience on the cruise. Thanks a lot.

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Oh Lord, we just took a leap and booked the Explorer from Lisbon to Miami in a Master Suite. The ship looks gorgeous I hope the service is up to par. We are NOT demanding people just expect what you would get in a Ritz or Four Seasons.

 

Love the videos of the ship on YouTube.

 

Has anybody here stayed in the MS on the Explorer?

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Entertainment-

Shockingly bad. First night was a lecture. Informative but entertaining?

Second night Broadway singers. Females singers were strong, male voices weak.

Third night was New Generation. High energy, but low rating on vocals but high rating on dancers.

4th night- Same lecturer singing with his friend, Blue Weaver?

5th night- movie...(really, no folk Russian dancers?)

This is why we pay the big bucks!?!

 

Dinners -

Pacific Rim- excellent

Compass Rose- food excellent, ambiance-Lighting was too bright for fine dining.

Chartreuse- Appetizers & Service excellent. Beef dish entree was over cooked and inedible.

 

Destination services-

rating F

In Gdansk all excursions returned at same time creating a huge line. Nice try having the band and officers to greet us, but why end all tours at the same time?

 

These are early reviews from a platinum cruiser’s perspective but, so far, a bit disappointing.

 

So sorry that your experience has been so poor. Have to agree about entertainment - you are Platinum so you know that it can be quite good or quite bad. As Titanium Regent customers, we have sailed on Explorer 54 nights - in a F1 suite, Concierge suite, Grand Suite and Master suite. We will be in a Seven Seas Suite in February and a Grand Suite at the end of next year. We cannot wait to return to Explorer.

 

Food is subjective - our experience in P7 has been fairly poor but Chartreuse has been quite good. Agree that food in CR is excellent! They can fix the lighting and many of us hope that they do in the future.

 

While I do not want to name the person, but the head of Destination Services that is on Explorer when she is not on vacation is the worst that we have ever encountered - at any time -on any ship! We have experienced (from CR having dinner and looking out of the window), multiple excursions returning at the same time. What a mess. Regent does need to correct this issue.

 

Based on reviews of Explorer, it is not for everyone. Some posters prefer Mariner which is very puzzling to me but everyone has their preferences.

 

Hope that things improve dramatically and quickly.

 

P.S. IMO, anyone that compares a cruise ship to a hotel ashore is likely setting themselves up for disappointment!

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Oh Lord, we just took a leap and booked the Explorer from Lisbon to Miami in a Master Suite. The ship looks gorgeous I hope the service is up to par. We are NOT demanding people just expect what you would get in a Ritz or Four Seasons.

 

Love the videos of the ship on YouTube.

 

Has anybody here stayed in the MS on the Explorer?

 

Just back and stayed in a MS - I don't think anyone could be unhappy with this suite. It is beautiful. If I had a minor criticism it would be that the 'master' bedroom suite was a little cramped for getting around because of all the furniture, but it was very, very comfortable. Service throughout the ship was fantastic and friendly. We were disappointed with both the entertainment and the enrichment (as compared with Crystal) and completely agree with the comments made by pdaniel. Perhaps it will be better on a less port-intensive cruise. Food-wise, we had some great food and some so-so food. It seemed to us, that the issue was one of consistency. Although I agree that food is subjective, I don't agree that some of the issues we encountered were down to subjectivity - medium rare is medium rare and if you order beef medium rare on 3 occasions and get 3 different results, it isn't subjective!

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I would like to add, we love cruising Regent. The staff is extremely friendly and attentive. Our suite is excellent and the ship is beautiful.

 

However, our frustration is mostly with entertainment and destination department. The food overall has been very good. It is not subjective when medium rare beef tenderloin is served medium well in Chartreuse.

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I have to chime in here and agree that entertainment is the one area we found lacking on our recent cruise on the Explorer. It was the only negative that we mentioned in our end of cruise comments. The shows were the same ones we had seen over a year prior on the same ship, and other than one or two that we enjoyed the others seemed a bit amateurish. I believe the performers are talented and hard working, but need better material. One exception is the fabulous band, which played in various venues and had enormous versatility. Entertainment is the only area where we feel Crystal is superior. In all other respects we absolutely love Explorer....the beautiful cabins, the food, the ambience, and the hardworking and ever smiling crew.

Edited by morneau
grammar
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Thanks for all the information. Yes, Crystal has outstanding shows but we really don’t go that often anymore as they tend to repeat on each cruise.

 

What we did love was a video on YouTube of the MS. I can’t give you the link because a TA made it and CC does not allow this but you can do your own searches. It really was a great video that showed the ship beautifully.

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We were on the Explorer in January 2018. Loved the ship...gorgeous. We also thought the entertainment on our cruise was awful.

Agree that the lighting in Compass Rose is too bright and we complained several times about it. I do think that the size of Compass Ross

is too large. Everyone wants to eat in the speciality restaurants ...thus leaving the main dining room underused. Lousy atmosphere to dine in.

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We sail on the Explorer in 5 weeks and the Mariner next week ( I know spoiled huh). I’m disappointed to hear that the entertainment is sub par. Given the cost of both of these vacations, my expectations are high in all areas of the cruise.

 

Perhaps I can chime back in with my experience in a few weeks. Hopefully it’s positive.

 

 

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Agree that the entertainment and enrichment programs on Regent could be improved. However, we do not sail Regent for their entertainment or enrichment programs but rather the itinerary, food and service. While it would be nice to have better entertainment, it is not a deal breaker for us and we do love Explorer.

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If a line claims to be six star it should be all around. Many people love shows or other entertainment venues on luxury lines. Many people do care about enrichment programs as well no one is forced to attend them but many people will. Cruising is not eat drink and sit around unless that is your choice.

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I agree with above poster ,Malbec. top line cruise should have it all.

Hope Regent will fix above problems before my cruise in Feb.

Will be first time on Explorer,,and really been about 5 yrs.since last Regent cruise.

Usually go by itinary and price ,too but had a few so so cruises on R and switched to Oceania.Now will be back at Regent since O is doing away with tubs in PH on smaller ships.Also, won t go on ships that require formal wear.So its limited,eh.haha

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I agree with above poster ,Malbec. top line cruise should have it all.

Hope Regent will fix above problems before my cruise in Feb.

Will be first time on Explorer,,and really been about 5 yrs.since last Regent cruise.

Usually go by itinary and price ,too but had a few so so cruises on R and switched to Oceania.Now will be back at Regent since O is doing away with tubs in PH on smaller ships.Also, won t go on ships that require

formal wear.So its limited,eh.haha

 

Explorer also has no tubs in PH Suites. It is highly unlikely that anything will change on Explorer prior to refurbishment

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Entertainment is one of the draws for us. We find it weak on Regent, including Explorer. While I do not expect perfection in any single element, marked weakness in an area when one claims to be 5 star is a negative. I know that some will say I don't do shows, so it doesn't matter.Well, I smile and say I don't do casinos so you can close them.

 

BTW Malbec, during our recent [August] Crystal cruise they really had upped their entertainment game w. new shows and more music in the Cove. Fewer shows repeat but Illuminate does. They were clever,I thought, to put the allegedly finished Curtain Call on last night ..when there often is not a show.

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If you ask to sit in the back rooms of Compass Rose, it’s quieter and the lighting is less bright. Apparently they dimmed the lights originally and diners complained they couldn’t read the menus or see their food....

 

We love the Explorer. Great F1 and F2 Superior Suites with walk-in closet, bathroom with two sinks, large shower and separate tub, nice size verandah. We enjoyed the Infinity Pool, regular pool, and spa, though I prefer a real sauna to infrared sauna. We also enjoyed the cooking classes in the large teaching kitchen. Entertainment was mixed in quality, but overall a B with no lecturers in the evening. We are not big fans of Chartreuse (except for the amazing steak tartare with caviar!) but we enjoyed all of the other specialty restaurants, especially Pacific Rim (lobster tempura!).

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If you ask to sit in the back rooms of Compass Rose, it’s quieter and the lighting is less bright. Apparently they dimmed the lights originally and diners complained they couldn’t read the menus or see their food....

 

We love the Explorer. Great F1 and F2 Superior Suites with walk-in closet, bathroom with two sinks, large shower and separate tub, nice size verandah. We enjoyed the Infinity Pool, regular pool, and spa, though I prefer a real sauna to infrared sauna. We also enjoyed the cooking classes in the large teaching kitchen. Entertainment was mixed in quality, but overall a B with no lecturers in the evening. We are not big fans of Chartreuse (except for the amazing steak tartare with caviar!) but we enjoyed all of the other specialty restaurants, especially Pacific Rim (lobster tempura!).

 

Was the lobster Maine or just tails? We love both but Maine has to be fresh. I guess it depends on where the ship gets its lobster.

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I would like to add, we love cruising Regent. The staff is extremely friendly and attentive. Our suite is excellent and the ship is beautiful.

 

 

 

However, our frustration is mostly with entertainment and destination department. The food overall has been very good. It is not subjective when medium rare beef tenderloin is served medium well in Chartreuse.

 

 

 

Why is a supposedly “French” restaurant serving beef tenderloin?.

 

 

 

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We sail on the Explorer in 5 weeks and the Mariner next week ( I know spoiled huh). I’m disappointed to hear that the entertainment is sub par. Given the cost of both of these vacations, my expectations are high in all areas of the cruise.

 

I agree with above poster ,Malbec. top line cruise should have it all.

Hope Regent will fix above problems before my cruise in Feb.

Will be first time on Explorer,,and really been about 5 yrs.since last Regent cruise.

 

Please understand that the opinions expressed on these boards are very subjective. I was on the Explorer in March and the Voyager in June, and in my opinion, which, of course, is no more (or less) valid than anyone else's, Regent does, in fact, "have it all." I thought that the entertainment on both of my cruises were superb. I enjoyed each and every one of the performances, and judging by audience reaction, I was not alone.

 

These sailings were the first Regent sailings for me in several years, the first since NCL took over, and I found the food and entertainment to be a significant step up to what was already a fine product.

 

Bob

Edited by boblerm
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We were on the Navigator in August. We found the production show entertainers were the best we have ever seen on Regent. So pleasantly surprised. Last November on the Explorer, we were a little underwhelmed and skipped some of the shows.

As usual, staff, crew, food and service were excellent.

Sheila

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Please understand that the opinions expressed on these boards are very subjective. I was on the Explorer in March and the Voyager in June, and in my opinion, which, of course, is no more (or less) valid than anyone else's, Regent does, in fact, "have it all." I thought that the entertainment on both of my cruises were superb. I enjoyed each and every one of the performances, and judging by audience reaction, I was not alone.

 

These sailings were the first Regent sailings for me in several years, the first since NCL took over, and I found the food and entertainment to be a significant step up to what was already a fine product.

 

Bob

 

Agree with you 100%

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Please understand that the opinions expressed on these boards are very subjective. I was on the Explorer in March and the Voyager in June, and in my opinion, which, of course, is no more (or less) valid than anyone else's, Regent does, in fact, "have it all." I thought that the entertainment on both of my cruises were superb. I enjoyed each and every one of the performances, and judging by audience reaction, I was not alone.

 

These sailings were the first Regent sailings for me in several years, the first since NCL took over, and I found the food and entertainment to be a significant step up to what was already a fine product.

 

Bob

Agree!!

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