Royal Caribbean International

Explorer of the Seas

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Operator: Royal Caribbean International
Year Built / Last Refurbished: 2000 / 2000
Length / Tonnage: 1,019 / 137,200
Number of Cabins / Passengers: 1,557 / 3,840
Officers / Crew: Norwegian / International
Operating Area: Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda

Explorer of the Seas entered service in 2000 and claimed the title of the largest cruise ship afloat from her sister Voyager of the Seas. She has since then been eclipsed by her younger sister Adventure of the seas but is still one of the largest ships afloat and offers a mind-boggling array of activities. She has a passenger capacity of 3,840 passengers who are accommodated in 1,557 staterooms. She carries a crew of 1,180.

The Explorer of the Seas is powered by three azimuthing electric Azipod units. With Azipod propulsion no shaft lines, internal electric propulsion motors, rudders and rudder machinery, nor transversal stern thrusters are needed. This approach saves weight and makes additional space available for added passenger capacity and services. In addition, the Azipod propulsion system improves the ship's fuel efficiency.

Probably the most impressive public area on board these ship is the Royal Promenade - the largest atrium on a ship. Between two 11 deck Centrums, the Royal Promenade spans decks 5 to 8 and for a length of of 390 feet. Nine percent of Explorer's staterooms have bay windows overlooking the Royal Promenade. These "inside" staterooms provide passengers with another first - an inside cabin with a view! From these cabins passengers have a views of the variety of boutiques, restaurants, street and other scenes such as street festivities and performers, including Explorer's own version of Mardi Gras.

Royal Caribbean compares the Royal Promenade to the likes of New Orleans' Bourbon Street, as it has a wide selection of shops, restaurants and entertainment areas fronting on a winding street, and will literally change in ambience -- just as the day changes to night -- through the use of special lighting, colouring and other theatrical effects. The good news is that unlike the real Bourbon Street, there are no hordes of drunken alumni swarming the bars during the football bowl games or NCAA basketball tournament.

In the aft Centrum area there is the Reception area with the purser's and shore excursion desks. There is also a Champagne Bar which serves as a convenient meeting place. Moving forward, there is a fashion boutique, Island Clothing on the starboard side, and the General Store liquor shop and the Logo souvenir shop on the port side. Then follows, on the starboard side, the Weekend Warrior sports club with multiple TV's and satellite dish for watching sport events and a pool table. On the port side, there is the Crown & Kettle pub seating some 65 passengers. Forward, there is the large Café Promenade sidewalk café / Sprinkles ice cream bar seating some 110 guests. Opposite, on the port side, there is a Perfume Shop, a Jewellery Shop and a Gift Shop. The Captain's Balcony, arched across the Royal Promenade, is used by the Captain to welcome guests aboard.

Forward of the Royal Promenade is the Connoisseur Club, a place to savour favorite brandies or cigars, and the Maharaja's secondary lounge, seating some 370, with a stage and dancing floor.

One deck below (Deck 4), under the Reception area at the Royal Promenade, is the main passenger entrance and the Lobby Bar called Aquarium Bar. Another nice meeting place, the bar features 50 tons of glass and water in four huge aquariums. This area also contains the aft main staircases and lifts (Centrum Lift Lobby) and a shop for purchasing items related to the atmospheric and oceanographic research conducted on board.

Forward of the Aquarium Bar is the Casino Royale, among the largest casinos on a cruise ship, with 300 slot machines, 10 blackjack tables etc. three roulette wheels etc.

The Schooner Bar, in front of Casino Royale, is a popular piano bar found on every Royal Caribbean ship. There is a passenger entrance area to the forward main elevator/staircase area forward of the Schooner Bar - the Forward Lift Lobby. Opposite the Schooner Bar is the upper level of The Chamber, a night club two decks high, with a state-of-the-art dance floor resembling a Gothic castle.

Continuing forward is the Palace theater, inspired by the theater style in central Europe in the end of the 19th century (Fin de Siecle). This theater seats 1,350 guests on decks 2, 3 and 4 and ranges over the entire width of the ship. It offers state of the art production technology, the theatre's hydraulic orchestra pit and stage areas, domed ceiling and above-stage fly space allow the most expansive of shows.

Moving down another deck (Deck 3) behind the lower level of the night club is the upper level of Studio B, a 900-seat arena for a variety of shows including another shipboard first - ice skating. A sliding floor allows the room to be used for stage shows in between the ice skating events. Studio B can also accommodate exhibition/trade shows.

Behind the Studio B is the Art and Photo Gallery and Broadcasting Room. Explorer of the Seas produces it's own on board TV and radio broadcasts, and guest can follow the shows taking place in the Studio B from their cabins. Broadcasts are created especially for guests' portable radios by Explorer's own station RCTV production team.

Continuing forward on deck 3 is the mid level of the Palace theater, and aft is the lowest level of the Main Dining Room.

One deck below (Deck 2), behind the theater, is a Multimedia screening room/Cinema seating 60 persons, behind which is a large Conference Center, with dedicated facilities seating up to 400 guests, converting into four separate breakout rooms, plus an Executive Board Room. These facilities are equipped with the latest state-of-the-art equipment systems, with wireless control of audio-visual equipment, sound, light, and temperature, tele-video conferencing and classroom training facilities and dedicated reception and pre-function areas. This is one of the cruise industry's largest conference area.

Other notable public areas include the Business Service Center, Deck 6, near the aft Centrum atrium, which is complete with PC:s with internet connections, for the use of the guests. On Deck 7, above the Business Service Center, there is the Library, with a panoramic view overlooking the Royal Promenade. On Deck 8, above the Library, is the Royal Caribbean Online internet lounge with 19 PC:s. On Deck 9, above the internet lounge, there is the Concierge Lounge for passengers in the upper scale staterooms. On Deck 10, there are the largest guest staterooms, the wheelhouse, and some of the officer's cabins behind the wheelhouse. A wedding chapel is located on Deck 15 forward of the funnel.

Explorer of the Seas offers some innovative outdoor activities including yet another seagoing first, a 30 foot climbing wall attached to the back of the funnel on Deck 14. On the other side of the funnel, moving forward is the Viking Crown Lounge - a tradition on all Royal Caribbean ships. This area includes the Crow's Nest, observation lounge, the Cloud Nine, an intimate cocktail lounge, the Dizzy's, a jazz club, the 19th Hole, an in-house/outside golf bar for guests to cool off after their game, and Seven Hearts, card and table games room.

Outdoor activities continue one deck below (Deck 13) with the St. Tropez sun bathing area. Aft is the large outdoor Sports Deck, complete with a nine hole miniature golf course (Explorer Dunes), driving range and golf simulators, a roller blade track, a basket ball/ paddle ball/volleyball court, and a sport equipment outlet.

Deck 12 is chock full of activities for the younger crowd. The facilities are divided into separate areas based on age. Aquanauts is geared for 3-5 year olds and features age-appropriate games, a colorful ball pit plus cosy corners for napping and quiet time. Explorers caters to the 6-8 year groups and includes interactive games on video-view periscopes and telescopes. Children aged 9-12 will like Voyagers and its space theme complete with a version of Mission Control and interactive virtual rockets, astronauts and their own "Space Theater. Optix is the teen area and includes a day/night club they can call their own, including computers, soda bar, DJ and dance floor.

Other youth oriented activities on board include Challenger's Arcade, which features a latest virtual reality games available, Virtual Submarine, with virtual reality underwater games for all age groups and the Computer Lab, with 14 personal computer stations.

Behind these indoor areas is the outdoor Adventure Beach, an area designated for families. Adventure Beach includes swimming pools, a water slide and other water play features such as shuffleboard, deck checkers and tic-tack-toe, plus pedal vehicles for the younger kids.

Forward of the Adventure Beach is a jogging track surrounding the Pool Deck below and the upper part of the ShipShape Spa in the front end of the ship. A hair salon and massage facilities are located in the upper Spa area on Deck 12.

Deck 11 is the Pool Deck with the two main swimming pools. In addition to the pools there are four Jacuzzis and one cooling pool. In the front end there is the Pool Bar, a band stage and Sea Trek, a dive and snorkel shop, the Sun Shop and the Flower Shop. The forward pool area, the Solarium, is designed in themed Spanish décor with statues of bullfighters and a large bull. Here, there are one swimming pool, two Jacuzzis and the Solarium Café.

Forward of the Solarium there is a large fitness center, the ShipShape Spa with Aerobics, a Gymnasium for workouts, a number of saunas, and a Spa pool in the middle. This is one of the largest health center facilities at sea. In front of the ShipShape Spa, there is the Peek-A-Boo Bridge where passengers can have a look at the navigation activities in the wheelhouse one deck below.

Behind the Main Pool Area is the Windjammer Café, a mainstay on all Royal Caribbean vessels, for breakfast, lunch and casual dining. On the starboard side of the Windjammer Café, there is a bar and the Portofino, an upscale Euro-Italian restaurant, for dinner with reservations. Looking aft, there is the Island Grill, for casual dinner without reservations.

Explorer of the Seas offers passengers a wide variety of dining options. Aft of the Royal Promenade is the spectacular three-level main dining room with all three levels connected by a dramatic grand staircase. Three separate and distinct dining levels depict the travels of well-known explorers: Ferdinand Magellan on deck 3, Vasco da Gama on deck 4, and Christopher Columbus on deck 5.

Two smaller dining rooms, the Cortes and Balboa, adjoining Ferdinand Magellan, are available for smaller parties. The Main Dining area accommodates 2000 people + 50 + 50 people in the two separate areas, and is large enough for a two seating arrangement for breakfast lunch and dinner.

Each level of the main dining room area is served by a separate galley in the aft end of the ship on decks 3,4 and 5.

If you are interested in something more casual Johnny Rockets 24 hour fast food restaurant on deck 12 provides classic American fare including burgers and fries. The Windjammer Cafe on Deck 11 is the main casual dining area serving breakfast, lunch and light dinners.

There are also two alternative restaurants on board. Those looking for something more intimate may want to consider Portofino, an upscale Euro-Italian restaurant. Reservations are required and there is a service charge. The Island Grill is the other alternative restaurant, also located on Deck 11. The setting here is more casual and reservations are not required.

The quality of food on board in general is good and service is generally fine.

Decks 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 contain mostly passenger accommodations. On decks 6, 7 and 8 a total of 138 staterooms face the Royal Promenade on decks. There are also some passenger cabins on decks 2 and 3.

The vast majority of the outside staterooms are fitted with a verandah. All staterooms have a private bathroom, vanity, minibar, closed-circuit TV, radio and phone The staterooms vary in size from from 168 square feet for an inside cabin to 475 square feet for an oustide (plus balcony). There is one Royal Suite (1,130 square feet). Of the 1,557 staterooms on the ship, 1,077 (69%) are oustide and 757 (49%) have balconies.

Anyone who wants lots of action, good night life, and doesn't mind living in a relatively small cabin....should be pleased with the Explorer of the Seas. We saw all age groups, many nationalities, many income brackets....everyone seemed to have a great time. It's our opinion that whenever a ship carries this many passengers, you're bound to find pleasant company. We do offer this caveat....if your primary concern is formal service, you should consider looking elsewhere....pretension does not go over well on this ship.

Explorer of the Seas alternates between Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda itineraris year round.

If you like to be with people - lots of people - and are looking for a land based resort gone to sea, then you will probably like Explorer of the Seas. She attracts a lot of first time cruisers and offers the widest array of activities afloat but she is so big that you may very well forget you are at sea. If you are looking for a traditional cruise experience with fine dining and personal service you might want to look elsewhere...but if good food and good service is enough for you, and you don't mind crowds then this could be the ship for you.

Additional Photos (click on the picture for a larger version.)

Explorer at Seas	Explorer at Shipyard	Explorer at Sea Trials	Explorer at Sea Trials	Chamber Night Club
Palace Theater	Casino Royale	Royal Promenade	Royal Promenade	Weekend Warrior Lounge
Maharajas Lounge	Connoisseur Club	Solarium Gym	Solarium Gym	Dizzy's Lounge
Dizzy's Lounge	19th Hole Lounge	Viking Crown Lounge	Rock Climbing Wall	Pool Area
Ship Shape Gym	Wheelhouse	Control Room	Main Engines	Switchboard