Photo Essay on Explorer of the Seas; Review Johnny Rockets

Happy New Year all!




My last cruise of 2011 was on Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas. I had enjoyed cruising on her earlier in the year to Bermuda so when an attractive opportunity arose for a longer cruise on the ship to the Caribbean, I signed up.



Explorer is the second ship in Royal Caribbean’s Voyager class. At one time not so long ago, she and her sisters were the largest cruise ships in the world. Lately, I have heard people refer to her as a medium sized ship. That really is not fair or accurate. At, 138,000 gross tons she is still a big ship in absolute terms. Furthermore, there are still only a handful of ships that are larger - - Royal Caribbean’s two Oasis class ships and four Freedom class ships; Queen Mary 2, and Norwegian Epic.



Explorer has been sailing out of Bayonne, New Jersey in New York harbor on a year-round basis for more than half a decade. People in the New York area have become familiar with her and with her crew. (Friendliness is a watchword onboard). This fact coupled with the fact that many people in the northeast who like the Royal Caribbean product would rather drive to the pier than fly to Florida, means that she gets a lot of repeat passengers.



Planning is underway for a major refit of the ship. Royal is going through its fleet and enhancing each ship with new features derived from the success of Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas. Fleetmate Radiance of the Seas had her makeover last Spring and added numerous dining venues to her features. Explorer’s turn will come. In addition to dining venues, there is speculation that features such as a Flo-rider surfing simulator and a large outdoor video screen will be added. However, nothing appears to be written in stone.



These changes may not benefit Explorer’s New York/New Jersey area fans. The ship is only scheduled to be in New York until April 2013 and the refit may well occur after that. There have long been rumors that Liberty of the Seas would be deployed to replace Explorer. While there is some appeal to having a ship named Liberty sailing from Cape Liberty, these rumors appear to have lost currency. Instead, the speculation is that one of the forthcoming Project Sunshine ships may replace Explorer.



Royal has been quite tight-lipped about Project Sunshine. All that has leaked out is that the ships will be about the same size as the Freedom class ships and will be built by the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany. (The builders of Celebrity’s Solstice class, Norwegian’s Jewel class and Royal’s Radiance class). Beyond that, all that is being said is that they will be “all-weather cruise ships.”



That phrase could mean a couple of things. It could simply mean that the pool deck will be covered in a similar fashion to Holland America’s Vista class ships. On the other hand, it could mean that the ships will have the power, hull design and strength to withstand major storms. If that is the case, the Project Sunshine ships will in essence be 21st century ocean liners - - something all ship enthusiasts would applaud.



My recent voyage on Explorer produced quite a lot of material that I will be sharing in coming weeks including an interview with Captain Olav. This week I have posted a new photo essay showing Explorer in various ports that she visited long with some of the ships that she met there. http://www.beyondships.com/Explorer-photos-Caribbean.html



I have also added new daily programs (Cruise Compasses) to the Explorer of the Seas’ profile page. http://www.beyondships.com/Explorer.html



Finally, I have added a specialty restaurant review of Johnny Rockets. On this last cruise, I found that people assumed that Explorer’s Johnny Rockets was simply a hamburger venue along the lines of the Mast Grill on Celebrity’s Solstice class ships or the Bimini Grill on Norwegian Dawn. While Johnny Rockets produces very good burgers, is more than that. It is an experience. The review is posted at http://www.beyondships2.com/explorer-of-the-seas-johnny-rockets-review.html

Photo Guide to Bermuda; Review of Portofino Restaurant; Inside Shore Excursions

The Bermuda cruising season has begun and is actually well underway. Although Bermuda is sometimes grouped together with the Caribbean islands, it is actually much further north - - about on the same latitude as North Carolina. Consequently, it is not a winter cruise destination. But, during the Spring and Summer months, it does not get as hot as the islands further south. This is one reason why it is a great summer cruise destination.

Another reason is the beauty of the island. It has a bevy of world class beaches - - many with pink sand and artistic looking rock formations. In addition, the landscape is charming with brightly painted houses nestled in amongst the sub-tropical foliage.

A Bermuda cruise is a short cruise from the US East Coast - - there are ships that leave regularly from Boston, New York and Baltimore. The first day is a lazy sail as the ships have to travel at a slow speed to avoid arriving too quickly. Then, most ships spend at least a couple of days in Bermuda. Not only does this allow guests to see the sights during the day but one can sample the island’s culture in the evening.

The culture of the islands - - Bermuda is actually a chain of small islands linked together by bridges and causeways - - is a unique mix. For example, there is the traditional business attire of a suit jacket, tie and shorts. One can see British influences and African influences.

Bermuda is an international business center. As a result, although the island is tourist friendly it is not as commercialized as some of the Caribbean ports. Most shops have a Bermuda flavor and the chain stores that one sees in every Caribbean port are conspicuous by their absence.

Bermuda is home to a sizeable number of billionaires and film stars. Their mansions are sometimes visible perched along the shore. Similarly, there are resorts such as the Elbow Beach Club that cater to the rich and famous. Perhaps it is the romance of the islands combined with its scenic beauty and easy lifestyle that attract them. In any case, it is a good recommendation for Bermuda that people who could spend their time anywhere in the world choose to spend time in Bermuda.

Beyondships’ new photo guide to Bermuda is at http://www.beyondships.com/Ports-Bermuda-1.html

One ship that is a regular visitor to Bermuda is Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas. The specialty restaurant onboard her is the elegant Italian-style Portofino. My review of this specialty restaurant is at http://www.beyondships.com/Explorer-Review-Portofino.html

Finally, most people who cruise take a shore excursion purchased through the ship’s shore excursion office. Accordingly, I spoke with Beatrix Bense, the Tour Office Manager on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 about how a tour office works and how shore excursions are arranged. That interview is at http://www.beyondships.com/QM2-art-Bense.html

Cruising to Grand Cayman/ Constellation Specialty Restaurant Review

This week, we look at one of the ports of call that cruise ships visit, Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands. The focus of Beyondships is ships but the ports are part of the cruise experience. Indeed, I am told that some people even come on the ships to travel to the ports. Accordingly, I have attempted to put together some information about the ports and some links along with photos of some of the things that one can do while visiting the port. Consistent with the focus of this website, these profiles are written from a cruise traveler’s perspective.

Grand Cayman is a thriving cruise port. Ships like to stop there because it is in a good geographic location in that it is centrally located in the Western Caribbean. Guests like it primarily for its beaches, opportunities for snorkeling and diving as well as for the shopping. Also, because Grand Cayman is a world financial center, the island is more prosperous and has lower crime rate than many Caribbean ports.

One fact that underscores the attractiveness of Grand Cayman is that there is no place for a modern cruise ship to dock. Consequently, even relatively small cruise ships have to anchor in the harbor and tender guests ashore in their lifeboats or on a commercial tender. Nonetheless, it is not surprising to see four or five ships calling at the port on the same day, which is delightful if one likes looking at ships.

The scenic beauty of the island lies primarily in and by the water. It is a coral-based island with little fresh water and so the interior of the island is flat and dry. Places by the shore such as its internationally famous Seven Mile Beach are delightful. In addition, the coral reefs around the island make for a fascinating undersea world.

Beyondships’ profile and photo tour of Grand Cayman is at http://www.beyondships.com/Ports-GrandCayman.html

Also, I have added a review of the Ocean Liners Specialty Restaurant to the Celebrity Constellation section of Beyondships. The restaurant is a gracious fine dining venue and I have concentrated on the value-added by its professional serving staff. The review appears at http://www.beyondships.com/Celebrity-Constellation-review-OceanLiners.html