Western Caribbean ~ December 5-12, 2004

Itinerary: at sea ~ Belize ~ Costa Maya ~ Cozumel ~ Grand Cayman ~ at seaI recommend and urge you to read and compare Cruise Critic's comments on RCI's Radiance, Mariner or Navigator Western Caribbean itineraries over Explorer's Western Caribbean itinerary (see Ports of Call below).

Explorer of the Seas is a huge ship loaded with amenities. This was our first cruise on a "Voyager class" ship. We sensed very few bumps or rolls while the ship was underway, though there were some spots aboard more prone to vibrate than others. It took us about two days to familiarize ourselves with the locations of things without studying the conveniently located deck plans. You will need to be mindful whether you are forward or aft when you are inside. Most places are easily accessible, but we needed help finding Studio B and Maharaja's (though we were on the right deck we learned we couldn't get there from where we were). The ship has a spectacular Royal Promenade designed to look like a narrow street lined with shops. Several parades and numerous street market sales happen here. As you can imagine, it often gets crowded. With a 3114 passenger capacity you will learn to anticipate long lines. I honestly feel some lines could have been avoided if more crew had been assigned to help guests. Many fellow cruisers agree that there are too few elevators. At peak usage times we found the stairs a quicker alternative. Though the interiors are kept polished and clean, this ship is beginning to show her age: stained/worn carpet, frayed furniture upholstery, and rust are evident. Read more