The Explorer of the Seas cabins to avoid are mostly about location rather than room type: interior rooms facing the Royal Promenade, cabins directly below the deck 11 pool and Windjammer area, rooms beside elevators or crew doors, the far forward and aft ends of the ship, and some aft balconies with partly blocked views. For most cruisers the safest choice is a midship cabin on decks 7, 8 or 9, which has more cabins above and below it.
This guide works through the deck plan, the different room categories and the spots worth booking, with the details that apply to Explorer of the Seas in particular.
Explorer of the Seas at a glance
Explorer of the Seas came into service in 2000 as the second Voyager-class ship. It is about 137,000 gross tons with around 1,640 staterooms and room for roughly 3,300 guests at double occupancy. During a big refit in 2015, Royal Caribbean added a FlowRider, Chops Grille and an outdoor movie screen, and it also added new cabins in former public spaces. The old Chamber nightclub area on deck 3 became 19 interior cabins, and new oceanview rooms took over the old Board Room on deck 2 and the art gallery space on deck 3. After a shorter dry dock in Cádiz in late 2025, passengers mostly reported fresh carpets and mattresses. The cabin layout did not change.
At the time of writing, Explorer sails 4- to 9-night round trips from Port Canaveral from mid-November 2026 to April 2027. It then crosses to Barcelona for a summer of 7-night Mediterranean cruises (Barcelona, Rome, Ravenna and Athens). In November 2027 it is scheduled to move to Fort Lauderdale for Caribbean sailings. Itineraries can change, so check the current schedule on Royal Caribbean’s website before you book.
Explorer of the Seas deck plan: where the cabins are
Staterooms are on eight decks. Knowing what sits above and below each one is the easiest way to avoid a noisy room.
| Deck | What is there | Cabin notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2-3 | Studio B ice rink (spans both decks), the theater’s lower level | Oceanview and interior rooms, including the rooms added in 2015 |
| 4-5 | Casino, The Tavern, R Bar, Royal Promenade, shops | No cabins |
| 6-9 | Mostly cabins; Concierge Club on deck 9 | Balconies, oceanviews, interiors, Promenade-view rooms on 6-8, junior and family suites |
| 10 | Cabins, directly below the pool deck | Royal Suite, Owner’s and Grand Suites, junior suites, balconies, interiors (numbers start with “1”, for example 1244) |
| 11 | Main pools, Solarium, Windjammer buffet | No cabins |
| 12 | Spa, Adventure Ocean, teen area, some cabins | Panoramic suites and oceanviews, a few balconies |
| 13-15 | FlowRider, waterslides, sports court, Viking Crown Lounge, chapel | No cabins |
Room numbers on Explorer have four digits, and the first digit is usually the deck. The exception is deck 10, where numbers also start with “1”, so 1244 is on deck 10, not deck 1. Look up the exact room on the deck plan instead of guessing its position from the number.
Explorer of the Seas cabins to avoid
Royal Promenade-facing interior rooms
About 138 interior cabins on decks 6, 7 and 8 have a window that looks down onto the Royal Promenade. Some people love watching the parades and street parties from their room. But the Promenade’s bars, live music and late events can be heard through the glass, and people on the other side can see in unless the curtains are closed. Light sleepers should treat these as a cabin to avoid, or choose one on deck 8, which is farther above the action than deck 6.
Deck 10 rooms under the pool deck and Windjammer
Deck 10 sits right below the pools, Solarium and Windjammer on deck 11. Crew start setting out loungers and cleaning before sunrise, and you may hear scraping chairs and rolling carts early in the morning. Deck 10 also has some of the best suites, so if you book one, use the deck plan to see exactly what is over your ceiling.
Lower decks near Studio B and the theater
Cabins on decks 2 and 3 are low and stable, but some of them are close to Studio B, the theater and the deck 4 venues above. Rehearsals, shows and late nights in the bars can bring footsteps, music and crowds into the corridors. The deck 3 interiors that were added in 2015 are in the space where the nightclub used to be. They are quieter now that the club has gone, but they are still close to busy public areas.
Rooms near elevators, stairs and crew doors
Being near an elevator lobby saves you walking, but you also get chimes, chatting groups and door noise at all hours. Crew service doors and laundry rooms can also be busy late at night. Look for cabins two or three doors away from these spots.
Long walks forward and aft
Voyager-class ships are about 1,020 feet long. A cabin at the far forward or aft end of a long corridor can mean a long walk several times a day, especially from forward rooms on decks 2 and 3. Forward cabins also feel more motion in rough seas and can pick up anchor and thruster noise when the ship docks.
Obstructed-view cabins
On Voyager-class ships, some aft balconies have metal structures and pipes that partly block the view. Cruise Critic notes that these balconies are still generous and you can see the sea when sitting down. On deck 12, look for the obstructed-view symbol on the deck plan before you pay oceanview prices.
Unbooked connecting rooms
The inner door between connecting cabins lets more sound through than a solid wall. If you are not traveling with the party next door, choose a room without a connecting door.
Best deck on Explorer of the Seas: why 7, 8 and 9 win
Midship on decks 7, 8 and 9 is the safest choice for most guests. These decks have cabins above and below them, so there are no pool chairs or bars over your bed. They are close to the main elevators, and you get less motion than at the ends of the ship. Deck 9 also has the Concierge Club for suite guests. Deck 6 is fine for most people, but its balconies are lower and Promenade-view rooms there are closest to the noise.
Best rooms by category
| Category | Approx. size | Best pick |
|---|---|---|
| Interior | 150-256 sq ft | Midship on decks 7-9, away from the Promenade side |
| Oceanview | 160-265 sq ft | Midship large or family oceanview on decks 7-9 |
| Balcony | 164-275 sq ft plus 42-52 sq ft veranda | Midship decks 7-9, or an aft-facing spacious balcony if a partial obstruction does not bother you |
| Junior Suite | 277 sq ft plus 50 sq ft balcony | Deck 9, or deck 10 rooms clear of the pool area above |
| Grand to Royal Suite | 381-1,260 sq ft | Deck 10 suites near the bridge, away from the Windjammer |
Best inside cabin: A regular interior midship on deck 7, 8 or 9 is usually the quietest choice for the money. Best outside cabin: Family oceanviews sleep more people and work well for groups, and the forward rooms with round, bow-facing windows are unusual, though they have more motion. Best balcony: Midship balconies on decks 7 to 9 suit most cruisers. Aft-facing spacious balconies have wide wake views and bigger outdoor space. Best suite: The Ocean View Panoramic Suites on deck 12 have wraparound windows but no balcony. The deck 10 suites have the most space. If you are torn between categories, our guide to booking a balcony vs an inside cabin sets out the trade-offs.
Choosing your room and booking multiple cabins
- Pick your own room. A guarantee (GTY) fare is cheaper, but the cruise line chooses the room and leftovers are often in the spots listed above.
- Book early for families. Family oceanviews, connecting rooms and adjoining balconies on Explorer sell out early, especially around school breaks.
- Keep groups on one side. Rooms across the hall from each other are on opposite sides of the ship. For balconies next to each other, check the deck plan and pick rooms that sit next to each other.
- Check above and below. Open the decks above and below your cabin on the deck plan before you pay a deposit.
- Accessibility. Explorer has a small number of wheelchair-accessible cabins, so ask for one as early as you can.
Explorer vs other Voyager-class ships
All five Voyager-class ships have the same basic layout, with the Royal Promenade on deck 5, Promenade-view cabins on decks 6 to 8, Studio B low in the ship, and the pools on deck 11. They have been refitted differently, though. Explorer’s 2015 refit added cabins in old public spaces on decks 2 and 3, and its 2025 dry dock was mainly cosmetic. Some of its sister ships have had larger updates with new slides and venues. For the same advice on its sister ship, see our Voyager of the Seas cabins to avoid guide. If you are wondering whether an older ship is still worth booking, read old vs new cruise ships: does age really matter.
The same Voyager-class layout applies to her sister, so see our guide to Navigator of the Seas rooms to avoid if you are comparing ships.
For another Voyager-class sister, read our guide to the best and worst cabins on Adventure of the Seas.
FAQs
What cabins should I avoid on Explorer of the Seas?
Light sleepers should avoid Royal Promenade-view interiors, deck 10 rooms under the pool deck and Windjammer, cabins next to elevators or crew doors, and the far forward and aft ends. Aft balconies with partly blocked views are also worth avoiding.
Where is the best place to have your cabin on a cruise ship?
For most people it is midship on a middle deck with cabins above and below. On Explorer of the Seas, that means decks 7, 8 and 9. You get less motion, less noise and shorter walks to the elevators.
What is the best deck on Explorer of the Seas?
Decks 7, 8 and 9 midship are the best all-round choices. Deck 10 has the biggest suites, but it sits directly below the pool deck.
Are Promenade-view cabins on Explorer of the Seas worth it?
They are worth it if you like the atmosphere and go to bed late. They cost a little more than standard interiors, but music and street parties can be heard in the room, and you need the curtains closed for privacy.
Where is Explorer of the Seas sailing in 2026-27?
At the time of writing, Explorer sails short Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral between November 2026 and April 2027. It then moves to Europe for Mediterranean sailings from Barcelona in summer 2027.
