explorer of the seas
We are very experienced cruisers. This is our 25th in 12 years and our 4th consecutive with RCCL, 7th with them overall. We were on the Allure in April and that set a sort of benchmark for my wife and I. We imagined that after being on the biggest and best, the other RCCL ships would appear creaky, unkept and antiquated. This has not proved to be true, but we have arrived at an interesting conclusion.
This ship sails out of Bayonne NJ. This was out first time there and it completely sucks. There really isn't a terminal. It's a giant tent. There is a security screening area that isn't handled by the cruise line, but it is so dirty, disgusting and disorganized. My wife was saying that we would never use that terminal again, even before we went thru security. Once thru there, the checkin process is extraordinarily swift. No lines, no waiting. We were on board in minutes. It's too bad that the attitude and gruffness of the security people is the first thing that you're exposed to upon arrival.