Crowded ship, stunning ports of call
Explorer of the Seas Cruise Review to Alaska - Inside Passage
7 Night Alaska Glacier (Seattle Roundtrip)
Sail date: June 15, 2018
Ship: Explorer of the Seas
Cabin type: Inside
Cabin number: 7375
Traveled as: Large Group
Reviewed: 5 years ago
Review summary
The Port of Seattle is much more friendly, clean and efficient than the Port of Galveston which we usually use. The customs and security process is much faster. Cruises to cooler climes have a big problem in my opinion . . . the ships are designed to spread the passengers all around the ship to avoid over crowding. But northern cruises often encounter cool weather, even when the weather is better than normal, it’s just not swim and suntan friendly in Alaska . . . so the guests mostly stay inside . . . making conditions much more crowded than with cruises to warm latitudes. All the Royal Caribbean ships I have sailed on are designed for Caribbean type cruising . . . and, in my view, they do not adapt well to cool weather cruises because they feel so confining and crowded.Embarkation
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
Windjammer Marketplace
Over crowded! Hardly a relaxing place to eat. The food on the Explorer of the Seas seemed more institutional than the same Windjammer venue on Liberty of the Seas. The frequent announcement asking diners to give up their table upon finishing their meal speaks to the problem . . . But doesn’t fix it at all.
Onboard Activities
Casino Royale
Just too smoky. They would probably take some of my cash if the smell wasn’t so offensive . . . And it wafs to other parts of the ship. This casino was not very well attended, but gambling managers continue to believe that gamblers are smokers . . . which may not be so true any more,
Entertainment
Children's Programs
Service and Staff
Ship Quality
Cabin / Stateroom
Ship tip
The Windjammer is a zoo on Alaska cruises because (1) few people brave the cool weather on the open decks; (2) it is too small to accommodate all the guests who want to use it . . . so I would take more meals in the dining rooms.