EXPLOR Cruises

Hi Annie and Dick,
I’m sending a few pictures from our excellent Seabourn cruise, showing the beautiful changing colors of the tree leaves.

Seabourn Boston to Montreal October 2016

The trip started with a lady meeting us in the airport at 5:30 AM and escorting us to a Cadillac Escalade for the ride to the hotel. Another pleasant surprise was being upgraded to a huge suite at the Battery Wharf Hotel when we arrived at 6:00 AM. The first thing we did after flying all night was take a long nap before exploring Boston.

We were surprised that on a ship the size of the Quest that the staff/crew still knew our names without asking or us wearing name tags. Everyone was very friendly and knew their jobs well. We got to have dinner on separate nights with the rabbi, cruise director Jan Stearman, jazz pianist Judy Carmichael and comedian Fred Klett. They also had a Seabourn Social for all first timers sailing with Seabourn.

I want to let you know that the champagne you sent to the room tasted better than the ship provided champagne. In the ship’s selection picture you can see Don’s version and my watered down version of their champagne. Very apropos that the champagne you selected has the same name as our airplane (Piper).

For my birthday the day began with the matre d’ bringing me an order of fresh berry covered pancakes in the shape of stars (in addition to what I ordered for breakfast). When we got back to the room our housekeeper had taped 14 balloons to the living room ceiling. Later in the day a happy birthday card was delivered with a bottle of Chianti. All day long the staff wished me a happy birthday when they saw me.

The weather was excellent the entire time until the day we flew home from Montreal so we got to see lots of turning leaves. It was a very enjoyable trip.
Thanks for all your efforts in making the arrangements for an impressive vacation.
Charlotte and Don, California
October 2016

 

Hi Annie:
Overall, we had a good trip to Alaska. Our flights went well and our hotel accommodations were fine. There were 4 couples on board – 3 of the couples booked through Explor and one couple booked directly with Geoff. The Alaskan Story is a beautiful boat. Our twin bunk cabin was fine.

The area we traveled was vast. We spent lots of time onboard the Alaskan Story and we wish we could have been a bit more active and gone ashore more. We spent a lot of time glassing the water and shoreline with binoculars looking for wildlife. We had especially good sightings of whales plus saw quite a few sea lions, eagles and otters. We also saw some brown bears, one black bear on shore and a few dolphins.
The two person crew of Jake and Maria were very accommodating and we very much enjoyed interacting with them. They aimed to please.

We fished for both King Salmon and Halibut and caught some of each. We also caught crab and shrimp. Debbie prepared meals of salmon, halibut, crab and shrimp for us all to enjoy.

We took 2 great hikes during our trip and kayaked once – we had good experiences doing those things and wished we could have done more.

The food on board was excellent. Debbie is a great chef and prepared three full meals each day. We sometimes felt overfed and we hoped food wasn’t being wasted. We sometimes wished there was less food served. Soft drinks, snacks, wine and beer were always available. Again, the food was excellent – but often times there was just too much.

We have a collection of 90 photos and I know you don’t want to see them all, but I am sharing our salmon photos and one of the humpback whales bubble feeding.

Thank you, Annie.

Mary & Rick

Amazon Cruise
The cruise up the Rio Negro is definitely for the adventurous traveler. The accommodations are comfortable but not luxurious and the food is regional, tasty and well prepared but not gourmet. Transfers to and from the boat are all by “canoe” not a dock. Within an hour of departure you are surrounded by the rain forest and you will see no commercial traffic and only an occasional fisherman. There are few villages, a couple of which you will visit. Amazonia is a huge ecosystem, almost unspoiled by man and fascinating. If you want to be immersed in nature, and are fascinated by unusual trees and vegetation and a huge variety of birds this cruise is for you. The daily excursions by canoe to see what wildlife are in the area and hikes through the rain forest, somewhat rugged, are lifetime experiences. Pink river dolphins, monkeys and an occasional iguana are about the only large animals you may see and hear. The tour guide is exceptional, knowledgeable and very accommodating as are the other crew members. One more thing bears mentioning. Because the areas explored are so remote, the boat must generate its own power. As a result the electricity is turned off for several hours a day and hot shower water is only available for about forty-five minutes a day. Don’t let this scare you off, it’s not as inconvenient as it sounds and is a small price to pay for the exceptional experience of learning about life in one of the few remaining wildernesses on the planet.

F.B., Chicago, IL

Just a note to tell you the cruise was just what I wanted it to be!  Everything was great – and it only rained two days.  Of course, one of the days was when we were embarking so everyone got pretty wet, and the other was in Saugatuck where we went on the dune buggy rides . . .  and got soaked.

The people were all enthusiastic and happy with the trip.  The lecturers were superb.

It seemed as though we were the only ones with such a complete notebook – no one had maps like the ones you included for us.  Thanks so much!  They were a help to a lot of people. 

It was a lovely trip.  The boat was perfect, and the people we met were great.  We will certainly be doing something similar in a year or two…

Thanks again for your help

DJ

Hello Annie,
The Amazon trip was a very intense experience!  We were so isolated from anything in the current world that it was like stepping into an alternative life – which it was, but having no modern distractions allowed one to become immersed in the nature and cultures of the area more completely!  I had forgotten about the almost constant severe heat and humidity, except for the air conditioning on the boat for part of the day and night, in that part of the world.  I had, also, visited Panama and recently, Belize and Trinidad, so was prepared.  But had forgotten how often one needed to change clothes because of the heat.  Wear one, wash two.

The exploration excursions – 4 X day – gave us much to anticipate and discuss.  The naturalists on board were excellent.  If you are picky about food, you probably should not choose this trip.  There was sufficient quantity, but variety was local.

The boat has accommodations for 18, but we were just right with only 9 on this trip.  18 might be a little too cozy.

I chose to visit the Amazon area under your auspices because I hoped that the travelers booking through you might have more realistic expectations, being more interested in the destinations than the beds – and it turned out to be the case on this trip.  This group, made up of very independent people, worked well together.  The Brazilian airports are not very accommodating to non Portuguese speaking travelers.  The staff all were very pleasant, but did not understand much English and the signs were few and far between.  And, of course, I was traveling alone.  They do include “old people” among their Priority Boarding designations, though!  Not just ticket price.

FYI – Your prepared information/voucher binder, while lovely and impressive, weighs quite a bit when trying to count ounces in the suitcase.

I journaled with my camera – have tons of pictures.  Will try to send a few to you.

Thank you.

B. Stoermer

Hello Dick and Annie,

Our trip was delightful and the company (crew and fellow passengers) could not have been better. Even the gloomy weather could not reduce the beauty of Alaska. Thank you for your help in making it possible.

Sincerely, Gay Lynn and Gil
2013

As Ohio natives, we just returned from our first trip to Oregon.  We cruised on an 8 day/7 night “Un-Cruise Adventure” down the Columbia River from Portland with fantastic views of Oregon and Washington States.  Then we boarded a 40 foot speed boat on the Snake River into Hells Canyon with incredible cliffs — WOW!  We ate lunch in Idaho and then headed back to Astoria and the Pacific Ocean with more beautiful scenery along the way.  We pretended to be Lewis and Clark…well maybe not!

The crew was so knowledgable about the Lewis and Clark expedition and the history of the area that we realized after going through lost of locks that we had a smooth cruise…quite different from theirs!

A special treat was the Nez Perce Indian, dressed in full attire, who told is of his people and their contribution to the expedition.  Can’t forget to mention the good food and the awesome desserts.

So many sights:  Multnomah Falls towered high with rushing water — Awesome; Terra Blanca Winery tasting and tour; Hanford Ranch Interpretive Center, Maryhill Museum of Art; and the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria were a few highlights.

Memories will never be forgotten with our many beautiful pictures.  Mt Hood did escape us so we will need to return!  Thank you to Annie Molnar with Explor Cruises for making every detail of our trip fit into place like a perfect puzzle.

Marilyn & Ron, Ohio

The trip was wonderful. The crew was great and always going out of their way to make everything perfect. The condition of the boat and the accommodations were excellent. The food was out of this world. The scenery and wildlife were spectacular. The other guests were congenial. I think I’m running out of superlatives. It was probably the best trip we have ever taken.
They had stocked the dry Riesling for me which I thoroughly enjoyed. my husband had been sick just before we left and was taking medication so he couldn’t drink wine. On our anniversary we were toasted with champagne at dinner. A nice recognition of 50 years married without a big to-do. Thanks for you help.
Peggy

Hi Annie,
It was a fascinating trip. It will be interesting to watch Cuba being dragged into the 21st Century. Havana is like a grand, glamorous old dame wrapped in paupers clothing. Cuba has about 10 years of building infrastructure before they can handle widespread tourism. The Panorama was a delight. The crew was great and it was wonderful to be able to come “home” at the end of the day.

The Cubans we met were warm and wonderful, eager to share stories of folks they know in the USA. The government itself is intransigent, and wrapped up in inflexible bureaucratic rules — each government employee anxious to hold onto their job. i.e. When we had to move from the dock to anchoring in Havana Bay (because of bigger ships coming in) they made us clear passport control every time we went off and came back on ship.

Sincerely,
Irene, San Jose

Hello Annie,

The ship (Windstar; Star Breeze) was wonderful. Very happy with the Bristol Panama City, the day before the cruise. Both were way above my usual selection of accommodations.

The unscheduled stop at Portobelo was great. Got to go to Easter service there and participate in the procession through town. Having a little time in Panama City was great, went to old town and saw procession for Easter that was very impressive. Most restaurants and businesses closed but churches open.

Not having a place to put luggage at airport made a long day waiting for plane, should have booked a hotel even if we didn’t stay the night, then we could have done some of the things I planned in town.

Would recommend this Windstar cruise without reservation.

Rick, South Carolina

 

Hi Annie

We are now home and recovered just about from jet lag .

The holiday was fantastic and all the itinerary you did  worked like clockwork .

Everything fell into place , hotels were good and in good locations.

We saw so much met some lovely people.

The cruises were fantastic, glad we upgraded cabin it was very good, food great , crew exceptional,  nothing was too much trouble , we felt really spoilt , they even did a bag of washing between the rwo cruises  for us ,

Would highly recommend Blount and if we ever come back to the USA we would certainly think of doing another cruise with them.
Washington DC was great, hotel in an ideal place within walking distance of most things, we did watch the parade and see the fireworks on the 4th of July, both excellent.

Thank you again Annie again for all your help

Explor Cruises would have to be one of the best companies l have dealt with.

Cheers,

Maggie, Australia

 

We both enjoyed the trip. Jim kept saying it exceeded his expectations. I loved the choice of hotels.  I would never have chosen them on my own. It is nice to get the best once in a while. We experienced so much and had wonderful guides.

Restaurant choices were varied and amazing. Going to El Huacatay Restaurant really sticks out in my mind. How anyone could find that place, tucked away as it was, in that little town is wild. To make it stand out is a compliment to the chef. I enjoyed that “meal” the best.

I loved Machu Picchu. It has been a dream come true; an answered prayer. However, I have to say my favorite destination was Lake Titicaca. It was there that I stood on a reed island and learned how these islands are created and maintained. Then to visit Taquile Island and see living history, wow.

I’m so glad I booked with Explor Cruises. I have no idea how I got on your email list, but pleased that I am.
Bobbie, Colorado springs

It was the trip of a lifetime for us, celebrating our 39th Anniversary. We will definitely be coming back for more to Explor (poetry!).
By the way, if Dick tells you that he was working hard on his Peruvian trip, you have my permission to use these photos to blackmail him!
Seriously, the Bolivia-Peru was awesome and Dick was an outstanding host and sometimes guide. He led by example climbing Huayna Picchu!

Thanks,

Mike
Glen Arm, USA

Peru 2015 with Dick West

Peru 2015 with Dick West

Good Morning Annie,

Everything was perfect, don’t know of anything more you could of done for us.  The trip was way more than we expected.  Truly a ‘trip of a life time’ for us.

We are now sold on small ships and small groups.  We got so much closer and were able to see so much more.   Definitely First Class.

   Thanks Again, you did a great job!!!

    W.  Stanton

 

Hi Annie & Dick,

All surprises were good ones, thanks in large part to you and Dick. I was most moved by Saint Kilda in the outer Hebrides and I loved Dublin. If I go any place in the near future I’d like it to be Ireland.

Thanks for everything, Annie.

Sharon, Minnesota

 

 

Dear Mr. West, I would just like to say thank you. Thank you for the dolls, the boxes and the book. But mostly, thank you for the trip. It was an amazing experience – one I’ll never forget, and I thank you. It really opened my eyes to the world. Thank you for sitting with us all the time, sharing your stories, and having fun. The trip was wonderful, too. Everything from the hotels to the food, from the guides to the group – it was all wonderful. I truly had the experience of a lifetime…

The MV Alaskan Story, This is not your average Alaskan cruise. During your week with Alaska Yacht Charters aboard our 90 foot motor yacht, the Alaskan Story, you will discover the beauty of the real Alaska…up close and personal……

Dear Annie and Dick,

The trip was wonderful and we saw amazing things.  I am sure you have heard about the bubble net feeding we watched for over an hour.

I enjoyed the other people who were great as was the crew.  The only thing we did not do which I was lead to believe we would was to eat the catch of the day.  Instead we had what the last group caught on their trip.  The food was very good and Debbie does a great job.

Thanks for a wonderful cruise.

Regards,

Ann

Hi Annie,

All surprises were good ones, thanks in large part to you and Dick. I was most moved by Saint Kilda in the outer Hebrides and I loved Dublin. If I go any place in the near future I’d like it to be Ireland.

Thanks for everything, Annie.

Sharon, St. Paul, Minnesota

Hello Annie,

We had a good time on the Grande Caribe. The itinerary was very interesting and the pace was easy. Local guides did a nice job. The captain’s commentary when we were somewhere interesting or passing something interesting or unusual was a very nice addition. The ship usually docked close to town which was very nice for sightseeing.

The food was good American fare, but much too much. Excellent baked goods!
The ship was very basic and the cabins were small but that was what we expected.

Thank you for asking.

J. Ringer
September 17, 2014