Day 2 Monday 24th June North Sea
After our late night we went for breakfast to the Sapphire restaurant. Again we were seated at a table for eight. This time we sat next to a couple from Ohio and opposite us were a couple from Brazil. This was on Deck 4 and this part of the restaurant served à la carte breakfasts.
The couple from Ohio had moved around the USA for his role at Ford motor company. Now retired they were busy going around the world. For breakfast, I started with cornflakes then a ham and cheese omelette with mushrooms. The omelette was very generous with lots of cheese.
I was pleased to find that Deck 4 for was a promenade deck and after we had added a few layers we went out for a walk. On the port side of the ship the deck had been washed and it was slippy especially near the bow. This was where the spray was coming up onto the deck. At the bow we climbed steps and after a short passage way emerged in the open at the bow on Deck 5.
There up more steps was a helicopter pad and at the side of us was a designated crew area complete with a punch bag. The wind here was so strong that just walking was an effort. It in was a relief to start our walk back down the starboard side.
Once down the steps we met in the first passengers bravely sitting all wrapped up with blankets on deck chairs. The bow area was very windy each time we walked around and after the third time of always been blown off our feet we went back inside.
Form for St Petersbug
A form for St Petersburg had been left in our room and when we met her friends we all compared the forms. There were no clear instructions and we were concerned that we had all filled the forms in incorrectly. A quick call at Reception and we had indeed filled the forms in wrong.
We now had an underlying concern that RCI wouldn’t let us leave the ship immediately when we docked in Russia. This was after reading this letter that had been left in our cabin the day before.
Dear Guest,
We hope you are enjoying your time onboard Explorer of the Seas! We wanted to share a reminder about your time in Russia.
Due to local immigration regulations, guests on Royal Caribbean International tours have to clear immigration before independently booked guests can begin to leave the ship. To ensure you have the best experience, kindly follow our guidelines below.
• Guests booked on tours through Royal Caribbean International – Pay close attention to your meeting time and location on your ticket. Arriving late will impact your time in port but getting there on time will ensure you can enjoy everything there is to offer!
• Guests booked on independent tours and other plans- Kindly fill up the “Plan your departure in Russia – Quick Survey Form” and hand it over to your Stateroom attendant or at the drop box , located at the Guest Services Desk, deck 5, latest by Day 3.
We will provide further information on your departure time and meeting lounge for Immigration process. (The earliest time approved by the Local Authorities is 90 minutes after arrival) Showing up before this time will result in you having to wait longer. So, take this time to have a hearty breakfast and double check that you have everything ready for your exploration.
Thank you for your cooperation and we hope you enjoy the rest of your time with us.
Sincerely,
Royal Caribbean International
We will have to wait to see what happens now that we have filled their forms in.