Anyone onboard currently?

[gymfreak]

On another cruise line there is a thread that people can pose questions or obtain current information from those onboard who are willing to participate as titled above.

 Is this something we could add on the Explora threads as an ongoing source of information?

[uktog]

Or alternatively people run threads about their experiences for each cruise which can also give port information?  I agree information from cruisers rather than subsidised guests or influencers is really useful.  I was so put off by the facebook blogs of an early cruiser who seemed to be unable to take off her dark rose tinted glasses.  I was so relieved to discover that I did not need to have a spiritual attachment to the ship to be able to enjoy it!!!

[safarigal]

I am joining Explora 1 on December 13th, and hope to write a blog of the trip, www.whereissafarigal.com.

 

Cunard is my favorite line, so this will be quite a change I imagine. However I am really looking forward to the cruise, and the Veuve Clicquot in our suite on arrival instead of the Cunard dreaded half bottle of Pol Acker in the fridge.

[gymfreak]

I will be onboard from January 19th and will try my best  to report on an ongoing blog as others have done to help and inform others on here but if anyone wants a quick dip in and out with information or questions then maybe they could do that on either dipping in to a blog or a universal type thread?

Thanks again to all those who so far have had the commitment using their precious onboard time to inform others, much appreciated 

[Followthemargarita]

I’m on board, day 14 for me. Ask away, I may not have all the answers though!

[parallax]

I will be on the Christmas sailing.  I will try to post on a daily basis.  The day before we are going on a tour of the RSSC Granduer while in port. 

Edited December 11, 2023 by parallax

[travelwide]

On 12/10/2023 at 10:54 AM, safarigal said:

I am joining Explora 1 on December 13th, and hope to write a blog of the trip, www.whereissafarigal.com.

 

Cunard is my favorite line, so this will be quite a change I imagine. However I am really looking forward to the cruise, and the Veuve Clicquot in our suite on arrival instead of the Cunard dreaded half bottle of Pol Acker in the fridge.

 

Hope to see you on board. This cruise will be a different experience.

[travelwide]

11 hours ago, Followthemargarita said:

I’m on board, day 14 for me. Ask away, I may not have all the answers though!

 

Is there a store that sells perfumes. We have OBC to spend.

[uktog]

6 hours ago, travelwide said:

 

Is there a store that sells perfumes. We have OBC to spend.

Yes but only one or two very high end brands 

[travelwide]

No matter what questions I ask I get the wrong answers! Lol

[Daisy 123]

Do they finally offer ginger ale and mineral water in bottles or still not? Are they still running Out of Cranberry Juice and Cola Zero?

Edited December 13, 2023 by Daisy 123

[Followthemargarita]

I saw someone getting a litre bottle of water from behind the bar in the lobby, otherwise generally no. I’m not sure about ginger ale but they seemed to have good supplies of cranberry and pretty much everything, which you’d hope given the low pax level.

[uktog]

38 minutes ago, Followthemargarita said:

I saw someone getting a litre bottle of water from behind the bar in the lobby, otherwise generally no. I’m not sure about ginger ale but they seemed to have good supplies of cranberry and pretty much everything, which you’d hope given the low pax level.

Ginger ale was readily available as a mixer last week. 

[johng75370]

6 hours ago, Daisy 123 said:

Do they finally offer ginger ale and mineral water in bottles or still not?

Just boarded, and the mineral water we pre-ordered (Aqua Panna and Pelligrino) was in our cabin in large glass bottles (1l and 750ml).  Strange thing is we asked for Pelligrino and they told us only Perrier, but happy we ended up with what we wanted. 

Edited December 13, 2023 by johng75370

[Stickman1990]

42 minutes ago, johng75370 said:

Just boarded, and the mineral water we pre-ordered (Aqua Panna and Pelligrino) was in our cabin in large glass bottles (1l and 750ml).  

Good to hear - was there an additional charge for this special request?

[Daisy 123]

That sounds good.  Thank you. We will have a chance to enjoy drinks without alkohol. Ginger Ale is a good Base for these cocktails.

[johng75370]

No extra charge, but it had to be arranged ahead of time.  In general (so far) it is not available at the bars or Emporium, just in your cabin if you reserved it ahead.  

[sweetsailing]

10 hours ago, johng75370 said:

Just boarded, and the mineral water we pre-ordered (Aqua Panna and Pelligrino) was in our cabin in large glass bottles (1l and 750ml).  Strange thing is we asked for Pelligrino and they told us only Perrier, but happy we ended up with what we wanted. 

How did you preorder this water?  I definitely need to do this. 

[johng75370]

16 hours ago, johng75370 said:

In general (so far) it is not available at the bars or Emporium, just in your cabin if you reserved it ahead. 

Correction:  had dinner at Marble last night and no issue getting Pelligrino.  Could be they are loosening up on that. 

8 hours ago, sweetsailing said:

How did you preorder this water?  I definitely need to do this. 

My travel agent made the arrangements; I was able to see it in my booking as a special request.

[crvng4mr]

I did not prearrange and my host bought us a bottle of Pellegrino to our suite. No push back and was there when we returned from dinner.

[johng75370]

8 minutes ago, crvng4mr said:

I did not prearrange and my host bought us a bottle of Pellegrino to our suite. No push back and was there when we returned from dinner

Yes, it seems like they have changed their earlier policy that was reported here on CC about not providing or stocking it.  In general they seem to have really taken early feedback to heart and made changes.  Wish I had any feedback at this point to provide to them, but it has been pretty flawless. 

 

We even had an "Explora Moment" when we boarded - the security team at Port of Miami confiscated flowers we bought to bring onboard for our cabin because "Explora does not allow that" (and they claimed they checked with Explora on this); we realize now they were taking it for themselves.  When we talked to a real Explora host they said there was no such policy, apologized, and they would have a word with POM security...we later found a nice bouquet in our cabin as their way of making up for the issue.  Unexpected and left us impressed.

[Stteenvoern]

I am hearing you've returned to Miami because of the storm? Can you update us as to how they are handling this, please?

[tango9]

 Not because of the storm. We returned because a guest had a medical need . We returned to Miami in a terrible storm and will lose a port st Kitts. Third port cancelled since my original booking. But beautiful ship , hosts and food

[JTor]

On 12/14/2023 at 4:52 PM, crvng4mr said:

I did not prearrange and my host bought us a bottle of Pellegrino to our suite. No push back and was there when we returned from dinner.

Hi everyone on board,

We have a cruise specialist agent and they are normally very good but they have tried to help us deal with Explora and we are still getting no where.. We are told they do not send cruise documents, we can only get them electronically on their website.. We have not been able to do this because we can’t figure out how to “link”our booking to our newly created account.  I have tried to call them, the agent has called them, I’ve emailed etc and we are getting no where.. Someone did finally respond and promised to do it but 2 working days later it still isn’t done.. 

 

How did you get your documents and get on the ship? Were you unable to book dining/spa/excursions until you were on board? this is so disappointing compared with what we are used to on other lines (oldCrystal, Silversea etc).

 

Not to mention my 86 y/o mother is coming with us and has her own booking and is NEVER going to be able to navigate this… I will have to do it for her but I cannot use my email on her account so there likely will be no solution other than me making a physical trip so I can sit at her computer with her and do it with her so the email “authentication” comes when I am present.. Definitely NOT an elderly-friendly policy!!

On 12/13/2023 at 4:20 PM, johng75370 said:

No extra charge, but it had to be arranged ahead of time.  In general (so far) it is not available at the bars or Emporium, just in your cabin if you reserved it ahead.  

 

[johng75370]

3 hours ago, JTor said:

We are told they do not send cruise documents, we can only get them electronically on their website.. We have not been able to do this because we can’t figure out how to “link”our booking to our newly created account.  I have tried to call them, the agent has called them, I’ve emailed etc and we are getting no where.. Someone did finally respond and promised to do it but 2 working days later it still isn’t done.. 

 

How did you get your documents and get on the ship? Were you unable to book dining/spa/excursions until you were on board?

Hi JTor -

We've seen this with other cruise lines ( Old Crystal, for example) where the preboarding experience was severely lacking compared to the onboard.  Same here at Explora.   Here's what I hope are helpful to put you at ease:

1. Boarding process was very smooth and well staffed.  If we showed up with just passports and smiles would have been the same as showing up with extensive paperwork.  As long as final payment was made you should be fine.  A call to Explora directly should confirm that.

2. I would recommend prebooking restaurants, either through your TA or by calling directly.  We did it through our TA and we got our booked times at Marble, Sakura, and Anthology.  

 

The onboard experience has been great for us, despite some preboarding issues, so  I hope you have the same.