Topic: Xmas Cruise on Explorer of the Seas

New member...just had to tell all who read this about our bad experience on above ship.....
I contracted food poisoning (as did some other guests) ....hubby got very bad chest infection ...whole experience was basically a misery! It was very much a d.i.y. experience in transport etc. ... food onboard very boring and very small portions (not up to other cruise lines standards). Xmas Day spent at dockside in Port Canaveral as everywhere was closed. Boxing Day... Nassau, Bahamas ( I know - sounds good doesn't it?) however.... didn't dock till 2.30pm. and by time everyone was ashore all stores (apart from half doz. or so very expensive jewellery stores) were closed! Worst of all - couple of hours or so earlier there had been a Carnival.....because of lateness in docking all we saw of it was the debris in the streets!
Following day was spent on R.C.I's. own island...small isle with cheap souvenir shacks and rum drinks - disappointing.
The cruise was to celebrate my husband's birthday on Chrismas Day and I notified R.C.I. of this, expecting small cake etc. as norm..... again.....BIG disappointment as nothing happened ..no cake, no happy birthday song...no nothing.
R.C.I. were supposed to have booked us into New York hotel for New Year.....we got to hotel practically dropping as we were both so ill .... guess what ....thats right .... no room booked !! Staff were very good and got us a room but whole N.Y. holiday was ruined as we were both so ill and didn't go out....thanks Explorer!!! BIG BIG DISAPPOINTMENT on what was supposed to be a celebration cruise!!! To round off the holiday nicely - I ended up in A.&E and my husband was on anti-biotics - wonderful!
My recommendation ...... don't book a cruise on Explorer of the Seas !!!!

what a pity,special occasion as well

I am sorry you had a rotten time; I have sailed only once with RCCI - and once was enough. BTW I had none of the problems you had - but there was an outbreak of food poisoning on board.

Annie

Sorry to hear of your dreadful cruise. Such a shame when you look forward to it for so long.
Trish

Whilst it is such a shame that you contracted illnesses on board, dont let this mar your view of RCI. It was after all just bad luck. Had you not been ill you would have probably seen the cruise in a totally different light.

Dont quite agree with your complaint about everywhere being shut - it was Christmas after all, so what did you expect really?

QUOTE:

My recommendation ...... don't book a cruise on Explorer of the Seas !!!!

Sorry to hear this. Are you sure it was actually food poisoning? This is rare on-board ships, it's normally the Norwalk Virus which lives anywhere there are lots of people in an enclosed space (Hospitals, Airports etc.).

As for the Caribbean islands, I do not find much to see and do in the Caribbean when everything is open!

I had a pretty good experience on 'Explorer' a few years ago. It is worth remembering that RCI offer a 'mass market' experience and are NOT classified 'premium' or 'Luxury'.

QUOTE:

Whilst it is such a shame that you contracted illnesses on board, dont let this mar your view of RCI. It was after all just bad luck. Had you not been ill you would have probably seen the cruise in a totally different light.

I am sorry - I don't understand your rationale - if you were looking forward to visiting a restaurant for a special meal and became sick - would you return? doubt it.

Annie

QUOTE:

I am sorry - I don't understand your rationale - if you were looking forward to visiting a restaurant for a special meal and became sick - would you return? doubt it.

Annie

I am just trying to look at it objectionably. Like Malcolm has said it was more likely to be the Norvirus rather than food poisoning.

So they became ill. What about the people that didnt get ill? Bet you they had a fab time and will say the cruise was great. Sorry just a bad experience which will taint their viewpoint of the whole cruise.

QUOTE:

I am just trying to look at it objectionably. Like Malcolm has said it was more likely to be the Norvirus rather than food poisoning.

So they became ill. What about the people that didnt get ill? Bet you they had a fab time and will say the cruise was great. Sorry just a bad experience which will taint their viewpoint of the whole cruise.

The reason I had a different approach from your goodself was I sailed on a RCCI vessel in 2011 and there were similar issues.

Yes they tried to say it was a NV but serving reheated seafood pasta at lunch for 3 days in a row did not help.

From reading various forums, there seems to be a lot of this NV about ? Pardon the pun,but they didn't come clean about it either.

I don't think that was the only issue the OP had as well - JMHO she is very justified in saying what she did.

I do agree, however, that if you cruise during the holiday season - don't expect the islands to stay open for you.

Cheers

Annie

I've just checked the last 20 reviews by different reviewers ( not the last 20 entries as there are some repeats).and there were
8 x 5 star
8 x 4 star
3 x 3 star
0 x 2 star
1 x 1 star

Giving 1 point per star and dividing by 20 would give an average rating of 4.1
I admit that one of those reviews was mine ( a 5 star)

Whilst I sympathise with your position i think you have gone too far in your condemnation of this ship, especially given the other comments about the "type"/"source" of your illnesses

As for the cruise port facilities being closed, that is what I would expect in ports where Christianity is the predominant religion. Don't most Christians expect to have Christmas with family and friends at home and not pandering to tourists?

I know that on my forcoming cruise, which includes Islamic countries , we have been advised that if the ship's docking coincides with a religious festival then excursions /tours /amenities etc. will be very limited at that port of call.

As for RCI forgetting your celebratory booking that is inexcusable and there should be some sort of compensation package given to you.

I hope you and your husband have fully recovered and look forward to future cruises , though i suspect you won't be going with RCI, but there again there are a large number of operators to choose from.

Pete


PS ihave also posted this on the other thread you posted on