Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas: Is It Still Worth Booking in 2026?
Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.
Creator's Key Takeaways
Is she tired and beat up, or is she a diamond in the rough?
If you're looking for icon level wow, well, this isn't the ship for you.
Creator's Tips & Advice
🆕New to Cruising? This Creator Addresses:
Questions This Creator Answers
Topics Covered
Port Highlights
Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = “meh”, 5 = “bacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.
About our Bacon Score methodologyYouTube Video Description↓
In this Explorer of the Seas full trip review 2026 — is Royal Caribbean's 26-year-old Voyager-class ship a diamond in the rough, or should you skip it? I sailed a 4-night Bahamas cruise on Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas to give you an honest look at what this older ship is really like in 2026. 🚢 Watch Next: Wonder of the Seas Review: https://youtu.be/kPGnJSSr0NA From embarkation to the cabin tour, dining, excursions, and a full ship tour — this review covers everything you need to decide if Explorer of the Seas is worth booking. Stops include Perfect Day at CocoCay (with a look inside the Coco Beach Club for $125/person) and the brand-new Royal Beach Club at Nassau — Royal Caribbean's newest private beach experience for 2026. Cabin: Spacious Ocean View Balcony, Cabin 8528 (200 sq ft — 40 sq ft larger than standard) 👇 MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO: 🌴 Hideaway Beach Club Full Review: https://youtu.be/kxwb1LQ9_XA 🚢Is NCL's Solo Studio Cabin Worth Booking? I Spent 4 Days in This Tiny Cabin: https://youtu.be/Wv03P-04y9o ABOUT THIS TRIP Ship: Explorer of the Seas (Royal Caribbean) Itinerary: 4-Night Bahamas (Nassau & CocoCay) Cabin: Spacious Oceanview Balcony ⚓ WHAT'S IN THIS VIDEO (Timestamps) 00:00 Intro – Is Explorer of the Seas still worth it? 00:39 Embarkation in Port Canaveral + first impressions 2:00 Comparison to Icon of the Seas 03:29 Cabin 8528 Ocean View Balcony tour 05:14 Sailaway + itinerary overview 06:08 Giovanni’s Italian dinner (specialty dining review) 08:04 Perfect Day at CocoCay + Coco Beach Club ($125) 09:52 Day 2 dinner (Main Dining Room) + 70’s Disco party 11:06 Royal Beach Club (new for 2026) Nassau 12:50 Day 3 dinner (Main Dining Room) + Nassau sail away sunset 14:08 Nightlife & entertainment on an older ship 14:56 Ship tour + Café Promenade, pizza, Decks 2 and 3 16:19 Ship Tour Decks 4–6: Schooner bar, casino, Royal Promenade 18:12 Ship Tour Decks 11–15: pool decks, Solarium, sports court, Viking Crown 21:04 Wear and Tear, Value Verdict, and Final Thoughts #exploreroftheseas #RoyalCaribbean #CruiseReview #CocoCay #RoyalBeachClub #cruisevlog ------------------------------------------------------------- 🧳 Must-Have Cruise Essentials (most under $25): Casemate Waterproof Phone Pouch: https://amzn.to/3XjfoKU USB-C and USB-A Charger Cube: https://amzn.to/3JSjLtg International Plug Adapter (Anker): https://amzn.to/4oTQfCk Electronics Organizer Travel Case: https://amzn.to/4nIHMkg Magnetic Hooks for Cabin Walls (Heavy Duty): https://amzn.to/4oXwsSm Portable Lock box (Masterlock): https://amzn.to/4415b9E Rechargeable Fan: https://amzn.to/4849rYn Clothes Hamper: https://amzn.to/43n09Ed Downy Wrinkle Releaser: https://amzn.to/4qQ1cXi Shoulder Bag: https://amzn.to/4846VkU Magnetic Wallet: https://amzn.to/47O06CS Chacos Sandals: https://amzn.to/3LR69Pu Cruise Luggage Tags: *Celebrity: https://amzn.to/49DZlyI *Carnival and Seaborn: https://amzn.to/3JSuQdV *NCL: https://amzn.to/49HV6lI *Royal Caribbean: https://amzn.to/4osVf0O *Princess: https://amzn.to/3Lw2oPu *Holland America: https://amzn.to/3WLgr69 ---------------------------------------------------------------- 👉 My Current YouTube Gear List: Sony Alpha ZV-E10 Camera: https://amzn.to/4ouLrUf DJI Osmo Nano Camera: https://amzn.to/4qMIP5C Logitech for Creators Blue Yeti Nano USB Microphone: https://amzn.to/43YSEU6 Torjim Softbox Photography Lighting Kit: https://amzn.to/43GAhDF Hollyland LARK A1 Wireless Microphone: https://amzn.to/3JJ1VJg NEEWER 9" LED Video Light Panel: https://amzn.to/4hRxLjx Aokeo AK-55 Desk Low Profile Adjustable Mic Boom: https://amzn.to/43SF04Z ---------------------------------------------------------------- ⚠️ This video is not sponsored, but the links above are affiliate links, which means anything you purchase may result in a small commission that goes towards supporting this channel.