We took the 9 night trip from Bayonne, NJ to Portland & Bar Harbor Maine, St. John, NB, Halifax, Nova Scotia and Boston, Mass., with 3 sea days. The trip was made with 3000+ mostly older folks with only 18 children on board the RCL Explorer of the Seas. Needless to say, the hallways were quiet at night but the buffet was packed to the gills for seemingly hours on end at breakfast and lunch as some cruisers seemed to set up camp at their tables. Numerous announcements were made for passengers to release the table after they were done eating so others could enjoy the buffet. Due to the number of announcements, this must be a constant and continuing problem. Some of the passengers complied but most just sat at the table for long periods of time. No real effort was made by staff to move them along.

Embarkation from Cape Liberty was simple, quick and painless. This experience was comparable to most cruises we have taken and we were on the ship in no time. The lifeboat drill went quickly at 4:00PM and there was no need to haul the life jacket from the cabin as they are not required for the drill. We sailed promptly at 5:00PM out of New Jersey/New York just clearing the Verrazano Bridge by what looked like 6 feet. It is a nice start to the trip.

Cabin was a balcony D2 class on the 9th deck, mid-ship. Typical cabin with nice large balcony and a sliding door that actually locks down tight to keep noise and wind sounds out. The ship is showing it age and the carpets were a bit worn, the bathroom had some minor rust near the floor and the TV was an old large tube type that only sporadically picked up ESPN, Fox and CNN. The railing on the balcony was weathered, gray and splintered but the ship s due for 14 day dry dock at the end of the year and I'm sure it will be sanded and varnished at that time. The bed was hard and uncomfortable for me, but the lines were soft and silky and comforter warm. 4 pillow are also provided. The room steward, Heathcliff, was the best we have ever had on any of the 8 cruises we have taken and kept the room up quickly and efficiently. The bathroom was always clean, the towels were always refreshed and the ice bucket always filled with fresh ice. Heathcliff was like a ghost, as soon as we left the cabin for shore, a meal or a stroll, he must have snuck in because the room was always perfect on our return, no matter how long we were gone. Read more