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Explorer of the Seas Review (5/8/2010)
 Second
of a series of 5 Voyager Class ships, the Explorer of the Seas is truly a
destination in itself.
Royal Caribbean prides itself on a wide variety of on
board amenities and the Explorer of the Seas does not disappoint cruise
passengers. Amenities onboard include an ice skating rink, Rock
climbing wall, TV Studio, rock-climbing wall, inline-skating track, 9
Hole miniature golf course, full-court basketball, spa/solarium and the
Royal Promenade which is the main shopping and gathering center and features
street performers, shops and cafes, .
Public
Rooms
The color scheme of the ship is quiet pleasing. The public areas are
light and airy utilizing simulated maple paneling and warm color
tones.
The Explorer of the Seas features an $11 million art collection
(highlighted by the work of Hollywood stars like Tony Curtis, Peter Falk and
Anthony Quinn).
The center focal point of the ship, is the Royal Promenade, which as
mentioned above, is the main gathering area of the ship. This area recreates a main street
with shops, Fashion Boutiques, artwork, snack places such as Ben and Jerry's
ice cream, Cafe Promenade coffee bar, Champagne Bar, Weekend Warrior
Sports Bar, Crown and Kettle Pub, The General Store and the Guest Relations
center can all be found here.
The main show lounge on the Explorer of the Seas is the 3 tier Palace
Theatre which can accommodate 1,350 guests. There is not a bad seat in the
room, almost every seat offers an unobstructed view of stage so
everyone can enjoy the top rated stage shows.
On deck 4, passengers will find; the nautically themed Schooner Bar;
along with the
Chambers Disco; Casino Royale which has everything from slot machines to
gaming tables.
Also on deck 4 is the Eco-Learning Station and Aquarium Bar which
features a 56 ton saltwater fish tank.
On Deck 2 you can find the Ice-skating Rink, Studio B (TV Station) and
Conference center.
Away from the hustle and bustle of the Promenade, there is well stocked
library; Royal Caribbean Online (internet cafe open 24 hours -
available at an additional cost); The Concierge Club; Sea Trek Dive Shop and
the Sky Bar.
High above the ship is the Viking Crown Lounge with it's panoramic views; The 19th Hole Bar
(decorated in Golf decor) on deck 15 and finally The Skylight Chapel (for those
wishing to tie the knot).
Dining
Options
Royal Caribbean offers flexible My Time Dining program for evening
dining. Passengers can choose between the traditional assigned dining
seatings (early 6 p.m. or late 8:30 p.m.) with assigned tablemates, or
guests can opt for flexible dining option, The Flexible Dining Option allows
you to pick a preferred mealtime (anytime between 6 and 9:30 p.m.), each
night of the cruise.
 The
main dining rooms on the Explorer of the Seas are named after legendary explorers
- Columbus, de Gama and Magellan and are quiet impressive. Each dining room
is three levels and are among the most classic and elegant dining rooms
afloat. The rooms feature a grand staircase and elegant railings which
outline each level of the restaurant. Floor to ceiling columns add finishing
touches and contribute to the
grandness of the room.
Cuisine is good. The food is presented in a very appealing manner. Although
the food is good quality and tasty, Royal Caribbean is not the highest rated in food among cruise lines. Royal Caribbean offers
a wide selection at
meal times including fish, meats, pasta, healthy entrees and vegetarian selections
providing something for everyone.
Breakfast and lunch are open-seating in the dining
room. Otherwise you can opt to eat at the Windjammer Cafe buffet, which
offers a wide selection of entrees and side dishes. For breakfast the
Windjammer offers eggs made to order and at lunch the buffet features a
carving station with different prime cuts featured each day.
For Lunch, there is also Burgers, Grilled Chicken, hot dogs fries and
salads poolside.
The Windjammer Cafe, is also open for dinner should guests choose a less
formal option. The buffet does feature the same menu items as the main
dining room, but the quality and dining experience is much better in the
main dining room than in this less formal - pre-made environment.
The Explorer of the Seas features specialty restaurants which are
available at an additional charge. The 88-seat Portofino Restaurant,.
features many favorite Italian dishes. The service and cuisine are
exceptional, but because this is a more formal dining experience, expect
that the meal will take longer than a traditional meal. Reservations are
normally required and a $20 per person surcharge is applied.
If you are in the mood for a burger fries and a shake, there is
Johnny Rockets which is a 50's-style dining venue. The experience is more than just the food, since the
staff frequently has fun with the passengers, performing songs-and-singing. There's a $4.95 cover charge- which does amaze me, but I think
it is done for crowd control, since the restaurant is modest in size. To
avoid the rush, it is advisable to arrive early (around 11:30 AM, or after
3:00PM when the lunch rush is over).
Royal Caribbean's room service options are available around the clock via
the 24-hour menus. The menu offers a range of snacks and sandwiches. There is no
charge for room service between 5 a.m. and midnight. Late-night orders incur
a $3.95 fee. Gratuities are always appreciated.
Explorer
of the Seas Cabins
In total, the Explorer of the Seas features; inside, outside, promenade view
and balcony cabins. For those with wanting more luxurious accommodations
there are suites as well.
 All
cabin feature adequate storage, closed circuit TV. Some cabins feature a sitting area as well.
Bathrooms are compact but functional and include a sink, toilet and shower -
suites have tubs,
Inside Cabins overlooking the Royal Promenade are nice and have large picture
windows, so occupants, need to make sure they close the curtains so others
cannot look in. In addition these cabins maybe noisy depending on what
activities may be happening in the promenade below. Either way, they are a
great alternative to an inside cabin.
Most balcony cabins have enough room for 2 chairs and a small snack table
on the balcony. As you progress to more expensive Balcony cabins the cabin space
and balcony size also increase.
The Explorer of the Seas features cabins that can sleep up to 4 guests
but also does have some interconnecting cabins so larger families can travel
together.
Out of 1,557 staterooms, 939 of these have an ocean view (765 have
balconies) and 618 are interior staterooms.
In general the cabins are modern, clean and adequate for passengers
traveling on a 5-14 day cruise.
Explorer of the Seas Entertainment
 Royal
Caribbean is known for their activities and entertainment.
Evening shows usually feature Broadway style reviews, magicians, ice
shows (sometimes even including ice jugglers), comedians and more.
On deck, there is full court basketball, jogging track, inline skating,
rock climbing wall -rising 200 ft. above the sea , pools, whirlpools, Kids
Pool, Ping pong, shuffle board and more.
Inside there is the Spa (14 Therapy Rooms managed by Steiner. Spa
treatments available at an additional cost), Library, internet cafe, Casino, sports bar, live music, dancing and disco,
bingo, horse racing, crafts, workshops, movies, card games, aerobics
classes, gym, indoor thalassotherapy pool, art auctions and dance lessons to
name a few.
You will never have to worry about being board.
Explorer
of the Seas Family & Children
Explorer of the Seas is an outstanding choice for family cruisers. The
facilities on this ship are among the largest in the industry --
encompassing more than 16,000 square ft. -- and include a large playroom, an
outside area with splash pools for little kids, a video arcade and a teen
nightclub (Optix) with a dance floor, DJ booth and soda bar.
 Royal
Caribbean's excellent Adventure Ocean Youth Program divides kids into
age-appropriate groups. For instance, Aquanauts (the program for ages 3 to
5) may feature activities like "Alphabet Scavenger Hunt," story time and
Adventure Theater acting classes by Camp Broadway. Explorers (ages 6 to 8)
play backwards bingo, make their own surfboards and engage in basic science
activities. Voyagers (ages 9 to 11) play foosball and capture the flag, as
well as engage in science experiments that range from earthquakes to
hailstorms. Even the teens are divided into two groups. The Navigators (ages 12
to 14) have "open-mic" karaoke contests and a rock-wall challenge.
The 15 to 17 year olds have their own dance parties and arcade competitions.
In addition, Royal
Caribbean has partnered with Fisher Price, Mattel and Crayola to offer a
variety of kid- and family-friendly games and activities for all ages.
Generally, activities at Adventure Ocean cease during lunch and dinner times
(children's menus are available in the main dining room), but there is the
occasional organized meal outing (to Johnny Rocket's, for instance). On sea
days, you can leave your kids (ages 3 to 11) at Adventure Ocean for a noon
to 2 p.m. lunch-and-play for a cost of $7.95. Plus, new My Family Time
Dining offers an option that lets
kids finish dinner in the main dining room in 45 minutes, then theyare escorted
by an Adventure Ocean counselors back to the kids' club to play (letting Mom
and Dad enjoy a more leisurely meal).
Late-night group babysitting is available in the kids' areas (for ages 3 to 11).
Baby sitting is
available from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. for $5 per hour, per child. In-room
babysitting for kids over the age of 1 costs $10 to $15 per hour and
requires a 24-hour advance reservation.
Explorer of the Seas Dress Code
- During the day, dress is casual. Evenings are either casual, smart
casual or formal.
- On casual nights, suggested attire is sports shirts and slacks for men
and sundresses or pants for women.
- On more formal evenings, men should wear jackets and tie, with women
wearing dresses or pantsuits. On the formal night(s), men are suggested to
wear tuxedos or suits with a tie, while it is suggested that woman wear
cocktail dresses.
In Conclusion
The Explorer of the Seas is one of the World's largest ships and features
a Rock Climbing Wall, Ice Skating Rink, Miniature Golf and the Royal Promenade -
a street, 4 decks high that runs through the center of the ship lined with shops
and Cafes. The Explorer of the Seas will be offering alternating 9-Day Western
Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean and 5-Day Bermuda Cruises. During the winter
months, she will conduct longer Caribbean cruises from Cape Liberty, Bayonne,
New Jersey.
Royal Caribbean is very kid friendly and has an extensive kids program. My
children (6 and 9 years old) enjoyed the kids program so much they were begging
me to stay longer at midnight. After 10 PM there is a nominal charge for the
kids program, but well worth it. Per diems on Royal Caribbean are somewhat
higher than those found on NCL and Carnival, but not quite as high as the cruise
lines contained in our "Premium" category. Dining on board is traditional with
a limited number of alternative restaurants. Overall a good quality cruise with
an incredible amount of activities which can keep all cruise passengers
busy at any age..
Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas sailings depart from conveniently located
Cape Liberty, Bayonne New Jersey.
| Statistics |
Explorer of the Seas |
| Photo |
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| Gross Tonnage |
138,000 |
| Length |
1,020 feet |
| Beam |
157.5 feet |
| Draft |
29 Feet |
| Cruising Speed |
23.7 knots |
| Guest Capacity (Double Occupancy) |
3,114 |
| Total Staff |
1,185 |
| Registry |
Bahamas |
| Maiden Voyage |
October 28, 2000 |
| Godmother |
Jackie Joyner-Kersee |
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