My boyfriend and I just came off a 5 night Bermuda cruise on Explorer of the Seas. Boy it was a cruise of a lifetime! Usually we book with Carnival or Norwegian...this was our first with Royal Caribbean.

Embarkation was a breeze--the line seemed long, but it actually went pretty fast and smoothly. I recommend to check in online before going to the pier...it saves a lot of the paperwork you have to fill out in the terminal.

First of all the ship is beautiful! The Royal Promenade is gorgeous and very spacious! The first night they do an Island Frenzy parade on the Promenade which is entertaining...filled with tiki men, exotic girls and stilt walkers! The public rooms are really nicely designed and always have entertainment going on...the schooner bar has a piano singer, the pub has a guitar player singing all the requests given by the guest and in the Cosmopolitan lounge, there's a jazz quartet. A little music for everyone. The Dining room feels like you're on the Titanic...so elegant and nicely laid out! A lot of people are worried about the crowds around the ship, but I didn't notice it that much except during dining times...everyone always rushing towards the food! haha! Read more