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Royal Caribbean

Explorer of the Seas

Large ship Bliss scored

Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas is home to an array of innovations that give you whatever type of vacation you desire. Climb a rock wall that overlooks the sea, or find your adventure on the basketball court, ice-skating rink or mini-golf course. If…

  • 3,114guests
  • 137,308gross tons
  • 68cruises now
  • $308fares from

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Explorer of the Seas' Mediterranean itineraries includes port calls in France, Italy and Spain.

At a glance

Explorer of the Seas is a large-size cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean, in service since 2000. It carries 3,114 guests and 1,185 crew (2.6 guests per crew member) at 137,308 gross tons. It ties with 4 other ships as the 19th largest of 31 Royal Caribbean ships by guest capacity. On Cruiseable's Bliss scale it scores highest for family friendly and spa & fitness (9/10) and lowest for adventure & nature (4/10). It is rated 3.5 out of 5 by Cruiseable, 3.5 out of 5 by Berlitz and 4.5 out of 5 by Cruise Critic. It has 68 cruises on sale, with lead fares from $308 to $1,960. 51 of its upcoming sailings dropped in price since the previous weekly fare check.

Builder's plate

Specs

Cruiseable
3.5 / 5
Berlitz
3.5 / 5
Cruise Critic
4.5 / 5
Guests
3,114
Crew
1,185
Gross tons
137,308
Decks
15
Length
1,020 ft
Beam
157 ft
Maiden voyage
2000
Launched
1999
Refurbished
2015
Space ratio
2.6
Gross tons per guest
Guests per crew
2.6
Speed (mph)
27
IMO
9161728

Bliss scores

What Explorer of the Seas is best at

Ten dimensions scored by our editors on a 10-point scale. The Cruiseable app ranks every cruise against the mix you care about.

  1. Active 7.0
  2. Adventure and nature 4.0
  3. Cultural 7.5
  4. Dining 6.0
  5. Entertainment 7.6
  6. Family friendly 9.0
  7. Party 6.0
  8. Romantic 6.5
  9. Spa and fitness 9.0
  10. Staterooms 8.0

Our review

Explorer of the Seas: A restful retreat at sea & on shore

Is it adventure you seek or a restful retreat from life on land? Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas is home to an array of innovations that give you whatever type of vacation you desire. Climb a rock wall that overlooks the sea, or find your adventure on the basketball court, ice-skating rink or mini-golf course.

If it's zen you seek, achieve it poolside or at the relaxing Vitality Spa. Liven up your nights on the Royal Promenade, with parades, dancing and duty-free shopping deals. And bring along some friends because with spacious public areas, enhanced staterooms and a three-story dining room, this ship has room for your whole crew.

Who will like sailing on Explorer of the Seas

Because of the variety of activities on board, Explorer of the Seas can support many cruise experiences. She has something for everyone in your group to enjoy their vacation, as well as several dining establishments that make good gathering points for passengers to meet up at between activities.

Where Explorer of the Seas sails

Explorer of the Seas offers mostly 6-, 7- and 8-night sailings to the Southern and Western Caribbean.

Read the full review
Toward the bow of Explorer of the Seas, Maharaja’s Lounge offers live music, dancing and other forms of entertainment.
Toward the bow of Explorer of the Seas, Maharaja’s Lounge offers live music, dancing and other forms of entertainment. Richard Riley / Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

Top dining options

  • Main Dining Rooms: feature complimentary, multicourse dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Portofino: an Italian restaurant, where for one low cover charge allows guests to choose any items off the menu (from appetizers to dessert)
  • Johnny Rockets: a ‘50s-style diner that features servers who double as entertainers, and is an additional cost.
  • Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream: offers a variety of ice cream flavors and toppings for an additional charge.
  • More complimentary options including Windjammer Cafe and Cafe Promenade for coffee and pastries/snacks
  • Room service: Late-night service charge applies to room service orders between midnight and 5:00 am

Action & adventure

  • Rock-climbing wall
  • Ice-skating rink
  • Mini-golf course
  • Basketball court
  • Jogging and in-line skating tracks

Entertainment & shopping

  • Complimentary Broadway-style entertainment in the Main Theater
  • Complimentary ice-skating shows in Studio B
  • 9,623-square-foot Vegas-style Casino Royale with 287 slots and 16 tables
  • 15 bars, clubs and lounges that never have a cover and include the Champagne Bar, Crown & Kettle Pub and The Chamber nightclub
  • Name-brand, duty-free shopping on the Royal Promenade includes jewelry, perfumes, apparel and shopping for teens and kids
The five-story Palace Theater, Explorer of the Seas' main show lounge, features contemporary musical stage productions.
The five-story Palace Theater, Explorer of the Seas' main show lounge, features contemporary musical stage productions. Richard Riley / Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

Kids & families

  • Complimentary Adventure Ocean Youth Program
  • Royal Babies and Royal Tots programming featuring specially designed Fisher Price activities
  • Teen lounge areas and disco
  • Adventure Beach kids' pool with water slide
  • Family-friendly activities include games, contests, enrichment classes and lectures

Rest & relaxation

  • Vitality Spa with 100-plus treatments, including MediSpa treatments and acupunture
  • Four pools, including the Solarium, an adults-only retreat
  • Six whirlpools
  • State-of-the-art fitness center, with classes including yoga and tai chi

Your take

How about you? Have you sailed on Explorer of the Seas? Have any tips? What was the highlight?

Interested in a cruise on this ship?

If you're interested in a cruise on Explorer of the Seas, contact a Cruiseable travel advocate at 1-877-322-3773 or by email. We can usually offer a better deal than you can get by contacting the cruise line directly.

SEE ALL EXPLORER OF THE SEAS SAILINGS

On board highlights

Dining

Where to eat on Explorer of the Seas

  • Portofino
    Portofino Italian · Dinner
    Additional cost
  • Main Dining Rooms
    Main Dining Rooms Continental · Breakfast, lunch & dinner
    No additional cost
  • Johnny Rockets
    Johnny Rockets Hamburgers · Lunch
    Additional cost

Photos

Inside and out

Destinations 6

  • Fun along the beach during a shore excursion in the tropics on a Royal Caribbean cruise.
  • Take a jetski out for a spin when your Royal Caribbean sailing takes you to Labadee, its 260-acre private beach resort on Haiti's north coast.
  • Cavort in the surf when your Royal Caribbean cruise takes you to Labadee, its 260-acre private beach resort on Haiti's north coast.
  • An aerial view of Labadee, Haiti, Royal Caribbean's 260-acre private beach playground on Haiti's north coast.
  • Water sports, snorkeling, kayaking and parasailing are all part of the action at Labadee, Royal Caribbean's 260-acre private beach resort on the north coast of Haiti.
  • A pair of gannets at Cape Kidnappers in Hawke's Bay on the eastern coast of New Zealand's North Island. Every year thousands of visitors come to view these beautiful birds, cousins to the booby. Take a wildlife tour of the area while on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Dining 12

  • Colorful, cool chilled soup provides a refreshing lift-me-up during a Royal Caribbean cruise.
  • Pan Seared Sea Scallops and Chorizo, available from the kitchen of your Royal Caribbean ship.
  • Sky High Lemon Meringue Pie, available from the kitchen of your Royal Caribbean ship.
  • Potato Leek and Spinach Tower, available from the kitchen of your Royal Caribbean ship.
  • Caramel apple pie à la mode, a worthy dessert to top off your day on a Royal Caribbean sailing.
  • In Royal Caribbean cruises, a favorite desert is apple parcels, made with puff pasty, apples, cinnamon, sugar and almond paste, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side.
  • The staff in the dining rooms on Royal Caribbean cruises are charged with making sure that all dishes meet exacting standards.
  • Begin your meals with the vibrant flavors of land and sea during your Royal Caribbean cruise.
  • Reservations are required at Portofino, a popular specialty restaurant serving Italian cuisine on deck 11 of Explorer of the Seas.
  • Royal Caribbean menu options include free-range chicken as well as gluten-free and vegan/vegetarian dishes.
  • Royal Caribbean chefs will prepare your meals to your specifications.
  • Dining options on Royal Caribbean cruises range from formal seating in the main dining room to more casual fare.

On board 10

  • The Optix Room aboard Explorer of the Seas offers teens a swanky place to mingle, dance and hang out.
  • Remember ice skating as a kid? Head to Explorer of the Seas' Ice Skating Rink, put on some ice skates and take a few spins around the large rink.
  • There's room on a dedicated track to jog or speed-walk during your Explorer of the Seas sailing.
  • The Weekend Warrior sports bar aboard Explorer of the Seas offers sports lovers an array of large-screen TVs so you won't miss your favorite team.
  • Have a pint and a game of darts at the Crown & Kettle, a traditional English-style pub on Explorer of the Seas.
  • No need to give up your morning run or power walk on your cruise. Five laps on Explorer of the Seas' outdoor track equals a mile.
  • Explorer of the Seas' entertainment venues, decks and accommodations are designed for easy accessibility.
  • Explorer of the Seas' Concierge Club is an intimate, exclusive retreat for guests in Grand Suites and higher accommodations, as well as Crown & Anchor Society Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club members.
  • Royal Caribbean's fleetwide Adventure Ocean Youth Program and its trained staff offer age-appropriate entertainment and activities for cruisers ages 3 to 17.
  • Relax at poolside and let your cares slip away during your Royal Caribbean sailing.

Ship exteriors 1

  • Grandeur of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas get cozy. The Royal Caribbean ships appeal to a wide range of cruise passengers.

More photos 12

  • Explorer of the Seas' Mediterranean itineraries includes port calls in France, Italy and Spain.
  • Order your favorite tropical drink from the Pool Bar, next to Explorer of the Seas' two outdoor pools.
  • Water sports, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking and parasailing are all part of the action at Labadee, Royal Caribbean's 260-acre private beach resort on the north coast of Haiti.
  • Toward the bow of Explorer of the Seas, Maharaja’s Lounge offers live music, dancing and other forms of entertainment.
  • The Virtual Submarine Room aboard Explorer of the Seas offers an engaging underwater virtual reality center for guest of all ages to enjoy.
  • Explorer of the Seas and Sea Princess at Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.
  • The five-story Palace Theater, Explorer of the Seas' main show lounge, features contemporary musical stage productions.
  • Entertainment options on Explorer of the Seas range from karaoke singing to Vegas-style stage performances.
  • Daughter and dad take a rollercoaster ride in Labadee, Royal Caribbean's private beach resort on Haiti's north coast.
  • Want to learn the basics of scuba diving before going on an actual scuba dive? Explorer of the Seas offers scuba lessons taught by one of the ship's instructors.
  • Portofino restaurant aboard Explorer of the Seas offers guests a wide-ranging selection of Italian cuisine.
  • Explorer of the Seas' South Pacific itineraries include Australia, New Caledonia and Vanuatu.

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