Day 1 Review - 24th August, 2023
Manchester to Dubrovnik
Airport Experience (Manchester)
We live quite close to Manchester Airport, so were able to do a 'bag drop' the day before. Whist this is a very convenient way of avoiding huge queues on your flight day, Manchester Airport make this as expensive an option as possible, as you can no longer just drop someone off with the bags (pay the 5GBP) for the privilege, then return to collect them (and pay another 5GBP). Now, it seems they want you to actually park at airport whilst you wait for the return of your fellow passenger. We tried to book a lot a few months back for a previous cruise and the airport wanted about 50GBP!
Day of Travel
Airport was rammed - and it amazes me after all the millions they spent on Terminal 2 that the provision of toilets seems to have been forgotten - two cubicles in the gate areas, plus 3 urinals... a joke.
The provision of seating also seems to been forgotten - almost all seats taken by restaurants.
Flight Experience
Amazingly, we boarded almost on time for departure, maybe on 10 mins late, with a good flight across to Dubrovnik - cabin crew very friendly.
Destination Airport Experience (Dubrovnik)
Somewhat chaotic, as three TUI flights arrived at same time, and airport decided to put all three flights onto same luggage belt - it was chaos and almost impossible to see that belt / bags.
Transfer - Dubrovnik Airport to Cruise Port
In theory a 30-35 minute transfer, but probably took 50mins as we had to do a second passport stamping operation at the actual port, before we were bused to the 'ship check in.' Traffic between airport and cruise port was heavy also.
Explorer 2 Check-In experience
TUI staff seemed oblivious to that fact that Junior Cabin bookings had 'expedited' check in, but eventually twigged to this fact when we asked them to check. Just as well, as the queue to do the Boarding Card photo and credit card log stretched outside the building - and given it was about 36 Deg C, most passengers were wilting in the sun.
There was some apology to fact all the planes had arrived together and all coaches had arrived together, but given the planes were operated by TUI, you'd think they'd be prepared for that - they must know the arrival times...
Airport to cabin (and all baggage delivery seemed to take forever), and we felt we'd been robbed of time we could have spent exploring. Given our bags took a long time to arrive at cabin, it was 4:45PM by time we managed to get off the ship. We are doing two cruises back to back, so for us it was not a big deal, as we knew we'd have a hold day in Dubrovnik during the switch of cruise. Plus we'd been to Dubrovnik before. Those on a one week cruise only probably felt short-changed.
Daytime Activities
Given the real feel was about 38 Deg C, we abandoned our planned walk into Dubrovnik old town (about 40 min walk) in favour of walking around the marina and onto the opposite shoreline (to the one the ship was docked upon).
TIP : You can walk inside the port area and get out the far end - which avoids going through security (and keeps you off the road).
Marina
Marina area is quite nice, BUT its undergoing quite the overhaul, so it varies between semi finished walkways to rubble covered building site, but worth the walk, just to see the locals enjoying early evening dips, or just chilling on the shoreline. Lots of nice bars on other side also.
Eventually, we got parallel to the ship and the iconic asymmetric suspension bridge.
Muster Station briefing - disorganised
Again, a little disorganised, as we'd heard there was a later Muster at 7:00PM. At 7:00PM the ship tannoy stated it would be 7:15PM. The staff were very busy high fiving and hugging each other, and by 7:25PM my wife complained to one of the staff - who then got someone to actually do the muster brief - so it could have happened even later...
Evening Dinning Experience
We decided to try VISTA (Deck 5) on our first night, and due to sheer number of dinners, had to take a 'puck' which would summon us when our table was ready - although you cannot stray further than Aperitif bar.
So, we had to kill some time with a drink...
Drinks experience at Aperitif
This is where you start to see how devious TUI can be, as all the table drinks menus seemed to only show the additional cost drinks - no mention of All Inclusive drinks and Cocktails.
But, if you ask, they are available. We have got wise to this, but plenty of passengers got confused. So, 'All Inclusive' contrary to the English language translation of this two simple words, does not in fact mean 'All Inclusive.' TUI will either want to up-sell you onto their drinks package (or you pay by drink). Why they just don't add this to the ticket price baffles us - it would be so much simpler.
Dinning at VISTA
Our previous cruises have prepared us for what is likely to be an under-whelming 'main dining area' experience. The service was pretty good, but as expected the food portions are small.
Will do more extensive dinning reviews later!
Be careful when you dine at VISTA!
We sat down at 8:45PM, with VISTA being located right at rear of ship, offering some good views of port departure - although the partially mirrored glazing does tend to reflect more of the interior back at you, the darker if gets outside.
At 9:00PM the ship set off... and what a racket! For about 20 minutes were had dinner to the sound of a metal wheeled cart, full of canon balls being raced across cobbled streets! The whole table vibrated too. So, don't dine at the window end of VISTA when the ship departs!
Entertainment
After a 3:00AM start, we were too knackered to stay up late, plus keen to make the most of Day 2 at Kotor, Montenegro, so we had an early night.