purpleally Posted January 13, 2017 #1 Share Posted January 13, 2017 I have immensely enjoyed when others post daily accounts of their cruise so I'm going to try to give it a go. Not sure I can be as funny nor entertaining but, hopefully, others on this cruise can jump in. We flew from Michigan to LAX today. I booked three days early in case we had a snowstorm and worst case scenario, we rent a car and drive across country. No snowstorm but an hour after we were in the air, most of Michigan was hit with freezing rain. Flight was uneventful but an hour late due to weather in LA. Took Lyft to Hilton Long Beach where we are overlooking the busy Port of Long Beach. Not quite 60 and rainy so not too enjoyable weather. We walked to the closest restaurant (half mile) for a late lunch. I think the rain will be gone tomorrow so we can walk around more. And, our friends are flying in from Myrtle Beach so we can start the fun early. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Zqueeze1 Posted January 13, 2017 #2 Share Posted January 13, 2017 Great that you plan to share your trip with us. I hope you enjoy the Explorer as much as we did during the November TA. Safe travels. Z and TB Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyouseawhatisea Posted January 13, 2017 #3 Share Posted January 13, 2017 Excited to hear what you've got to say! You'll love the ship and everything inside and out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ronrick1943 Posted January 13, 2017 #4 Share Posted January 13, 2017 Thanks for taking the time, looking forward to reading your post. We'll be on that cruise later in the year going the other way. Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liptastic Posted January 13, 2017 #5 Share Posted January 13, 2017 Look forward to your posts. Have a great cruise. Jean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Gilly Posted January 13, 2017 #6 Share Posted January 13, 2017 (edited) We are also now in LA, hanging out with friends pre-cruise, but having bumped into a couple of familiar faces in the hotel lobby last night, it feels like our Explorer experience is almost there. As always, I am blogging about our travels at http://www.elegantsufficiency.org and am looking forward to some sunshine! See you on board purpleally! Edited January 13, 2017 by Gilly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liptastic Posted January 13, 2017 #7 Share Posted January 13, 2017 Gilly always enjoy your blogs, thanks for allowing us to follow you on board. Have a great cruise. Jean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eager2Travel Posted January 13, 2017 #8 Share Posted January 13, 2017 We, too, are looking forward to boarding the Explorer on Sunday. For us, it is an unusual experience as we are leaving from our hometown. It feels much more relaxed to not be facing "the airplane experience" until our return from Miami. For now it is back to packing and organizing while we wait for our adventure to begin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liptastic Posted January 13, 2017 #9 Share Posted January 13, 2017 We, too, are looking forward to boarding the Explorer on Sunday. For us, it is an unusual experience as we are leaving from our hometown. It feels much more relaxed to not be facing "the airplane experience" until our return from Miami. For now it is back to packing and organizing while we wait for our adventure to begin. Anne hope you and Shel have a wonderful cruise. Best wishes, Jean and Bill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eager2Travel Posted January 14, 2017 #10 Share Posted January 14, 2017 Thanks, Jean for the good wishes. We enjoyed being in Alaska with you and Biil especially watching the spectacular glacier come into view. Ann Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare RachelG Posted January 14, 2017 #11 Share Posted January 14, 2017 Looking forward to all of the posts on this cruise. Have a wonderful trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purpleally Posted January 15, 2017 Author #12 Share Posted January 15, 2017 The sun came out yesterday in Long Beach and the last two days have been great. After our friends arrived we went happy hour bar hopping yestersay. Gladstones on the water, Parkers lighthouse, also on the water and ended up at Rock Bottom Brewery which probably has the best happy hour, price wise, in Long Beach. We ended the evening very early (we are all on East coast time) but emptied a bottle of wine. Today we walked from Shoreline Marina to Belmont Shores. A wonderful walking path along the water. We stopped at Belmont Brewery and met up with a friend who lives in Long Beach He took us to Joe Josts, a truly dive bar, and drove us around Belmont Shores and Naples. Classic California. Stopped at a Greek restaurant on pine ave for happy hour at the bar. What a great bartender! She wants to go on the cruise with us! The manager came over and was pouring four shots. I commented that someone was getting shots - turned out they were for us! Fellow Detroiter. We finished up our afternoon with another bottle in our hotel room Very excited to get on the ship tomorrow!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelcat2 Posted January 15, 2017 #13 Share Posted January 15, 2017 Sounds like so much fun. Happy Hour is the one thing I really miss in Southern California.:D Good to hear that the weather is better. You embark tomorrow - have a great cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare RachelG Posted January 15, 2017 #14 Share Posted January 15, 2017 Ray said you would be in port along side us in San Diego tomorrow. If you see a big guy in a cowboy hat and boots, make yourself know as it is probably George. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purpleally Posted January 15, 2017 Author #15 Share Posted January 15, 2017 I will look! Went to 8:00 Mass this morning. In Spanish, which is fitting since we will be hearing a lot of Spanish in the next two weeks! Just have to re pack suitcase and check out. Trying to be patient but, for some reason, I would rather wait at the port than at the hotel. Trying to hold out for 11 and then we will get a Lyft ride. A little cooler and a little more clouds today but, no rain! All is good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyouseawhatisea Posted January 15, 2017 #16 Share Posted January 15, 2017 I will look! Went to 8:00 Mass this morning. In Spanish, which is fitting since we will be hearing a lot of Spanish in the next two weeks! Just have to re pack suitcase and check out. Trying to be patient but, for some reason, I would rather wait at the port than at the hotel. Trying to hold out for 11 and then we will get a Lyft ride. A little cooler and a little more clouds today but, no rain! All is good We were the same way before we boarded Explorer. We barely made it past 11 and we were definitely not the first people there [emoji23] Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyouseawhatisea Posted January 15, 2017 #17 Share Posted January 15, 2017 I will look! Went to 8:00 Mass this morning. In Spanish, which is fitting since we will be hearing a lot of Spanish in the next two weeks! Just have to re pack suitcase and check out. Trying to be patient but, for some reason, I would rather wait at the port than at the hotel. Trying to hold out for 11 and then we will get a Lyft ride. A little cooler and a little more clouds today but, no rain! All is good Is it true you all don't depart LA until 9 PM? Seems a bit late but I guess you don't have far to go. We are hoping to go watch it sail away! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anchorbuoy Posted January 15, 2017 #18 Share Posted January 15, 2017 (edited) Nine o'clock is the scheduled departure time. Captain: Stan de Lacombe GM: Franck Galzy and Michael Coghlan. Both are onboard until Jan 20 for handoff, and then Franck departs. CD: Andy Heath. He shadowed John Baron for the past week ACD: Olivia Social Hostess: Tammy Heath F&B: Mark (from Oceania) DRM: Vladimir Head Sommelier: Nixon Lots of staff has just changed, but many familiar faces. Edited January 15, 2017 by Anchorbuoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eager2Travel Posted January 16, 2017 #19 Share Posted January 16, 2017 The Explorer is magnificent. We had a lovely lunch outside La Veranda and we could not have asked for better service. Everyone is very welcoming. The suite is beautiful and I can't believe the storage . I know I won't want to get off in 14 days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelcat2 Posted January 16, 2017 #20 Share Posted January 16, 2017 The Explorer is magnificent. We had a lovely lunch outside La Veranda and we could not have asked for better service. Everyone is very welcoming. The suite is beautiful and I can't believe the storage . I know I won't want to get off in 14 days. Promise not to say that "I told you so" - just happy that you are able to experience this truly lovely ship. I have a feeling that you will be like us and may book another Explorer cruise. We could live on that ship! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyouseawhatisea Posted January 16, 2017 #21 Share Posted January 16, 2017 Caught it sailing out of LA harbor...bon voyage! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Gilly Posted January 16, 2017 #22 Share Posted January 16, 2017 What a great picture doyouseawhatisea! Thank you for sharing! As you took it, we were sitting in Pacific Rim, enjoying dinner. How lovely to see the ship from a different perspective. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Zqueeze1 Posted January 16, 2017 #23 Share Posted January 16, 2017 Awesome pic! Regent should be paying you royalties to use it. Z and TB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purpleally Posted January 16, 2017 Author #24 Share Posted January 16, 2017 What a great picture doyouseawhatisea! Thank you for sharing! As you took it, we were sitting in Pacific Rim, enjoying dinner. How lovely to see the ship from a different perspective. And we were in Prime 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auntieshoes Posted January 16, 2017 #25 Share Posted January 16, 2017 Andy and Tammy are a great pair. We enjoyed them on a Baltic cruise last summer. Send them greetings from the Kansas City family. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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