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Explorer of the Seas vs Valiant Lady
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 22 years older than the Valiant Lady, which was built in 2022. This is an adults-only ship; all guests must be 18 or older.
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
- See Our Detailed Cruise Blog
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 Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady, the Explorer of the Seas is 25% larger in terms of overall tons.
Number of Passengers
Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas holds 22% more passengers than the Valiant Lady 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 Valiant Lady. 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 | Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Voyager | Lady |
| Gross Tonnage | 137,308 | 110,000 |
| Length | 1,020 | 912 |
| Beam/Width | 157 | 125 |
| Passenger Decks | 14 | 13 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 3,286 | 2,700 |
| Crew | 1,185 | 1,150 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 2.8 | 2.3 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 42 | 41 |
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 Izumi Sushi & Hot Rocks, Cafe Promenade, and Chops Grille. Of those options, eight are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other six options have an additional fee.
The Valiant Lady has three more dining venues. Some of its popular venues are The Dock / The Dock House, Sun Club Cafe, and The Pizza Place. twelve of these restaurants are complementary.
If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Valiant Lady might be a better choice. It has 33% more dining options than the Explorer of the Seas.
If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Valiant Lady 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 | Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Dining Options | 9 | 12 |
| Complimentary Dining Options: | 8 | 12 |
| Additional Fee Dining Options: | 6 | 0 |
| % of Included Options | 33% | 100% |
| See the options | See the options |
Bars and Drinks
The Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas has 8 fewer bars than the Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady. The Explorer of the Seas has 10 bars like Dizzy's, English Pub and Sky Bar. On Explorer of the Seas, you can grab a drink at 18 different bars such as Gym & Tonic, Red Bar and The Athletic Club Bar.
| Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas | Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady |
|---|---|
| •Casino bar • Dizzy's • English Pub • Pool bar • R Bar • Schooner Bar • Sky Bar • Solarium Bar • Star Lounge • The Tavern | •Casino bar • Draught Haus • Grounds Club • Gym & Tonic • Mezcal Bar • On The Rocks • Red Bar • Richard's Rooftop Bar • Sip Lounge • Sun Club Bar • The Aquatic Club Bar • The Athletic Club Bar • The Dock Bar • The Dock House Bar • The Grounds Club Too • The Loose Cannon • The Manor • The Social Club |
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 Valiant Lady 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.
Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady has fewer pools than the Explorer of the Seas and the same number of hot tubs. There are more exclusive pools and hot tubs on the Valiant Lady. If you don't mind paying for exclusive access to areas in order to have less crowds, this might be a better choice.
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 | Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 3 | 2 |
| Pools - General Access | 2 | 2 |
| Pools - Adults Only | 1 | |
| Pools - Exclusive | 0 | |
| Total Hot Tubs | 6 | 6 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 4 | 4 |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | 2 | |
| Hot Tubs - Exclusive | 0 | 2 |
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 Valiant Lady, only 55% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board.
| Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas | Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady | |
|---|---|---|
| Acrobatic Show | ✗ | ✓ |
| Adult Only Relaxation Area | ✓ | ✗ |
| Arcade | ✓ | ✓ |
| Basketball | ✓ | ✗ |
| Casino | ✓ | ✓ |
| Climbing Wall | ✓ | ✗ |
| Fitness Center | ✗ | ✓ |
| FlowRider | ✓ | ✗ |
| Group Fitness | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ice Skating | ✓ | ✗ |
| Jogging Track | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mini golf | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pool-side Movies | ✓ | ✗ |
| Private Karaoke Rooms | ✗ | ✓ |
| Salon | ✗ | ✓ |
| Shows - musical review | ✓ | ✗ |
| Spa | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tattoo Studio | ✗ | ✓ |
| 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.
Virgin Voyages, 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 | Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady | |
|---|---|---|
| Base Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) | $18.50 | Included |
| Tip added to drinks & services | 18% | Included |
| Soda Price | $3.50 | Included |
| Domestic Beer Price | $8.25 See drink menus | $8.00 See drink menus |
| Drink Package Price | $77 - $118 Learn more | No drink package available |
| Internet Plan | $19 to $30 per device per day | Basic Wi-fi is included. Premium is $30/day and Work from Sea is $50/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.
We sailed aboard the Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady
Follow along on our sailing on the Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady. We take you through every aspect of our sailing, from getting to the port to debarking the ship. See the schedule of events, menus, what excursions we did, and what we really thought about the ship.
Valiant Lady – Cruise Blog - Day 1 – Miami
Valiant Lady – Cruise Blog - Day 2 – Sea Day
Valiant Lady – Cruise Blog - Day 3 – Costa Maya
Valiant Lady – Cruise Blog - Day 4 – Sea Day
Valiant Lady – Cruise Blog - Day 5 – Bimini
5 Hits and Misses on Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady
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