Here is our take on our Explorer of the Seas August 9, 2014 5 nighter to Bermuda.

We have cruised just once with Royal Caribbean so we figured since we didn’t have priority status we’d arrive at the port after the main rush. We arrived just after 1:30 to a very long and slow-moving line of cars entering Cape Liberty. After about 15 minutes we got dropped off, handed our bags over to a very uninterested porter, and continued into Security. That line moved quickly as did the very short line for Gold level check-in, and within maybe 15 minutes we were on the bus headed to the ship. This port is still a disaster with the lines and the using of buses to get you to the ship. Hoping this is resolved with the completion of the new terminal. Not sure how the new building will affect the long line you wait in before even getting out of your car or parking, but we’ll see.

Our bump-out balcony cabin was small as was expected. The balcony was nice and deep and the furniture on it had seen better days. The back of both chairs was very discolored and dirty. I do wish the chairs reclined somewhat. There was a small table which was handy. Everything in the cabin was in working condition. The safe looked like it had been through a war, yet it worked fine. Carpet is quite worn. Plenty of storage space. The bathroom was tinier than I remembered; you could sit on the toilet and rest your head on the sink at the same time, which may come in handy I suppose. Refrigerator, desk, couch and little table. I thought the bed was ok but my man didn’t care for it. I like that it's right by the sliding glass door. Read more