Explorer of the Seas
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
Explorer of the Seas is one of Royal Caribbean's 30 active ships and first entered service in 2000 with its most recent renovation in 2023. In terms of size, it comes in at 137,308 gross tons, 1,020 feet in length, and 15 passenger decks. On board, it supports up to 3,286 guests and approximately 1,185 crew members. The ship had an estimated build cost of $500 million and is flagged in Bahamas.
Explorer of the Seas
Ship Stats
Year Built
2000
Last Renovated
2023
Tonnage
137,308 GT
Length
1,020 ft
Capacity
3,286
Crew
1,185
Cost
$500 million
Decks
15
Voyager Class
Voyager Class groups ships with similar design and onboard features within Royal Caribbean. The first ship introduced in this class was Voyager of the Seas (1999), followed by Explorer of the Seas (2000), Adventure of the Seas (2001), Navigator of the Seas (2002), and Mariner of the Seas (2003).
Explorer of the Seas Ship Age
Explorer of the Seas entered service in 2000. Across Royal Caribbean's active fleet, the average build year is 2009 and across all major active cruise lines the average ship launch year is 2011. Ranked newest-to-oldest, this ship is 25 of 30 (newest ship = rank 1).
Timeline order: newest to oldest
- Explorer of the Seas
Current ship
Explorer of the Seas Renovations
Latest recorded dry dock / major renovation date: 2023.
Renovation details
The planned "Amplification" renovations to the Explorer of the Seas were postponed, but it received a significant technical dry dock in 2023. These updates included hull painting, mechanical overhauls, and localized cosmetic refreshes. It currently features many "Voyager-class" staples like the FlowRider and ice-skating rink, though it lacks the newer waterslides.
Explorer of the Seas Ship Size
Length and tonnage across Royal Caribbean's fleet
Explorer of the Seas measures 1,020 feet (311 m) (vs Royal Caribbean fleet average of 1,081 ft) and has gross tonnage of 137,308 GT (vs fleet average of 160,100 GT). It ranks 19 of 30 by length and 20 of 30 by tonnage in Royal Caribbean's active fleet.
Passenger Capacity & Crew Size
Explorer of the Seas vs Royal Caribbean fleet averages
Explorer of the Seas carries 3,286 passengers (vs Royal Caribbean average of 3,708) and has 1,185 crew members onboard (vs fleet average of 1,400). That puts this ship at a passenger-to-staff ratio of 2.77:1 compared with Royal Caribbean's overall 2.65:1 average.
Passenger Capacity
3,286
passengers
Crew Members
1,185
staff members
Passenger to Crew Ratio
2.77 : 1
Royal Caribbean Avg
2.65 : 1
Explorer of the Seas
Venues & Experiences
Explore dining, bars, activities, and onboard experiences available on Explorer of the Seas.
Deck 11buffetWindjammer Cafe
Decks 3, 4 & 5main dining roomSapphire Dining Room
Deck 5quick eatsCafé Promenade
Deck 11specialtyChops Grille
Deck 9specialtyConcierge Club
Deck 4specialtyGiovanni’s Italian Kitchen
Deck 14specialtyIzumi Hibachi & Sushi
Deck 12specialtyJohnny Rockets
Deck 5sweetsIce Cream Parlor
Deck Plans
The Explorer of the Seas has a total of 14 passenger decks. The lowest level available to guests is Deck 2. The highest passenger deck is Deck 15. Click below to access deck plans for the Explorer of the Seas. The resulting page will provide a floor plan and summary of all things to do offered on that level of the ship.
Deck 2 of 14
Cruise Director
On duty now · Chris Gruby
The cruise director is the heartbeat of the ship... the person responsible for onboard entertainment, activities, and guest engagement from embarkation to farewell. Think emcee, social director, and morale officer rolled into one. Below you'll find the current cruise director's bio, followed by a full historical timeline of every director who has served aboard Explorer of the Seas.
Chris Gruby
Chris Gruby is a Royal Caribbean cruise director known for his upbeat delivery, strong crowd engagement, and easy rapport with guests across large and mid-size ships.
Chris Gruby Full ProfileCruise Director Schedule
- Previous
Cruise Director
- Current
Cruise Director
Frequently Asked Questions
Explorer of the Seas quick answers covering size, capacity, deck plans, and what to expect onboard.
You will find the Explorer of the Seas Casino on Deck 4 of the ship.
You will find the Explorer of the Seas buffet on Deck 11 of the ship.
The planned "Amplification" renovations to the Explorer of the Seas were postponed, but it received a significant technical dry dock in 2023. These updates included hull painting, mechanical overhauls, and localized cosmetic refreshes. It currently features many "Voyager-class" staples like the FlowRider and ice-skating rink, though it lacks the newer waterslides.
The ship belongs to the Royal Caribbean class of ships known as the Voyager class.
The ship features 11 restaurants, 12 bars, 29 activities, 0 shows and 10 other venues for your enjoyment. You can click on our ship deck plans or details pages for a full list of activities, sorted by feature type.
The Explorer of the Seas has a total of 14 passenger decks. The lowest deck is Level 2. The upper most passenger deck is Level 15.
We're often asked how many passengers are on the Explorer of the Seas. The ship's capacity is 3,286. When comparing the occupancy to the average Royal Caribbean passenger capacity, you'll find that the average ship in the fleet holds 4,070 guests. Feel free to look at our graph above to see where this ship falls in line with all other live Royal Caribbean ships.
The Explorer of the Seas was built in 2000. Royal Caribbean includes 30 active ships. The oldest in the fleet was built in 1996 while the newest ship was built in 2027. The average Royal Caribbean ship is 17 years old and the median build date for all active ships is 2008
Each of Royal Caribbean's ships offers a unique layout with features and activities catered to all. Whether the Explorer of the Seas is right for you will depend on your individual preferences. Do you prefer a larger or smaller ship with many or fewer guests? Are you hoping for many family activities or entertainment options for an older clientele. Our deck maps layout and activities list provide a helpful guide to what you'll find on board. Feel free to explore the see if this ship is suited towards your preferences.
From end to end, the Explorer of the Seas length equals 1,020 feet (311 meters). Compare that to the average ship length of all 30 active vessels in Royal Caribbean fleet, measuring 1,081 feet (329 meters). Please see our size comparison chart above to see how this ship falls in line with all other active ships in the fleet.