Explorer of the Seas Review: Is This Older Royal Caribbean Ship Still Worth Booking?
Explorer of the Seas is one of Royal Caribbean’s older ships, and that can either be a great value or a disappointment depending on what kind of cruiser you are.
I sailed on Explorer of the Seas from Port Canaveral on a Bahamas itinerary with stops at Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau. We stayed in a spacious ocean view balcony cabin, tried specialty and included dining, visited two extra-cost beach experiences, and spent a sea day exploring the ship from top to bottom.
This ship is not Icon of the Seas. It does not have the newest restaurants, biggest waterpark, or flashiest neighborhoods. But it does have a lot of classic cruise charm, some surprisingly fun features, and enough to do if you go in with the right expectations.
I also made a full video review, which is worth watching if you want to see the ship condition, cabin, food, entertainment, and port experiences for yourself.
Watch the Full Video
The video gives you a closer look at the cabin, Royal Promenade, Coco Beach Club, Royal Beach Club Nassau, ship tour, and the areas where Explorer of the Seas shows its age.
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.
It is a little rough around the edges, and parts of the ship feel dated. The cabins especially show their age, and there are some older design choices that do not match modern cruising.
But Explorer of the Seas still offers a fun, value-focused Royal Caribbean experience. I would book it again for a shorter trip if the price were right and I was not expecting a brand-new mega ship.
Embarkation in Port Canaveral
This was my first time sailing from Port Canaveral, and the terminal experience was fine, though not especially fancy. The terminal had a bit of an older airport feel, and we had a small check-in hiccup because of a name issue on the reservation.
Once that was sorted, we headed down the gangway and got our first close-up look at Explorer of the Seas.
That first impression was pure cruise nostalgia.
Explorer of the Seas launched in 2000 as part of Royal Caribbean’s Voyager class. At the time, it was one of the biggest cruise ships in the world. Today, it feels much more mid-size compared with newer ships, but that is part of the appeal.
First Impressions: A Cruise Ship Time Capsule
Stepping onboard, Explorer of the Seas immediately felt like a ship from a different era of cruising.
You will see yellow woods, shiny brass, glass fixtures, faux marble, and big open hallways that newer ships just do not have anymore. It has a very early 2000s cruise ship feel.
That is not automatically a bad thing.
If you like a little nostalgia, Explorer has character. If you want everything to feel sleek, modern, and freshly redesigned, this may not be your ship.
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 larger 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 functional and comfortable, but it did show its age.
The bathroom had very old-school cruise vibes, but the shower pressure was excellent. No complaints there.
The biggest benefit was the balcony. Having breakfast outside while arriving into Nassau was one of those moments that reminded me why a balcony can be worth it on the right sailing.
Food on Explorer of the Seas
Our first specialty dinner was at Giovanni’s, Royal Caribbean’s Italian specialty restaurant.
The cheese and cured meat board was excellent, and Justin enjoyed the caprese salad. My minestrone was a little disappointing, and while my branzino was tasty, the bolognese missed the mark. Justin’s chicken piccata and tagliatelle carbonara were both strong.
In the main dining room, we had better luck overall.
French night was solid, especially the french onion soup. My chicken cordon bleu was a little dry but had good flavor, while Justin’s curried lamb was a hit. Caribbean night was one of my favorites, with coconut shrimp, jerk seasoned pork chop, roasted Caribbean chicken, and a fun dining room atmosphere.
The food was not perfect, but we had several meals we really enjoyed.
Perfect Day at CocoCay and Coco Beach Club
Our first port was Perfect Day at CocoCay, where we splurged on Coco Beach Club.
This is Royal Caribbean’s more upscale beach club experience on CocoCay, with spaced-out loungers, umbrellas, attentive drink service, a heated infinity pool, and a sit-down lunch that included filet and lobster on our visit.
The atmosphere was calm and resort-like, which was a sharp contrast to the more energetic parts of CocoCay.
It felt like a true premium beach day, but it is not cheap. Check your sailing price carefully before booking.
Nassau and Royal Beach Club
In Nassau, we visited Royal Caribbean’s Royal Beach Club.
This was a much different kind of beach experience, with areas like Family Beach and Pool, Party Cove, and Chill Beach. There were bars, elevated food options, turquoise water, and cabanas available at much higher prices.
We spent part of the day enjoying the energy at Party Cove, then settled into Chill Beach. Drink service was excellent, and we rarely had to wait.
I would treat this as a separate decision from Coco Beach Club. Royal Beach Club felt more active and varied, while Coco Beach Club felt more quiet and polished.
Entertainment Was Better Than Expected
Explorer of the Seas does not have all the newest Royal Caribbean bells and whistles, but we never struggled to find things to do.
In one evening alone, we went to 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 real sense of energy.
This is one of those ships where the cruise can be as fun as you make it. You just need to temper your expectations and not compare it directly to the newest Royal Caribbean ships.
Ship Tour Highlights
Explorer of the Seas has a classic Royal Caribbean layout with several standout spaces.
The Royal Promenade on deck 5 is the heart of the ship. It has shops, bars, Cafe Promenade, Guest Services, and plenty of activity. It also gives the ship its biggest wow-factor moment.
Schooner Bar was one of my favorite spots, with specialty cocktails and music in the evening. Crown and Kettle Pub was another great place for live music.
Studio B has the ice rink, and you can catch shows there or sign up for ice skating when offered.
The pool decks have two pools, multiple hot tubs, bars, and several levels of lounge chairs. The Solarium is adults-only, but it is open-air rather than enclosed like on some other Royal Caribbean ships.
A few unique extras stood out too, including direct access to the front bow of the ship and a giant hot tub inside the fitness center.
Where Explorer Shows Its Age
Explorer of the Seas is not pretending to be new.
We noticed some wear and tear around the ship, including 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.
The cabins feel dated. Some hallway display cases looked dusty. The old RC Online area felt like a relic from another era of cruising.
The ship also has a bit of a 2000s shopping mall feel.
That said, most of the ship was in good enough shape, and the age did not ruin the trip. I would describe it as rough around the edges, not falling apart.
What We Paid
We used a casino comp for this sailing and only paid for the upgrade to the balcony stateroom, which was around $900 total.
That definitely affects the value equation.
At that price, Explorer of the Seas made a lot of sense. If you are paying full price, I would compare it carefully with newer ships and similar itineraries before deciding.
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
Anyone who enjoys the Royal Promenade, ice skating shows, trivia, music, and traditional cruise activities
You may want to skip it if:
You want Icon-level wow
You need a modern cabin
You are bothered by visible wear and tear
You want huge waterparks, go-karts, neighborhoods, or the newest dining concepts
You prefer newer ships with more polished 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 dated decor, some visible wear, and cabins that do not feel modern. But it also has a lot of charm, a strong Royal Promenade, plenty of entertainment, good port access, and enough activities to keep a short cruise fun.
If you are looking for value, Explorer can be a great pick.
If you are looking for the newest and biggest Royal Caribbean experience, this is not it.
For the price we paid, I had a great time. She may be older, but Explorer of the Seas still packs in a lot of fun.
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.
Is Explorer of the Seas good for a short cruise?
Yes, I think Explorer of the Seas works well for a shorter cruise, especially if the price is right. It has enough dining, entertainment, bars, pools, and activities to keep a quick 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. It had about 200 square feet of interior space and a balcony, which made the room feel more comfortable.
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 entertainment?
Yes, we had plenty to do. In one night, we attended a balloon drop, ice skating show, music trivia, magic show, and Love and Marriage game show.
Who should skip Explorer of the Seas?
You may want to skip Explorer of the Seas if you want a newer ship, modern cabins, huge waterparks, the latest dining concepts, or Icon of the Seas-style wow factor.
Suggested Internal Links
Coco Beach Club review COMING SOON
Royal Beach Club Nassau review COMING SOON
CocoCay beach guide COMING SOON
Royal Caribbean guarantee cabin revieW COMING SOON
