Explorer of the Seas Review

4.5 / 5.0
2,038 reviews

Like visiting an old friend..loved it.

Review for Bermuda Cruise on Explorer of the Seas
User Avatar
amwick
First Time Cruiser • Age 60s

Rating by category

Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
Public Rooms
Entertainment
Fitness & Recreation
Service
Cabin

Additional details

Sail Date: Sep 2010
Cabin: Interior Stateroom

This was our fifth trip on the Explorer of the Seas. DH is 60++ I am 50+. We booked this trip just to go on a getaway cruise, we have both been to Bermuda several times. We arrived at Cape Liberty at 11am and were having a picnic outside the Windjammer by 12:30. We booked the smallest inside cabin on the ship and were perfectly happy. The room steward, JOANNA was great and our cabin was consistently cleaned and supplied. Yes, it did have a couple stains on the loveseat and carpet, and the TV was old. But we expected that because it was the same cabin we had a year ago. The Captain took the time, after the lifeboat drill, for a brief 9/11 moment of silence and mentioned the "Teardrop" memorial where the ship was docked. We had early seating for dinner; the waitress, Yulia and assistant Oscar were really two of the best I have had in 10 other cruises. The food in the Main Dining Room is what you would expect at a nice wedding for. a few hundred guests. It is good but not gourmet. The best thing about the MDR is the new friends at your table. We had 407, near a window and met six terrific people. By the end of the cruise we were all (8) singing together at the Schooner Bar. Anyway, I think that the portions are small , especially appetizers , but you can always request seconds. I enjoyed the prime rib, and DH enjoyed the lobster. We did eat one night and most breakfasts at the Windjammer. More than anything I like a variety, and the Mongolian grill was a treat. At one breakfast I was totally surprised how good the pancakes were. I thought they would be dry, from being mass produced and sitting in a serving tray. Try fluffy and terrific. We also ate dinner at Johnny Rockets. Kudos to Nino and Melvin.. They remembered me from several earlier trips. The food there is good diner fare, worth the cover if you actually eat. I loved the Chili, absolutely loved it. They really do dance in the aisle, it was one of our trip's highlights. There is always food available in the Promenade Cafe. Pizza, sandwiches, cakes, fruit and unbelievable scones. I grabbed cookies there more than once.

We both enjoyed the midnight adult comedian, Jim David. This is the first time on a ship that I have seen truly adult humor, usually it is pretty tame. The show WAS PACKED AND IT WAS GREAT. Hats off to RCL. If you are easily offended, skip Mr. David's show. We generally do not do the big song and dance production shows, but many people I met on this trip said that they were very entertaining. We did grab tickets for the ice show. We saw it on the last trip and it was again a terrific performance. It is kind of chilly, think about a sweater . We spent a couple happy evenings with Anselmo at the Schooner piano bar. He had a great voice, played requests and never took a break. The Schooner Bar was standing room only by the end of the cruise. We also frequented the casino. I played the penny machines, DH played quarters and dollars. He hit a jackpot on a quarter machine. The first one in his life. So yes, it does happen.

Bermuda is truly a beautiful and safe place. Our first day we bought transit passes on the ship and had an easy trip to Horseshoe Bay Beach via local bus. This is a a very popular, must see beach. It is so big that it never seems crowded. There are changing and shower facilities, plus a snack bar. You can rent chairs, umbrellas and even snorkel equipment. The sand is slightly pink and soft as silk. The water was warm even mid-September. There are fantastic rock formations you can walk through at low tide. The return trip was just as easy. However, public transit (busses and ferries) do get jammed in the late morning, you might consider getting a slightly earlier start. That evening we had the Rum Swizzle Sunset Sail. It was the only RCL excursion that we booked. I thought it was nice, DH thought it was mediocre.

Cabin Review

Interior Stateroom

The inside cabins are tiny. Unpack, stow the luggage under the bed, throw the cocktail table in the closet, keep all personal items properly stored and it is just fine...

previous reviewnext review

Find an Explorer of the Seas Cruise from $262

Any Month

Get special cruise deals, expert advice, insider tips and more.By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

© 1995—2024, The Independent Traveler, Inc.