Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas!

Why we think cruising is the BEST family holiday!

It’s no secret that we LOVE cruising, we talk about it all the time on our social media accounts. It is not only our kids, but we parents, favourite style of holiday! And why wouldn’t it be? Where else can you rock climb or surf a man-made wave while sailing the ocean to your next destination? Or enjoy an endless supply of delicious food whenever you feel hungry? We honestly can’t recommend cruising enough as a family holiday. Here, following our recent experience aboard Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas, we share why.

This was our second time cruising aboard Explorer of the Seas, with our last sailing a repositioning cruise from Singapore to Perth in 2015. The ship is a great size (one of the midsize ships in the fleet) and there are plenty of activities for the kids. Our cruise sailed from Sydney return with stops at Isle of Pines and Nouemea in New Caledonia,  and Mystery Island, Lifou and Port Vila in Vanuatu  – an itinerary we absolutely loved.

STATEROOMS & SUITES

Having three kids means we can’t fit into a standard cabin – we need to upgrade to the Grand Suite or alternatively, take two rooms. We have always chosen the Grand Suite option, because even though it is slightly more costly, the perks that come with the suite make it worth the additional expense. And what might those “perks” be?

• Free cocktails, beer, wine, and spirits from 5pm – 8.30pm nightly in the private concierge room. Given we don’t drink in the day, this is an absolute winner for us and has saved us so much money on drinks.
• Coffee & Tea – Again, you can grab PROPER coffees from a PROPER coffee machine in the concierge room all day, aswell as continental breakfast and canapes from 5pm.
• Private breakfast at Chops Grille restaurant only available for Suite Guests or Pinnacle Members.
• Priority Embarkation and Disembarkation
• Priority Tenders – This is a major drawcard. The queues for tenders to get over to the ports can be crazy! Suite guests can meet their concierge who will take them down to skip the lines. Beware – you may get a few grunts from disgruntled passengers who have been lining up for a long time…… 🙂
•  Invitations to special events – Suite guests often get invited to private cocktail parties, bridge tours, galley tours and more often than not will be offered the chance to chat to the captain and take a few photos!
• A MUCH LARGER ROOM! This is a given when booking a suite, but the Grand Suite is a great size and ample space for 2 adults and 3 kids. There is a large bed with a curtain you can pull across, a pull-out sofa bed and if you need, a rollaway bed for another.
• The bathroom is ginormous! Honestly – HUGE!
• Separate sectioned off pool chairs are available only to Gold Card, or Suite Guests. So no more fighting for a pool chair .
• Separate sectioned off chairs at the Theatre shows only available to Gold Card, or Suite Guests.
• Double points towards your Crown & Anchor rewards program. We are now diamond members thanks to two points per night!

All those benefits make our cruise just that little bit more special, and we think it is absolutely worth the extra money getting a Suite rather than two interconnecting rooms. Of course if you don’t have three kids there are plenty of stateroom options available fitting 2 adults and 2 children.

LETS TALK KIDS ACTIVITIES!

Your kids will literally never be bored on this ship. EVER! We did everything and saw everything and still felt like we didn’t really do enough.

Rock Climbing

This is all of our favourite activity, we absolutely love to rock climb. It’s challenging, exhausting and a great workout. Make sure you check the Cruise Compass to find out what times the walls are open for climbing then head on down! The minimum age is 6 and you must have socks.

Flow Rider

We actually haven’t given the FlowRider – a simulated surfing experience, a go as yet. There are always so many people watching and I have a fear of losing my bather bottoms in front of a bunch of strangers! Max desperately wanted to give it a go but sadly was a teensy bit small (He is currently smashing the Weet-Bix to make sure he is big enough for the next one!) It does look like great fun though and even if you aren’t up for surfing, it is entertaining to watch.

Mini Golf

This is another fun activity for the whole family and available all day when sailing. We played this nearly every day and never got sick of it. Royal Caribbean often hold family golf tournaments, so check out the daily Cruise Compass to find out times.

Ice Skating

The Explorer of the Seas has an ice rink onboard, which is used for shows for the first two days and as an open ice rink afterwards. The kids love ice skating (not me, I am purely there to watch others fall !) so are always one of the first in line when it is open. Make sure you wear long pants and top, and the same for if you are spectating as it gets very cold in there.

Arcade

This was the first time I actually let the kids play with actual money in the machines – the last few cruises we could get away with them just pretending….not anymore! To play the arcade games you’ll need to add funds to your SeaPass card, then simply swipe through the machine. It’s a great spot for the tween / teen boys to hang out and can get pretty busy later in the evenings.

Theatre Shows & Movies

The Explorer of the Seas has some fantastic shows the whole family can enjoy. The kids always love watching the Illusionists and the comedians, and on the last night, the Farewell show. There is normally an early show around 7 to 7.30pm and a second seating around 9pm. If you tell the dining room staff that you plan on watching the early show they will get your meals out nice and quick.

The movie screenings will be either in the theatre or at the pool deck, just check out the daily Cruise Compass to find out what is screening and where. A hot tub at night while watching a movie is always a great ending to the day.

Adventure Ocean / Teen Lounge

My kids have never really been huge on the kids club aboard the cruises, Jay was always too young and the older two prefer to be off doing other things. But this cruise Jay was over three and wanted to give it a try one day. That was it ….we barely saw him again! Some days he would go from 9am-12pm, have lunch with us, go back from 2pm-5pm, have dinner with us, then get picked up at the dining room at 6.40pm by the staff until we picked him up from the kids club around 8.30pm. I actually had to try and convince him to hang out with us some days! He made some little friends and just had so much fun though. Some days Max would sign himself in when he was bored (they can self- sign as they get older) or after dinner for a few hours (one night we were all so tired and wanted to go to sleep but were waiting for Max to “come home” from the kids club).

The Adventure Ocean kids club is split into 3-5 years, 6-8 years and 8-11 year age groups – each age group has a different room and activities . The older kids often get taken down to the basketball courts or on scavenger hunts around the ship, whereas the younger ones will normally stay in the kids club rooms.

For the older kids there is a teen lounge where teens can hang out and do whatever it is teens do. They also offer Late Night Parties for an hourly fee, so Mum & Dad can go drop a few dollars on the pokies while the kids have a blast with their new friends.

Swimming Pools & Spas

The Explorer of the Seas has two pools and four hot tubs on the main pool deck. Other ships may have waterslides but this particular ship doesn’t. The kids love swimming in the pools, which is water straight from the ocean, before relaxing in the spa at night while to watch a movie on the big screen. What could be better right? Just be mindful that when the ship is moving through choppy seas, the pool can be a little dangerous for the small ones as it tips the water from side to side. There are life jackets available at the towel centre for little ones.

Be sure to watch the Sexiest Man Competition or Belly Flop Competitions that they have out at the pool – they are a lot of fun and add to the great atmosphere around the pool deck.

Shuffleboard & Ping Pong

Another activity that my kids love is shuffleboard!. There are a couple of different courts scattered around the ship and all three of mine love this game. There are also ping pong tables located up the back of the ship underneath the FlowRider and always a good way to fill in the day!

Family Games

There are many different family activities on throughout the cruise – perhaps a Family Karaoke competition or Family Trivia tickles your fancy, or a dodgeball or mini golf tournament.  Just keep your eye on the Cruise Compass, which gets delivered to your stateroom each night and highlight all the activities that interest you and what times they are on. We tried to participate in more of these activities this time and they were so much fun.

Ice Cream

And if you STILL don’t know what to do – go grab a free ice cream from the pool deck! 🙂

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For the Adults

Cruises aren’t all about the kids – we adults need a little ME time every now and then too, right? While the kids are off enjoying the kids club or hanging out with friends- there is certainly no shortage of activities to keep grownups amused.

There are plenty of bars around the ship for you to have a drink while listening to live music, or seeing shows in the theatre. The Adults Only Comedy show is supposed to be hilarious (we are yet to actually watch one) and the musical talent onboard is just incredible. Again, keep an eye on the Cruise Compass to see what is on and where.

For those wanting a real break, there is an Adults only Pool area called the Solarium. This area is under a glass roof making it beautiful and warm, and of course there are hot tubs and bars there as well for those wanting to really relax.

The gymnasium onboard has a great variety of machines and offers some fab classes like Pilates / Fab Abs etc, for an extra cost. There are also free classes scattered around the ship wih Zumba, line dancing and more.

Like to have a little punt? The casino always has a great atmosphere and if you are lucky enough, you may just take a large win – wouldn’t it be great to be able to book another cruise at the Next Cruise Counter after a night out in the casino!?

DINING

If you love your food, and a large variety of cuisines – then you will love cruising. Honestly, the food is amazing, and you will literally never go hungry.  I think that is one of the many reasons why we love cruising with our kids – the fact that once you pay, everything is included. Kids aren’t hungry at breakfast? Not a problem, wait an hour or two and send them for brunch instead. Kids hungry an hour after lunch? Not a problem, send them to get an afternoon snack. It is just so convenient, and we never find ourselves yelling at the kids for wasting meals or giving them the old “if you don’t eat what is on your plate, too bad as there is no more food available until dinner”. Because there is ALWAYS food available!

We generally eat breakfast in Chops Grille, one of the speciality restaurants onboard which is open for breakfast to Suite Guests. The room is beautiful and the al a carte menu is delicious. Some days the kids some days prefer to get their own food at the Windjammer buffet then bring it into Chops Grille, usually after they have had pancakes for a few days in a row and feel like a change.

For lunch we head to Windjammer Buffet or the main dining room. We found the food at Windjammer delicious this time and there is so much to choose from. From healthy salads and curries, to make your own hamburgers and hot dogs – and of course a desert buffet to finish it off!

The Main Dining Room is one of my favourite parts of cruising. I just love the elegance of the decor and the traditional table settings, and watching the landscape as we sail past with a glass of red. If you choose a set dining seating you will have the same table and the same waiters each night at your nominated time. We find this just makes the cruise so special. You really get to know your staff, their stories and backgrounds and they get to know you in return, from what the kids like for entrees, desserts to if your child has food allergies like ours, when they take extra care to ensure they are no allergens in their meals.

Anytime Dining is best for those who like a little more flexibility and prefer to go to dinner when they are ready and not be tied down to a certain time.

For kids who like to head to the kids club after dinner, they also have Family Time Dining. This is where the Adventure Ocean staff will come and collect the children between 3-11 years 40 minutes after your dinner seating and take them up to the kids club. This way adults can finish their meals peacefully without rushing and enjoy some adult conversation.

Our must pack items for cruising

Having cruised six times now we have found a few products that we simply can’t cruise without.

• Walkie Talkies – These are a godsend for those with older kids who often enjoy the activities around the ship with their new friends or come and go out of the kids club as they please. With these you can give them some independence while still keeping tabs on them.
• A pegless washing line – These are great for those with balcony cabins. Simply stick the suction caps to the glass and get your washing dry in no time.
• Power adaptors – Make sure you pack the correct power converters.
• Formal night clothing – There is normally at least one formal night on each cruise so make sure you all have a nice outfit or two!
• Lanyards – These can be expensive on the boat so pre-order some lanyards from eBay or somewhere before you go. I get my sparkly bling ones on eBay for a few dollars.
• Kwells kids tablets – The Guest Services desk will hand out sea sickness tablets for adults incase you encounter some rough weather, but we always pack some for the kids just incase. Thankfully we haven’t had to use them yet!

Other Cruising Hot Tips

• It is always a good idea to pack some swimwear in a carry-on bag when you board the ship, as there is often a bit of time before your bags are delivered to your stateroom. That way the kids can enjoy the pool and spas when they first board.
• Make sure you have some notes packed to tip your room attendant, waiter etc at the end of your cruise. These staff go out of their way to make your trip enjoyable and deserve to be tipped accordingly.
• Kids Sail Free / 50% Off sales often pop up so keep an eye out for these sales as they can make a huge difference to the overall cost.
• For those that get a little seasick, try to book a midship cabin on a lower deck as these are the least rough. None of us have been seasick as yet on cruises and we have encountered some pretty rough seas, but if you are super susceptible to sickness – sailing through Singapore/ Melacca would be an ideal route as you barely even feel movement through there.
• Research your ship extensively – there would be nothing worse than booking a cruise with young kids and finding once onboard that there are very little facilities for kids! A travel agent like myself generally have a lot of knowledge about cruise ships and which would be suitable, so if you aren’t sure, just ask us.
• Young toddlers and babies must be toilet trained to use the pools for obvious reasons. Some ships do have baby splash areas, so again, do your research on which ships offer the dedicated toddler areas.
• Same goes for the nursery – not all the ships have nurseries onboard for children under three years so again, RESEARCH.
• The WiFi onboard the Explorer was fantastic and I had no issue with speed or downloads.
• Kids CANNOT “fall” overboard. Unless your kids are left to climb balconies unattended, they are completely safe. The balconies on the cabins are glass and come up to my kids’ chests, so rest assured as long as you are watching them and they have been drilled about climbing on edges, they will be fine.
• If you have food allergies like our daughter, inform the staff at the restaurants and if you are unsure about anything – ask. They will call the chef for confirmation, and sometimes the chef will come out and chat to you which is really comforting.
• There are doctors and medical facilities onboard so any if you have any signs of illness, go and visit the medical staff and they will treat you accordingly. I can’t stress enough how important it is to sanitise your hands. There are hand sanitiser machines everywhere onboard and dedicated staff to ensure you sanitise before you eat at any restaurant. Stop the spread of germs and you will be fine. WASHY WASHY as they say.

Have I convinced you to take a cruise if you have been humming and hawing yet? I hope so. The Explorer of the Seas has definitely been our kids favourite ship so far and one we highly recommend for families. The Royal Caribbean brand itself is just unbeatable. Their ships have such a high level of elegance and sophistication, while still appealing to families with their incredible kids’ facilities and ship designs. We are total cruise converts and I just know our kids’ will be cruisers long after they have become adults and left the nest (especially because they are now diamond members for life!)

We have always felt completely safe and having a child with a life-threatening food allergy, that is invaluable. There really is no better way to start the day than waking up, opening the curtains and watching this giant, incredible floating city dock at your next destination. We cannot wait for our next cruise – now to decide where and which ship!

For more information on Royal Caribbean and their ships click here. For anyone looking to book a cruise please email me at april@globetrottingtravelandcruise.com.au and I will give you the best deal I can find, aswell as plenty of information to help you on your way.

Disclaimer: This post is in no way sponsored and is my 100% honest opinion.