Explorer of the Seas is a step above! by
Mary S. from Northern Michigan
Sailing date: May 2006Pros:
Love the wonderful staff, the ships layout, the Promenade and everything about it!
Cons:
Nada!
Royal Caribbean has raised the bar with its Voyager Class of ships and especially with Explorer of the Seas. This magnificent vessel is not just a ship; it's a destination in itself!
We left a cold and snowy Michigan behind on March 26th and flew from Saginaw to Miami. After spending the night in Miami, we took a shuttle to the Port of Miami. It was a feast for the eyes when we pulled up to our ship. It loomed large and beautiful before us. Check-in was a breeze, fast and methodical. As we took our customary boarding photograph, the excitement mounted.
It is not enough to say this ship is beautiful. It far surpasses any other ship and cruise line I've taken. The sheer beauty, layout and grandeur of the ship is amazing. We decided to book a promenade stateroom. It was smaller than it looked in the photographs, but we loved being able to people watch from our perch high above the promenade. Speaking of the promenade - I cannot imagine cruising without one! It was the epicenter of the ship-fun, food & frivolity central! But I'm getting off track.
Our room was completely perfect for our needs. The longer we were on the ship, the larger the room seemed. The ships designers thought of every storage possibility and for that I thank them! We took off for a quick trip around the ship, to the dining room to find our table, etc. We then donned our swimsuits and headed up the stairs to Deck 12, or HEAVEN. It was a sun-worshipers dream. It had a beautiful breeze and overlooked the pools and all the action. Our wonderful waiter, Bling-Bling, kept the Mango Tango's coming.
Explorer of the Seas has one thing going for it than other cruise lines I've encountered and it is her staff. The staff is the heart and soul of this ship. James Andrews, our cruise director, could NOT have been more gracious, humorous, or infectious. (Cute, too!) His staff was at the ready to entertain the troops. We loved them. Our dining room team was superb. Dr. Feelgood, our dining room barman must have been psychic as we always had the perfect drink when we needed it. I also want to mention, Jo-Jo our headwaiter. He was an important part of the team and very personable. The food was always top notch!
Getting back to the promenade, this three story atrium was home to staterooms, shops, bars and also doubled as a stage for performing. At almost any time of the day or night you would see people shopping, strolling, enjoying a bite to eat, a drink or just relaxing. We loved to see the Explorer Singers & Dancers put on mini-shows at the promenade. Beyond the promenade was the Palace Theater. We saw professional quality Vegas style review, games, comedians so funny that we almost wet our pants! Karaoke at the Maharajas lounge was an absolute must. Thanks to the wonderful family from Kentucky and their rendition of She Bangs, She Bangs. The great thing about this ship was that you could find entertainment wherever you went. And the dancing! The Chamber disco was a two-story mecca for someone like myself who could dance 24 hours a day! And if dancing isn't your "thing" you could enjoy the gaming at Casino Royale! Needless to say, we were never bored.
We loved the destinations: Bahamas, Jamaica, Grand Cayman & Cozumel. Bahamas was substituted for Haiti, and while we would have preferred the original itinerary, we enjoyed all that Nassau had to offer. Jamaica was a beauty to behold when we walked out onto the deck for our first glimpse. Grand Cayman and Cozumel were too touristy for our taste. However, for us the ship is the ultimate destination. How they can pack 3200 cruisers and 1200 staff aboard this vessel and never be crowded is a testiment to its design! We would have been happy to just stay on the ship and never set foot on the gangway to disembark.
Since this getting a little wordy, let me just say that this was the most fabulous cruise, and yes, we'll be back! Royal Caribbean ROCKS!
Ship QualityAbsolutely beautiful. Nicely furnished and tastefully decorated. For a ship thats 5 years old she's beautiful.
Dining/FoodI've had better food on cruise ships, (her sister line, Celebrity) but it was very good and well presented with a large variety. It beat cooking!!
Stateroom QualityHave stayed in both Promenade staterooms and Balcony and they are both wonderful!
Ship Staff QualityThe best thing about this ship is her staff. I can't say enough about them.
Entertainment & ActivitiesEXCELLENT and I mean excellent entertainment.
Children's ProgramsI know they have a premium kids program but I didn't sail with wee ones. (Two people I encountered marveled at this program, called Adventure Ocean.)
