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Explorer of the Seas vs Enchantment of the Seas
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 3 years newer than the Enchantment of the Seas, which was built in 1997 and renovated in 2021.
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 Royal Caribbean Enchantment of the Seas, the Explorer of the Seas is 66% larger in terms of overall tons.
Number of Passengers
Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas holds 46% more passengers than the Enchantment of the Seas based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, or what we call the "Space Ratio," the Explorer of the Seas has more space per person compared to the Enchantment of the Seas. This means that you might have a bit more space to yourself on the ship, although there still could be some crowded areas like buffets, pools, etc.
| Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas | Royal Caribbean Enchantment of the Seas | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Voyager | Vision |
| Gross Tonnage | 137,308 | 82,910 |
| Length | 1,020 | 989 |
| Beam/Width | 157 | 106 |
| Passenger Decks | 14 | 11 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 3,286 | 2,252 |
| Crew | 1,185 | 852 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 2.8 | 2.6 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 42 | 37 |
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 Windjammer, Chef's Table, and Cafe Promenade. Of those options, eight are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other six options have an additional fee.
The Enchantment of the Seas has two fewer dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Windjammer, Chops Grille, and Chef's Table. eight of these restaurants are complementary and the other four have an additional fee.
If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Explorer of the Seas might be a better choice. It has 29% more dining options than the Enchantment of the Seas.
If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Enchantment of the Seas 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.
Restaurants on Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas & Enchantment of the Seas
| Restaurant | Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas |
Royal Caribbean Enchantment of the Seas |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Included | |||
| Cafe Promenade | ✓ | ✗ | Learn More |
| Main Dining Room | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Park Cafe | ✗ | ✓ | |
| Windjammer | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| A la carte | |||
| Cafe Latte-tudes | ✗ | ✓ | |
| Ice Cream Parlor | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Izumi Sushi & Hot Rocks | ✓ | ✗ | Learn More |
| Flat fee | |||
| Chops Grille | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Giovanni's Table | ✓ | ✗ | Learn More |
| Johnny Rockets | ✓ | ✗ | Learn More |
Bars and Drinks
The Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas has 4 more bars than the Royal Caribbean Enchantment of the Seas.
| Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas | Royal Caribbean Enchantment of the Seas | |
|---|---|---|
| Casino Bar | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dizzy's | ✓ | ✗ |
| English Pub | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pool bar | ✓ | ✗ |
| R Bar | ✓ | ✓ |
| Schooner Bar | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sky Bar | ✓ | ✗ |
| Solarium Bar | ✓ | ✓ |
| Spotlight Lounge | ✗ | ✓ |
| Star Lounge | ✓ | ✗ |
| The Tavern | ✓ | ✗ |
| Viking Crown Lounge | ✗ | ✓ |
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 Enchantment of the Seas 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 Royal Caribbean Enchantment of the Seas has the same number of pools as the Explorer of the Seas and the same number of hot tubs.
Worried about lots of kids onboard? Visit The Solarium, an adult-only area for guests 18 and older only. Both the Explorer of the Seas and the Enchantment of the Seas have full-depth adult-only pools in The Solarium. Explorer of the Seas’ adult-only area is not enclosed, while Enchantment of the Seas’ is covered by a retractable glass roof. They’re both located in the middle of the ship.
| Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas | Royal Caribbean Enchantment of the Seas | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 3 | 3 |
| Pools - General Access | 2 | 2 |
| Pools - Adults Only | 1 | 1 |
| Pools - Exclusive | 0 | 0 |
| Total Hot Tubs | 6 | 6 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 4 | 4 |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | 2 | 2 |
| Hot Tubs - Exclusive | 0 | 0 |
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. On the Explorer of the Seas, 71% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. On the Enchantment of the Seas, only 67% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board.
| Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas | Royal Caribbean Enchantment of the Seas | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Only Relaxation Area | ✓ | ✓ |
| Arcade | ✓ | ✓ |
| Basketball | ✓ | ✗ |
| Bungee Trampoline | ✗ | ✓ |
| Casino | ✓ | ✓ |
| Climbing Wall | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fitness Center | ✗ | ✓ |
| FlowRider | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ice Skating | ✓ | ✗ |
| Jogging Track | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mini golf | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pool-side Movies | ✓ | ✓ |
| Shows - musical review | ✓ | ✓ |
| Spa | ✓ | ✓ |
| Water slides | ✓ | ✗ |
| Learn more | Learn 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. Typically newer ships cost more, so a cruise on Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas will likely be more expensive than on Royal Caribbean Enchantment of the Seas.
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 & services | 18% |
| Soda Price | $3.50 |
| Domestic Beer Price | $8.25 See drink menus |
| Drink Package Price | $77 - $118 Learn more |
| Internet Plan | $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.
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