Thread: Must see or do on Explorer of the Seas

Next April we will be on the Explorer of the Seas....our first RCI cruise. Oh my gosh, I can hardly wait! We booked over a year ago so its been a long one! What are some things we should definitely not miss seeing or doing while on the ship? BTW, this is a 12 night southern Caribbean cruise so we have lots of time to explore the ship. Yahoo!!

We've been on three of the Voyager-class ships, including the Explorer just about a month ago. If you haven't been on one of the Voyager-class ships before, you will find it to be wonderful - lots of things to do and see.

Whatever you do, don't miss the ice show! It is amazing and well worth the time. Tickets are free, but they often give them all out, so make sure you go get them as soon as they become available - usually the second day of your cruise.

For food, we really enjoy Portofino's - it's a speciality restaurant, so there is a service charge. And of course, Johnny Rockets is not to be missed - again, there's a slight service charge of $3.95.

The spa and workout areas are really nice.

Pete

Agree with Pete, DONT miss the ice skating show. Its absolutely amazing. Also get the tickets as soon as they become available.
Dont miss the different theme parties held in the Royal Promenade.

Remember you can pre-book the speciality restaurants online at RCCL. Its so easy and convinient and you are sure to get the night and time you want if you pre-book early.

Onboard the Royal Caribbean ships including Explorer OTS the speciality restaurant is called Portofino. As the name would suggest the cuisine is upscale Italian.
You must try their Risotto dish, its pure bliss.
The opening times are usually from 6-10pm. There is a cover charge of $20,- pp which includes food and service but not beverage.
The Portofino restaurant is located on deck 11 aft.

One of my favorite places to sit and relax is in the Viking Crown Lounge on deck 14. The view from up there is spectacular!! They do some exellent cocktails too

[IMG]file:///C:/Users/ARNALD%7E1/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg[/IMG]

Thank you both! We will definitely check out the ice show. It seems like I remember reading somewhere that people were lining up at 7 am to get tickets???? Is that necessary? When we get tickets do we choose the night/time to see the show at that time?

I'm sure we'll check out the specialty restaurant(s). We have found them to be well worth the charge on our NCL and Princess cruises. I think it is really nice that you can make reservations online beforehand. We will be cruising with my sister and brother-in-law. Can just one of us reserve for all of us at the same time? Do you know?

Thanks for your help!

Hi Janet - you`re welcome.

One person can make the reservation for all of you. No problem

It will say in your Daily Cruise Compass which times you can pick up your tickets. Queuing at 7am seems a bit exessive. You can choose time and night when you pick up your tickets.
When we cruised the Voyager OTS last year, 7 days cruise, there where no problems getting tickets for the ice shows. There even were tickets over. But I would suggest you to be at the ticket pick up point 15-20 minutes before the shceduled time. You, usually, get your tickets at the entrance of the Ice Rink.

Dont forget, you can try your ice skating skills at scheduled times during your cruise. The ship will provide skates. I never did, but how much fun wouldnt it be to ice skate onboard a ship sailing the Caribbean??!!

Originally Posted by *Lars*

Hi Janet - you`re welcome.

One person can make the reservation for all of you. No problem

It will say in your Daily Cruise Compass which times you can pick up your tickets. Queuing at 7am seems a bit exessive. You can choose time and night when you pick up your tickets.
When we cruised the Voyager OTS last year, 7 days cruise, there where no problems getting tickets for the ice shows. There even were tickets over. But I would suggest you to be at the ticket pick up point 15-20 minutes before the shceduled time. You, usually, get your tickets at the entrance of the Ice Rink.

Dont forget, you can try your ice skating skills at scheduled times during your cruise. The ship will provide skates. I never did, but how much fun wouldnt it be to ice skate onboard a ship sailing the Caribbean??!!

Thanks so much, you have been very helpful. I think I'll leave the ice skating to someone else though. I haven't been on a pair of ice skates in at least 35 years! I fall a lot further now, ha!

Again I will say (like everyone else) see the ice show. I did the ice skating, amazing how quickly you remember. Actually since the ship is moving, just stand still, you will skate...LOL

I also liked the Schooner Bar, right next to the Casino and the night club (which was also okay - called The Chamber) Sometimes there is a person playing the Piano, usually draws a big crowd. The one guy we had was funny, my GF and I love funny piano players.

One thing to watch out for is the NJ Drivers on the way to the Pier HA HA!

I just did the 9 day this past March and I do not regret it for one second, we loved everyday of our cruise.

Oh, check out the mini golf. The course looks stupid, but with the nasty east coast / Caribbean winds, turns out to be quite a challenge.

If you like the quiet bar type setting, like said check out the viking lounge.

Originally Posted by sk8erguy1978

Again I will say (like everyone else) see the ice show. I did the ice skating, amazing how quickly you remember. Actually since the ship is moving, just stand still, you will skate...LOL

I also liked the Schooner Bar, right next to the Casino and the night club (which was also okay - called The Chamber) Sometimes there is a person playing the Piano, usually draws a big crowd. The one guy we had was funny, my GF and I love funny piano players.

One thing to watch out for is the NJ Drivers on the way to the Pier HA HA!

I just did the 9 day this past March and I do not regret it for one second, we loved everyday of our cruise.

Oh, check out the mini golf. The course looks stupid, but with the nasty east coast / Caribbean winds, turns out to be quite a challenge.

If you like the quiet bar type setting, like said check out the viking lounge.

Thank you but still, I'll leave the skates behind. With my luck, I'd fall and break something

The Chamber sounds like fun. Is the funny piano player anything like the dueling pianos in Vegas, only solo? Those are always a good time.

We do plan on driving to the port....from Indiana!! With airfares leaving this stratosphere we pretty much have to. And how can a girl pack for 13 days in one 50 pound suitcase? LOL Last year we were going to drive to NY for our 9 night Crown Princess cruise but then I snagged some cheap airfares at practically the last minute so we flew instead. I doubt that will happen again. My sister and BIL are going with us so with 4 drivers it shouldn't be too bad. Mapquest says it is a 12 hour drive but we can probably do it faster than that. We'll leave the day before departure.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by gr82cu2

Thank you but still, I'll leave the skates behind. With my luck, I'd fall and break something

The Chamber sounds like fun. Is the funny piano player anything like the dueling pianos in Vegas, only solo? Those are always a good time.

We do plan on driving to the port....from Indiana!! With airfares leaving this stratosphere we pretty much have to. And how can a girl pack for 13 days in one 50 pound suitcase? LOL Last year we were going to drive to NY for our 9 night Crown Princess cruise but then I snagged some cheap airfares at practically the last minute so we flew instead. I doubt that will happen again. My sister and BIL are going with us so with 4 drivers it shouldn't be too bad. Mapquest says it is a 12 hour drive but we can probably do it faster than that. We'll leave the day before departure.

Thanks!

Well, if you are talking about the people in the Harrahs Casino "The Piano Bar" in LV - then well yes. The one guy, I am so mad for forgetting his name, and he might not be on the ship anymore (I was on this past March) was great. He sang party type songs getting the audience involved and having us do and sing stupid stuff... I still remember - one part where he has us sing about picking up his CD from the liquor store on the fifth floor by the cash register... HA HA! One of my favorite sing along song he did was the theme to Gillagans Island - I found it ironic.

Of course it could be different - but you will walk past the schooner bar often, Unless you do the cut through on the pool deck. So, you will see them all. He performed at night.

Yes you are just past Ohio and Ohio is about 8 hours, so depending how deep you live in the state, 12 hours sounds right. Hey about 5 years or so I drove from NY to Franklin LA, 22 strait hours. I did 80% of the driving - sucked! At least you are a straight line. I think all those mapping sites use perfect driving conditions at xx miles an hour, going to guess 55.

Also assuming he will still be there, the activites director - Phil - great guy and looks like Pee Wee Herman. You will also like the Bartenders at the Schooner Bar and the Casino Bar. Ellis I think was one guys name, forget the others. If you remember and want to have fun play a memory game with them. Tell them Dan and Michele Said hello... I hung out there often LOL - but I doubt they would remember us, I forgot their names (bad with that), but I could describe them well : P

Enjoy your trip!