Explorer B3B 5-28 April 2024

[WAAAYTOOO]

I struggled with whether to do a live blog for these 3 rather mundane EX cruises but I decided to give it a go.  I even have some photos !  Shock, I know….these might be the only photos you get but at least there will be some !

Absolutely nothing interesting to report about our drive in.  Left Port St Lucie at 5:30AM and arrived at the parking garage (finally….more about that in a minute) at 8:00.  Since we had an 8:00 reservation, right on time.  We normally do not plan to arrive quite THAT early, but since we have a couple of “firsts” on this trifecta, plus, it being a weekday, we decided to leave a bit early.  In the end, it was a very good thing we did.

[WAAAYTOOO]

So what “firsts” are we doing on this cruise ?

1.  First time ever parking offsite.  The second “first” (how confusing is that ???) is really just a subset of the #1.  This is the first time we have used Premier Parking in Miami.

2.  The only other “first” has nothing to do with boarding day - we will be calling on Grenada for the first time ever.  Rare for us to have a new Caribbean port, but we do.  As a matter of fact, we will be calling twice b/c our third cruise in this trilogy is identical to the first so we will be visiting twice.

[JustMeJoe]

3 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

 First time ever parking offsite.

Looks like the ship is at G.  How was boarding (timing)?  Have fun!

[WAAAYTOOO]

Premier Parking (offsite)

I intend to prepare a completely separate post about this b/c there are so many things to say….but I will include it here as part of the saga.

Since we are onboard for 23 days, we needed an option to the Royal Caribbean parking garage.  Frankly, the offsite option will save us more than half of what it would have cost.  Premier was recommended to us by a TA friend.  In the end, I’m sure we will be glad we did it BUT the learning curve on parking offsite is very steep (at least, it was for us)

1.  They only accept cash and you must pay the entire balance when you check in.  The balance due was nearly $300 !  When he said, “cash only” Dan and I looked at each other with the deer in the headlights glare.  We did manage to gather the money together but it was just a bit of luck that we had the cash to do it.  Frankly, I don’t know what the option would have been if we had not scrounged the money up.  I doubt they would have turned us away….but I’m glad I didn’t have to find out !

2.  While we had the street address of the parking garage, it was VERY difficult to find !  There no less than 4 high rise parking garages in this general vicinity and there were NO physical addresses on any of them.  We circled about 3 times before we FINALLY saw a small sign that said “Premier Parking”.  Eureka !  We finally found the right building….but where do we go now ?  We just started going up and up and up.  Finally around the 5th floor we started seeing signs for Cruise Parking.  We actually parked twice and moved both times before we realized that we weren’t “there” yet.
 

BOTTOM LINE:  Premier Cruise Parking is on level 7.  You must go ALL the way up to get to where you’re going.  Don’t stop until you see the sign below.

4..  The website says that they offer continuous shuttle service beginning at 7:30.  Perfect !  What they DON’T tell you is that they don’t start shuttling people TO the port until 10:00.  We were there at 8-ish.  The parking attendant said they would call us a “special” shuttle to take us over early.  Uh…not so much.  We stood around waiting for over an hour until we finally got a ride over.

I will stop here to say…I know this is the primary beef that most people have against shuttles (from anywhere…hotel, airport, etc) so I understand.  What infuriated us was that shuttles were coming into the garage with departing cruise guests nearly nonstop.  Why wouldn’t they get just let us ride over to the port on their way back to  pick up more departing guests ?  Yes, I understand that they service all of the Miami terminals and a “drop-off” is out of order with the “pick-ups”…but it seemed like an  unnecessarily strident rule.  In the end, that’s exactly  what they did, but they could have done it MUCH earlier.  

Once we got in the van, it was a quick, efficient and easy trip to the port.

[WAAAYTOOO]

26 minutes ago, JustMeJoe said:

Looks like the ship is at G.  How was boarding (timing)?  Have fun!

Thanks !

Very nice.  They let us in the terminal at almost exactly 10:00 and we started boarding before 11:00.  It was a very quick and efficient embarkation.

[Sweety]

I will be following. Have wonderful cruises.

[OCSC Mike]

Glad you decided to blog and that everything went smoothly after the parking. I would not have dealt with that situation well.

CASH ONLY? Is this a Honduran excursion or a business in the US? I thought places were switching to NO CASH ACCEPTED, lol.

[JustMeJoe]

1 hour ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

we will be calling on Grenada for the first time ever

First time we visited Grenada we toured Fort George there at the port (I like old stuff like that).  Last March it was closed for restorations, so we just stayed onboard; but there are several excursions and for me it's a nice port of call.

[GatorCruiser]

God bless you @WAAAYTOOO , it’s incomprehensible to me how much y’all cruise. Obviously I’m envious as hell. You all may be sneaking up on super Mario. I’ll be following this live blog 

[AshleyDillo]

I'm sure glad I'm flying for my next B2B out of Miami..nope nope nope to offsite parking downtown. I did it once and never again. 

I'm not sure what the one-way car rental cost is (I get a special state employee leisure rate) but that could be an option in the future. I use Avis and there's a location downtown with a shuttle to the port. It ends up cheaper than parking at Terminal A, though I usually skip the shuttle and take Uber for $10 to/from. Always beat the shuttle back to pick up my car and beat the counter rush that way too

[Lovetocruise2002]

44 minutes ago, GatorCruiser said:

God bless you @WAAAYTOOO , it’s incomprehensible to me how much y’all cruise. Obviously I’m envious as hell.

Me too! 

Have a great sailing @WAAAYTOOO

[Sweety]

Any specialty dining?

[LandstromCruise]

3 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I struggled with whether to do a live blog for these 3 rather mundane EX cruises but I decided to give it a go.

What's this nonsense about NOT doing a blog....I didn't know that was an option 

[WAAAYTOOO]

1 hour ago, GatorCruiser said:

You all may be sneaking up on super Mario.

Lol.  Um….no.  I think Mario is a few cruises ahead of us  

….but we are very proud of the way we have fulfilled our “lifestyle” dream/plan to move to FL to cruise MORE.  It has truly worked out just the way we planned it. I documented the entire move in an old thread from 2020 but I don’t know how to copy the link so anyone that wants to read it will have to sleuth it out.  It’s entitled “House Recon”…something something….

Actually, there are 2 S2S following these 3 EX cruises.  We have 1 day in dry dock (4-28) then board FR for 4 days, then 2 days in dry dock followed by 7 nights on WN (5-5)….nearly 6 weeks of cruising ! Things slow down after that !

[WAAAYTOOO]

55 minutes ago, Sweety said:

Any specialty dining?

Yes !  We ate lunch today at Chops, which is a kind of tradition for us.  There were only 4 other people eating in the restaurant which is REAlLY a slow embarkation day for Chops.  
 

We are dining at Giovanni’s tonite and Chops tomorrow night (our BOGO vouchers).  We also have a 3 night dining package so we are doing Izumi on night #4 (skipping the USA menu in the MDR), Chops on night #6 (skipping the Caribbean night) and Giovanni’s on night #7 (skipping Italian night).  That leaves Mexican night (night #3), Asian night (night #5), Royal night (lobster, night #8) and lamb shank night (can’t remember the theme) on night #9 for the MDR.  I actually like Italian night in the MDR so on the repeat of this itin (cruise #3 4-19) I will choose to do Italian night and switch it out for something else….plenty of time to make that decision !

[Sweety]

33 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Yes !  We ate lunch today at Chops, which is a kind of tradition for us.  There were only 4 other people eating in the restaurant which is REAlLY a slow embarkation day for Chops.  
 

We are dining at Giovanni’s tonite and Chops tomorrow night (our BOGO vouchers).  We also have a 3 night dining package so we are doing Izumi on night #4 (skipping the USA menu in the MDR), Chops on night #6 (skipping the Caribbean night) and Giovanni’s on night #7 (skipping Italian night).  That leaves Mexican night (night #3), Asian night (night #5), Royal night (lobster, night #8) and lamb shank night (can’t remember the theme) on night #9 for the MDR.  I actually like Italian night in the MDR so on the repeat of this itin (cruise #3 4-19) I will choose to do Italian night and switch it out for something else….plenty of time to make that decision !

James liked Jamie's. He put in a request to eat at Jamie's whenever possible. 

[WAAAYTOOO]

As I’ve already mentioned, boarding was very timely and efficient.  We stopped by our mustard (sic) station on the way in and got that out of the way.  Then straight over to the specialty dining kiosk near the dining room to make our specialty rezzies.  No one else in line…easy peasy.  Woohoo !
 

On our way up to our room to sneak the keys off the stateroom door, we ran into Gigi, the Suites Concierge.  I asked her if there were any Pinnacle exclusions to the Suite Lounge.  Very sheepishly, she said, “Yes.  Only the top 30 allowed in the Concierge Lounge” (EX STILL has not converted their Concierge Lounge to a Suites Lounge despite the fact that they underwent a dry dock fairly recently.  Why ??).  She continued, “If your key works, you’re allowed in”.  My heart sank as I’m certain that we would be excluded.  I’ve been waiting for this to happen.  It was just a matter of time.  “oh well” I tell myself.  It’s not the end of the world.  Truly, the Crown Lounge is actually nicer than the Suites/Concierge Lounge on this ship since the Concierge Lounge is still, inexplicably, located in an uninspired inside room on deck 9 while the Crown Lounge is up in the Viking Crown are with an ocean view.  “We’ll be fine”, I said, as I choked back the tears of disappointment.

So I went and snatched the keys from the door (we’re right by the elevators on deck 8 so I was and out like a special forces recon team.  Nobody saw me come or go (except for security, of course)).  Even though I knew it was a waste of time, I told Dan that we had to try the key to see if it would open the Concierge Lounge door.  I held my breath.  I slipped the key in.  I heard the “click” that the lock makes when it magically unlocks the door.  The light blinked.  I couldn’t believe our luck !  Our successful record for Suites Lounge access was still intact !  Yippee !  Now…are we in the top 30 Pinnacles ?  That’s a big “no” unless there are only 29 Pinnacles on board !  So either it’s a one-time lock glitch OR Gigi was hedging her bet.  I guess we’ll find out the next time I try to get in !

I got my cappuccino, and a stale lemon cookie and we waited in the [absolutely deserted] Concierge Lounge until it was time for lunch.  For those who need to know (Mike ?  …the tag-thing isn’t working !) here are some pix of the unimpressive treats in the Lounge for embarkation.

Poor Dan.  He’s all alone in the Lounge !

 

 

[asquared17]

i still love how you call it “dry dock” when on land

much love to you and dan and smooth sailing!

[OCSC Mike]

6 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I got my cappuccino, and a stale lemon cookie and we waited in the [absolutely deserted] Concierge Lounge until it was time for lunch.  For those who need to know (Mike ?  …the tag-thing isn’t working !) here are some pix of the unimpressive treats in the Lounge for embarkation.

As if I need to be tagged to find live blog food pics? Thanks for trying though.

Sounds like you'll be fine, lounge-wise, either way but hope you continue to have your choice of the two.

[GatorCruiser]

@WAAAYTOOO my wife and I are sailing explorer in November. More suite  lounge pics please!! It’ll be our first time in a voyager class suite lounge. As you have mentioned, it’s in a really poor location compared to other classes of ships per the deck plans I’ve perused. Crazy considering the crown lounge as you mentioned is up in the crown with awesome views. 

[OCSC Mike]

6 minutes ago, GatorCruiser said:

a voyager class suite lounge

It ain't Wonder... no CK, no 11-11 drinks... abort abort! 

[WAAAYTOOO]

So here I am, blogging while gazing out at the Promenade, while Dan is doing the first of many, I’m sure, saunas.  The man loves his steam room and sauna.  I can’t stay in a hot sauna for more than 60 seconds.  My poor, thin, white skin just rebels.  
 

….which brings me to our stateroom info.  We are in a Promenade view interior room on deck 8.  It is the highest level (in elevation, I mean) of this category and so far, it is VERY quiet.  We’ve been in this category a few times and truly, we’ve had some noise issues in the past - mostly related to shenanigans on the Promenade.  But not so, this time -at least, not yet !

I’m always surprised at how OK I am with this stateroom category, once I’m settled in.  I dread it until I get here and then I’m like - “This isn’t so bad”. Small ?  Sure.  …and the drawer space is very limited but we always manage to get everything put away and I’m sitting on the love seat, looking out the winder (sic) overlooking the Promenade and thinking how lucky I am to be here.

This cruise is a 100% casino comp.  As a matter of fact, I actually downgraded our offer (it was originally for an ocean view) to get this category rather than some porthole room down on decks 3 or 4.  Knowing what I know now, I would probably have upgraded the OV offer for one of the panoramic OV cabins on the front of the ship but at the time that I made this booking, I had never stated in one of those panoramic OV cabins so I was woefully ignorant of that option.  I’m ok with this room though.

I did put in a RU bid for one of the panoramic OV rooms but didn’t win . Not to worry !  Cruise #3 (4-19) IS one of the panoramic OV cabins so I will get to enjoy it, but not for 2 more weeks !

We will be in this room for the first 2 cruises (14 days) and will move to the panoramic OV on the final one of the B3B.

[JustMeJoe]

13 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

As if I need to be tagged to find live blog food pics?

Fruit again Mike 

[WAAAYTOOO]

20 minutes ago, asquared17 said:

i still love how you call it “dry dock” when on land

much love to you and dan and smooth sailing!

Love right back to you

I can’t take credit for the dry dock thing. That’s @Lovetocruise2002. (The tag function seems to be working.  I’m sure it was user error before when I tried to tag @OCSC Mike) just like shenanigans is all @Ampurp85.

[WAAAYTOOO]

24 minutes ago, GatorCruiser said:

@WAAAYTOOO my wife and I are sailing explorer in November. More suite  lounge pics please!! It’ll be our first time in a voyager class suite lounge. As you have mentioned, it’s in a really poor location compared to other classes of ships per the deck plans I’ve perused. Crazy considering the crown lounge as you mentioned is up in the crown with awesome views. 

Yes, I’m sure you will not be impressed with the Concierge/Suites Lounge on EX.  I truly don’t understand why they haven’t moved it and renamed it yet.  Oh well…

I do enjoy this class of ships.  They have everything I need (except for the cinema found on the Radiance class, which I really do enjoy).  They are slightly “shorter” than their big brothers, the Freedom class, but it makes the walk down the Promenade SO much easier when you’re traveling the length of the ship.  It certainly doesn’t have the dazzle of an Oasis class but I appreciate the better itins on EX as compared to the short, boring 4-nighters to Nassau and PDCC.

I will go up to the Crown Lounge and take some pix up there.  As @OCSC Mikementioned, it’s nice to have a choice.

[OCSC Mike]

24 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I actually downgraded our offer (it was originally for an ocean view) to get this category rather than some porthole room down on decks 3 or 4.

I would have done the same thing! We only had a Promenade view once on Indy for 3N and didn't love it but I'd take anything over deck 3/4.

25 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Knowing what I know now, I would probably have upgraded the OV offer for one of the panoramic OV cabins on the front of the ship but at the time that I made this booking, I had never stated in one of those panoramic OV cabins so I was woefully ignorant of that option.  I’m ok with this room though.

I did put in a RU bid for one of the panoramic OV rooms but didn’t win . Not to worry !  Cruise #3 (4-19) IS one of the panoramic OV cabins so I will get to enjoy it, but not for 2 more weeks !

That was the only time we ever put in any type of RU bid that wasn't just the min or like $5 over the min. You know we're fine with our interiors but we thought those rooms looked really cool... obviously we didn't win either. Definitely looking forward to pics of leg #3 now!

[WAAAYTOOO]

So, where are we going ?  Not that it matters, of course….

5 ports of call:  Puerto Plata, DR (day #3), St Thomas (day #4), Antigua (day #5), Grenada (day #6) and St Kitts (day #7).  We will be doing 2 excursions on this sailing (very unusual for us).  We will be swimming with the stingrays in Antigua and taking a familiarization tour in Grenada since we’ve never been there.  
 

Dan is strutting about in his underwear with the curtains open, violating the #1 rule of interior view rooms, “thou shalt not expose thyself”.  I did quickly pulled the curtains together but I’m sure it would have been too late for anyone looking up.  He truly does NOT give a flying fu##.  . Hopefully being up on 8 will protect everyone !  This is gonna be a fun cruise.

I LOVE our Cap !  I couldn’t make out his first name but his last name is Mortensen (from northern Norway).  He offered an unambiguous threat to all of the pool lounge chair hogs !  He said, “These chairs do not belong to you.  They ALL belong to ME”.  I love it !  He sounds like a fun guy.  

[GatorCruiser]

That’s a pretty solid itinerary. Stoked for the adventures!

[Ampurp85]

I always forget about Explorer and that she is voyager class. I keep ignoring her and Jewel, even though they both have some different itineraries from the whole Nassau/PDCC rigmarole. The 1st and 3rd cruise are 9N cruises? and the middle is 5N? 

I also downgrade my OV casino comps. I don't necessarily care about being on a low deck I just hate OV rooms. I wasn't a fan of the OV panoramic on Mariner, I think it was because it was so front of the ship. 

[WAAAYTOOO]

So, we came up to the Crown Lounge and of course, it’s Happy Hour and it’s hoppin.  I am too self conscious to take a photo of the crowd with so many people here, but this space is soooo much nicer than the Concierge Lounge.  Plus, there is an outside seating are which is nice.

I will try and sneak a picture of the treats but it appears that these people haven’t eaten in a month b/c they’re attacking these treats like locusts !  I doubt I will be able to get even close.

I snuck in between some of them

 

[OCSC Mike]

2 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

it appears that these people haven’t eaten in a month b/c they’re attacking these treats like locusts

Looks like a nice spread.

Sincerely,

OCSC Locust

[GatorCruiser]

We loved the suite lounge on jewel. Up there in the crown with outdoor seating. What sucks is that we aren’t diamond plus yet and so prob can’t get in most crown lounges when it’s a busy higher tier sailing even though we stay in suites. Ironic indeed. Not a problem on any class other than voyager class it would seem as the suite lounge is better placed in other classes. 

[WAAAYTOOO]

From the Concierge Lounge.  As you can see, much less of a selection.  

Also,  much less busy in here.  I guess I can understand why !  No view and crappy treats.

Dan’s card opened the door this time so I guess we are legit !

[WAAAYTOOO]

16 minutes ago, GatorCruiser said:

We loved the suite lounge on jewel. Up there in the crown with outdoor seating. What sucks is that we aren’t diamond plus yet and so prob can’t get in most crown lounges when it’s a busy higher tier sailing even though we stay in suites. Ironic indeed. Not a problem on any class other than voyager class it would seem as the suite lounge is better placed in other classes. 

Yeah, but with double points you

l be there in no time.

[GatorCruiser]

8 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Yeah, but with double points you

l be there in no time.

Should happen after next spring break cruise on Freedom Lord willing !

[Ampurp85]

I can tell you the issue with overcrowded Crown Lounges.....people bring their traveling party. It's not that it's too many. I made D+ on my Freedom sailing last April and on every cruise I have been on since then the lounge is always packed for happy hour.  But on each sailing it was a large handful of non-diamond/+ guest in the lounge. I know this because of people watch and quite a few mentioned that if they left they wouldn't be able to get back in. It's the same way that on certain ships non-suite guest take from suite guest on the suite decks. They are thirsty for the pre-dinner snacks. I saw some people lined up on Allure before they even finished putting the snacks out.

[JustMeJoe]

1 hour ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

 I guess I can understand why !  No view and crappy treats.

Less (or no) fruit for @OCSC Mike.  Where is the bartender? 

1 hour ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

the Concierge Lounge

Is Gigi or Vanessa the CL (Concierge Lounge) or CL (Crown Lounge) concierge?  I hate this CL CL CL crap - Going to start calling it the Suite Lounge Concierge (simple things for a simple mind).  Anyway, hope you're having a fantastic time!

 

[WAAAYTOOO]

14 hours ago, JustMeJoe said:

Less (or no) fruit for @OCSC Mike.  Where is the bartender? 

Is Gigi or Vanessa the CL (Concierge Lounge) or CL (Crown Lounge) concierge?  I hate this CL CL CL crap - Going to start calling it the Suite Lounge Concierge (simple things for a simple mind).  Anyway, hope you're having a fantastic time!

 

Yes, Gigi is the Suites Concierge.  I feel bad for her.  Everyone is going to the Crown Lounge and the Concierge Lounge is a ghost town.  I don’t know the name of the lovely lady in the Crown Lounge but I will find out.  

[PPPJJ-GCVAB]

17 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I LOVE our Cap !  I couldn’t make out his first name but his last name is Mortensen (from northern Norway).  He offered an unambiguous threat to all of the pool lounge chair hogs !  He said, “These chairs do not belong to you.  They ALL belong to ME”.  I love it !  He sounds like a fun guy.

OMG they need this awesome being on every ship and sailing!  Will be interested in finding out just how much his humor laden threat actually works! 

[WAAAYTOOO]

Back to the Crown Lounge discussion…

Some photos below (with permission from the folks in the room).  Yes, the CL Concierge is Vanessa.  Lovely lady.

Like @JustMeJoe, I am tiring of the CL/CL confusion and writing out “Concierge” every time is tedious, so, heretoforth, I will refer to the Concierge Lounge as the Suites Lounge (SL).  When you see CL, I am talking about the Crown Lounge.  Ugh

It seems that most of the Pinns are doing the same thing we are - going to the CL vs the SL.  I guess the only unfortunates that are doomed to the SL dungeon are the Suites who are not yet Diamond or above.

They have removed the once-present computers from the CL.  To make more seating available ?  Who knows.  I am using the computer area on deck 8, which is a mere few steps from our room and it’s very convenient.  I guess now is the time to mention that the Internet has been awesome so far.