Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas Review & Guide
This review and guide to the Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas will visit each onboard venue and amenity, provide an honest review of the ship, and explain if sailing on an older ship is still worth it.
A few months ago, I shared a complete guide and review of the Harmony of the Seas, one of the largest cruise ships on the water. On my recent Southern Caribbean cruise, I sailed on the Explorer of the Seas, which is a much smaller and older ship in Royal’s fleet.
Cruising is one of my favorite ways to travel when seeing a new destination, exploring a lot of places in a short amount of time, or when I crave a relaxing, stress-free vacation.
Of all the cruise lines, Royal Caribbean is my favorite. They have affordable prices, innovative onboard amenities, amazing staff, and with my loyalty status onboard, I am treated to a ton of perks.
They are one of the leaders in building the largest and most innovative cruise ships in the world. However, their older ships are still great. Keep reading to learn if sailing on the Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas is right for you.
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Overview of the Explorer of the Seas
Cruise Line– Royal Caribbean
Class– Voyager
Size– 1,020 Feet Long, 15 Decks
Capacity– 3,100
Crew– 1,180
Maiden Voyage– 2000
Explorer of the Seas Reviews
In this guide, I’ll go over what to expect aboard the Explorer of the Seas, including dining, entertainment, and service.
However, if you are simply looking for a quick review, here’s what people are saying:
“I was surprised with the Interiors of this older ship. Everything had been updated. I rarely could tell the age of the ship.”
Cruise Critic
“Crowed swimming pool area, no rules in the jacuzzi, a lot of people at the same time and children jumping on it.”
Cruise Critic
“Unlike other reviews the staff is very friendly and helpful. We (6 persons) have not once met or encountered an unfriendly staff member. Service at the main dining hall is excellent, personal and friendly.”
Cruise Critic
Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas Tips
1. Pre-Book Specialty Dining: Like many Royal Caribbean ships, the Explorer of the Seas offers specialty dining options.
To ensure you get your preferred dining times and venues, make reservations before your cruise. This can be done through the Royal Caribbean website or app.
2. Utilize the My Time Dining Option: Royal Caribbean often provides a flexible dining option known as “My Time Dining.” This allows you to dine in the ship’s main dining room at a time that suits your schedule.
To avoid long wait times, make reservations in advance, or dine during off-peak hours. You can also book reservations for my time dining before you sail on the app.
3. Check Out the Ice Skating Shows: The ship features an ice skating rink with spectacular shows. These performances are popular, so arrive early to secure a good seat.
The quality of the skating and choreography is impressive, making it a must-see onboard.
4. Take Advantage of Adventure Ocean: If you’re traveling with children, the Adventure Ocean program offers age-appropriate activities and entertainment.
It’s a great way to keep kids engaged and ensure parents have some downtime.
5. Enjoy the Evening Entertainment: The ship offers a variety of evening entertainment, including Broadway-style shows, live music, and themed parties.
Be sure to catch a few of these performances during your cruise. Check the daily schedule for showtimes and plan your evenings accordingly.
Included Dining on the Explorer of the Seas
On any Royal Caribbean ship, they offer included dining options and specialty dining options. There will be at least one complimentary dining menu open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
At the complimentary dining options, you can get as much food as you want (even multiple entrees).
Windjammer – the Windjammer is the classic royal Caribbean buffet venue. They serve a wide variety of international cuisine with different options rotating each day.
The quality of the food is good for a buffet, but not as good as the sit-down options. The Windjammer is my go-to for a quick breakfast or lunch.
Main Dining Room – The main dining room is the option for a complimentary sit-down meal. They are open for breakfast, lunch on sea days, and dinner each night.
For dinner, they have a new menu each night with gourmet options for an appetizer, entrée, and dessert.
The food quality always amazes me considering it is included in the fare, and they are feeding hundreds of people each night.
Specialty Dining Review
For higher quality food and a bespoke experience, I highly recommend checking out the specialty dining options.
For a per-person surcharge, you can order from an extensive menu of elevated food. Specialty dining can be purchased per meal, or ahead of time in a discounted dining package.
Chefs Table – The Chef’s table is the most high-end dining experience on board the Explorer of the Seas. This semi-private experience includes multiple courses curated by the Royal Caribbean chef that are unique and inventive.
I haven’t personally visited the Chef’s table but have heard it highly recommended for special occasions.
Chops Grille – Chops is your classic steakhouse, at sea. The surcharge covers an appetizer, soup or salad, any cut of steak, and unlimited sides such as mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, and asparagus.
Giovanni’s Table – Giovanni’s is one of Royal Caribbean’s Italian options. They offer a selection of starters, pastas, and entrees. I love their pasta carbonara and filet.
Izumi Sushi – Izumi is the only place on board to get sushi on board. Unlike some other Royal Caribbean ships, the Izumi on the Explorer of the seas does not offer hibachi.
Johnny Rockets – Johnny Rockets is the exact same as the chain you see on land. Instead of paying a surcharge, you can order menu items a la carte.
Bars Onboard
If you ever see me on a cruise, chances are I have a cocktail in hand. I love a fruity drink by the pool, relaxing cocktail before dinner, and a nightcap before bed.
With 12 bars on board, there is no shortage of places to get a drink, even on a smaller ship. Below is a quick overview of all of the bars and which of them are my favorites.
Casino Royale Bar – The casino bar serves everyone in the casino at the machines and tables.
Connisseur Club – The connoisseur club is a quieter bar that is a good place to visit if you want to relax or read without distractions.
Crown & Kettle – Crown and Kettle is the Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas pub on board. It has a unique atmosphere and is in the promenade for prime people watching.
Dizzy’s – Dizzy’s is a lesser-known bar with an amazing view of the pool deck from above.
Plaza Bar – The Plaza bar is inside of the windjammer buffet and the place to get a drink with your meal.
Pool Bar – The pool bar is, you guessed it, the bar that serves the pool deck.
R Bar – The R bar is in the centrum of the ship and nearly always has live music.
Schooner Bar – The Schooner bar is my favorite bar on any Royal Caribbean ship. It has a classic, nautical theme, and is a common venue for activities such as trivia.
Sky Bar – The sky bar is an outdoor bar that overlooks the pool deck. This is a great place to grab a set-sail beverage when you board.
Solarium Bar – The solarium bar is in the adults-only solarium area and services this pool, spa, and lounge.
Star Lounge – This is where you will find many late-night events such as salsa dancing and karaoke.
The Tavern – The tavern is a great place to get a before-dinner drink and meet people at the bar stools.
Entertainment Venues & Shows
Unlike some of the larger ships in the Royal Caribbean Fleet, there is not a ton of entertainment venues on the Explorer of the Seas.
There is primarily Studio B, the ice-skating rink, and the main Palace Theatre.
Each night, there is a rotating headliner at the Palace theatre which can be hit or miss. I tend to go to the show for comedians or magicians but tend to pass on the singers and dancers.
If entertainment is super important to you, you may prefer a larger ship with more options. For me, entertainment is not a priority, so I was fine with what was offered on this ship.
Staterooms
All staterooms on ships are small. However, I was disappointed to find that the rooms on the Explorer of the Seas were also outdated and not organized very well.
On the newer ships, they have more updated finishes and better utilize the space with unique storage solutions. The good news is you barely spend any time in your stateroom, so it doesn’t impact the trip very much.
Royal Caribbean Service & Experience
I am always blown away with the level of experience offered on Royal Caribbean. Their services rivals ultra-luxury resorts such as the four seasons or Fairmont, but on a ship with thousands of guests.
The crew is always kind, happy, and helpful. I’ve found that no matter what question or request I have, they go above and beyond to help.
In addition, throughout our trips, we create a relationship with our stateroom attendant, bartenders, and main dining room servers.
They welcome us by name, share stories from the day, and feel like a friend by the end of the trip.
I have no idea how they build these relationships with so many people on board, but they do.
Overall Review of the Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas
Overall, I was very happy with my experience on board the Explorer of the Seas. In comparison to larger, newer ships like the Harmony of the Seas, there are pros and cons.
Some of the pros of the larger ships are the “wow” factor of the amenities, the modern design, and the variety of things to do.
The benefits to smaller ships such as the explorer of the seas are a more personalized experience, less crowds, and lower cruise costs.
Here’s an overview of how I score the Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas:
Ship Amenities: 5/10
Staterooms: 4/10
Dining: 7/10
Bars: 7/10
Entertainment: 5/10
Service: 9/10
Related Posts:
- What To Wear On A Caribbean Cruise – 7 Day Cruise Packing List
- Cruise Outfits For Men | What Should Men Wear On A Caribbean Cruise?
- Royal Caribbean Oasis Of The Seas Cruise Ship Review & Guide
- Royal Caribbean Harmony Of The Seas Review & Travel Guide
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