Daily Log, Explorer of the Seas, Jan. 16-27

[SpekiTrout]

Just reread my post and I'm embarressed to say that I completey left out our "Congrats" to Ariel for her sevice in AmeriCorps. If only more of our youth were as her. Thank you for your service Ariel !!

[Flossie2359]

Oh Empress, please go on a crusie again soon.... I am having withdrawals from your daily log :(

[EmpressofPurple]

Aw, thanks Flossie! The great news is, Ariel and I have a 3-night cruise planned on the Monarch for March 2... to recover from our very first half-marathon at Disneyworld on Feb. 26!

 

Maybe I'll even write a Trip Report about our week at DisneyWorld on Disboards... which I first learned about by reading a "live from" cruise thread by a young Disney fan, and I so enjoyed, I looked up her trip report on DisBoards and was completely charmed by them... in fact, her description of running the WDW Marathon with her boyfriend inspired me to try the half-marathon with my DD - wish us luck!

 

In any event, I'll probably post something about the Monarch 3-nighter here on CC. We just did one during the Diamonds in December promotion, along with some great CC friends of ours, who always make cruising fun. I'm sure we'll have a good time on the Monarch anyway, but we'll miss cruising with our buddies. I trust we'll make great new friends on the cruise, as always.

 

Thanks again for following along; I look forward to "cruising" with someone else now, so I hope others will share the details of their cruise vacations, either live on board or when they get home. It's such a great way to take a trip while still sitting at home, isn't it?:)

[vjpdw1234]

by any chance do youu have the cruise compas from your sailing?

[flypie]

Hello! I have spent this whole day reading your review! Good job, it was very entertaining! Although I am not nearly as active when I cruise, I give you kudos for your awesome energy! I'd love to see your pictures. When you gave descriptions of your evening clothes I was so wishing for pictures so I can steal some fashion ideas! Please???!!! And thank you, of course!

[EmpressofPurple]

Okay then... two years later, but now I know how to add photos!! Sorry I can't insert them in each post, lo this long time after (no more editing)... but I'll try to post them in order.

 

Cold weather boarding

 

Looks like the (then new) pier in Labadee

 

Yep, here's the fire dancer/MC

 

And the gymnasts

 

And the dancers

 

And the musicians

[EmpressofPurple]

Ariel and I are always happy in Labadee...

 

 

The beautiful green mountains and blue water

 

Some nice shots around the ship: posing with beautiful wooden bird sculptures outside the Windjammer

 

With the portrait of the ship's godmother, Jackie Joyner-Kersee (and my inspiration, as a new runner)

 

Random awesome artwork in the hallway

[EmpressofPurple]

Oops, yeah, these are all out of order... here's the boarding day display in the Windjammer... now THAT's how to say "Welcome Aboard!" (I really missed this on our recent Explorer cruise... hope it's back in place.)

 

I don't know what this is, but it looks delicious -- some kind of quiche? Maybe the famous vidalia onion tart??

 

This looks like one of my weird Windjammer breakfast platters: lox, cottage cheese, corned beef hash, hardboiled eggs, sauteed veggies... and some kind of Asian soup

 

Ooh, look at all that fresh seafood! Fish and shrimp and mussels oh my! And in the Windjammer no less!!

 

Hmmm, looks like another tasty fish dish (in the MDR this time)

 

And a mini dessert sampler trio

[EmpressofPurple]

Designs from napkin-folding class in the Schooner bar... how I wish they still did these in the dining room... we used to get different designs every night!

 

Beautiful flower

 

Classic Fold + Candlestick

 

We got some cute towel animals, too - Elephant in sunglasses

 

Doggie with banana, kiwi and TV remote

 

Shnoodle made friends with my little white fox

[EmpressofPurple]

Beautiful DD Ariel on the beach in St. Martin

 

Hmmm, I'm not the only one who thinks she's beautiful, apparently...

 

I got in on the (photo) action, too...

 

And again...

 

Lunch in the beach restaurant... mmm, looks like stuffed crabs? clams?

 

Thanks St. Martin, we had fun! (Sorry no photos of the topless sunbathers who arrived and settled in on the loungers right next to us!!)

[EmpressofPurple]

Relaxing on the inflatable couches on the beach after lunch

 

 

Visiting our favorite "Old Man" Guavaberry store on St. Martin

 

Old Man!! (Best steak sauce in the world)

 

Farewell, St. Martin, till we meet again!

 

(Oh yeah, I forgot there was a crew of motorcyclists on this cruise; RCI let them bring their bikes, and helped them load and unload them in port!!)

[EmpressofPurple]

A few more pictures from the ship:

 

Captains Welcome Aboard party (as seen from our Promenade Cabin window)

 

Enjoying a cuppa at the Promenade Cafe

 

Our Promenade Cabin (notice the loveseats by the window overlooking the Promenade)

 

Suit of Armor in the Fitness Center (where I spent so much of my time)

 

The beautiful curtain in the theatre

 

Look! It's Russian Joel McHale, the featured dancer!!

Edited May 2, 2014 by EmpressofPurple

[EmpressofPurple]

View of the ship from El Moro

 

More views

 

 

 

Amazing dinner

 

Me with our amazing chef!

[EmpressofPurple]

Ooh, I got a couple shots of the airlift:

 

Everyone's trying to get a picture (see the red helicopter in the middle?)

 

People were all over the pool deck trying to catch a glimpse... I had been in the fitness center, which was closed since it overlooks the helipad, so I had to leave.

 

The helicopter takes off -- mission accomplished!

 

Hmmm... looks like I did well at mini-golf!

[EmpressofPurple]

Beautiful beach in Antigua

 

 

And the last port day, lovely St. Kitts

 

 

 

[EmpressofPurple]

A few last shots from around the ship

 

Beautiful three-story dining room (captain's table in the center)

 

Mmm, some more yummy MDR food... looks like lamb shank with mint jelly

 

Beautiful tiger shrimp (in their shells)

 

Wow, a whole mess of desserts!!

 

I think this was actually from departure day, not our return -- look at the unfinished Freedom Tower!

 

Yep, it was definitely cold at sailaway.

 

And that's it, folks! What a great cruise it was. Glad I was able to add a few visuals to illustrate the prose... albeit over two years later

[cymru cruiser]

I've found and read both your explorer reviews today brilliant thank you.