Summer
Northern Europe & the Mediterranean
Fjords, Baltic capitals and Greek Isles depending on the year. Explorer often does one and then repositions for the other.
← Voyager Class
Royal Caribbean · Voyager Class · Launched October 2000
Explorer of the Seas
The world traveller — a Voyager ship that goes almost everywhere.
Explorer of the Seas has spent much of the last few years chasing the seasons — a single year of deployments has taken her from Northern Europe to the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Asia and the South Pacific. If your holiday is built around a specific region rather than a specific ship, Explorer is often the answer.
Watch
Explorer of the Seas — a first look.
A first look at Voyager-class cruising — the Royal Promenade, ice rink and pool deck at the heart of an Explorer sailing.
Quick facts
The essentials — checked before we advise.
Fleet details change. These are correct at time of writing; we'll confirm the exact deployment for your dates when we speak.
Class
Voyager Class (sister to Voyager, Navigator, Mariner, Adventure)
Maiden voyage
28 October 2000
Size
137,308 GT · 15 decks (14 guest decks) · 1,020 ft / 310 m long · 157 ft / 47 m wide · 29 ft / 8 m draft
Capacity
1,643 staterooms · 3,286 guests at double occupancy
Crew
≈ 1,185 international crew
Built at
Kværner Masa-Yards, Turku, Finland
Godmother
Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Best for
Cruisers building a holiday around a specific region — Northern Europe, the Med, the Middle East, Asia — who want a comfortable mid-sized Royal Caribbean ship rather than the biggest new-builds
Official fact sheet
Every deck, dining venue and stateroom count — the full Explorer of the Seas fact sheet (PDF).
Onboard
Standout features, at a glance.
A high-level look. We'll go deeper on any of these — including the shows worth pre-booking — when we speak.
FlowRider & Perfect Storm
The stern-mounted FlowRider surf simulator plus the Perfect Storm water thrills — proper active-cruise credentials for a ship this age.
Studio B ice rink
A working ice rink with the signature Royal Caribbean skating show — a brilliant sea-day surprise on longer European or Asian sailings.
The Royal Promenade
The Voyager-class original — the interior 'street' with Café Promenade, R Bar, Crown & Kettle pub and Schooner Bar. Still one of the best atmospheres at sea.
Dining variety
Main Dining Room, Windjammer and Café Promenade complimentary, plus Chops Grille, Giovanni's Table, Izumi, Johnny Rockets and Izumi speciality — a proper choice at every price point.
Kids, teens & family
Adventure Ocean kids' clubs by age group, Optix teen disco, the arcade and Sports Court — plenty for families on port-heavy European itineraries.
Globetrotting deployments
One of the most widely travelled ships in the fleet — a single year can see her in Southampton, the Med, the Gulf, Singapore or Sydney. Great for unusual itineraries.
Cabins & where to book
Not all balconies are equal.
On a port-heavy European or Asian itinerary, deck choice and location matter far more than category. We'll walk you through the sweet spots — including which side of the ship to book for scenic sail-ins on your specific route.
We'll steer you clear of the obstructed views, the cabins under the pool deck and the noisy connecting doors — and towards the ones that quietly go for the same money.
Best value
Mid-ship balcony, Deck 7 or 8
Quiet, steady in weather, quick access to the Royal Promenade and pool deck. The cabin we book most often on Explorer.
Family sweet spot
Promenade-view interior, Deck 7
Bay windows onto the interior street — much brighter than a standard interior, a fraction of the balcony price. Great for teens.
Scenic splurge
Aft balcony, Deck 9 or 10
The wraparound wake view as you leave a fjord, a Greek island or a Middle Eastern port at dusk is unbeatable. Books early — ask as soon as your dates open.
Avoid
Deck 2 & 3 outside cabins under the Promenade
Late-night footfall and music can carry. We'll flag exactly which cabin numbers are affected before you commit.
Where she sails
Popular itineraries for Explorer of the Seas.
A general picture of her deployment. Exact dates, ports and pricing shift — we'll confirm live availability for your window.
Autumn / Winter
Middle East, Asia & Australia
Recent deployments have included the Arabian Gulf, Singapore-based Southeast Asia sailings and Australia/NZ seasons. Rare-itinerary specialist.
Spring / Autumn
Repositioning voyages
Long transatlantic and transpacific crossings between deployments — a bucket-list way to travel slowly between regions.
Why book Explorer of the Seas with Valora
A Royal Guru in your corner.
- Explorer's itinerary can change dramatically year on year — we'll flag the best-value season for the region you want to visit.
- For scenic itineraries (fjords, Milford, Halong Bay), we'll book the correct side of the ship for the sail-in, not just any balcony.
- Pre-book speciality dining and the ice show the moment your booking opens — the popular slots go weeks ahead.
- Honest guidance on drinks, Wi-Fi and shore-excursion packages — pricing varies significantly by region.
- Named Royal Guru on WhatsApp before, during and after — not a call-centre queue.
Ready when you are
Sail Explorer of the Seas the right way.
Twenty unhurried minutes with a named Royal Guru. Honest advice on cabin, deck and week — no obligation, no hard sell.