Explorer of the Seas - Just Returned

[brillohead]

12 hours ago, wolfcathorse said:

He was a very engaging personality! Very easy to talk to at the Top Tier party.

The "dramatic pause" before his name in every sign-off made me wonder if he was channeling his inner William Shatner!  LOL

[davekathy]

44 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

OH no...poor Dave and Kathy!  At least you did get some minor compensation.  Bucky still wants to know "You got the stuff Dave"?  😄 😄 

 

Yeah, this leg is pretty much the same...but either we are used to it by now...or just really good at avoiding the zoo of of the rude pax again on this leg.  We spend a lot of time in other smaller areas that are not huge communal spots.  Once again enjoying our favorite bartender Bruno as we sit at the VCL bar.  

 

Doing MDR, early dining again...same table again in the back in a corner by the window.  Quite a bit quieter back there.  Not really impressed with the specialty restaurants we did last week (did all of them but Johnny Rockets)...but did do Giovannis again this week...just once...was OK.  Enjoying our early dining in MDR...no waiting.  By the time we are leaving first seating dinner just after 7 pm...the line waiting to get in is terrible.  Lined up all the way into Focus photo gallery.  Yikes!  Guessing MTD?  

 

Docked in between Harmony and Jewel at St. Maarten right now.  Weather has been mostly good this week, but a bit of rain at St. Croix.  

 

Great to spend time with you and so happy we finally got to meet in person.  🙂  You two are wonderful company and we really enjoyed the laughs together.  

We did that a lot on the second. But we do that lot on most of our cruises. We were also very lucky that we had good neighbors on each side of us on both legs. Never saw or heard them. We knew the cabins were occupied as the magnetic door notices would change from, sleeping off the adventure and then change to we're out having fun (or whatever those things say). Whenever I was on the balcony I never heard anyone. No smokers either. 👍 Speaking of smokers, tell Bucky it's all "up in smoke". 😎🚬 Enjoy. 🥃

 

 

[LATTELOVE]

On our last cruise on Odessey a few months back,

we had to wait till we were onboard to book all of the

shows.   Is it the same for Explorer??

Thank you!!

[Biker19]

2 minutes ago, LATTELOVE said:

.   Is it the same for Explorer??

Yes, but she has fewer shows which need booking. 

[davekathy]

4 minutes ago, LATTELOVE said:

On our last cruise on Odessey a few months back,

we had to wait till we were onboard to book all of the

shows.   Is it the same for Explorer??

Thank you!!

Never saw the option to do it in the app pre cruise. The only show you will be asked to book was the ice show while onboard. We didn't and walked right in both legs of the B2B (13 and 20 March) cruise. 

Edited March 31, 2022 by davekathy

[LATTELOVE]

3 minutes ago, davekathy said:

Never saw the option to do it in the app pre cruise. The only show you will be asked to book was the ice show while onboard. We didn't and walked right in both legs of the B2B (13 and 20 March) cruise. 

Good to know,  thank you so much.

Also looking for a nice beach in Antigua, close to the pier,

any recommendations??? Thanks again.

[davekathy]

3 minutes ago, LATTELOVE said:

Good to know,  thank you so much.

Also looking for a nice beach in Antigua, close to the pier,

any recommendations??? Thanks again.

The ice show is called Spirts of the Seasons. Sorry we aren't beach people. 

[brillohead]

1 hour ago, LATTELOVE said:

Good to know,  thank you so much.

Also looking for a nice beach in Antigua, close to the pier,

any recommendations??? Thanks again.

Not sure a beach recommendation in Antigua will be of any help on this cruise....

[Ashland]

On 3/30/2022 at 6:59 AM, island lady said:

We are currently docked here in St. Maarten on EX.   Looks like an RCI meeting!  Harmony on one side, Jewel on the other...plus Rhapsody (crew only) just pulled in behind Jewel.  

 

Jewel looking sparkling new and in good shape!  🥰  Poor little Rhapsody is in really sad shape, lots of rust showing, rough all over.   She has been out of service since Covid shut down, serving as quarantine ship for crew members...mostly anchored off shore of St. Maarten the last two years.

 

Unusual to have so many RCI ships here at once.  And no idea yet, if something else is on other side of Harmony.  Walking into town soon.  

Rhapsody according to crew member on Explorer is going into drydock in 3 weeks.

 

The two yachts docked in St Maarten yesterday with us ...the silver one belongs to the What's app guy and the white one is Bill Gates.

[davekathy]

2 minutes ago, Ashland said:

Rhapsody according to crew member on Explorer is going into drydock in 3 weeks.

 

The two yachts docked in St Maarten yesterday with us ...the silver one belongs to the What's app guy and the white one is Bill Gates.

We were wondering who the yachts belonged to. 

[bayou cruiser]

First cruise since Covid.  Can you tell me if you have to book shore excursions only through Royal or can you book on your own for each island?

[Biker19]

Just now, bayou cruiser said:

First cruise since Covid.  Can you tell me if you have to book shore excursions only through Royal or can you book on your own for each island?

You can book your own. 

[volk904]

We took a ships excursion to a Beach on our last trip to Antiqua.  It included lunch.  It was a beautiful beach and the much was pretty good.