Just returned home from a Wonderful Cruise on the Explorer of the Seas

[Colorado Babe]

My husband and our best friends from Saudi Arabia and I just returned from an awesome cruise on the Explorer of the Seas. WE were in a JS on deck 9 (midship) and John and his wife were in a GS on deck 10. I will not be posting a full review but would be happy to answer any questions anyone has and will just highlight some of the wonderful experiences we had on board the beautiful Explorer of the Seas:

 

There were no Pinnacles on this cruise and there were only 24 Diamond Plus and74 Diamond members on this cruise. This meant, no crowding in the Concierge or Diamond Lounge. As a matter of fact, we were almost the only ones who used the Diamond Lounge each night. The Bar Staff was truly awesome and always ensured that we had drinks as soon as we walked into the Lounge. They even made sure that GF chicken wings were available for me each night since I can't eat the other appetizers due to a wheat allergy and the fear of cross contamination.

 

Juan Diego was awesome and he is such a wonderful, entertaining and friendly Concierge. I can't brag about him enough. Our party of four instantly connected with him and he ensured that my birthday and our anniversaries were celebrated in the Lounge and at dinner on two separate nights.

 

We only ate in the Dining room one night, on the third night and were not impressed and never went back. Service was very slow and the food realy didn't have any taste. WE didn't let it get us down because we changed our dining packages so that we could enjoy eating in Giovanni's, Chops and Izumi's. We were not wow'd in Chops but still ate there on two nights but we were very happy with the food and service in Gioavanni's and Izumi's. We usually love "Chops" but the food has definitely declined. Steaks were just ok and I am sorry to say for those bacon lovers out there -- it was fatty and tough and hubby was very disappointed as this has always been his favorite appetizer on every ship.

 

There were lots of kids on this cruise and parents were not supervising them. The kids were out of control most times but as the days went on, we just avoided the hallways and tried to not let this get us down and it didn't. WE knew this had nothing to do with RC and it had everything to do with lack of parenting.

 

We only went to one show in the Theater and the ice show. Both were really good. My husbands best friends wife was crying during the ice show because she thought it was beautiful. she is from Thailand and has never seen an ice show before. I highly recommend that you go to it.

 

We didn't really utilize the Windjammer or the pool area. WE are not buffet kind of people but my husbands best friend did go into the Windjammer a few times to get salami and cheese and took it back to his GS (he loved it_. He and his wife, ordered room service each and every day for Breakfast and lunch and loved it. My husband and I don't eat breakfast but we did have lunch in the dining room 2 or 3 times and the other times, we ate off of the ship. A few mornings I ran into the Concierge Lounge for Cappuccino and grabbed some fresh salmon and cheese to tide us over until lunch time.

 

WE went to the Casino a few nights and it was very crowded. Lots of smokers which made it not so good but we all had fun. No big wins but we each won a few bucks.

 

The Schooner lounge was great and the bartenders were awesome. We enjoyed having margarita's, Pena Colada's and other fancy drinks there. This cruise was mainly about the four of us. Since we live in Colorado and they live in Saudi Arabia, we don't see each other but just once or twice a year so we spent every minute of our time, just connecting and didn't have much time to do all the activities we normally would on a ship.

 

We enjoyed some wonderful private excursions at the ports--all were awesome:

 

Juneau - Private helicopter ride on Glacier followed by dog sledding

Skagway - Private excursion to Emerald Lake, followed by train ride down from Fraser

Victoria - Private Limo around Victoria, Gardens and Winery

 

The weather was outstanding and we did get the pleasure of viewing Tracy Arm FJord glacier and saw some grizzly's, seals and some whales and sharks before and after the glacier.

 

If you are contemplating taking the Explorer to Alaska or are booked, you won't be disappointed. It was awesome and I highly recommend it.

[setsail]

Thanks for the report, love alaska

[DonnaK]

Thanks for the review!

 

I think the ice show on Explorer is the best of all the ships!

[DFWJean&Bill]

What was the weather like? Were you cold on excursions? (We met you and your husband on Brilliance at Meet and Mingle).

[Colorado Babe]

What was the weather like? Were you cold on excursions? (We met you and your husband on Brilliance at Meet and Mingle).

 

It was pretty chilly in Juneau on the helicopter ride to the glacier and dog sledding. However, it was beautiful in Skagway (low 70's) and Victoria (high 70's, low 80's).

[Blizzard54]

We agree that Juan Diego is one of the best!

 

Your experience was a lot different that ours when we had about 37 Pinnacles and 800 D and D+ on the TP.

 

We are looking forward to getting back on the Explorer in September.

[Colorado Babe]

We agree that Juan Diego is one of the best!

 

Your experience was a lot different that ours when we had about 37 Pinnacles and 800 D and D+ on the TP.

 

We are looking forward to getting back on the Explorer in September.

 

Juan just changed ships and is now on the Radiance of the Seas. I am not sure who has replaced him. We did have a great experience with Denzel but rarely went in the CL as there was no one in there and no windows. If I could give you one recommendation, please consider the dining package. It will be well worth it rather than using the dining room.

[Blizzard54]

Juan just changed ships and is now on the Radiance of the Seas. I am not sure who has replaced him. We did have a great experience with Denzel but rarely went in the CL as there was no one in there and no windows. If I could give you one recommendation, please consider the dining package. It will be well worth it rather than using the dining room.

 

The word was that JD would be moving 7/7 but he may have gone sooner.

I believe Jeorge was scheduled to take over the DL. He was in the CL when Denzel was on vacation.

 

We are not that into the fancy dining anymore and were satisfied with the MDR when were on for New Zealand and the TP (35 days) this past spring. Maria, our waiter took very good care of us in the my time section.

[Kreader]

Hi Thanks for your review. I am going on Explorer of the Seas on a btob cruise,Sept.23,and Sept.30 Pacific Coastal cruise. Did you listen/dance to any of the bands aboard the ship? If so,what were their names and where were they? What were the best shows you saw? What were the best things you liked about the Explorer? Any dislikes? Thanks in advance if you answer my questions! Kendra

[cinesage]

Do you have any pictures from the Tracy Arm Fjord? I was on the same cruise a couple of weeks earlier, and we did the Endicott Arm to the Dawes Glacier (which was spectacular) instead.

[Colorado Babe]

Hi Thanks for your review. I am going on Explorer of the Seas on a btob cruise,Sept.23,and Sept.30 Pacific Coastal cruise. Did you listen/dance to any of the bands aboard the ship? If so,what were their names and where were they? What were the best shows you saw? What were the best things you liked about the Explorer? Any dislikes? Thanks in advance if you answer my questions! Kendra

 

We only went to the ice show and one of the production shows which I think was on day 2. It was good. The ice show was fabulous -- highly recommended. We didn't listen/dance to any bands but went up to dizzie's one night late for dancing with a DJ.

 

Best things we liked about the explorer: The officers and staff were very, very nice and ensured that every need we had was taken care of. We also thought the ship was very clean and our beds were super comfortable. We loved going to cocktail hour in the Diamond Lounge. Juan Diego and the bartenders were fabulous. We even enjoyed going to the Schooner bar. The food in Giviovanni's and Izumi's was really good and so was the service in both. We highly recommend both. If we could do it all over again, we would have alternated each night between the two.

 

 

Dislikes: The food and service in the dining room. That is really our only complaint besides uncontrollable kids running all around the ship. Not a problem caused by the staff but by parents not supervising their children.

[Colorado Babe]

Do you have any pictures from the Tracy Arm Fjord? I was on the same cruise a couple of weeks earlier, and we did the Endicott Arm to the Dawes Glacier (which was spectacular) instead.

 

I do have pictures. Will try to post them later. Tracy Arm Fjord was amazing and the weather that day was fabulous.