Explorer of the Seas Review
Royal Caribbean no longer up with luxury cruise leaders
Rating by category
Additional details
Having had a brilliant cruise on Navigator last year, we booked to do the same itinerary with friends from Scotland.
Our 19th cruise - and 8th with R.C. but what a huge disappointment - so much has changed.
The admin staff were 'polite' to the point of rudeness.
Cabin Review
Junior Suite
Good size. Plenty of storage. Bath and overhead shower. Connecting door to next cabin.
Good size balcony.
Carpet very grubby
Door off hinges on cupbard
Bed frame changed during cruise!!! surely this should be done when in for refit
Port Reviews
Southampton
Not your fault Southampton ! I left passports at home (6 hours drive away) so it was rather traumatic!
Port staff were brilliant and assisted us in making onward plans to catch up with ship in Gibraltar - a very expensive detour :(
Villefranche
Not a lot to see in port - very few shops and nothing to do. You need to find an excursion for this stop!
Rome (Civitavecchia)
Been to Rome many times, so just walked into port. Dirty and tired, shops not as good as they used to be. Quite a large food market which is interesting.
Malaga
Fiasco - No organisation with port shuttle led to near fights with people queue jumping.
Town ok and great for shopping- fairly long walk in- but a nice walk with some good port shops you miss if you take the shuttle.
Gibraltar
If you want to shop for jewellery, perfume then this is the port for you.