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Explorer of the Seas vs Eclipse
The Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas was built in 2000. It was renovated in 2023. Explorer of the Seas was Amplified in 2023 which added many new features, restaurants, and attractions to this ship. It's 10 years older than the Eclipse, which was built in 2010 and renovated in 2025.
Comparison Overview
- Ship Size
- Number of Passengers
- Food and Restaurants
- Bars and Drinks
- Pools and Hot Tubs
- Ship Features and Activities
- Cruise Costs
- Onboard Costs
Ship Size
The Explorer of the Seas is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 1,020 feet long and 157 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.8 football fields, as wide as 3 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 14-story building. Compared to the Celebrity Eclipse, the Explorer of the Seas is 13% larger in terms of overall tons.
Number of Passengers
Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas holds 15% more passengers than the Eclipse based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you look at the "Space Ratio," or the total tonnage of a ship compared to the number of passengers, the Explorer of the Seas has less space per person compared to the Eclipse.
| Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas | Celebrity Eclipse | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Voyager | Solstice |
| Gross Tonnage | 137,308 | 122,000 |
| Length | 1,020 | 1,040 |
| Beam/Width | 157 | 121 |
| Passenger Decks | 14 | 13 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 3,286 | 2,850 |
| Crew | 1,185 | 1,286 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 2.8 | 2.2 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 42 | 43 |
Food and Restaurants
Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.
The Explorer of the Seas has nine different dining options like Johnny Rockets, Chops Grille, and Windjammer. Of those options, eight are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other six options have an additional fee.
The Eclipse has one more dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Main Dining Room, Mast Grill, and Tuscan Grille. nine of these restaurants are complementary and the other six have an additional fee.
The Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas has about the same number of dining options as the Celebrity Eclipse.
If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Eclipse might be a better choice then the Explorer of the Seas. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.
| Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas | Celebrity Eclipse | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Dining Options | 9 | 10 |
| Complimentary Dining Options: | 8 | 9 |
| Additional Fee Dining Options: | 6 | 6 |
| % of Included Options | 33% | 40% |
| See the options | See the options |
Bars and Drinks
The Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas has 6 fewer bars than the Celebrity Eclipse. The Explorer of the Seas has 10 bars like Solarium Bar, Star Lounge and The Tavern. On Explorer of the Seas, you can grab a drink at 16 different bars such as Ensemble Lounge, Il Secondo Bacio and Pool Bar.
| Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas | Celebrity Eclipse |
|---|---|
| •Casino Bar • Dizzy's • English Pub • Pool Bar • R Bar • Schooner Bar • Sky Bar • Solarium Bar • Star Lounge • The Tavern | •Cafe al Bacio • Casino Bar • Cellar Masters • Ensemble Lounge • Il Secondo Bacio • Martini Bar • Mast Bar • Michael's Club • Oceanview Bar • Passport Bar • Pool Bar • Quasar • Sky Observation Lounge • Sunset bar • The Whiskey and Cigar House • World Class Bar |
In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. Both ships serve the Coca-cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship. Most Royal Caribbean ships also have Coke Freestyle machines where you can make 100 different flavor combinations.
You can check out recent the bar menus for the Explorer of the Seas and the Eclipse below.
Pools and Hot Tubs
Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas has a total of 3 pools and 6 hot tubs.
The Celebrity Eclipse has the same number of pools as the Explorer of the Seas and the same number of hot tubs.
Tired of loud kids and splashing? One of the pools and two of the hot tubs are adults only on Explorer of the Seas.| Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas | Celebrity Eclipse | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 3 | 3 |
| Pools - General Access | 2 | 2 |
| Pools - Adults Only | 1 | 1 |
| Pools - Exclusive | 0 | |
| Total Hot Tubs | 6 | 6 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 4 | 4 |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | 2 | 2 |
| Hot Tubs - Exclusive | 0 |
Ship Features and Activities
Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. On the Explorer of the Seas, 71% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. On the Eclipse, only 67% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board.
| Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas | Celebrity Eclipse | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Only Relaxation Area | ✓ | ✗ |
| Arcade | ✓ | ✗ |
| Basketball | ✓ | ✗ |
| Beyond the Podium Talk Series | ✗ | ✓ |
| Casino | ✓ | ✓ |
| Climbing Wall | ✓ | ✗ |
| Fitness Center | ✗ | ✓ |
| FlowRider | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ice Skating | ✓ | ✗ |
| Jogging Track | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lawn Club | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mini golf | ✓ | ✗ |
| Outdoor movies | ✗ | ✓ |
| Pool-side Movies | ✓ | ✗ |
| Shows - musical review | ✓ | ✓ |
| Spa | ✓ | ✓ |
| Thermal Suites | ✗ | ✓ |
| Water slides | ✓ | ✗ |
| Learn more | Learn more |
Cruise Costs
Royal Caribbean is considered a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.
Celebrity, on the other hand, is a premium cruise line. Premium cruise lines typically offer upscale food, accommodations, and service. These typically cost about $150 - $400 per person per day.
Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. To get a good idea of how the pricing compares, visit the cruise line's website to price out the separate cruises or consult a travel professional.
Onboard Costs
Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.
Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.
The table below will help you compare onboard prices to see if you might spend more on a specific ship.
| Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas | Celebrity Eclipse | |
|---|---|---|
| Base Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) | $18.50 | $18.00 |
| Tip added to drinks & services | 18% | 20% |
| Soda Price | $3.50 | $4.00 |
| Domestic Beer Price | $8.25 See drink menus | $8.00 See drink menus |
| Drink Package Price | $77 - $118 Learn more | $55 - $99 Learn more |
| Internet Plan | $19 to $30 per device per day | $19 to $30 per device per day |
| *Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates. | ||
Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing, which means the pricing for many things will vary per sailing. The daily gratuities and tip are consistent across the fleet, but the pricing for the drink package, internet, and excursions will change. The only way to know your price is to consult the Royal Caribbean cruise planner once you're booked.
Celebrity Cruise Lines offers an "All Included" program. Guests who book a cruise using this promotion will have wifi and alcohol included. Some sailings are available without this program so pay attention when booking. Typically prices are lower if they don't include "Always Included." The wifi and alcohol package are the base levels and can be upgraded for an additional cost.
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