For all questions regarding Explora

[travelberlin]

4 hours ago, saminina said:

It's only right that there be MSC and/or YC cheerleaders found on the Explora board.  I'm surprised the number is so low.  Seems like many more outsiders willing to try a new product posting on here.

Where do you find the MSC cheerleaders in this board? I think that only travel agents might be at this point cheerleading.

Ivi

[Critically Cruising]

The pictures you could ignore.  The droning, dreary music was unavoidable.  Especially since it was being "performed" by technicians who were technically proficient, but who had no feeling of musical expression.  Like the old days of figure skaters who were awesome in the compulsory figures, but couldn't do an expressive routine to save their life.

 

[dolls123]

If anyone sails in a Penthouse before November can you report back if the complimentary pressing of garments within the first 48 hours and 1 bag of laundry per person is still a perk. 
This was one of the reasons I booked a Penthouse 

[Nunagoras]

Well: Bashing a cruise line over the environment music they put round the ship is a little bit too much. Calm down, guys!...

 

But E is not exempt of fault on their arguably bad situation right now. And those current changes in the ships redeployment might have been the last nail on their most likely coffin, to say the least. All the Mediterranean itineraries out of the website now?... So, no Lisbon for me to experience E without 2 flights? Doesn't they know that usually true luxury individuals want to plan their travelling schedules far in advance?... And that a clear "no" is set to turn those clients away? Pissing the possible client base is main drive for failure!...

 

Against what they may to think about the luxury market is really very limited on what you can redeploy as a new thing. Surely there are an increasing number of very affluent individuals, some of them still with a job whom would likely to go on such a sustainable small-to-middle sized ship. But, sadly I'm starting to be convinced on what someone has written elsewhere on the social media: MSC group has no the "ethos", you know, the spirit or simply the knowledge to enter such a so very well served luxury market with its current 6 or so economical groups still serving it like it deserves.

 

Yes; I'm an avid MSC cheerleader running on this E board. But I'm also knowledgeable of what a true 5 star service is about. I've made several 5* places in Europe both to sleep or just going on their restaurants. Simply I'm becoming convinced they've no way to succeed at this level, even if on a niche of their own.

 

Shame on you, Explora. Shame on you MSC group. Get your act together, or transform those ships on regular Lirica+ ships for those mainstream more exotic itineraries on where they'll do great at say 1250+ guests per sailing (dividing those Penthouses and Residences on smaller connecting rooms wouldn't be difficult, then Med YC on just another buffet)... For now I'm one more sadly going out. The most I would like to be diplomatic... As a potential client I simply must to say: No business with whom is not willing to provide. I'm sorry. I still would consider mainstream MSC. They're great for what they provide. Surely with their limitations, but there is nothing perfect in this world. They were tailored to do mainstream. That is their "ethos". That is where they are capable of.

[bitob]

You only get once chance to make a first impression

 

They blew it big time

 

They wanted to compete in the luxury market.

 

Many of us who routinely cruise the luxury lines were willing to give them a chance.

 

No more.

 

Some folks should be fired for this fiasco.

Edited August 31, 2023 by bitob

[morpheusofthesea]

"First impressions are always unreliable." Franz Kafka

[bitob]

Then there is the famous quote from Maya Angelou:

 

When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time." 

[Nunagoras]

26 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

"First impressions are always unreliable." Franz Kafka

Not at this highly limited market segment, sir, but hey still have a chance with Russians in Dubai and Chinese out of China where the English speaking social media is irrelevant. Winter in Dubai, summer in China. But they don't need more than E1-E2 for that and they plan on bringing 5 E ships!... Good luck on them.

[bitob]

If I am going to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a cruise, I am not gambling.

Explora is a gamble right now.

[morpheusofthesea]

"Oh ye of little faith." Matthew

 

 

 

"If at first you don't succeed try, try and try again." Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland,

[morpheusofthesea]

13 minutes ago, Nunagoras said:

Not at this highly limited market segment, sir, but hey still have a chance with Russians in Dubai and Chinese out of China where the English speaking social media is irrelevant. Winter in Dubai, summer in China. But they don't need more than E1-E2 for that and they plan on bringing 5 E ships!... Good luck on them.

It is obvious. Explora is going where the 'real' money is.

[Critically Cruising]

58 minutes ago, Nunagoras said:

Not at this highly limited market segment, sir, but hey still have a chance with Russians in Dubai and Chinese out of China where the English speaking social media is irrelevant. 

 

Even Russians and Chinese won't be fooled more than once.

 

 

[Critically Cruising]

1 hour ago, Nunagoras said:

Chinese out of China

 

50 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

It is obvious. Explora is going where the 'real' money is.

 

 

If they want the Chinese market, where's the big casino?

 

 

[morpheusofthesea]

34 minutes ago, Critically Cruising said:

 

If they want the Chinese market, where's the big casino?

I thought that too? But, lo and behold, this Purdue University study says otherwise.

https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1652&context=open_access_theses

"The top three preferred cruise components were service quality, accommodations, and dining. The emphasis on service quality is consistent with traditional Western cruisers. Social interaction was found to be the least important component to Chinese cruisers, which differentiates them from Western customers. The factors of escape/relaxation and learning/discovery & thrill were combined to better reflect Chinese cruiser motivation."

I guess we should not stereotype. Very interesting study only mentioning Mahjong and the word gambling once on page 70.

P.S. Explora is right on target for the Chinese market.

Edited August 31, 2023 by morpheusofthesea
ps

[morpheusofthesea]

Also learned a new word, renao.  rè nao. bustling with noise and excitement lively. I guess silence is 'out the window'.

[Whipsnade]

Just asked Guest Services whether we will dock in Manhattan (as we were told) or in Bayonne as rumors on board have it. I was told there has been no decision on this but we will be informed before we dock. 
We were to get a shipboard credit of $1050. We only got $800. Was told by GS they do not have access to these records. Asked me to find my invoice. 
Can you believe it?

[morpheusofthesea]

5 minutes ago, Whipsnade said:

Just asked Guest Services whether we will dock in Manhattan (as we were told) or in Bayonne as rumors on board have it. I was told there has been no decision on this but we will be informed before we dock. 

Same thing happened to us leaving from the port of Miami. Since MSC does not have its new Terminal AAA open they are at the whim of the other cruise lines. We left once from Terminal F only to return to Terminal C. The following month we left from Terminal C and I ask guest services if we will be returning to Terminal C. The purser said they will not know until the ship gets an e-mail the night before docking.

[Whipsnade]

Nuts to this. Our first and last Explora cruise. Although we love the ship especially the cuisine. They are nit ready for prime time.  

[Host Jazzbeau]

6 hours ago, Nunagoras said:

Well: Bashing a cruise line over the environment music they put round the ship is a little bit too much. Calm down, guys!...

 

Actually for those of us who were chased away from Celebrity by this issue (among others, but this was a big part), it is a big deal.

[Nunagoras]

33 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

Actually for those of us who were chased away from Celebrity by this issue (among others, but this was a big part), it is a big deal.

X is for upper mainstream younger families. You don't attract those for silence anymore... That is not how things work. I understand your query on top luxury though. Silence during the day for quiet relaxation, soft, academic level entertainment by evening for guests enjoyment.

[Jratlanta]

Celebrity is attracting a younger demographic with the new Edge class ships, but "younger" is a relative term.  Our cruises with Celebrity over the past year have been almost completely devoid of children and the demographic skews heavily toward mid-to-late 40's thru early 70's.  My wife and I are in our mid-50's and tend to feel quite young onboard Celebrity. 

Edited August 31, 2023 by Jratlanta

[Hlitner]

9 hours ago, Whipsnade said:

Just asked Guest Services whether we will dock in Manhattan (as we were told) or in Bayonne as rumors on board have it. I was told there has been no decision on this but we will be informed before we dock. 
We were to get a shipboard credit of $1050. We only got $800. Was told by GS they do not have access to these records. Asked me to find my invoice. 
Can you believe it?

I cannot believe this cruise line.  I had posted that just yesterday we received documents that said we were to board on 9/25 at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal (12th ave).  But the Port of Bayonne's schedule does show that E1 will be at that port from 0700 on Sept 25 to 0600 on the 26th.   The port schedule for Manhattan does not show E1!  Draw your own conclusion.

 

Hank

[Critically Cruising]

25 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

I cannot believe this cruise line.  I had posted that just yesterday we received documents that said we were to board on 9/25 at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal (12th ave).  But the Port of Bayonne's schedule does show that E1 will be at that port from 0700 on Sept 25 to 0600 on the 26th.   The port schedule for Manhattan does not show E1!  Draw your own conclusion.

 

MCT shows the "MSC Explorer" for the 25th.

 

https://nycruise.com/manhattan-terminal/schedule-mct/

 

And nothing for Bayonne:

 

http://www.cruiseliberty.com/cruise_info.html

 

 

[Hlitner]

1 hour ago, Critically Cruising said:

 

MCT shows the "MSC Explorer" for the 25th.

 

https://nycruise.com/manhattan-terminal/schedule-mct/

 

And nothing for Bayonne:

 

http://www.cruiseliberty.com/cruise_info.html

 

 

Yeah, saw that :).  It all depends on where you look as to the port schedules.  I think part of the problem is that some sites show "Explora 1" at Bayonne while some sites (including the Port Authority of NYC show "MSC Explorer" at NYC cruise port.  Since we are embarking on 9/25 and disembarking on 10/13, we have made rental car reservations that cover both Manhattan and Bayonne.  Once we know for sure we will cancel the unnecessary reservations :).  With MSC we learned to cover all the bases and hoped that EJ would be a completely different product.  

[Whipsnade]

Guess we’ll find out when we enter NY harbour on the 25th when we pass Lady Liberty. All they will tell us on board is they don’t know for sure.