All Things Explorer of the Seas! -- Part 2

[booze brothers]

Mimi,

Yes, Meg's advise is right on. There are about 20 or more couples staying at the Springhill for our November cruise. They all booked thru Trinity and have free parking for the entire trip and a really good rate. There's so many of them that they started by booking a shuttle but now they have booked an entire bus to take them to the port and pick them up again. Everyone sent one person the money and she arranged the transportation and paid the bus company already. It's cheaper than paying for parking. I had considered it but I know with working I won't be ready to leave that night and stay at the hotel.......I'll still be packing......LOL But I am still giving it some thought.

 

Patty

 

Thanks for all the good info Meg and Patty. I'm looking into the Springhill. Will let you know.

[Addictedtocruising]

We are sailing Saturday 11/5 and just noticed that sail away is 4:00pm, :eek:

I have been watching the ship leave at 5:00pm every week.

 

I'm assuming it has to do with daylight savings time, am I correct?

 

I am sailing with 5 other people and of course they think I should have the answer LOL

 

We are doing a 5 day to Bermuda and the departure time from Bermuda has been changed from 5:00pm to 3:30pm, would that have anything to do with DST also?

 

Thanks

Donna

[Addictedtocruising]

Oh and for anyone that has rented a mobility scooter, will they take you (wheelchair assist) or let you go to your cabin as soon as you get on the ship to get it?

 

Any experience with this would be appreciated!

 

Thanks again

Donna

[mets550]

We are sailing Saturday 11/5 and just noticed that sail away is 4:00pm, :eek:

I have been watching the ship leave at 5:00pm every week.

 

I'm assuming it has to do with daylight savings time, am I correct?

 

I am sailing with 5 other people and of course they think I should have the answer LOL

 

We are doing a 5 day to Bermuda and the departure time from Bermuda has been changed from 5:00pm to 3:30pm, would that have anything to do with DST also?

 

Thanks

Donna

 

Our New Year's sailing is set to leave Port Bayonne at 4 p.m. I imagine the ship leaves an hour earlier (so it is not pitch black) after daylight savings time?

[MedicKen]

Oh and for anyone that has rented a mobility scooter, will they take you (wheelchair assist) or let you go to your cabin as soon as you get on the ship to get it?

 

Any experience with this would be appreciated!

 

Thanks again

Donna

 

Because I have always been with my DW, who is a scooter user, they have always taken us to the Windjammer. Most of the time we ask to be left off at the poolside tables. I go get the scooter and bring it back to DW. We reverse this process when we debark. When we were on Oasis the cabin stewards did allow me in early to pick up the scooter. (and that's all I did, I left our carry-on bags with my DW)

 

Since we drive to Explorer we take our own scooter and avoid this situation, she refuses to fly with her scooter. That negates the above process.

 

Have a great trip on our favorite ship.

Edited November 1, 2011 by MedicKen

[autumnquest]

Can you still buy one of the wine packages once on board, or do we have to do it in advance? We are thinking we probably will, but still not entirely sure.

[sharonlacey]

They have a counter set up by the Windjammer Cafe. So you can order when you get onboard.

 

Sharon

[rubrrick]

We are sailing Saturday 11/5 and just noticed that sail away is 4:00pm, :eek:

I have been watching the ship leave at 5:00pm every week.

 

I'm assuming it has to do with daylight savings time, am I correct?

 

I am sailing with 5 other people and of course they think I should have the answer LOL

 

We are doing a 5 day to Bermuda and the departure time from Bermuda has been changed from 5:00pm to 3:30pm, would that have anything to do with DST also?

 

Thanks

Donna

 

 

We just returned from the 5 day Bermuda run, as a B2B from the New England/Canada fall leaves (not much this year) and Captain Henrik told us that to make it down, he would be running close to 20 knots per hour, which is slightly more than 22 miles per hour.

 

So, with DST going away this Saturday, I would say that the departure time from both Cape Liberty and the Bermuda Dockyards has everything to do with the run time, and cruising speed.

 

Bermuda was beautiful! Enjoy your cruise!!:D;)

 

Rick

[autumnquest]

They have a counter set up by the Windjammer Cafe. So you can order when you get onboard.

 

Sharon

 

Thank you, Sharon. I didn't do the wine package when I sailed on Explorer the last time.

[tpbf]

We decided to prepurchase as much as possible this trip as RCL seems to have a delay in getting into your room (where, I assume all your prepurchased receipts are).

 

These wine questions made me wonder: We have prepurchased both wine and soda. Does this mean the purchase proofs will be on our seapasses when we board or will we have to get to our room to get them? Buying a soda is not a big deal, but we were hoping to get a bottle of bubbly (as in champagne) from the WJ to have at sailaway in our room.

 

Since we prepurchased, how will we show this to the WJ waiter? Can't imagine a sailaway without that bottle of bubbly!! On Princess you need to order such a purchase from their "gifts and gear" and they have it in your room, which - on Princess - they won't let you on the ship until you can get into your room.

 

Thanks to you more regular RCL trippers for this kind of guidance. We will be first time RCL cruisers.

[mets550]

We decided to prepurchase as much as possible this trip as RCL seems to have a delay in getting into your room (where, I assume all your prepurchased receipts are).

 

These wine questions made me wonder: We have prepurchased both wine and soda. Does this mean the purchase proofs will be on our seapasses when we board or will we have to get to our room to get them? Buying a soda is not a big deal, but we were hoping to get a bottle of bubbly (as in champagne) from the WJ to have at sailaway in our room.

 

Since we prepurchased, how will we show this to the WJ waiter? Can't imagine a sailaway without that bottle of bubbly!! On Princess you need to order such a purchase from their "gifts and gear" and they have it in your room, which - on Princess - they won't let you on the ship until you can get into your room.

 

Thanks to you more regular RCL trippers for this kind of guidance. We will be first time RCL cruisers.

 

We did a wine package on Majesty last year. I don't remember even seeing a receipt in the cabin. You can print out and bring a receipt that RCI e-mailed you when you booked, but it should be noted on your Seapass card. (They actually made a mistake with ours but remedied it before the end of the cruise.) We only ordered in the MDR, but I imagine the WJ bar staff can check your Seapass card and get you what you want.

[booze brothers]

Patty...that's not RCI transportation, maybe that's why

 

Mimi...try stay123 or trinity reservations dot com

 

usually the fairfield inn, country inn and/or springhill suites are there, with park n flys cheaper than booking direct. One of my peeps (138east/carol) uses them often, and a lot of peeps on my roll call have done that too...

 

THEN..book a car service such as http://www.blackexecutivecars.com or http://www.trulimo.com to get you to and from the port...

 

stay away from the wyndham and worst (best) western and comfort suites..

NOT the greatest places and/or areas. Granted, the EWR "resort" area isn't pretty:rolleyes: but there ARE good and lousy places..

 

 

Great information Meg.

 

I did book with Trinity for Springhill Dec. 10. Then found out booking direct was cheaper so I cancelled the res. It's been two days and so far they have not responded even after two emails and a phone call.

 

Did you ever have a problem with them getting back to you?

 

thanks mimi

[megr1125]

 

Great information Meg.

 

I did book with Trinity for Springhill Dec. 10. Then found out booking direct was cheaper so I cancelled the res. It's been two days and so far they have not responded even after two emails and a phone call.

 

Did you ever have a problem with them getting back to you?

 

thanks mimi

 

I have never used them...i book direct...i am a points and nights hotel rewards collector....perhaps Carol will know??? Though I would tend to guess that they may take a day or 2 if their initial allotment of rooms is gone

 

OOPSY...misread your post....again, i haven't use them, but i would imagine that they might take a couple days....

 

 

Oh and for anyone that has rented a mobility scooter, will they take you (wheelchair assist) or let you go to your cabin as soon as you get on the ship to get it?

 

Any experience with this would be appreciated!

 

Thanks again

Donna

 

 

Donna...yes, IME if one person goes to Guest relations and asks..they will let you go up and see if it is there....the wheelchair assist will (if asked) wheel you up and rop you off on deck 5 someplace...i was able to run to the cabin to get our rented wheelchair a couple times......

 

the company will have them aboard the sip fairly early. when i visited EX in August I saw the rental place coming aboard with several chairs, scooters, etc right around noon....maybe a little before.....

 

Incidentally, tru limo seems to have been pricing out at twice what other places are quoting..not sure why, as their distance to the EWR area is less then 5 miles...unless they are quoting for a limo...SOOOOooo..perhaps only if you're moving a crowd would they have a good deal

Edited November 4, 2011 by megr1125

[karinad]

Are the shower heads hand held? I might want to cover my grey and this would make it easier to rinse my hair. Thanks!

[rncruiser]

Yes, shower heads are handheld.

[138east]

 

Great information Meg.

 

I did book with Trinity for Springhill Dec. 10. Then found out booking direct was cheaper so I cancelled the res. It's been two days and so far they have not responded even after two emails and a phone call.

 

Did you ever have a problem with them getting back to you?

 

thanks mimi

 

I'm sure they will get back to you. They are not a high powered business. They have always responded back to me, but maybe not immediately.

[karinad]

Yes, shower heads are handheld.

Thanks! It makes things easier!

[SandG]

I can not remember from our last cruise on Explorer but can someone tell me, do they supply helmets at the ice rink? [...] Bob

Hi Bob!!!!

When we cruised together in 4/09, they did not require helmets but did have a supply of them. When I cruised in 4/10, they both required all guests to wear helmets and supplied them. They also have wrist guards, knee pads, elbow pads too but they are not required. At least they weren't in 4/10.

 

I went ice skating on the EOS a few weeks ago and can confirm that helmets are required, other safety equipment is available but not required. I was happy to find that the skates were pretty comfortable because I'd considered bring my own (yes, I'm 55, and I have my own skates) but I could barely carry all my luggage as it was. I noticed they have a special skating session for those with their own skates, and that would have been cool, but no big deal... so many other things to do on board.

 

Sue

[SandG]

We decided to prepurchase as much as possible this trip as RCL seems to have a delay in getting into your room (where, I assume all your prepurchased receipts are).

 

These wine questions made me wonder: We have prepurchased both wine and soda. Does this mean the purchase proofs will be on our seapasses when we board or will we have to get to our room to get them? Buying a soda is not a big deal, but we were hoping to get a bottle of bubbly (as in champagne) from the WJ to have at sailaway in our room.

 

Since we prepurchased, how will we show this to the WJ waiter? Can't imagine a sailaway without that bottle of bubbly!! On Princess you need to order such a purchase from their "gifts and gear" and they have it in your room, which - on Princess - they won't let you on the ship until you can get into your room.

 

Thanks to you more regular RCL trippers for this kind of guidance. We will be first time RCL cruisers.

 

Not sure how the receipt works if you pre-purchase, 'cause we bought the wine package when we got on board, but I can confirm that you can pick up a bottle from the WJ in time for sail-away (we needed to bring the receipt for the first bottle). We waited a little too late in the afternoon because the waitstaff was rather busy and it took a bit of a wait to get our bottle, and they were apologetic for the delay anyway, but next time we would do this before the muster drill instead of after. After the first night, we would order an extra bottle at the end of dinner to bring back to the room whenever we were running out.

 

Sue

[sharonlacey]

We prepaid and ordered on comp. and they sent us a reciept thru e-mail. Just print it and bring with you. I keep a folder with all my reciepts. Do the same with all you pre purchases, even speical dinner reservations and trips you book. Also we pre purchased wine for the room and it was waiting in our room.

Edited November 9, 2011 by sharonlacey

[Snostar]

 

Great information Meg.

 

I did book with Trinity for Springhill Dec. 10. Then found out booking direct was cheaper so I cancelled the res. It's been two days and so far they have not responded even after two emails and a phone call.

 

Did you ever have a problem with them getting back to you?

 

thanks mimi

 

After 3 weeks of no email replies from RCCL, I threatened to cancel.....within 24 hours I got extremely thorough answers to my questions and an apology!

[Never2Late2Cruise]

We are going on the Thanksgiving cruise on Sunday. Does anyone know if they have eggnog for the holidays? Just curious.

[mets550]

I see that the RCI website lists Explorer as having four pools. They obviously have two on the main pool deck, one in the solarium, but where is the fourth? Is it a kids pool?

[mets550]

Has anyone ever done Blackbeard's Cay Beach Break in Nassau? Any guidance would be appreciated.

[beachbuddy]

Has anyone ever done Blackbeard's Cay Beach Break in Nassau? Any guidance would be appreciated.

 

No, didn't do that when we were in Nassau. We took a local bus to the Sheraton. I think it was $25 each but not sure. The Sheraton is on Cable Beach and the beach was great! We were able to use all their facilities......got lounge chairs, could use their pools too and they also provided nice big towels. I believe non motarized equipment was included to although we didn't use any. There was another hotel next door which had a casino in it but can't remember the name of that one. We walked over there and they also had a very nice pool. There were a few different pools on the Shreraton property. it was not crowded at all and a very relaxing day.