Explorer of the Seas vs Adventure of the Seas

The Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas was built in 2000. It was renovated in 2023. It's 1 year older than the Adventure of the Seas, which was built in 2001 and renovated in 2016.

Comparison Overview

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. The Explorer of the Seas and the Adventure of the Seas are in the same class, which means they're sister ships. For the most part, they're similar in terms of size and layout; although they may have different features and attractions on board.

Number of Passengers

Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas holds about the same number of passengers as the Adventure of the Seas 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 Adventure of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean
Explorer of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
Adventure of the Seas
ClassVoyagerVoyager
Gross Tonnage137,308137,276
Length1,0201,020
Beam/Width157157
Passenger Decks1414
Passengers (double occupancy)3,2863,114
Crew1,1851,185
Passenger to Crew Ratio2.82.6
Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger)4244


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 14 different dining options like Chops Grille, Cafe Promenade, and Chef's Table. Of those options, 8 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 6 options have an additional fee.

The Adventure of the Seas has 1 fewer dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Izumi, Johnny Rockets, and Chops Grille. 8 of these restaurants are complementary and the other 5 have an additional fee.

The Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas has about the same number of dining options as the Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Seas.

Both ships have a similar number of paid versus included dining options.

Restaurants on Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas & Adventure of the Seas

Royal Caribbean
Explorer of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
Adventure of the Seas
Cafe PromenadeLearn More
Chef's TableLearn More
Chops GrilleLearn More
Giovanni's TableLearn More
Ice Cream Parlor
IzumiLearn More
Izumi Sushi & Hot RocksLearn More
Johnny RocketsLearn More
Main Dining RoomLearn More
WindjammerLearn More

Bars and Drinks

Royal Caribbean's Star Lounge
Royal Caribbean's Star Lounge
Royal Caribbean's Schooner Bar
Royal Caribbean's Schooner Bar

The Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas has 3 fewer bars than the Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean
Explorer of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
Adventure of the Seas
Aquarium Bar
Blue Moon
Boleros
Casino bar
Champagne Bar
Dizzy's
English Pub
Imperial Lounge
Pool bar
R Bar
Schooner Bar
Sky Bar
Solarium Bar
Star Lounge
Suite Lounge*
The Tavern
Windjammer Bar
* = this bar is exclusive and not open to everyone.

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 Adventure of the Seas below.



Pools and Hot Tubs

The main pool on Royal Caribbeans Explorer of the Seas
The main pool on Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas
The main pools, hot tubs, and giant movie screen on Royal Caribbeans Adventure of the Seas
The main pool on Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day for 7 days in a pool, a cruise isn't for you. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.

The Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas has a total of 3 pools and 6 hot tubs. Tired of loud kids and splashing? 1 of the pools and 2 of the hot tubs are adults only.

The Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Seas has the same number of pools as the Explorer of the Seas and the same number of hot tubs.

Royal Caribbean
Explorer of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
Adventure of the Seas
Total Pools33
Pools - General Access22
Pools - Adults Only11
Pools - Exclusive00
Total Hot Tubs66
Hot Tubs - General Access44
Hot Tubs - Adults Only22
Hot Tubs - Exclusive00


cruise coloring book

Cruise Coloring and Activity Books for Kids
Get your kids ready for their cruise or keep them entertained while on board with our custom made coloring and activity books. These are the Royal Caribbean editions with places like Studio B and Sorrento's featured.

Cruise Ship Coloring Book for Kids 3-5 - Royal Caribbean Edition

Let's Get Cruising Activity Book for Kids 6-8 - Royal Caribbean Edition


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. You might up paying more while on board the Explorer of the Seas. Only 71% of the activities below are included in your cruise fare. On the Adventure of the Seas, 75% of the activities are included at no additional cost.

Royal Caribbean
Explorer of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
Adventure of the Seas
Adult Only Relaxation Area
Arcade
Basketball
Casino
Climbing Wall
Fitness Center
FlowRider
Ice Skating
Jogging Track
Mini golf
Pool-side Movies
Shows - musical review
Spa
Splash park
Water slides
Learn moreLearn more

Cruise Costs

Royal Caribbean is 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.

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 Royal Caribbean'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 understand what you might spend onboard a Royal Caribbean ship.

Royal Caribbean
Base Daily Gratuities*
(Per Person Per Day)
$18.50
Tip added to drinks & services18%
Soda Price$3.50
Domestic Beer Price$8.25
See drink menus
Drink Package Price$70 - $125
Learn more
Internet Plan$17 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.

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