Thanks for watching! We had a fantastic time onboard Explora I and can't wait to see how they develop. Have you sailed with them? Sailing soon or want to sail with Explora? Give us a comment and let us know what you think! Please remember to like and subscribe to the channel as well, it really helps the channel grow!
I love the idea of over the counter service verses a buffet. Buffets are known for being potential health hazards and an opportunity for illnesses to easily spread. Having worked in food service, I can tell you I have seen awful things like kids licking items to try them and putting them back on the buffet. I welcome the more sanitary approach.
If you are wanting something a little more modern and a bit more casual while still maintaining the luxury touches, I can't see you going wrong with Explora Journeys. Reflecting on it, I find that the food quality is better when they are serving you too and as you say, cleaner with less germs floating around! Thanks for watching!
Great review! Very thorough. Looking forward to sailing on Explora 2 in August. Sailed on Ritz-Carlton last fall but will not compare them obviously. Just really excited!
If I recall, it was on Deck 7, 9 and 10. It was really nice having that available to us and well as being included. The soap they provide is pretty generic, so you might want to bring you own pods if you are picky. Thanks for watching!
I'm booked for next year. Hopefully, by then things would be even better. I don't usually do planned excursions, so why pay for them. I do my own once I get into port. Thanks for the review. I'll be looking forward to your future videos on the basic cabin, which I booked solo.
Fantastic, they'll only get better I'm sure! I found the ships excursions very expensive, so we did our own thing like you and a couple of pre-planned independent tours. The cabin tour video should be up in a couple of weeks. Thanks for watching!
looks gorgeous! where would you put this on the spectrum with Oceania and Crystal? it is the most expensive of the three. also, you mentioned entertainment; same question. Crystal's entertainment was top-tier (pre-covid, when we went on crystal) and Oceania's is sorely lacking ...
She really is a beautiful ship and fantastic experience for me. It's hard to compare the cruise lines like that because the experience with Explora is a more casual, less formal luxury experience, it isn't as traditional as Oceania and Crystal. Explora also leans more towards the "small ship" experience being around 900 passengers. I haven't sailed with Crystal, so I can't directly compare entertainment but for our cruise, there was enough variety, you just have to know that there isn't Broadway style shows, they have a ton of music options. I did hear that they've just announced some changes in the Entertainment Department to improve and expand the offerings. This will get easier as they bring more ships online. Thanks for watching!
@@TidalHorizons which line are you referring to here: "I did hear that they've just announced some changes in the Entertainment Department to improve and expand the offerings."??
The early booking option is simply a 5% discount when you book and pay in full within 3 days of booking the cruise. This is 180 days before for Residences or 105 Days before for the rest of the suite categories. The Unique Voyages is a "less specific" deal on certain cruises that they may have on sale. They also have a 10% deposit instead of the usual 25%. If you aren't working with an agent already, contact me through the email address linked in our About page, happy to work with you!
Thank You! My guess and it's only a guess is that its for environmental reasons, because you don't have to add chlorine to the water the same way. Certainly a question for a Q&A!
Personal preference- but clean salt water is far preferable than being doused in chlorine! ( as per the majority of cruiseship pools ) I was on the same sailing as the author - a few comments - bingo is totally inappropriate for this passenger profile. Outstanding baristas' consistently provided the "best coffee at sea" in all bars. The raw seafood bar in the Market Emporium offered the freshest oysters, lobsters and quality fish, each night. The Chefs were always up for cooking to order any personal preferences eg please "spice it up " and they did. The staff were always positive and keen to solve any issue - they were true professionals - especially at the notoriously difficult, reception desks. The passenger profile was well travelled, international and not dominated by any one nationality.This is an upmarket, value for money product, that will be very competitive in the 5/6 star end of the cruise sector
@@TidalHorizonsthey still use chlorine in the pools either by adding chlorine or with a salt water chlorinator which converts the salt in the water into sodium hypochlorite which is what chlorine is. It’s required by regulations. It’s also dumped several times throughout the cruise. But chlorine is still required. You would not want to get into a public pool that was not sanitized. That would be a Petri dish of huge proportions. Keeping a ship clean is already a difficult task. You wouldn’t want to add an unsanitized pool or hot tub to the mix.
@@jeffkennett1577 Oh for sure they are generating some chlorine using a salt cell or adding it manually. I have a salt water pool. You just don't need as much chlorine to sanitize. The other savings is not having to desalinate that much fresh water. I don't recall if the whirlpools were salt or fresh, I wasn't about to taste! Thanks for watching and for the comment, it's always appreciated.
I'm going to say "Yes" because they have some very good solo supplements, some as low as only 15%. But I'm also going to say it "Depends" because if you want singles activities or shared tables at dinner, you'll have a harder time. If you are looking to kick back, relax with a book and have someone bring you cocktails at will, then you are on the right ship! I could easily cruise solo on them next time! Thanks for watching and happy to answer any other questions you have!
Thanks for watching! We had a fantastic time onboard Explora I and can't wait to see how they develop. Have you sailed with them? Sailing soon or want to sail with Explora? Give us a comment and let us know what you think! Please remember to like and subscribe to the channel as well, it really helps the channel grow!
I love the idea of over the counter service verses a buffet. Buffets are known for being potential health hazards and an opportunity for illnesses to easily spread. Having worked in food service, I can tell you I have seen awful things like kids licking items to try them and putting them back on the buffet. I welcome the more sanitary approach.
Can't disagree with that logic! Thanks for watching.
Board next weekend! Can’t wait - thanks for the great review!
Have a fantastic time and thanks for watch!
Looking forward to our December cruise on Explore 1 and January on Explore 2. Can't wait
Have a fantastic time. I'm going to try and get onboard with Explora II in the fall I hope. Thanks for watching!
Great review thanks
Thanks for watching!
We have been Oceania customers and their buffet is now counter service. I like it improves cleanliness. May give Explora a try!
If you are wanting something a little more modern and a bit more casual while still maintaining the luxury touches, I can't see you going wrong with Explora Journeys. Reflecting on it, I find that the food quality is better when they are serving you too and as you say, cleaner with less germs floating around! Thanks for watching!
Great review! Very thorough. Looking forward to sailing on Explora 2 in August. Sailed on Ritz-Carlton last fall but will not compare them obviously. Just really excited!
Have a fantastic trip! I'm looking forward to sailing on Explora II at some point as well as Ritz-Carlton. Thanks for watching.
Onboard in 3 day Vancouver to Hawaii! Great video, thanks for the review.
Have fun!
Thanks for your overview! We'll be going in Sept. Can't wait! What floor is the laundry on? Self service laundry is so nice!
If I recall, it was on Deck 7, 9 and 10. It was really nice having that available to us and well as being included. The soap they provide is pretty generic, so you might want to bring you own pods if you are picky. Thanks for watching!
@@TidalHorizons Thank you for responding!
I'm booked for next year. Hopefully, by then things would be even better. I don't usually do planned excursions, so why pay for them. I do my own once I get into port. Thanks for the review. I'll be looking forward to your future videos on the basic cabin, which I booked solo.
Fantastic, they'll only get better I'm sure! I found the ships excursions very expensive, so we did our own thing like you and a couple of pre-planned independent tours. The cabin tour video should be up in a couple of weeks. Thanks for watching!
@@TidalHorizons Thanks for replying 👍
looks gorgeous! where would you put this on the spectrum with Oceania and Crystal? it is the most expensive of the three.
also, you mentioned entertainment; same question. Crystal's entertainment was top-tier (pre-covid, when we went on crystal) and Oceania's is sorely lacking ...
She really is a beautiful ship and fantastic experience for me. It's hard to compare the cruise lines like that because the experience with Explora is a more casual, less formal luxury experience, it isn't as traditional as Oceania and Crystal. Explora also leans more towards the "small ship" experience being around 900 passengers. I haven't sailed with Crystal, so I can't directly compare entertainment but for our cruise, there was enough variety, you just have to know that there isn't Broadway style shows, they have a ton of music options.
I did hear that they've just announced some changes in the Entertainment Department to improve and expand the offerings. This will get easier as they bring more ships online.
Thanks for watching!
@@TidalHorizons which line are you referring to here: "I did hear that they've just announced some changes in the Entertainment Department to improve and expand the offerings."??
I was referring to Explora. Here's the link: explorajourneys.com/ca/en/press-and-media/press/explora-journeys-announces-new-entertainment-programme
Do you know the difference between explora early booking and unique escape pricing?
The early booking option is simply a 5% discount when you book and pay in full within 3 days of booking the cruise. This is 180 days before for Residences or 105 Days before for the rest of the suite categories. The Unique Voyages is a "less specific" deal on certain cruises that they may have on sale. They also have a 10% deposit instead of the usual 25%. If you aren't working with an agent already, contact me through the email address linked in our About page, happy to work with you!
Great video. Not sure I understand the salt water pools. Tried it, not fun to swim in. They should have a mix at least
Thank You! My guess and it's only a guess is that its for environmental reasons, because you don't have to add chlorine to the water the same way. Certainly a question for a Q&A!
Personal preference- but clean salt water is far preferable than being doused in chlorine! ( as per the majority of cruiseship pools ) I was on the same sailing as the author - a few comments - bingo is totally inappropriate for this passenger profile. Outstanding baristas' consistently provided the "best coffee at sea" in all bars. The raw seafood bar in the Market Emporium offered the freshest oysters, lobsters and quality fish, each night. The Chefs were always up for cooking to order any personal preferences eg please "spice it up " and they did. The staff were always positive and keen to solve any issue - they were true professionals - especially at the notoriously difficult, reception desks. The passenger profile was well travelled, international and not dominated by any one nationality.This is an upmarket, value for money product, that will be very competitive in the 5/6 star end of the cruise sector
@@TidalHorizonsthey still use chlorine in the pools either by adding chlorine or with a salt water chlorinator which converts the salt in the water into sodium hypochlorite which is what chlorine is. It’s required by regulations. It’s also dumped several times throughout the cruise. But chlorine is still required. You would not want to get into a public pool that was not sanitized. That would be a Petri dish of huge proportions. Keeping a ship clean is already a difficult task. You wouldn’t want to add an unsanitized pool or hot tub to the mix.
@@jeffkennett1577 Oh for sure they are generating some chlorine using a salt cell or adding it manually. I have a salt water pool. You just don't need as much chlorine to sanitize. The other savings is not having to desalinate that much fresh water. I don't recall if the whirlpools were salt or fresh, I wasn't about to taste! Thanks for watching and for the comment, it's always appreciated.
Welcoming for solo travelers?
I'm going to say "Yes" because they have some very good solo supplements, some as low as only 15%. But I'm also going to say it "Depends" because if you want singles activities or shared tables at dinner, you'll have a harder time. If you are looking to kick back, relax with a book and have someone bring you cocktails at will, then you are on the right ship! I could easily cruise solo on them next time! Thanks for watching and happy to answer any other questions you have!