This is my husbands and my 11th cruise, 5 with RCL and 2nd time on the Explorer of the Seas. We chose this particular cruise since it came out of Bayonne and was easy to drive to since we live an hour away from the terminal. The parking cost $95 and check in was a breeze. Due to the construction of a new terminal, we had to take a shuttle to the ship after checking in but it is a very short ride and the shuttles are constant so there is little waiting.

The cruise was fun and we had a great time despite the boring atmosphere on the ship and the horrible food. The first time on the Explorer the shows were filled to capacity, the pool deck was full and fun to hang out on and listen to music or just people watch and there was always something decent to eat. This time around it was totally different. The shows in the evening were barely half filled. The shows were just ok, not anything to rave about like the first time. At the pool deck the band only played three sets a day lasting about an hour each and then music was played on a loop sporadically Nothing was going on around the pools to entertain anyone. Rarely did we see a bartender make the rounds to get a drink and when we did get someone we were told he was only pushing the drink of the day and to go to the bar for anything else. We did but it was so crowded it took about 20 minutes just to get two bottles of beer. We chose my time dining but was informed we had to make reservations each day. Then we got a card in our stateroom that stated we had to pay for a premium dinner, $19 for a steak, $24 for lobster, and $34 for surf and turf. Why does Ist and 2nd seating diners get that free but my time dining doesn't? Needless to say, we skipped the mdr. The buffet was the worst ever. No choices, the same food disguised as something different each day. Salads were strange and dressing watered down. All food was over cooked, burned, undercooked, just plain bad. Thank God we found the burgers. No more grilling on the pool deck but had to hunt for them in the Windjammer. No more going into the Buffet area for water, coffee, or tea either after the meal time is over. You have to go to the Café Promenade for that. Tried the pizza there and that was cold. Very disappointing food experience. Except for breakfast and the omelet station. Excellent! Can't go wrong there. The casino was boring, rarely anyone there so it wasn't much fun. We went on this cruise mainly for a nice long rest and believe me, we got it. Our room was mid- ship, deck 6, and nice. Comfortable bed and pillows. Very clean and had enough closet space and drawers for two people. We had a balcony and was disappointed in that. I felt like I was in a tub but that was my fault for not knowing that the balcony was all metal, not glass in the front. Hard to see the water when sitting in the chair. Not a deal breaker and it served its purpose. The ice bucket was non existent but there were plenty of bottles of water for a fee so that kind of ticked me off. I was told I could ask nicely for an ice bucket every night and then tip more but wasn't spending $3,200 enough so that I could have ice in my room? We just drank out of the faucet. No mints on the pillow either. Our stateroom steward was very nice the first day, and then got too nice knocking on our door every evening to make sure everything was ok and to let her know if we needed anything. It bordered on phony. Like give me a tip and I'll give you the world kind of thing.. This was the dullest ship I have been on and we have never complained about anything on a ship until this one.

We planned on going to Hamilton for the first day in Bermuda. The night before we docked the cruise director made an announcement that Hamilton was closed for the day!!! CLOSED! It was the Queens birthday or something like that so all the shops and attractions were closed! Yet, we still got a shopping guide with our cruise compass. Go figure. We took the ferry over anyway and just bummed around having the city practically to ourselves. We took the ferry back to the dockyard, ate at the Frog and Onion, then headed back to the ship. The next day we went to Snorkel Park since it was within walking distance. It was a nice little man- made beach and as long as you had on water shoes, it was ok on your feet.. Did a little shopping in the dockyard then back to the ship for our trip back home. I really think we got spoiled by going on the Oasis and how awesome that experience was. Who knows? This ship just wasn't "it" this time.