Queen of my Heart Posted September 26 #1 Share Posted September 26 I'm joining the Explora 1 cruise between Athens and Barcelona between 31 October and 10 November. I have only done one ocean cruise before (Seabourn) and am a solo traveller. Has anyone got any tips for me about the ship, excursions and/or the cruise line? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrivateIdaho Posted September 26 #2 Share Posted September 26 If you have specific questions, I’d be glad to answer. We will do our 4th EJ cruise in Dec. We are huge fans. Beautiful ships, amazing food, we really enjoy the gym and the included steam and sauna areas of the spa. Entertainment is what you would expect on a smaller ship. More lounge type shows which we like in a lovely venue. So many pools and hot tubs to choose from! Speciality restaurants are outstanding, especially Sakura and their amazing sushi bar. Excursions are pretty standard, perhaps a bit pricey. My negatives: need more bar seating, better ice cream selections and they need to bring back the Moët Champagne. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johng75370 Posted September 26 #3 Share Posted September 26 (edited) 8 hours ago, Queen of my Heart said: I have only done one ocean cruise before (Seabourn) and am a solo traveller. We've done a couple of Explora sailings and a bunch of Seabourn. Both are great in their own ways, just different (Explora aims to be a resort hotel, Seabourn aims to be a luxury cruise). In terms of differences from Seabourn, here's a few: - no Officer-hosted tables or much interaction with the ship's officers on Explora - Explora has a "solo host" and solo activities (same person who hosts other groups like LGBTQ+ or Friends of Bill) - no special food orders or changing menus on Explora - no unlimited caviar 24/7 on Explora (just a few specific menu items that contain caviar, but no caviar for purchase) - fewer entertainment or guest speaker options on Explora - Much nicer/newer/bigger "hard product" on Explora as @PrivateIdaho highlighted - More pool/hot tub options, but prefer SB's service around the pool (chair massages, cold fruit on sticks, etc). - Excursions on Explora are more expensive and less certain to run than SB; can't use OBC on Explora for excursions you've booked in advance. - Spa on Explora much bigger/modern than SB, but treatments are more expensive. - SB has "signature events" like caviar in the surf or marina day or evening at Ephesus - SB has a loyalty program, Explora does not - Explora can have more people (~900 vs SB's 450 or 600) FWIW, my brother was a solo traveler on Explora II recently and had a fantastic time. Congrats on giving Explora a try; please share your experience after you sail. Edited September 26 by johng75370 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisr Posted September 26 #4 Share Posted September 26 No special orders and no caviar? So is there caviar for purchase? Which restaurants are open for breakfast and do they have things such as Avocado Toast or would that be a special order and not be able to be ordered? I love Seabourn and love that there is always a bar person circulating to take drink orders. Do you have to get up and go to a bar to get a drink (the horror) or do you flag down a waiter….hmm I mean host. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare uktog Posted September 26 #5 Share Posted September 26 Avocado toast is available everywhere including room service. You will have no problem getting drink service - they’re over eager you won’t even have sat down and gathered your breath before they pounce on you. There is no caviar for purchase 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisr Posted September 26 #6 Share Posted September 26 42 minutes ago, uktog said: Avocado toast is available everywhere including room service. You will have no problem getting drink service - they’re over eager you won’t even have sat down and gathered your breath before they pounce on you. There is no caviar for purchase Thanks. I guess I will have to suffer through a week without caviar LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gail gelber Posted September 27 #7 Share Posted September 27 My husband and I will also be on this cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saminina Posted September 27 #8 Share Posted September 27 5 hours ago, johng75370 said: - Explora can have more people (~900 vs SB's 450 or 600) So true. Also true that SB will go out with at least 85% capacity. Unlikely Explora goes at 60% 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen of my Heart Posted September 29 Author #9 Share Posted September 29 Thank you all for your replies. Can I ask what a resort hotel vs cruise experience is? This is only my second ocean cruise as my husband and I used to do villa/home swap holidays and I've only ventured into cruising since he died. Also, are any events put on for solo travellers? Seabourn offered a daily dinner hosted by a member of crew or guest speaker, but nothing further as far as I know. Regarding dis/embarkation I think I read that someone said that there was little assistance from the ship's crew? They don't seem to offer the door to door experience of Seabourn so is it the case that you're on your own until you cross the threshold? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare uktog Posted September 29 #10 Share Posted September 29 Yes unlike Seabourn you are on your own until you cross the threshold and then when you cross it when you leave. However a good travel agent and arrange the missing elements of door to door experiences. I noted a couple of solo events advertised but am not aware of nightly hosted experiences. I did see several people dining solo but that might have been out of choice. Given the multinational guest list it will be easier to connect with others if you also speak a language in addition to English. Even as a couple we found we did not have the same interaction with other guests as we’ve had on other ships over dinner or in the bars We also find excursions good places to connect with others but unfortunately our excursions never happened. Hope you have a good opportunity to interact with others onboard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sololux Posted September 29 #11 Share Posted September 29 1 hour ago, Queen of my Heart said: Thank you all for your replies. Can I ask what a resort hotel vs cruise experience is? This is only my second ocean cruise as my husband and I used to do villa/home swap holidays and I've only ventured into cruising since he died. Also, are any events put on for solo travellers? Seabourn offered a daily dinner hosted by a member of crew or guest speaker, but nothing further as far as I know. Regarding dis/embarkation I think I read that someone said that there was little assistance from the ship's crew? They don't seem to offer the door to door experience of Seabourn so is it the case that you're on your own until you cross the threshold? That’s why I was thinking of using Blacklane for the taxi from the ship to the airport, booking well in advance. I think some of the cruise lines use this taxi company and their website makes it clear that they operate globally. Perhaps some of the CC’s can provide input. I suspect they won’t be much cheaper than if the taxi was ordered by the ship though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare uktog Posted September 29 #12 Share Posted September 29 Blacklane are certainly thought of as a very reliable company in the UK in relation to the services they provide at UK airports. As with Welcome Pickups whom we also use, they are only as good as the in-house franchise in that country but they do have pretty high standards overall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiseCrew123 Posted September 29 #13 Share Posted September 29 @Sololux. We were a couple but found the quizzes to be a great way to meet other people . There were several solos in our 5pm quiz team 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare sleepybobo Posted October 7 #14 Share Posted October 7 On 9/26/2024 at 9:41 AM, PrivateIdaho said: If you have specific questions, I’d be glad to answer. We will do our 4th EJ cruise in Dec. We are huge fans. Beautiful ships, amazing food, we really enjoy the gym and the included steam and sauna areas of the spa. Entertainment is what you would expect on a smaller ship. More lounge type shows which we like in a lovely venue. So many pools and hot tubs to choose from! Speciality restaurants are outstanding, especially Sakura and their amazing sushi bar. Excursions are pretty standard, perhaps a bit pricey. My negatives: need more bar seating, better ice cream selections and they need to bring back the Moët Champagne. I enjoy going to spa. Is the spa (steamed room/sauna) free to people with no treatment reservations? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrivateIdaho Posted October 7 #15 Share Posted October 7 1 hour ago, sleepybobo said: I enjoy going to spa. Is the spa (steamed room/sauna) free to people with no treatment reservations? Steam room, dry sauna, whirlpool, salt room and heated loungers are all available at no additional charge. However times are limited, on sea days, for those without treatments. Unlike other lines we’ve been on, these areas are co-ed. I enjoy going to the spa with my husband, but know that is an issue for some. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2SailingNomads Posted October 8 #16 Share Posted October 8 Blacklane is a great company - albeit with a high price. I have used them many time in the EU, but now if Uber is there I will use Uber from my hotel to the ship. We found the crew at the bars and pool areas on EJ more quick to take a drink order than on Seabourn over the past few years. Last time on Encore at the Patio Grill at lunch a waiter would take a drink order and type it into a tablet and a different person would maybe bring it and maybe it was the right order. On more than a couple of occasions nothing or the wrong drink Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now