The Emperor tries on Regents New er third hand "New" Clothes - Yes an Explorer review

[Emperor Norton]

I know on Oceania the lighting did cycle in the bars, I think the same is true on Regent. I'm still not sure why they didn't do more to differentiate the lighting schemes of the ships or some other features.

[poss]

I'm much appreciating this thread. I haven't been on the ship, but from the photos, it does seem (to my eyes) gaudy, tacky, vulgar. Mainly, the decor seems not at all relaxing and comfortable-- qualities we've very much appreciated on Mariner and Voyager. From all the photos, plus the extravagant PR, it does remind me of Vegas, as others have said. Very expensive, but somehow "cheap." Oh, well, different strokes.... If we can afford it, we'd still do an itinerary on Explorer (we do love Regent), but I think we wouldn't be looking forward to it with quite the same enthusiasm as for the other ships. (Haven't sailed Navigator.)

[Travelcat2]

Keeping in mind that only one of the above photos is of the Explorer, it is amazing how gaudy the Riviera looks in your photos compared to how we perceived it when onboard. I'm glad that the Explorer does not look like the pictures of Oceania (or even the Seabourn picture) above.

 

As the Emperor knows, the lighting in the Observation does change colors but it affects only portion of the large space. CR also photographs differently than it is in person. The beautiful blue chandelier that you see when approaching CR is not representative of the décor in the rest of the restaurant.

 

Linda, don't worry, the lighting in the Observation Lounge will not make us look like "crypt keepers" (that brings weird images to mind):)

[BarbarianPaul]

It doesn't appear as if the entire ship is bathed in purple. That said, I was just researching a South American cruise, and the one that worked best schedule and itinerary wise was on some Princess ship where it appears that the designers went a little overboard with acres and acres of yellow accent lighting.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[BarbarianPaul]

We were on the Crystal Serenity last summer. Don't remember any neon colors.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[poss]

Hi Tc: As I was writing my post, I was actually thinking of you, i.e. remembering that you said that "in the flesh" the new ship doesn't have that very flashy, hey-look-at-me tone. Photos are usually pretty accurate, but I do know what you mean. And I'm counting on it!

[555lavan1t]

We were on a Crystal Serenity crossing last December and I think there was neon lighting in the Pulse Nightclub. I don't remember seeing it anywhere else. We are scheduled on the Explorer in December and it looks like we will have all the neon we can handle.

[Mudhen]

Keeping in mind that only one of the above photos is of the Explorer, it is amazing how gaudy the Riviera looks in your photos compared to how we perceived it when onboard. I'm glad that the Explorer does not look like the pictures of Oceania (or even the Seabourn picture) above.

 

As the Emperor knows, the lighting in the Observation does change colors but it affects only portion of the large space. CR also photographs differently than it is in person. The beautiful blue chandelier that you see when approaching CR is not representative of the décor in the rest of the restaurant.

 

Linda, don't worry, the lighting in the Observation Lounge will not make us look like "crypt keepers" (that brings weird images to mind):)

 

Glad to hear that, Jackie! haha! I suppose after a few "treats" in the OB Bar, it won't matter what color is in there!!!

[CLOU]

Emperor Norton, it was great seeing Jerry from the Diamond again. I have fond memories of the shows he and Mona Lisa put on. Of course, it only worked on the Diamond. When they tried to move the same show to the Navigator, it failed miserably.

[Pamela1]

Emperor Norton, in post 226 you had a really refreshing looking orange drink, what was it? Also was that arancini and if so, what were the fillings?

What did you think of the strange looking pasta bowls? They looked a little cumbersome and odd, did you think that worked well and was there any other strange tableware?

Thanks Pam.

[Travelcat2]

Hi Tc: As I was writing my post, I was actually thinking of you, i.e. remembering that you said that "in the flesh" the new ship doesn't have that very flashy, hey-look-at-me tone. Photos are usually pretty accurate, but I do know what you mean. And I'm counting on it!

 

Hi poss - I'll try to explain. Firstly, and I think this bears repeating, all of the very purple and blue photos above were not of the Explorer (as Emperor indicated in small print above each photo). The neon lighting above the Jacuzzi's is from the Explorer but those were the only lights on. To get the whole effect, you need to see the entire area with lights on.

 

Photos are accurate but do not encompass the entire area - only a "slice" of it. So, I'm saying that the perspective is off when you photograph only a small part if a large space.

 

You will find the lounges (particularly the Meridian and Explorer lounges) to be very sedate - not even a mirror behind the bar (that we did miss). There is nothing flashy that I can remember in either bar. Having said that, the Explorer Lounge is the late night "disco type" lounge (it was the Observation Lounge on our cruise) so it may be full of flashing lights at night - we just did not see it.

 

No glitz at all in the specialty restaurants. As mentioned CR is lovely and has one chandelier that could be considered glitzy.

 

Things today may be different than what we saw in July as some items were not complete. I'll have to wait until November 2nd to get a second look at the Explorer.

[towel-animal]

Emperor Norton, in post 226 you had a really refreshing looking orange drink, what was it? Also was that arancini and if so, what were the fillings?

What did you think of the strange looking pasta bowls? They looked a little cumbersome and odd, did you think that worked well and was there any other strange tableware?

Thanks Pam.

 

I share Pamela's inquiry about the drink. Looks delicious!

[Emperor Norton]

Emperor Norton, in post 226 you had a really refreshing looking orange drink, what was it? Also was that arancini and if so, what were the fillings?

What did you think of the strange looking pasta bowls? They looked a little cumbersome and odd, did you think that worked well and was there any other strange tableware?

Thanks Pam.

 

The drink was the classical Italian concoction known as the Bahama Mama ;)

 

IIRC two of the little balls were fried mozzarella. The other two were arancini with rice, cheese and I think mushrooms. The UFO pasta bowls? The portion the food sat in was fine. The parts sloping towards the eater and the table, not so much. The strangest tableware were IMO the salt and pepper shakers. The controls didn't always seem to work and especially with the salt not being a finishing salt you needed to be able to grind it down. Also with people placing their fingers where the grind was dispensed to adjust the size, I sincerely hope everyone had clean hands.

[Pamela1]

The drink was the classical Italian concoction known as the Bahama Mama ;)

 

IIRC two of the little balls were fried mozzarella. The other two were arancini with rice, cheese and I think mushrooms. The UFO pasta bowls? The portion the food sat in was fine. The parts sloping towards the eater and the table, not so much. The strangest tableware were IMO the salt and pepper shakers. The controls didn't always seem to work and especially with the salt not being a finishing salt you needed to be able to grind it down. Also with people placing their fingers where the grind was dispensed to adjust the size, I sincerely hope everyone had clean hands.

 

Thank you.

[Calgary3]

I share Pamela's inquiry about the drink. Looks delicious!

 

However, I discovered if I press Escape - it stops. Thank God for escape buttons.

[Travelcat2]

However, I discovered if I press Escape - it stops. Thank God for escape buttons.

 

Thank you for the tip. That bug is very distracting (but cute in a certain way). Will try the escape button!

 

P.S. It worked!!!!!

Edited August 27, 2016 by Travelcat2

[Pamela1]

The drink was the classical Italian concoction known as the Bahama Mama ;)

 

IIRC two of the little balls were fried mozzarella. The other two were arancini with rice, cheese and I think mushrooms. The UFO pasta bowls? The portion the food sat in was fine. The parts sloping towards the eater and the table, not so much. The strangest tableware were IMO the salt and pepper shakers. The controls didn't always seem to work and especially with the salt not being a finishing salt you needed to be able to grind it down. Also with people placing their fingers where the grind was dispensed to adjust the size, I sincerely hope everyone had clean hands.

 

Update.

Got myself some Grenadine and had a little Bahama Mama, delicious but very sweet. :D

 

Ps, that wee plateful looked just great and sounded lovely.

[Emperor Norton]

Update.

Got myself some Grenadine and had a little Bahama Mama, delicious but very sweet. :D

 

Ps, that wee plateful looked just great and sounded lovely.

 

The more you've been out in the heat of the day and the cooler it is, the better it gets;):D

[Emperor Norton]

Lets see, we'd just left a port that worked like a maze and had probably a low point dinner on the cruise. And a fuse had been lit.

 

The following day was a sea day. Sleep in, wake up, wander the ship, or just sleep in.

 

Dinner was in Compass Rose

 

Some different looking prosciutto

 

Aside from the pool grill the other restaurants were good about hitting the requested temp on proteins.

 

Cheese seemed to be a hit or miss experience for me, I should've asked if other options were available if I didn't care for what was on offer on a particular night.

 

[Emperor Norton]

Our next stop (along with a few thousand of our new best friends) was Kotor.

 

I'd signed up for a walking tour of the old town which meant up way too early then hit the shore and wait around for thirty minutes while the guide learns the difference between a transmitter and receiver. Shortly after the start of the tour our group shrank (some people didn't care for the heat/crowds/chatty guide, I believe I heard TMI a lot in reference to her).

 

The calm before the storm of humanity

 

 

Either there was a casino nearby or this woman was going to be very dizzy in short order.

 

After a brief walk we were at the entrance to old town.

 

 

[BarbarianPaul]

Looks nice, though I'm sure the heat was problematic. The roulette skirt is a hoot! Love the continuing commentary. Aside from a few reviews, I think you're the only person on the internet actually offering up a substantive view of a cruise on the Explorer.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[poss]

I'm much enjoying the review also.

(But had to say "ouch" when I saw the sea urchins dangling from the ceiling. On our honeymoon in Tobago 45 years ago, my husband stepped on one of those things and was in fairly serious pain for several days.)

Edited September 2, 2016 by poss

[eroller]

I'm really enjoying your pics, comments and review. Very entertaining and quite witty!

 

As for EXPLORER, I can't say I'm all that impressed. She looks to be a creation of what a nouveau-riche person thinks wealth looks like. A bit over the top, a bit ostentatious, and borderline tacky in certain areas. Sometimes less is more!

 

She may be billed as the "most luxurious ship ever built", but perhaps only to some. The statement seems to fit the ship. A bit off-putting. Definitely more South Beach/Vegas than Palm Beach. Not surprise considering where the inspiration comes from.

Edited September 2, 2016 by eroller

[RustyRollock]

Agree completely. When all's said and done it's just another midsize ship, albeit brand new. We didn't see or experience anything extra "luxurious" compared to the other Regent (or Seabourn or Crystal or Silversea) ships and the decor is indeed tacky and vulgar. Proof, if any were needed, that spending lots of money on something doesn't buy "class". I can only assume that the no doubt very expensive interior designers came up with tasteful ideas that were overruled by someone who thought he knew better. A lot of the artwork was personally selected by the same person with the same results. In future, leave it to the experts please.

[rcandkc]

We have been on Navigator many times and Voyager and Mariner once each. We really like Navigator and Voyager. We will be on Voyager again in January and Explorer August. I'm really curious what we will think of Explorer. We are not "show me the money" type people. Time will tell.