Royal Caribbean's Explorer cruises into Southampton docks after major revamp

Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas arrived in the Hampshire port just as Anthem of the Seas was leaving on her inaugural cruise after being named in the city last Monday.

At any other time, Royal Caribbean’s UK and Ireland managing director Stuart Leven pointed out, Explorer’s arrival after a multimillion-pound re-fit would have been the big UK news for the company.

But they acknowledge that Anthem, the world’s most technologically advanced ship, would always steal the limelight.

The changes made to Explorer, however, would appear to bear out Royal Caribbean’s enthusiasm for not letting the Voyager-class ship slip into service unnoticed.

The refit took place over a six-week period, with contractors joining the ship as she left Florida and continuing work at Cadiz.

While work took place some 800 members of the crew acted as ‘firewatch’, keeping an eye out for stray sparks which might have caused a blaze on board.

The alterations include a complete refit of the pool deck, the addition of the popular Flowrider surfing attraction, the addition of 24 new panoramic staterooms and installation to 80 inside staterooms of the innovative ‘virtual balconies’ where large window-style screens give the appearance of having a real-time view out onto the ocean.

A huge outdoor cinema screen has been added to enable movies under the stars and poolside entertainment, and all of the staterooms have been upgraded with the addition of flatscreen TVs.

The dining experience on board Explorer has been overhauled with the addition of speciality restaurants Chops and Giovanni’s Table, as well as Travis Japanese dining.

The main three-tiered Grand Restaurant has also undergone a complete refit to a spectacular high standard.

“To all intents and purposes this is a brand spanking new ship operating in the UK market this summer,” said Mr Leven.

And Explorer would act as a taster for her sister ship Navigator – another Voyager-class vessel – which has also undergone a refit and will join Royal’s Independence of the Seas in returning to Southampton in 2016.

He confirmed Royal had no plans to base ships in other British ports at this stage.

Leven revealed that, although more Royal Caribbean clients from the UK now started their cruise holidays from a foreign port, 25 per cent of Irish guests now travelled to the UK to begin their cruises.

Our figures show that, as far as retention goes, eight out of 20 people who cruise with us will do so again within two years,” added Mr Leven, who admitted there was still work to be done to persuade more new-to-cruise customers to try a holiday afloat.

“Anthem and Explorer will target similar passengers really.

Explorer is still a big ship with peak season capacity of over 4,000 guests – and it targets those who might be adventurous, families who like having plenty to do and like choice.”

Explorer began cruising to the Canary islands this week and will make Southampton her home port until the autumn when she will reposition to Australia.