We booked this cruise for our first venture in the Pacific, along with a stay in Sydney and the Radiance of the Seas to New Zealand from Sydney. Throwing in a couple days in Seattle, this was a trip of a life time for us.

We booked a junior suite, and that was probably the best thing about the whole experience. The tub was a real luxury and we told our cabin attendant that we planned to take it with us, but it would not fit in the luggage. Service about the Explorer was excellent, and the elite Crown and Anchor (Diamone/Diamond+) cocktail "hour" even evening was a real life saver. Generally good food and drinks served by the outstanding staff made these daily parties another high light. Although we were traveling with friends, we met interesting people and enjoyed the social atmosphere. RCCL really does a great job with this loyalty bonus.

Unfortunately, we did not feel the same about the entertainment or the dining room menu. Much of the entertainment featured talented performers, but did not hold up well in the theater. Most were really suitable for lounge acts instead. For the first time, we did not make dinner once in the dining room. We did have 5 excellent meals in specialty restaurants. in fairness, we rarely eat a large meal in the evening, but the menus simply failed to motivate us. Read more