rccl-explorer1

Note - this page contains multiple reviews.

Name: DAVID MARECK
Email: DLMARECK@CYBER-QUEST.COM
Age: 48
Occupation: FACILITIES SUPERVISOR
NumberOfCruises: 9
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Explorer
SailingDate: 11/18/2000
Itinerary: CARRIBEAN
Cabin: 7593
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 92
DiningRoomService: 96
CabinQuietness: 85
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 96
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 85
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService:
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 75
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess: 90
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 80
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 97
EmbarkDisembark: 85
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 100
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 29 Nov 2000
Time: 20:10:37
Remote Name: pm3-5.port05.sayre.cyber-quest.com
Remote User:

Comments

Please note that this review is for 'Explorer of the Seas.' We listed it for 'Voyager of the Seas' as there is
no listing for 'Explorer of the Seas' in your database.

We were fortunate to be able to take Cruise #4 on the newest and largest ship afloat. It DEFINITELY
lives up to its billing! The ports of call that it sails to are not the attraction. The ship is a destination in
itself. We spent the entire week exploring the ship and probably missed a lot of it. There are so many
things to do that it is overwhelming.

One downside of this cruise was the large number of small children (600 plus). Since this was
Thanksgiving week in the U.S., many families were booked on this cruise. Although there were many
activities to keep children of various ages occupied, there were many times we were bothered by them.
They didn't seem to be very well supervised by their parents and ran around all hours of the day and
night throughout the ship.

We noted that there were rules to prohibit children under the age of 16 from using the hot tubs by the
pool or to be in the solarium. Also, food and drink were not to be in the pools at any time. Even adults
did not comply. Unfortunately, no one from the cruise line enforced any rules.

We were impressed by the technology and attractions on the ship. This ship has an ice skating rink,
rock climbing wall, miniature golf course, in-line skating, library, internet access room with many
computers, wedding chapel, a fairly large casino, game rooms for the children, a separate water
adventure area for smaller children, a long central promenade with shops and restaurants, a fabulous
theatre, spectacular three-level dining room, three swimming pools, five hot tubs (that we know of) and a
multitude of other amenities too numerous to mention.

The shows were excellent. Royal Carribbean is noted for their wonderful entertainment. Charo (cuche
cuche) was the headline entertainer in the theatre. We saw a wonderful ice skating show in Studio B,
their ice rink, where the Royal Carribbean ice skaters performed.

In addition to the fabulous food in the dining rooms, we ate in Johnnie Rockets diner. The only charge is
for drinks. Unless you are in port when most of the passengers are ashore, you can expect a long line
as there are few seats in this restaurant.

There is a 24-hour cafe located in the promenade area that serves pizza, sandwiches, desserts, along
with coffee, tea and hot chocolate. The promenade also is used for parades and other entertainment at
different times during the cruise.

Although there were 3,507 passengers on this ship, you could still find a vacant deck chair and a place
where you could be by yourself if you wanted to.

Even if you have taken 40 cruises (like someone on our ship had), we recommend taking this cruise just
to experience this ship!!! It's totally amazing.

Name: Howard Myones
Email: buzmeg2k@aol.com
Age: 15
Occupation: student
NumberOfCruises: 8
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Explorer
SailingDate: 12/23/00
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean
Cabin: 9651-M
FoodDiningRoom: 88
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 75
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 88
FoodLidoDeck: 92
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 93
FoodMidnightBuffets: 80
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 75
FoodVariety: 85
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon: 85
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 60
GoodForFamilies: 97
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 93
BeautySalonStaff: 78
EntertainmentLounges: 86
WheelchairAccess: 94
ExerciseFacilities: 98
EntertShowLounge: 87
OverallPortsofCall: 84
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 72
CruiseActivities: 98
Casino: 86
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities: 90
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 76
DiscoNightclubs: 88
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 70
ShopsOnBoard: 89
SpaceRatio: 80
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 01 Jan 2001
Time: 13:26:16
Remote Name: host-216-77-221-191.fll.bellsouth.net
Remote User:

Comments

The 'Explorer of the Seas' from Royal Caribbean International, was my 8th cruise. As my parents do not enjoy
the cold weather, we have a family tradition of taking a cruise every christmas week.

The food on the ship was average to good. It was not comparable to other lines like princess and even
celebrity, but it wasn't horrible. Although, one night the lettuce in my salad was not green, but brown. I thought
that the alternative restaurant overcharged and was not the best food, but a nice thing to do one of the
nights. In my opinion the best actual food was in Johnny Rockets, but I can't say so much for the service. The
lines were good...at 11:30, but by then you weren't very hungry anymore. My waiter, I have to say, was the
best yet for me. He was always there to help, he didn't miss one order, he brought the food quick, and overall
his service was impeccable. We made sure to have an amazing comment card for him.

The rooms could have been bigger, but everyone says that after every cruise, so I am not complaining. Also,
our cabin attendant was very helpful.

My only 3 really bad complaints were the entertainment poolside, the stabilization of the ship, and
disembarking. The band poolside is usually very good, but I must say that this band SUCKED. They were
horrible, they couldn't get the songs right, and they didn't even play that much Caribbean music, but the show
went on and I still enjoyed my cruise very much. During my cruise, there was not one night where the boat was
stable. THey could blame it on whatever, but it was not stable at all. Embarking on the ship was no problem,
but the disembarking was very strenuous and I think they could improve on that.

For teens at least, the week is full of great things. The disco could be bigger, but most weeks there aren't as
many kids as there were when I went. But, you will have tons of fun, and most likely, this will be your best
cruise yet.

Overall, this was my best cruise so far, and I can't wait until next year when the Adventure comes out. So, until
I take that one, I'll keep my mouth shut

Howard Myones

Name: Rick Noni Dewey Gubbels
Email: alfalfa@bloomnet.com
Age: 45 44 13
Occupation: farmers
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Explorer
SailingDate: 12-02-2000
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean
Cabin: Cabin #7535 / Cat N
FoodDiningRoom: 88
CruiseDirector: 92
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 88
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon: 90
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 85
GoodForFamilies: 88
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 98
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 98
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 98
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 98
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 98
Stabilization: 98
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 09 Jan 2001
Time: 13:12:47
Remote Name: rdp-m17.bloomnet.com
Remote User:

Comments

December 2000 My husband, my son and I started our cruise vacation a day early through the RCCL day
prior program. This made boarding a snap as we checked in and received our boarding passes at the hotel,
Hyatt Regency of Miami the night before we boarded. At noon the day of embarking a bus picked us up at the
hotel and took us to the pier where we simply walked aboard and started our cruise vacation on sailing # 6 of
The Explorer of the Seas.

RCCL Explorer of the Seas is absolutely beautiful. The artwork throughout the ship is stunning. Everywhere
you look there is something interesting and new to look at. Views overlooking the Promenade on Deck 5 are
breath taking. We enjoyed the fish aquarium displays at the Aquarium Bar.

We took advantage of the tours of the Oceanography and Atmospheric labs. It is interesting to see what the
scientists are doing on board. A science lesson worth taking in. “Hands on” science labs, including a miniature
iceberg are set up on Deck 4 near the Aquarium Bar. We also enjoyed the window where we could see the
bridge and the many instruments needed to navigate the ship.

We especially enjoyed the activities aboard. This included miniature golf, the rock climbing wall, full size
basketball court, Ping-Pong tables, shuffleboard, in-line skating, ice skating, foos ball, and of course
swimming and Jacuzzis. These were all free. The Adventure Arcade included air hockey and many other
arcade type games, which you did have to pay for. We especially tip our hats to the staff of these activities.
The Ship Shape staff and the Youth Staff were very friendly and helpful. We even learned to juggle at
poolside one afternoon!

We found the food to be good as well. The gala buffet was indeed a sight to behold even though we were too
full to take advantage of it. The Promenade Café was open 24 hours a day for sandwiches, pizza, or other
snacks. Johnny Rockets Diner was a great place to have a sandwich, a bowl of delicious chili, and some
fantastic onion rings at no cost, but drinks and malts were charged to your cruise card here. Our son used the
Coke Card Program, which was handy. We purchased the program at one of the bars on board and they
simply put a coke sticker on his card so he just showed it when he wanted a coke. After a day or two, the
waiters knew he had the card and never even asked him to show it. I thought it was nice that if he joined us for
a drink in Dizzy’s Jazz Bar or any of the other bars they even fixed his Sprite up with oranges and cherries. A
nice extra touch that wasn’t necessary but it made him feel special.

The entertainment was outstanding. Ken Rush is the cruise director and did an excellent job. The shows were
full of energy, color and passion. We were amazed at the ice show and what they could do on such a small
area. The welcome and farewell shows, which featured the Royal Caribbean dancers, were especially
enjoyable. Special guest entertainer was Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits. He even did a special autograph
session on the Promenade the day following his show. Another added feature on the Explorer was the Krooz
Komics. What a hoot! They appear all over the ship and always received laughs. The Promenade was a
central hub for entertainment. Soft music in the Champagne Lounge, a guitar playing in the Crown and Kettle
Pub or special musical appearances by Daniel and Stacy were exceptional. There was talent all over the ship.

Two special theme nights were Toga Night and Country and Western Night. RCI supplied the sheets for the
togas. A poolside demostration was given during the afternoon on various ways to tie the toga. RCI suggested
the gentlemen wear shorts under their togas. Many people wore their togas to dinner that evening so they
were ready to go to the Toga Party at poolside later in the evening.

Our room was an inside stateroom-Cat. N Room 7535. The three of us were comfortable. Our luggage fit
under the bed. There was plenty of closet space and drawer space for us all. Our cabin had a hair dryer,
mini-fridge and safe in it as well. The bathroom was nicer than those were on the Majesty and Enchantment.
Nicer showers.

Some information that is interesting is that of the 3,120 passengers on board, 2,100 of them were repeat
passengers of RCCL. I guess that says a lot for RCCL.

Disembarking was a snap with the new terminal. When our color was called we went to the correct carousal
and waited as the luggage came to us. We then simply walked about 30 feet to the Airline Counter and
checked in. All of this was under a roof so we never had to hurry to escape the burning sun or rain.

All in all we loved our cruise on the Explorer and will definitely cruise with RCCL again.

Name: Diana Ball
Email: diana@ball.net
Age: 43
Occupation: attorney
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Explorer
SailingDate: 12/16-23/2000
Itinerary: E Carib (Labadee, San Juan, St. Thomas, Nassau)
Cabin: 7D balcony, 7N inside
FoodDiningRoom: 92
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 92
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 92
FoodLidoDeck: 82
DiningRoomService: 92
CabinQuietness: 92
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 92
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 88
PrivateIsland: 90
GoodForFamilies: 100
LoungeService: 88
TenderService: 92
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 92
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 92
EntertShowLounge: 92
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 92
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 92
EmbarkDisembark: 92
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 92
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 88
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 10 Jan 2001
Time: 11:35:16
Remote Name: cs253-194.houston.rr.com
Remote User:

Comments

Our family of four Texans--mom, dad, daughter age 10, son age 7-1/2--were on the 8th sailing of the Explorer
12/16-23/2000! The ship is incomparable. I always stumble when I try to describe our experience--none of the
superlatives seem adequate to convey what an amazingly high-quality job RCI has done with the EOS
considering its size, the number of passengers and the number of activities. From a value analysis, it's
definitely a cruise where the consumer is getting more than 100% bang for the buck. My sole complaint was
that I had visions of being a deck/lounge lizard...instead, I returned needing a vacation from my vacation! But
what a fabulous vacation it was...

Travel/Embarkation/Lost Luggage. Due to holiday air travel glitches and a major freeway accident on our
drive from the Ft. Lauderdale airport to the Miami pier, we arrived a bit harried at 4:30p before a 5p sail time.
Although RCI graciously handled our embarkation with no problem (it turns out they were aware of a lot of
passengers experiencing travel delays--we didn't leave port 'til after 7:00p), we didn't enjoy arriving in a
stressed state of mind and learned our lesson: heed the mantra to fly in the day before!

Lesson number two: I should not have violated our own travel rule to never check luggage. We checked one
bag that exceeded carry-on size, and of course, it didn't make it. Even though we booked our own air/ground
transfers, RCI was amazingly helpful: we received two coupons for gratis laundry service of 5 articles of
clothing per coupon; they gave us a Ship Shape tee shirt and shorts; they offered to call our airline and track
the luggage to San Juan, our 2nd port stop (Tues. after Sat. sailing), which we learned is one of the usual
follow-up ports used by cruise lines for collecting waylaid luggage; they retrieved the luggage in San Juan--it
was waiting in our cabin when we returned from our day in port; and late in the cruise, an unsolicited letter
from RCI documenting the luggage loss was delivered to our cabin for use in making a claim against the
airline/travel insurer. Wow! We were impressed. In fairness to our airline, Southwest (which we use all of the
time and ‘luv’), the loss was understandable considering the weather/holiday crowd conditions that day, and
they obviously acted on our request to get the bag to San Juan. Fortunately, the bag was mine (mom), and I
had my hanging bag with formals and some ‘snappy’ casual outfits for dining, plus my toiletries and jewelry
bag, so all I really needed was a swimsuit and a few casual things to get me through the first couple of days. I
bought those items in the ship's shops. Just FYI, they stock limited sizes of ladies' panties & pantyhose, no
bras, logo casual wear, designer label casual wear, a limited selection of sandals/swim slippers, swim wear,
and formal dresses--all items are a little pricey, as one would expect. There is a dressing room in one of the
shops, so you don't have to traipse back and forth between the shops and your cabin. Lesson number three: I
really could have packed lighter--getting through those days was a breeze.

Check-in for families with a parents' cabin and a kids' cabin. RCI requires booking in the name of one
adult/one kid per cabin, and when you check in, they issue card keys accordingly. So, for the parents' cabin,
to allow the second adult to enter, you must request that the booked adult be issued an extra card key for the
adult booked to the kids' cabin. Similarly, for the second kid to enter the kids' cabin, you must request an
extra key card. And for the adult who is not booked to the kids' cabin, but who, of course, needs to access it,
you need an extra key card! It sounds a little confusing at first, but it works out just fine. You can't simply trade
cards because each passenger must carry his/her own card--they contain a photo ID chip in them used for
checking off/on the ship at ports. The cards are used like credit cards to make all purchases on boards, and
you can opt to give your kids charging privileges or not.

On-board extras. Ice skating, climbing wall...now all included! Extra charges are limited to: (1) alcohol (yes,
RCI allows you to bring your own onto the ship, whether from home, cruise shop or port shop--we didn't, found
drink & wine prices to be in the moderate range); (2) soft drinks served anywhere but in the dining room (you
can purchase $20 unlimited soft drink privilege--everyone always adds ‘for the kids,’ I don't know if it is so
limited, we didn't get it for our kids and didn't regret it); (3) all drinks at Johnny Rocket's (including the yummy
shakes/malts worth every penny @ $3.something); (4) the $20pp cover charge at the Italian restaurant,
Portofino's (which we didn't try, but not for lack of interest--we enjoyed the dining room experience a lot, and
the nights just got away from us; we did hear positive reviews from several of what appeared to be a relatively
low number of passengers who tried this option--we also heard a lot of complaints about the pricing
structure=lots of folks rejecting this option); and (5) port excursions, casino, spa, etc.

Cabins. Of course, because the ship is new, it's a nice feeling to know you're one of the first to occupy your
cabin--they are fresh-looking and nicely appointed. We had a balcony and an inside cabin, both on deck 7;
they were nicely-sized, had ample storage space and featured a comfortable round shower enclosure with
door equipped with a spray nozzle that adjusts up/down, any angle, shower/stream, hold-in-your hand...I want
one at home! Both cabins had a safe and hair-dryer.

Food. I figured food would be a disappointment--how can you feed 3500 people consistently hot and tasty
food? Surprisingly, it can be done--the menu is more limited than we had experienced the year before on
NCL, but by ‘limited’ I simply mean that there were 4 featured entrees per night instead of 10, plus multiple
appetizer, soup, salad and dessert offerings, a daily pasta, a ‘lite’ menu, a kids' menu, plenty for vegetarians
and other special diets, and if you still can't find anything, there's always a steak, an herbed chicken breast
and, I guess, whatever you might ask the chef to prepare, within reason. The food in the buffet line of the
casual cafe was good, not great, but a huge variety of selections were attractively presented. We don't live
near a Johnny Rocket's, so that was a new experience for us--divine burgers and onion rings! I didn't think the
pastries at the Promenade Cafe were ‘to die for’ as some folks have opined, but they were good, especially
the cookies when fresh out of the oven. Regular coffee is no charge there, but an espresso or other ‘fancy’
coffee is extra. (I was in Starbucks withdrawal!) It's a fun place to sit and people watch for a few minutes. Note:
we were told that RCI was not satisfied with food service on the Voyager and re-designed the kitchen design
on the Explorer to enhance their ability to get the food out more efficiently.

Service. Again, I was pleasantly surprised by the overall high quality of the service throughout the ship. Our
waiter was excellent (asst. waiter just so-so)--he remembered any preferences, treated us all like royalty and
made our evening meals a highlight of the day. (We didn't care for our original table assignment—it was in an
undesirable location and was a table for 4 and we wanted some interaction w/ others. We were directed to a
table set up outside the dining room and waited in line for an adjustment. We were very pleased with our
replacement table assignment.) Our two cabin attendants were excellent--visible when you needed them,
invisible when you didn't, and the young man who took care of the kids was so sweet to them. The guest
relations folks were extremely courteous and efficient. RCI has put together a core crew of experienced RCI
staff for this ship, and it shows.

Entertainment. The cruise director and his staff were great, and the house band, song/dance revue troupe
and ice skating performers are incredibly talented and present well-directed shows in state-of-the-art facilities
that rival any Broadway theatre or other performance venue. RCI makes a point to bring ‘big name’ special
acts to the ship, e.g., Micky Dolenz of the Monkees was on our sailing, as was a popular Vegas comedian.
Regarding shipboard activities generally, I particularly liked the fact that there were no loud-speakers blaring
all the time to lure you to bingo, art auctions, horse races, etc.--those activities and many, many more are
offered, but you have to seek them out. There is something going on every hour of the day and night, and I
was never disappointed in the cruise staff member(s) who led us in each activity.

Crowds. I expected to feel crowded with so many people in an enclosed area--as more than one passenger
joked, the ship carries more people than the population of some passengers' hometowns!--but the ship is
large enough to spread everyone out. I have read other reviews complaining of lines and waits, but unless
you choose to go to dinner, a show, get off at port, etc., right at a peak period, you'll rarely have to wait in a
line or for an elevator. Give it 10 min. either side of the appointed time, and you'll avoid the pack. Some
cruisers persist with that annoying behavior of saving show seats and deck chairs--folks, you don't have to do
it on the EOS, there's plenty to go around! Kids' Program. In a word: terrific! RCI has designed fabulous,
separate facilities for the kids' program by age group--toddlers, young kids covering my 7-1/2-year-old,
preteens covering my 10-year-old and teens. All of the counselors have education degrees and were always
enthusiastic, prepared, sensitive to individual needs and safety-conscious. Each night, your kids will receive
their own Compass outlining the next day's activities! The program runs (roughly) from 9a-noon, 2p-5p, and
7p-10p, with a defined activity every 30 min. (game, craft, exercise, etc.). Three nights (the two formal nights +
one other), the evening program includes the counselors taking the kids to dinner at Johnny Rocket's. From
10p-1p, you can pay $4/hr. for your child to stay in the kids' program for supervised group babysitting--they
watch videos, play games, sing karaoke...I could barely keep my eyes open that late some nights, yet my kids
wanted to go just to be with their new friends and have more fun! You can also pay for private babysitting.
One or two times, we paid a few dollars for an extra ‘create something on the computer’ activity for our
preteen. At the end of the cruise, the kids exchanged credits received for participation for logo toys and
souvenirs, and the preteens were issued tee shirts and pillowcases for autographing by their new friends.

Miscellaneous notes. The workout facilities are terrific, and the Ship Shape fitness program is fun; the Royal
Promenade shopping and strolling area is a nice place to catch your breath and the setting for three amazing
late-night parades during the week; there is an adults-only pool and hot tub area that is really lovely and fairly
serene; there is a kids-only pool with slide and other fun features, primarily appealing to really small kids; the
library and business center, including Internet access, are very nice and well-equipped (packing note: don't
lug a book with you—the library contains an impressive selection of current fiction and non-fiction books,
including travel guides for the ports you will visit!); the facilities generally are beautiful and an astounding
architectural, engineering and design achievement--gorgeous themed bars & lounges, awesome atrium,
super observation lounge with adjacent card/board gaming rooms, striking chapel...so many little, remarkable
details, it's like looking for the Mickeys at Disneyland/World; of course, there's the incredible rock climbing wall
(if you want to do it, get there before the start time to avoid a line and go early in the cruise--we never found
the time 'til the last day at sea, and, go figure, everyone else had the same idea!), ice rink (small, but still fun),
in-line skating track, full-court basketball & putt-putt golf (tough when it's windy!); bridge-viewing area and
educational labs; ...whew!

Smoking note. This is not a ‘no smoking’ ship per se, as you can smoke on the decks, in the casino and in
some lounges, and apparently, in your cabin; however, as non-smokers, I have to say we never really noticed
smoke except to a rather minimal degree in the casino--I think RCI must have made a concentrated effort to
address air flow there. Port Stops/Excursions. It's a shame there are port stops--I could've stayed on board
the whole time! But we enjoyed all of the ports. We always explore the ports on our own, so I can't comment
on the RCI excursions. In Labadee, there's no need to take an excursion unless one is particularly attractive
to you (sea kayaking, jet skiing, etc.), as this is one of RCI's private beach areas. You tender over to a very
nice place with tons of deck chairs, some hammocks, drink service, RCI-provided towels and music and lunch
buffet (food is no charge). Floats and water toys are an extra charge. There is a small shopping area w/
native crafts. In San Juan, friends met us and took us to the Rain Forest (very interesting, but long ride=not a
lot of time to look around) and then Old Town. A horse-drawn carriage ride around Old Town at sunset was
awfully nice (esp. because Christmas decorations/lights were up). We're not shoppers, so we skipped the
scene in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas (where some cruisers reported great jewelry bargains) and headed
over to St. John, rented a motor boat and had a blast touring, anchoring & snorkeling. What a beautiful
place--very tropical, laid back... Nassau was our least favorite port--we had no interest in seeing the Atlantis
resort, and it was a rainy, tad bit cool day, so other beach options were out. We just wandered the
streets/shopped, and our daughter got the ‘obligatory’ hair braids (bargain for a better price--the asking per
braid price will cost you a fortune--and allow 2x the time they quote).

Disembarkation. Everything went fairly smoothly. We rented a car from Avis, the only agency with cars at the
port, and a representative was on board at 7 a.m. to get people into their cars. The line was horrendous, so if
you’re in a hurry, go very early, and make sure the person who stands in line is all packed and ready to go
and has no other responsibilities for your group associated with disembarkation. At the luggage retrieval area,
don’t panic if you don’t see your luggage in the color-coded room it is supposed to appear. One of our pieces
showed up in a different room.

CONCLUSION. Obviously, I'm in the ‘rave’ category when it comes to this cruising experience. If you have any
specific questions, feel free to ask!

Name: Tim Haley
Email: tim@wmedia.com
Age: 37
Occupation: Publisher
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Explorer
SailingDate: 01/13/01
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean
Cabin: 1253/M
FoodDiningRoom: 80
CruiseDirector: 75
CabinComfort: 85
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 85
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon: 85
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 90
GoodForFamilies: 98
LoungeService: 85
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 75
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 75
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 80
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 85
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 85
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 85
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 21 Jan 2001
Time: 21:33:09
Remote Name: h0050e49ed41b.ne.mediaone.net
Remote User:

Comments

Our group consisted of 10 people, 5 adults and 5 children (ages 5, 7, 8, 11 & 13.) We flew into Miami on our
own the morning of the cruise and took two taxis to the cruise terminal ($18 flat fee per cab from Miami
International to the terminals)

We arrived at the terminal at 1:00 and had no problem getting through the registration process and onto the
ship, in all it took about a half hour. They tell you that boarding is from 2:00pm - 5:00pm although they
actually started letting folks on around Noon and I noticed after we got on, that the lines were getting longer
as it got closer to 2:00pm.

We checked out our cabins which were all inside cabins and then proceeded up to the Windjammer Cafe to
grab lunch and then headed off to the pool. When we returned to the room around 5:00 two out of our three
bags had been delivered to the room. I did call to check on the third bag and was told that all luggage would
be delivered by 8:00pm. Dress that evening for dinner, was casual, but I would have prefered to change after
a long day of travel. In the future I would be like my kids and pack my swim suit and a change of clothes in a
backpack to carry on.

We had dinner all but the last night in the main dining room first seating and had a table for 10 which was
quite nice. The quality of the food overall I found a bit dissapointing, the only other cruise I had been on was
the Carnival Destiny and I tound Carnival's food superior. The service from our head waiter (Renato) was
outstanding, he was particularly good with the kids and had a great personality. The assistant waiter was just
okay, but both the cocktail waiter and wine steward were very good.

After dinner the first night we attended the family welcoming which was held in the ice skating arena. There we
received an overview of the kids programs and were introduced to the staff. The kids staff I thought was
extraordinary and the kids programs which were broken down into 3-5 year olds, 6-8 year olds and 9-12 year
olds was by far in my opinion the best thing about this cruise.

Our 13 year old niece fell into the teenage group 13-17 and we were not very impressed with the program for
this age group. 13-17 is a wide age range and the program was far less structured and not very well
supervised. On the second night they had a dance scheduled from 10pm to 2am which I thought was a bit
much for a 13 year-old, especially considering the level of supervision.

Day two at sea we relaxed, took in a game of bingo and won $91, checked out the boat which was very
impressive and hung out poolside with the kids. We spent most of the time at the main pool, although there
was a kids pool and waterslide that we enjoyed as well.

Day three included our first port of call, Labadee which is Royal Caribbean's private island. I had read mixed
reviews, so I wasn't expecting much, but I found it quite nice. Getting off and on the ship and to the island was
relatively easy and well run and while I wouldn't recommend any of the excursions, the beach was very nice
and the scenery as we pulled in was beautiful. There was ample amount of beach space and a good number
of trees so that you could get a nice shady spot close to the water. The kids programs were held on the island
with volleyball, a family water balloon toss and other events.

Lunch on the island was pretty basic, hamburger, hot dogs, salads and drinks. I did venture into the shops
towards the end of the day, the vendors who setup are extremely agressive and for the most part they are all
selling the same goods. I was glad that I took at look, but if I were to go back, I would avoid the shops.

Day four took us to Old San Juan which I did not find impressive at all. We opted not to sign up for an
excursion and toured the surrounding area by foot. Mostly shops for tourist and the city is rather dirty, not
somewhere that I would care to revisit. One thing that Royal Caribbean did have was a club that you could
visit off the ship. This was a nice clean place to visit after or during shopping for a drink or to use the
bathroom facilities. A nice touch - they had one on St. Thomas as well.

Day five we landed in St. Thomas. We had originally intended to hop a cab to Meghan's Bay to go snorkeling.
The cab rates were $8.50 per person each way with a $3.00 admission fee at the bay. We ended up after
talking with a taxi driver hiring him for the day at the same rate of $20 per person. He took us on a two hour
tour of the island stopping at many of the key sites for pictures, etc.. Then he took us to a beach that he
recommended over Meghan's Bay. It was beautiful and the snorkeling was great. He left us there for three
hours and we had a wonderful time. When he returned he took us to Main Street where he waited while we
browsed the shops for the next hour before returning to the cab and then to the boat.

Each night the kids couldn't wait to get to the kids clubs after dinner and our old niece would accompany us to
the 9:00 show after dinner. The kids programs are open until 10:00pm and then from 10:00pm - 1:00am they
have a late night program that does come with a cost of $4/hour per child. The late night program was great
and the kids on most nights pleaded to stay until at least 11:00. The shows onboard were good quality shows
mostly singing with a comedian one night.

After the shows each night the cruise director (Ken Rush) would give us a preview of the day ahead which I
found very helpful. Other then the shows we didn't see a whole lot of Ken which was fine by me. He was good,
but a bit full of himself.

Day six was at sea and day seven found us in Nassua. We did get off the boat to look around for a couple of
hours but having already been to Nassua we found the ship had more to offer and with most people onshore,
it was nice to have the run of the ship.

The ship for our sailing was sold out and fully booked, but even so, it never seemed overcrowded. Generally
we had no problem getting a chair by the pool or getting into Johnny Rocket's though our visits were
mid-afternoon and late night.

The ice show was good but not great. Although we did go skating two days later and having experienced the
size of the rink and the ice quality, it made me appreciate what they did do in the show more then I had. The
rink is probably 1/3 the size of a normal rink and the surface was soft and bumpy. More then anything I think
this is a great item for them to market, when I gave the trip as a gift to the kids all they talked about was the
ice rink onboard, but in reality it was not even a highlight of the week.

The in-line skating area was nice, though small, on the top deck it offers quite a view while skating and they
provide skates, and all the necessary padding at no cost which was nice. The mini golf course was a nine hole
course and was quite challenging, almost to challenging. There was no supervision over the course and the
time we played there were kids playing out of control which took away from our experience.

Only the final day we woke at 6:30 and met for breakfast at 7:30 in the main dining room, the Windjammer was
much to crowded and finding a seat would have been difficult. The mail dining room however had few people
in it so we were able to get in and out rather quickly.

We then waited for our color to be called so that we could leave the ship. The process overall was very well
run and orderly. The only complaint I would have is that everyone is our party was not given the same color
code, so eight of us were able to leave the ship and collect our bags and then we had to wait about 45
minutes for the final two. Even so, we got a cab and were at the airport by 9:45 for our 12:50 flight. While the
process was much more orderly then we experienced on Carnival, on Carnival we were allowed to linger a bit
more, here we needed to be out of our rooms by 8:00 latest and they get you right off the ship. I would have
preferred to linger a bit and not have had to sit in the airport for 3-hours.

Overall though we had a great trip, especially the kids. Seeing that this was only my second cruise, I would not
rush back (been there, done that) and it wasn't so spectactular that I have to do it again. When I booked this
trip as a Christmas gift for my family I choose the ship over the ports of call, and while I was not at all
disappointed with the ship, next time I'll pay more attention to the ports of call.

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