Explorer Of The Seas cabins and suites

Explorer of the Seas staterooms (1641 total) include 115 Suites, 652 Balcony, 232 OceanView, 138 Promenade View, and 504 Inside (including Virtual Balcony). Most cabins are 150-160 ft² (14-15 m²). Most balconies are 50 ft² (5 m²). The largest is the Royal Suite (1090 ft² / 101 m² plus a 215 ft² / 20 m² terrace with Jacuzzi).

The ship has a total of 27 handicap-accessible staterooms (ADA-certified, wheelchair-accessible) in the following categories: Junior Suite (2), Balcony (8), OceanView (7), Promenade View (1), Inside (9). There are 38 cabin categories in total, including the "Guaranteed" categories (W-Suite, X-Balcony, Y-Oceanview, Z-Inside).

During the ship's Royal Amplified 2020 drydock, new Interior and Balcony staterooms were added, and new "family cabin" categories were introduced: CB (Connecting Balcony), CO (Connecting Oceanview), CP (Connecting Promenade View Interior), CI (Connecting Interior).

Below is a review of RCI Explorer of the Seas staterooms, covering amenities, furniture, and services.

All Suites feature a king bed, large bathroom (whirlpool bathtub and separate shower), vanity area, walk-in closet, spacious living area (queen-size sofabed, dining area/pantry, wet bar, kitchen, dining table), and a private balcony (sliding floor-to-ceiling doors, whirlpool bathtub, sun loungers). Guests in all Suites (excluding Junior Suites) enjoy bonus amenities such as Concierge Service (24-hour Concierge Lounge access with continental breakfast, hors d'oeuvres, CD/DVD library, private parties), and priority services (Salon/Spa reservations, RCI tours/excursions booking, dining reservations).

Royal Suites have 2 separate bedrooms (each with 2 twin beds convertible to a queen), an additional room with bunk beds (for 3rd/4th guest), and an extended balcony (with whirlpool and deluxe lounge furniture). Added amenities include a media center (surround sound, large HDTV, stereo, CD/DVD player) and a baby grand piano.

Owner’s Suites feature queen beds, walk-in closets, large bathrooms (separate bathtub/shower), spacious living rooms (double sofabed, dining area, bar, fridge), and a media center.

GT-Two-Bedroom Grand Suites (formerly Royal Family Suites) have 2 separate bedrooms (each with 2 twin beds convertible to a queen), a guest bedroom (2 lower single beds convertible plus 2 bunk beds), a living room (vanity, double sofabed, dining table, dresser, sofa), and a bathroom with shower. Grand and Junior Suites include 2 twin beds (convertible), walk-in closet, larger bathroom (bathtub and shower), and large living room (desk, drawers, vanity, sofabed, chairs).

All Balcony staterooms have floor-to-ceiling sliding doors opening to a private veranda. On Explorer of the Seas, balconies on decks 7 and above have plexiglass, while those on deck 6 have steel railings. All port and starboard balconies are in-hull style, with solid metal up to 3 ft / 1 m from the floor and the rest open. Aft balconies have larger metal structures and are warmer during cold-weather itineraries. Side balconies provide better views, while midship ones are more enclosed. The ship’s mid-aft section is humped (wider), and cabins on the outer part of the hump are premium locations.

You can save money by booking forward or aft staterooms within your preferred category, as their size and amenities are the same as the more expensive midship staterooms.

Categories VP (Oceanview Suite), 1K (Ultra-Spacious Oceanview), and 1L (Panoramic Oceanview) are bow-facing family staterooms ideal for larger families. They accommodate up to 6 passengers and are often a cheaper alternative to booking connecting cabins. Each has 2 large picture windows (round, non-opening), a separate bedroom (with Pullman upper/lower bunk beds), a large living area (1 double sofabed, 2 lower single beds convertible to queen), and a larger bathroom (shower/bathtub). These cabins offer unobstructed views and can be booked at lower rates than balcony cabins.

Oceanview Suites have floor-to-ceiling windows (76 inches high x 100-320 wide / 1.9 m high x 2.5-8 m wide). They are premium family accommodations with 2 single beds (convertible to double), a spacious living area (desk, drawers, vanity, double sofabed), ample closet space, and a bathroom (WC/shower).

Standard Oceanview cabins have either a round porthole window (24 in / 61 cm) or rounded picture windows. Forward-facing Oceanviews feature two round windows overlooking the bow.

Atrium Promenade staterooms (category 2T-Promenade View, formerly PR) are inside cabins with bowed windows overlooking the Royal Promenade. The bowed design adds interior space and offers a great vantage point to watch Royal Promenade activities, including the nightly parade. Curtains should be kept closed at night, as there are cabins directly across.

A unique Royal Caribbean feature is the "Interior Virtual Balcony." These staterooms have an 80-inch (2 m) floor-to-ceiling LED screen (4K Ultra-HD, not a TV) that streams real-time video from the ship’s external cameras, giving guests "balcony views" without paying for a balcony cabin.

All Explorer OTS cabins include 2 twin beds (convertible to queen), ample closet/drawer space, private bathroom (shower, hairdryer, bath products), sitting area (desk, drawers, vanity, sofa), smart HDTV (infotainment system, Internet, on-demand movies), individual air-conditioning, direct-dial phone, electronic safe, lifejackets (in closet), radio, minibar, Internet access, and 24-hour room service (complimentary between 5 am and midnight).

Some staterooms include sofabeds or Pullman beds (upper/bunk) for 3rd/4th guests. Twin bed dimensions are 36 x 82 inches (90 x 210 cm).

In-cabin babysitting is available for an hourly fee (US$19 per child) with a maximum of 4 children per stateroom. Movies, toys, and games suitable for children with autism can also be borrowed.

RCI’s new Wi-Fi costs US$15 per device per day (50% discount on the second device). The Wi-Fi has shipwide coverage and is fast enough for streaming movies.