A ship of dramatic and open spaces,
Explorer of the Seas offers something for all cruisers and is exciting and energetic enough to truly be considered a city at sea.
A Royal Caribbean cruise liner, she is 1,020-ft in length and weighs in at 142,000 tons. She shares the distinction of largest cruiseship in the world with her two sisters. Completed in 2000, this Liberian registered vessel carries 1,176 international crew members and 3,114 passengers double occupancy.
Sailing year-round out of Cape Liberty Cruise Port in New Jersey, she makes Caribbean sailings to popular ports in the winter months, then alternates those sailings with trips to Bermuda and New England and Canada throughout the summer.
Passengers enter the ship via the remarkable Royal Promenade, a four-story high street that meanders past cafes, bars and shops while passengers peer down from their inward facing cabins above. This space is the pulse of the ship, and it seems at first to be Mall of America gone to sea, but ultimately it is extremely successful and fun, no matter the hour. The ship's size allows for a plethora of unusual activities, including a rock climbing wall, in-line skating track, and a large ice skating rink.
There are a variety of other spaces onboard to relax, including a sedate Cigar Club, the relaxing Aquarium Bar with its walls of fish tanks, and the gothic-themed Chamber Night Club, where large gargoyles scowl at your dancing. Overall, the decor is typical Royal Caribbean, with varying pastel shades and lots or marble and glass that is generally inoffensive but also forgettable.
One notable exception is the ship's three-story dining room, where a grand staircase links each level. With fluted gold columns rising the height of the room to an eye-catching gold sunburst design on the ceiling, this imposing room is majestic and elegant. The lounge, divided up into smaller sections onboard, is also attractive and offers commanding views of the ocean and the passengers from on top of the 15 decks. On deck, there are three pools, offering a choice between the quieter solarium area and the lively center area where the music plays and passengers bake.
Back aft, there is a basketball court underneath the rock-climbing wall in addition to a miniature golf course, making for a unusual scene that hardly seems possible on a ship. Even the promenade deck is unique, bulging out from the hull at places and allowing passengers to walk all the way to the bow as in the movie Titanic. Entertainment choices are as varied as you'd expect given the space, and the ship's main show lounge is well designed with a minimum of poor seats. Service is friendly and usually efficient. Other spaces include a large gym and spa, a wedding chapel, a secondary show lounge, the usual Royal Caribbean Schooner Bar, a sports bar, an expansive casino and even interactive scientific laboratories, among other choices. Children have extensive facilities and will love this ship.
Dining is not the strong point of the ship, although food is bountiful and always available somewhere onboard. Meals are in two sittings, and the ship's one true alternative restaurant (Portofino's, serving Italian food) is small for so many passengers. A Johnny's Rocket diner is extremely popular as well, and a large Lido area serves standard steam table fare with the more appealing seats found the in after section.
The Explorer’s 1,557 cabins—937 of which are outsides—are well laid out and generally of good size, and all have twin beds convertible to queen size. TVs, minibars and hair dryers are standard. Balconies are incorporated into the steelwork of the vessel, and hence feel more private and secure than on some competitors' ships. There are 138 cabins with interior views into the Royal Promenade, perfect for people-watchers.
This dynamic ship has been creatively designed and provides a truly astounding variety of activities, making this an excellent choice for those seeking to satisfy many tastes on an invigorating megaship cruise.
