EXPLORER of the Seas - a Few Questions

[SassyGirl]

Hi All

 

Hubby and I are getting ready to sail on the Explorer and I have a few questions for those of you who have recently sailed on this ship.

 

1. What adults-only areas are there on the ship? (the ones I am aware of are the Solarium and Casino...any others?)

2. What is the flat fee to eat at Johnny Rockets? (the last I checked it was $4.95, extra for beverages, free breakfast...has this changed?)

3. Is there a charge to do any of these activities: in-line skating, ice skating, rock wall climbing, mini golf, thalassotherapy pool? If so, can you tell me what the charges are?

4. Aside from Portofino (which we know is supposed to be awesome!), what/where is the best food on the ship? Anything you've had that is extra good?

5. I plan to wear a full-length gown on formal night. Will I look out of place?

 

If you have any other tips to share, I would love it. Thanks so much and I will be sure to post a cruise review when we return.

 

Patty

Edited January 21, 2014 by SassyGirl

[Merion_Mom]

Patty, my responses in red.

 

Hi All

 

Hubby and I are getting ready to sail on the Explorer and I have a few questions for those of you who have recently sailed on this ship.

 

1. What adults-only areas are there on the ship? (the ones I am aware of are the Solarium and Casino...any others?) No others.

2. What is the flat fee to eat at Johnny Rockets? (the last I checked it was $4.95, extra for beverages, free breakfast...has this changed?) No change.

3. Is there a charge to do any of these activities: in-line skating, ice skating, rock wall climbing, mini golf, thalassotherapy pool? If so, can you tell me what the charges are? no charge for any of these things; is there a thalassotherapy pool on Explorer? I can't remember.

4. Aside from Portofino (which we know is supposed to be awesome!), what/where is the best food on the ship? Anything you've had that is extra good? That is it.

5. I plan to wear a full-length gown on formal night. Will I look out of place? Absolutely not.

 

If you have any other tips to share, I would love it. Thanks so much and I will be sure to post a cruise review when we return.

 

Patty

 

There is a huge thread "All Things Explorer" with "other tips".

[Clarea]

No free (or pay) breakfast at Johnny Rockets on Explorer.

[138east]

The thalassotherapy pool is the giant hot tub in the fitness center. There is no charge.

 

When are you sailing? Kids are generally not an issue if you're sailing outside the school vacations.

 

The MDR is open on sea days for lunch. Check out the tutti salad bar.

[springaussie]

No free (or pay) breakfast at Johnny Rockets on Explorer.

 

This will be interesting on Navigator when it re enters service after dry dock. It is an Oasis Class feature and that is what Royal is marketing!

[At Sea 4Ever]

The nightclub, the chamber, is another adults only spot.

[SassyGirl]

Thanks for the responses, everyone...very helpful! I am especially glad to hear the thalassotherapy pool is free. I really enjoyed that on one of the Celebrity cruises we took, but on the last cruise I took (on Norwegian) they were charging something like $110 a week to use the pool and no day passes.

 

If anyone else wants to chime in, please do!

 

ETA: We are sailing on 1/31....a 9-day cruise out of Bayonne. So I am hoping few kids.

Edited January 22, 2014 by SassyGirl

[Merion_Mom]

No free (or pay) breakfast at Johnny Rockets on Explorer.

 

Good catch. I read too fast and missed that part of the question.

 

This will be interesting on Navigator when it re enters service after dry dock. It is an Oasis Class feature and that is what Royal is marketing!

 

Several ships have been described as getting "Oasis-style upgrades". No other ship has started serving breakfast at Johnny Rockets, so far.

 

:)

[Merion_Mom]

The nightclub, the chamber, is another adults only spot.

 

Except for the occasions when it is turned over to "family night" or "teen night".

 

For that matter, the Viking Crown Lounge (Dizzy's on Explorer, IIRC) is supposedly 18+ after 10 P.M.

[Insatiable Caribbean]

We are going on the same cruise. It will be our second time on the Explorer and third on a voyager class ship. We always enjoy the tutti salad bar.

[138east]

 

If anyone else wants to chime in, please do!

 

ETA: We are sailing on 1/31....a 9-day cruise out of Bayonne. So I am hoping few kids.

 

I have sailed many times on the EX in the Jan 31 timeframe. There are always children, but very few of them. Just enough to balance out the passenger demographics on the ship.

 

BTW I've never heard the giant hot tub called the thalassotherapy pool. That might be what it is, but basically it's just a giant hot tub in the fitness center.

[Jimnbigd]

Enjoy your cruise. Hopefully you won't have a major snow storm like today that might delay your cruise or keep you from getting to the ship.

Other tips:

* The solarium has a couple of large hot tubs. So does the main pool area.

* Cafe Promenade (deck 5) is free (OK..."No extra charge"), but the specialty coffee and ice cream next to it charges extra.

* Drinks you pay for always have an additional 15% tip automatically added on.

* The solarium on deck 11 is adult only, but kids will be going through this to get from the front elevators to the main pool area.

* The tutti salad (mentioned above) is available in the MDR for lunch, which is open for lunch on sea days only.

* Don't miss the ice show (free, but often requires tickets). The 3rd and 4th shows are sometimes easier to get into.

Edited January 22, 2014 by Jimnbigd

[SassyGirl]

THANKS - great tips!

 

I am really excited for the cruise...especially because it is 9 days and there are a few sea days, which we really like.