Explorer of the Seas Review: Is This Older Royal Caribbean Ship Still Worth Booking?
Explorer of the Seas is the kind of cruise ship where expectations matter.
If you board expecting Icon of the Seas, you are probably going to notice everything Explorer does not have. It does not have the newest neighborhoods, the most modern cabins, the biggest waterpark, or the flashiest new Royal Caribbean features.
But that does not mean it is a bad ship.
I sailed Explorer of the Seas from Port Canaveral on a Bahamas itinerary with stops at Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, plus one sea day before returning to Florida. We stayed in a spacious ocean view balcony cabin, tried both included and specialty dining, splurged on two premium beach experiences, and spent a lot of time looking at where this older ship still works and where it clearly shows its age.
I also made a full video review, which is worth watching if you want to see the cabin, ship condition, CocoCay, Nassau, dining, and entertainment for yourself.
Watch the Full Video
The video adds a lot to this review because Explorer’s condition is easier to judge visually. You can see the cabin, Royal Promenade, older decor, visible wear, and the spaces that still make this ship fun.
Quick Verdict: Is Explorer of the Seas Still Good?
Yes, Explorer of the Seas is still good for the right cruiser and the right price.
Book it if you want a value-focused Royal Caribbean cruise, a short Bahamas itinerary, classic ship features, solid entertainment, and you are not expecting the newest mega-ship experience.
Skip it if dated cabins, visible wear, older decor, or missing modern wow-factor features will bother you.
For me, Explorer of the Seas was a little rough around the edges, but still a lot of fun.
What Kind of Ship Is Explorer of the Seas?
Explorer of the Seas is a Voyager-class Royal Caribbean ship that launched in 2000. When she debuted, she was one of the biggest cruise ships in the world. Today, compared with Royal Caribbean’s newest ships, she feels much more like a mid-size ship.
That comparison matters.
Explorer still has a classic Royal Caribbean layout: Royal Promenade, Studio B ice rink, pools, hot tubs, sports deck, mini golf, FlowRider, rock climbing wall, bars, lounges, and plenty of traditional cruise entertainment.
What she does not have is the newest mega-ship energy. You will not find the same scale of neighborhoods, entertainment venues, restaurants, or splashy features that Royal Caribbean has added to its newest ships.
That does not make Explorer bad. It just makes it a different kind of cruise.
First Impressions: Cruise Nostalgia Everywhere
Boarding Explorer of the Seas felt like stepping into an earlier era of cruising.
The ship has yellow wood, shiny brass, glass fixtures, faux marble, oversized hallways, and a bit of a 2000s shopping mall feel in places. I do not mean that as an insult. It gave the ship personality.
Explorer was expected to receive more major updates in 2020, but those plans were disrupted. Because of that, some areas still feel more like a cruise ship time capsule.
If you like a little cruise nostalgia, you may enjoy that.
If you want everything to feel sleek, modern, and freshly redesigned, this may be your first warning sign.
Our Spacious Ocean View Balcony Cabin
We stayed in cabin 8528, a spacious ocean view balcony cabin on the port side.
The room had about 200 square feet of interior space, which made it feel noticeably roomier than a standard balcony cabin. There was a king-size bed that could split into two twins, a desk and vanity area, plenty of drawers, a cooler-style refrigerator, a full-size couch, and a large closet with extra shelving.
The cabin was comfortable and functional, but it did show its age.
The furniture felt older, and the bathroom had very old-school cruise ship energy. That said, the shower pressure was excellent, which is one of those small cabin details that matters more than you might expect.
The balcony was the real win. Having breakfast outside while arriving into Nassau was one of my favorite cabin moments of the trip.
Food on Explorer of the Seas
Food on Explorer of the Seas was mixed, but overall, we had several meals we enjoyed.
Our first specialty dinner was at Giovanni’s. The cheese and cured meat board was excellent, and Justin enjoyed the caprese salad. My minestrone was less memorable, and while the branzino was good, the bolognese missed the mark for me. Justin had better luck with the chicken piccata and tagliatelle carbonara.
The main dining room was more consistent than I expected.
French night was solid, especially the french onion soup. My chicken cordon bleu was a bit dry but had good flavor, while Justin liked the curried lamb. Caribbean night was one of the better meals, with coconut shrimp, jerk seasoned pork chop, roasted Caribbean chicken, and a fun dining room atmosphere.
The Windjammer was busy on embarkation day and again later in the trip. That is not unusual, but on this ship I would try to avoid the peak buffet rush when possible.
Coco Beach Club Was the Premium Port Day
Our first stop was Perfect Day at CocoCay, where we splurged on Coco Beach Club.
This was the quiet, upscale version of CocoCay. Think soft sand, spaced-out loungers, umbrellas, attentive drink service, a heated infinity pool, and a sit-down lunch that included filet and lobster on our visit.
It was a strong contrast to the busier areas of CocoCay.
Coco Beach Club is not cheap, and I would not recommend it for every sailing at every price. But as a premium beach day, it delivered the calm, polished experience it promises.
If you are deciding between Coco Beach Club, Hideaway Beach, and the free beaches, this is one area where the video helps because the atmosphere is much easier to understand visually. You can also see my full review of Coco Beach Club.
Entertainment Was Better Than Expected
Explorer of the Seas does not have the newest Royal Caribbean entertainment spaces, but we never struggled to find something to do.
In one evening, we attended a balloon drop, an ice skating show, music trivia, a magic show, and the Love and Marriage game show.
The ice skating show in Studio B was better than I expected, and the Royal Promenade still gives the ship a central place for events and crowd energy.
This is where an older ship can still work well. You may not get the newest spectacle, but you still get plenty of classic cruise entertainment.
Best Areas Around the Ship
The Royal Promenade is the heart of Explorer of the Seas. It has shops, bars, Cafe Promenade, guest services, and the kind of multi-story indoor space that gives the ship its biggest wow moment.
Schooner Bar was one of my favorite spots onboard, especially for cocktails and music. Crown and Kettle Pub had a fun British pub feel and live music. Dizzy’s in the Viking Crown Lounge offered sweeping ocean views and a great place to spend time later in the day.
The pool deck had two pools, several hot tubs, pool bars, and multiple levels of loungers. The adults-only Solarium was open-air, not enclosed like on some newer Royal Caribbean ships, but I found the hot tubs there a little less busy.
Two unique bonuses stood out: direct access to the front bow of the ship and the giant hot tub in the fitness center. Those are the kind of older-ship surprises I love finding.
Where Explorer Shows Its Age
Explorer is not a ship that hides its age completely.
We noticed a broken lamp in Dizzy’s, a beat-up chair in the main dining room, a broken sofa in R Bar, and some odd leftover fixture in the cabin. Some hallway displays looked dusty, and the old RC Online area felt like a leftover piece of cruising history.
The cabins are probably where the age is most obvious. They are functional, but the furniture and bathrooms do feel older.
For me, none of this ruined the trip. I would describe Explorer as rough around the edges, not run-down.
But if visible wear bothers you, this may be a bigger issue for you than it was for me.
What We Paid
We used a casino comp for this sailing and paid around $900 total to upgrade to the balcony stateroom.
That is important context.
At that price, the value was strong. If you are paying a typical full fare, you should compare Explorer carefully against newer ships, similar itineraries, and what kind of cruise experience you actually want.
This is a ship I would judge on value, not flash.
Best For and Skip If
Explorer of the Seas is best for:
Cruisers looking for value
Short Bahamas sailings
People who like classic Royal Caribbean ships
Travelers who do not need the newest mega-ship features
Cruisers who enjoy trivia, ice shows, bars, lounges, pools, and traditional cruise activities
Anyone who likes the Royal Promenade style of ship
You may want to skip Explorer of the Seas if:
You want Icon-level wow
You need modern cabins
Visible wear and tear bothers you
You want the newest restaurants and entertainment
You prefer massive waterparks, neighborhoods, and ultra-modern ship design
Final Verdict
Explorer of the Seas is still worth booking, but only with the right expectations.
This is an older Royal Caribbean ship with nostalgic decor, dated cabins, some visible wear, and a few areas that feel left over from another era of cruising.
But it also has charm, a great Royal Promenade, solid entertainment, classic cruise activities, good port stops, and enough to do for a fun short sailing.
If you are looking for the newest and biggest Royal Caribbean experience, this is not it.
If you are looking for value and can enjoy an older ship for what it is, Explorer of the Seas can still deliver a really enjoyable cruise.
Watch the full video above if you want to see the ship condition, cabin, CocoCay, Nassau, dining, entertainment, and those older-ship quirks for yourself.
FAQ Section
FAQ
Is Explorer of the Seas too old?
Explorer of the Seas is definitely an older ship, but I do not think it is too old for the right cruiser. It has dated decor and some visible wear, but it still offers a fun Royal Caribbean experience if you go in with realistic expectations.
Is Explorer of the Seas good for a short cruise?
Yes, I think Explorer of the Seas works well for a short cruise, especially if the price is right. It has enough dining, bars, entertainment, pools, and activities to make a quick Bahamas trip enjoyable.
What cabin did you stay in on Explorer of the Seas?
We stayed in cabin 8528, a spacious ocean view balcony cabin on the port side. The room had about 200 square feet of interior space, a full-size couch, good storage, and a balcony.
Is the food good on Explorer of the Seas?
The food was mixed but generally enjoyable. Giovanni’s had some strong dishes and some misses, while the main dining room had several meals we liked, especially French night and Caribbean night.
Does Explorer of the Seas have enough to do?
Yes. In one night, we attended a balloon drop, ice skating show, music trivia, magic show, and Love and Marriage game show. Explorer does not have the newest mega-ship features, but it still had plenty to keep us busy.
Who should skip Explorer of the Seas?
You may want to skip Explorer of the Seas if you want a newer ship, modern cabins, the biggest waterparks, the latest dining concepts, or Icon of the Seas-style wow factor.
