Overall Score

BERLITZ'S RATING
	Possible	Achieved
Ship	500	418
Accommodation	200	155
Food	400	241
Service	400	282
Entertainment	100	83
Cruise	400	311

How this score is created

This large, stunning, floating leisure resort is sister to Adventure of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas). The ship’s propulsion is derived from three pod units, powered by electric motors (two azimuthing, and one fixed at the centerline) in the latest configuration of high-tech propulsion systems.

With its large proportions, the ship provides more facilities and options, yet it has a healthy amount of space per passenger. It is too large to go through the Panama Canal, thus limiting itineraries almost exclusively to the Caribbean (where few islands can accept it), or for use as a floating resort. Spend the first few hours exploring the many facilities and public spaces and it will be time well spent.

Although Explorer of the Seas is large, the cabin hallways are warm and attractive, with artwork cabinets and wavy lines to lead you along and break up the monotony. There are plenty of colorful, even whimsical, decorative touches to prevent the environment being too clinical.

Embarkation and disembarkation take place through two access points, designed to minimize the inevitable lines (that’s over 1,500 people for each access point). Take good walking shoes, particularly to go from one end to the other – it really is a long way.

The four-decks-high Royal Promenade, which is 394 ft (120 meters) long, is the main interior focal point (it’s a good place to hang out, to meet someone, or to arrange to meet someone). The length of two American football fields, it has two internal lobbies (atria) that rise as many as 11 decks high. Restaurants, shops and entertainment locations front this winding street and interior “with-view” cabins look into it from above. The Guest Reception and Shore Excursion counters are located at the aft end of the promenade, as is an ATM machine. Look up to see the large moving, asteroid-like sculpture (constantly growing and contracting), parades and street entertainers.

Arched across the promenade is a captain’s balcony. Meanwhile, a stairway in the center of the promenade connects you to the deck below, where you’ll find Schooner Bar (a piano lounge that is a feature of all RCI ships) and the colorful Casino Royale. This is naturally large and full of flashing lights and noises. Casino gaming includes blackjack, Caribbean stud poker, roulette, and craps, as well as 300 slot machines.

Aft of the casino is the Aquarium Bar; adjacent are some neat displays of oceanographic interest. Royal Caribbean International has teamed up with the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science to study the ocean and the atmosphere. To this end, a small onboard laboratory is part of the project.

There is a regulation-size ice-skating rink (Studio B), with real ice, and stadium-style seating for up to 900, plus the latest in broadcast facilities. Ice Follies shows are also presented here. Slim pillars obstruct clear-view arena stage sightlines, however. If ice-skating in the Caribbean doesn’t appeal, perhaps you’d like the stunning two-deck library (open 24 hours a day). A grand $12 million has been spent on permanent artwork.

Drinking places include a neat Aquarium Bar, which comes complete with 50 tons of glass and water in four large aquariums (whose combined value is more than $1 million). Other drinking places include the intimate Champagne Bar, Crown & Anchor Pub, a Sidewalk Cafe (for continental breakfast, all-day pizzas, specialty coffees and desserts), Sprinkles (for round-the-clock ice cream and yoghurt), and Weekend Warrior (a sports bar), and a Connoisseur Club (for cigars and cognacs). Lovers of jazz might like Dizzy’s, an intimate room for cool music within the Viking Crown Lounge, or the Schooner Bar piano lounge. Golfers might enjoy the 19th Hole, a golf bar, as they play the Explorer Links.

There are also several shops on the Royal Promenade (jewelry shop, gift shop, liquor shop and a logo souvenir shop). At times, street entertainers appear, and parades happen, while at other (carefully orchestrated) times it’s difficult to walk through the area as it is filled to the brim with shopping items – like a cheap bazaar.

A TV studio is adjacent to rooms useable for trade show exhibit space, with a 400-seat conference center and a multi-media screening room that seats 60. Lovers can tie the knot in a wedding chapel in the sky, the Skylight Chapel (it’s located on the upper level of the Viking Crown Lounge, and even has wheelchair access via an electric stairlift). Meanwhile, outdoors, the pool and open deck areas provide a resort-like environment.

Families with children are also well catered to, as facilities for children and teenagers are quite extensive. “Aquanauts” is for 3–5 year olds; “Explorers” (6–8); “Voyagers” (9–12). Optix is a dedicated area for teenagers, including a daytime club (with computers), soda bar, disco with disc jockey and dance floor. Challenger’s Arcade has the latest video games. Paint and Clay is an arts and crafts center for younger children. Adjacent to these indoor areas is Adventure Beach, an area for all the family to enjoy: it includes swimming pools, a water slide and game areas outdoors.

In terms of sheer size, this ship dwarfs most other ships in the cruise industry, but in terms of personal service, the reverse is the case, unless you have one of the top suites. Royal Caribbean International does try hard to provide a good standard of programmed service from its hotel staff. But this is impersonal city life at sea, and a superb, well-designed alternative to a land-based resort, which is what the company wanted to build. Perhaps if you dare to go outside, you might even be able to see the sea. Remember to take lots of extra pennies – you’ll need them to pay for all the additional-cost items.

Passenger gripes: cabin bath towels and explosively noisy (vacuum) toilets; few quiet places to sit and read – almost everywhere there is intrusive background music. And if you have a cabin with a door that interconnecting door to another cabin, be aware that you’ll be able to hear everything your next-door neighbours say and do.

Berlitz Guide © Apa Publications 2007