Explorer of the Seas Review: Is It a Good Cruise Ship?

Choosing a cruise ship can feel like comparing apples and oranges — until you realise some apples are over two decades old and still drawing crowds. Explorer of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s Voyager-class vessel that entered service in 2000 and underwent a major refurbishment in 2020, sits somewhere between a beloved classic and a showroom floor relic. This review weighs its features, size, passenger feedback and value to help you decide if it still fits your vacation style.

Year Built: 2000 ·
Last Refurbished: 2020 ·
Passenger Capacity: 3,114 (double occupancy) ·
Tonnage: 137,308 GT ·
Length: 1,020 feet (311 meters) ·
Number of Decks: 15 (passenger accessible)

The following table condenses the essential facts about this Voyager-class ship.

Is Explorer of the Seas a Good Cruise Ship?

What passengers say about comfort and activities

• Reviews on Cruise Critic (cruise review site) note crowds as a common complaint, especially in the Windjammer buffet area.
• Multiple reviewers report musty toilet smells in cabins and public bathrooms (TripAdvisor (passenger reviews)).
• A 2026 review describes the ship as older and crowded but notes top-notch service and a clean Junior Suite (Cruise Critic (cruise review site)).

Value for money considerations

• Travel blog Traveling Ears (cruise travel blog) highlights strong value pricing that makes it family-friendly, despite dated decor.
• The ship lacks newer mega-ship features like water coasters or the Royal Promenade found on Oasis-class vessels (Traveling Ears (cruise travel blog)).

The implication: value is strong, but expectations must align with the ship’s age and size.

When Was Explorer of the Seas Last Refurbished?

What the 2020 dry dock added

• The ship underwent a major dry dock in 2020 that included new dining venues and technology upgrades (Royal Caribbean (official)).
• Suite cabins, such as stateroom 9234, are reported as roomy, nice and mostly refurbished (CruiseLine.com (cruise itinerary database)).

Known maintenance and dry dock schedule

• The exact date of the next scheduled dry dock has not been publicly announced (Cruise Critic (cruise review site)).
• Industry norms suggest a major dry dock every 5–7 years; a 2027 or 2028 refit is plausible but unconfirmed.

The 2020 refurbishment improved several public areas and dining options, but not all cabins received equal attention. The implication: passengers willing to book a suite get a noticeably better experience than those in standard staterooms.

Is Explorer of the Seas the Biggest Ship?

How Explorer of the Seas compares to Oasis and Quantum class

• Explorer of the Seas measures 137,308 gross tons (Wikipedia).
• Oasis-class ships exceed 225,000 GT (Royal Caribbean (official)).
• Quantum-class ships are about 168,000 GT (Wikipedia).

Size rankings within Royal Caribbean fleet

• Explorer is not the biggest; it is a mid-to-large Voyager-class vessel. Smaller than Oasis/Quantum but larger than Radiance or Vision class ships.

This size comparison puts Explorer’s dimensions into perspective against newer classes.

The pattern: Explorer sits squarely in the middle of Royal Caribbean’s size spectrum.

Is Explorer of the Seas a Small Ship?

Actual passenger capacity compared to industry average

• Explorer accommodates ~3,114 passengers double occupancy (Wikipedia).
• Many newer ships carry 4,000+ passengers (e.g., MSC Seaview ~4,200). By modern standards it is medium-sized.

Benefits and drawbacks of its size

• Smaller relative to Oasis class but larger than Radiance or Vision class ships (Wikipedia).
• Less crowded than mega-ships, but still busy during peak times (Traveling Ears (cruise travel blog)).

The catch: “medium” means you get neither the intimacy of a small ship nor the vast entertainment ecosystem of a mega-vessel.

What Are Common Complaints About Explorer of the Seas?

Crowds and wait times

• Member reviews on Cruise Critic (cruise review site) mention long lines for dining, especially for specialty restaurants.
• On a 13-day cruise (Oct 19–Nov 1), only 3 specialty restaurants led to meal repetition (Cruise Critic (cruise review site)).

Condition of older areas

• Some public areas from the 2000 build show wear (TripAdvisor (passenger reviews)).
• 2020 refurbishment improved several spaces but did not cover all cabins.

The pattern: complaints centre on the gap between refurbished and original areas; planning mitigates most issues.

What Does Washy Washy Mean on a Cruise Ship?

Health rituals on Royal Caribbean ships

• “Washy washy” is a Royal Caribbean hand-sanitation greeting made popular in viral videos and social media posts.
• Staff members called “Mr. Washy Washy” perform this greeting at buffet entrances (Cruise Critic (norovirus prevention advice)).

The role of Mr. Washy Washy

• This practice is part of norovirus prevention protocols encouraged by the CDC (public health authority).

Why this matters: hand hygiene at buffet entrances is one of the most effective ways to reduce gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on cruise ships.

What Are the Five Foods to Avoid on a Cruise Ship?

Food safety tips for cruise ship buffets

• Raw or undercooked seafood from buffets should be avoided (CDC (public health authority)).
• Unpasteurised dairy products pose a risk.
• Food left at room temperature for hours is a bacterial hazard (Cruise Critic (cruise health forums)).
• Unpeeled fruits in regions with water concerns.
• High-sodium prepared items if you have dietary restrictions.

Five items, one pattern: the buffet line is the biggest risk zone; sticking to hot, freshly prepared dishes lowers exposure.

The implication: avoid peak buffet times and choose made-to-order options when possible.

The pattern: confirmed facts are well-documented; unclear items are mostly about future maintenance and scope of renovations.

Timeline

• 2000 – Entered service as part of Voyager class (Wikipedia)
• 2015 – Dry dock with updates to dining and staterooms (Cruise Critic (cruise review site))
• 2020 – Major refurbishment added new restaurants, technology upgrades (Royal Caribbean (official))
• 2023–2024 – Scheduled itineraries in Mediterranean and Caribbean (CruiseLine.com (cruise itinerary database))

The pattern: each milestone shows incremental investment, but the next major update remains unconfirmed.

Pros & Cons

The trade-off: lower fares and classic features outweigh worn decor and crowded buffets for budget-conscious travelers.

“The 2020 dry dock added new dining venues and technology upgrades, ensuring Explorer of the Seas remains competitive for another decade.”

— Royal Caribbean Press Release (2020), paraphrased

“Crowds are a common complaint, especially in the Windjammer buffet area.”

— Passenger review on Cruise Critic (cruise review site)

For budget-conscious families, the trade-off is clear: lower fares and classic features outweigh worn decor and crowded buffets. But if modern amenities are a priority, a newer ship may be worth the premium.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Fred Olsen Cruises from Liverpool – 2026 & 2027 Schedules and Prices
• Bahia Principe Fantasia Tenerife – Family Resort Guide 2026

For budget-conscious families, Explorer of the Seas remains a solid choice, provided they book a refurbished suite and manage dining expectations.