After four cruises on Voyager, my favourite ship, I expected Explorer to be a similar experience. How wrong I was. Cheap, penny pinching throughout the whole cruise. No CC complimentary gifts, a few pens and hilighters as door prizes, it was embarrassing that I’d recommended people attend this event.

MDR fare and service were quite good, Izumi was wonderful, but Chops, the Windjammer, and Cafe Promenade all disappointed. The food at the cafe was the same every day, no variety at all, and no hot extras like on Voyager. Chops steak was great, but the starter and dessert that I always order on other ships was well below standard,

Graham Seymour was the CD for this cruise, the second time I’ve experienced him and although he was a bit better this time, he still seems to struggle with decent organisation of activities, with no variation to times, so late diners miss the same things every night. Read more