This cruise was a great first introduction to cruises and the Royal Caribbean team made it a pleasurable experience. I hope to experience more of the luxuries available while cruising, as well as see other cruise ships, but I'm glad the Explorer of the Seas was my first. Anyone looking to see the Caribbean and learn about the lifestyles and cultures on land while relaxing and unwinding at sea, this cruise may be for you!
Embarkation
4 out of 5
As this was my first cruise, I didnt have any point of reference to refer to. However, I found myself enjoying the amenities aboard, the polite staff, and the relatively energetic and active environment aboard. Boarding was easy and quick, getting settled into my stateroom was a breeze and being prepared to properly disembark upon our final stop was simple enough. I had a lot of concern over the condition of the waters we were traveling in as there was considerable rocking and swaying the entire duration of our trip. Our captains were sure to share with us to expect some of this rougher weather given a storm from the time of year, but it was rather cumbersome and even left me feeling incredibly nauseous and at unease. Overall, I enjoyed myself on the cruise and can see myself boarding with Royal Caribbean in the future.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
The main dining room was good and had a variety of options each night. The service was amazing and our waitresses were incredibly attentive and delightful. Some food servings tasted better than others, while in general not seeming to really leave me wanting more of what was offered. I enjoyed the convenience of the Wind Jammer, but eventually realized as well that what was available there was the same thing being served at the main dining rooms. I would've enjoyed some exclusivity and a little more flavor in the offered plates. Additionally, required drink packages for anything other than water, apple juice, or lemonade became tiresome and really limits the experience if you desire more than those options. It was a bit of a bummer paying for a ginger ale to soothe seasickness.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
I did not partake in many activities on board, although there were many available. I attended a number of the shows, including the comedy show, live music bands, game shows, and ice skating production. I was able to pass some time in the casino on board, watch some of the sports tournaments by other passengers, and enjoy a few of the parties with dj's. I didn't feel I had enough time between stops to actually fully immerse myself in all the ship had to offer, but I enjoyed what I did get to do.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
I enjoyed the entertainment! My only critique is that the DJs could have done just a little better, but that's a matter of personal preference. The shows were hilarious, entertaining, and worth the watch. Great job to the crew for making such a fun and engaging environment come to be.
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
The service was great! I enjoyed the attentiveness and care from our waitresses, room stewards, and shop attendants. All staff I interacted with were delightful and pleasurable. There was, however, and incident I witnessed on my way off the ship our last day that made me a little concerned about the wellbeing of everyone on board. It just sounded like the staff involved could have had a different approach that valued/prioritized the patrons involved better. Otherwise, I had no issues on board.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
The ship seemed well maintained and at each port, staff could be found making touch ups and performing maintenance. The interior is clearly dated, but the overall decor in the main parts of the decks was still appealing and even luxurious to an extent. The ship seemed clean overall and was worth boarding.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
The cabin was comfortable and easily accommodated the two travelers staying in it. The bathroom was a bit tight and uncomfortable at first, but served its purpose and was plenty of usable. The room was a bit warm for me personally even with the marine vent set as cold as possible. The bed was comfortable and made do with no issues for us both. Our stateroom attendant did great cleaning the room each day, and you could smell the products used to sterilize and clean the bathroom when we first boarded. The only gripe I have that was specific to our room was a piece of gum that seemed to have gotten worked into the carpet and would stick to whatever came in contact with it.
The DR was beautiful and I loved seeing the culture and those who inhabit the land. It was more of a personal connection that I took away from this stop. The warm humid weather was nice, the dune buggy excursion we did was also fun and worth it.
Coco Cay was beautiful and the staff were very helpful, but the weather for us was windy, cool, and overcast. It made it hard to enjoy the waterpark and other water activities as planned.
Thanks for sharing your detailed cruise experience. Glad you had a wonderful first cruise! Sounds like you have joined the hooked on cruising club! 🙂
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