Explorer of the Seas

Voyager-class cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean International

Explorer of the Seas docked at Argostoli, Greece in 2023

History
Bahamas
Name| Explorer of the Seas
Owner|

* Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (2000)
* Explorer of the Seas Inc.[1]

Operator| Royal Caribbean International
Port of registry|

* 2000–2002: Monrovia,  Liberia
* 2002 onwards: Nassau,  Bahamas

Route| Caribbean & Mediterranean
Builder| Kværner Masa-Yards Turku New Shipyard, Finland
Yard number| 1345
Laid down| 15 June 1998
Launched| 4 November 1999
Christened| 21 October 2000
Completed| 28 September 2000
Maiden voyage| 28 October 2000
In service| 2000–present
Identification|

* Call sign: C6SE4
* DNV ID: 19903
* IMO number: 9161728
* MMSI number: 311316000

Status| In service
Notes| [2][1]
General characteristics
Class & type| Voyager-class cruise ship
Tonnage|

* 138,194 GT
* 108,654 NT
* 11,000 DWT

Length| 311 m (1,020 ft 4 in)
Beam|

* 38.6 m (126 ft 8 in) - Waterline[3]
* 49.1 m (161 ft 1 in) - Max[1]

Height| 63 m (206 ft 8 in)
Draught| 8.3 m (27 ft 3 in)
Depth| 11.7 m (38 ft 5 in)
Decks| 15
Deck clearance| 3,400 m (11,154 ft 10 in)
Installed power| 6 × Wärtsilä 12V46 (6 × 12,600 kW (16,900 hp))
Propulsion|

* Diesel-electric
* Two ABB Azipods and one Fixipod
* Four bow thrusters

Speed| 23.7 knots (43.9 km/h; 27.3 mph)
Capacity| 3,286 passengers (double occupancy), 4,290 (maximum)
Crew| 1,180
Notes| [2][1][4][5]

Explorer of the Seas is a Voyager-class cruise ship owned and operated by Royal Caribbean International, completed in 2000. She can accommodate over 3,000 guests, including scientists making use of a built-in atmospheric and oceanographic laboratory operated by the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science. The lab, with its attendant educational and outreach programs for passengers, was discontinued in 2007.

## History

[edit]

Explorer of the Seas at Nieuwe Waterweg in 2015

The Explorer of the Seas was completed in 2000 and has the capacity of 3,000 passengers. An automated system for gathering data was installed in 2008.[6]) At launch, Explorer of the Seas had a tonnage of 137,308 GT, exceeding that of her sister ship Voyager of the Seas by 32 GT and making her the world's largest passenger ship. She held that record until being overtaken by Navigator of the Seas in 2002. In early 2015, Explorer of the Seas received major upgrades, including the replacement of the inline skating rink with a Flowrider surfing simulator and increasing her tonnage to 138,194 GT.[7][8] The ship's godmother is American athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee.[9]

In 2019 September, it was announced that the ship will get a refurbishment with $110 million in makeovers before its 2020 summer season.[10] The refurbishment that was to take place under the amplification program in 2020 was delayed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, instead only technical refurbishment took place.[11]

In July 2021, the ship was used to house some rescue workers and other officials involved in the rescue and recovery effort of the Surfside condominium building collapse.[12]

## Ports of call

[edit]

Explorer of the Seas visiting Sydney Harbour

In fall 2014, she sailed 5 to 9-day Caribbean cruises out of Port Canaveral, Florida.[13] After dry-dock refurbishment in the spring of 2015, Explorer of the Seas began to sail Northern Europe, Mediterranean, and Madeira, Azores and Canary Islands itineraries out of Southampton, Hampshire, United Kingdom.[14]

From November 2015 to 23 April 2016 Explorer of the Seas was based in Sydney, Australia, for the summer cruise season. A 24-day cruise relocated the ship to Seattle for the summer 2016 season.[15] In 2019 January, the ship brought 4,000 passengers to Wollongong.[16]

## Accidents and incidents

[edit]

### Rescue of Tumbleweed

[edit]

On 16 February 2008, while en route from Bayonne, New Jersey, on a nine-day cruise to the Caribbean the bridge crew heard a faint mayday call over the radio. This turned out to be the crew from Tumbleweed, a 39-foot (12 m) sailing vessel,[17] which had a planned sail from Baltimore to the Florida Keys. The crew reportedly had a mechanical breakdown of both engine and sails. The vessel drifted for 11 days to the location N32.35 W 72.49–roughly 275 miles (443 km) southeast of North Carolina. Explorer of the Seas located and rescued the three men, who then departed the ship in Puerto Rico on 21 February 2008.[17]

### Crew overboard

[edit]

On 5 May 2010, a crewmember was caught on surveillance jumping overboard. The ship turned around to rescue him but was unable to locate the crewmember.[18][unreliable source?]

### Norwegian Star collision

[edit]

On 14 September 2012, Explorer of the Seas was moored in Bermuda when heavy winds pushed Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Star at its stern. Neither ship suffered any significant damage.[19]

### Norovirus outbreak

[edit]

On 24 January 2014, 281 passengers and 22 crew members aboard Explorer of the Seas fell ill, reporting symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea. Due to the number of passengers sick, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent a Sanitation Program Officer and an epidemiologist to the ship on Sunday, 26 January 2014, when it was docked in St. Thomas.[20] By 27 January 2014 the number of ill increased to 564 passengers and 47 crew members and a decision was made to end the cruise early.[21] After Explorer of the Seas returned to port, 684 of the 4,237 aboard had symptoms of norovirus.[22]

### Gastro outbreak

[edit]

On 16 December 2015, A total of 182 passengers out of the 3,566 on board Explorer of the Seas contracted infectious diarrhea. The ship's operator contacted South Eastern Sydney Local Health District before arriving in Sydney at 6am. None of the passengers were taken to hospital.[23] It was also on this cruise that all of the passengers on board experienced a freak storm on 15 December 2015. During this storm the ship experienced a crosswind of 150 knots (280 km/h; 170 mph) and the ship listed to the port side by 10 degrees.[24]

On 4 November 2019, the ship was forced to delay her arrival back in Southampton due to the heavy storms battering Western Europe.[25]

### Coronavirus pandemic

[edit]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that at least one passenger had tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 within 14 days of disembarking from the ship on its voyage from 8 to 15 March 2020.[26]

### Surfside search and rescue

[edit]

After the June 2021 Surfside condominium collapse, Explorer of the Seas was moored nearby to host nearly 600 search and rescue personnel assisting with the incident.[27]

### Passenger overboard

[edit]

On 9 August 2024, an unnamed passenger from the United Kingdom fell overboard as the ship traveled from Santorini, Greece to Zadar, Croatia. Search efforts commenced, with the Croatian Coast Guard assisting, and a planned stop in Zadar was cancelled.[28] The search was called off after four days.[29]

### Storm troubles

[edit]

On 7 November 2024 a storm affected the ship near the Canary Islands, causing a 14.5º heel, some injuries and material damage.[30][31]

### Passenger overboard

[edit]

On 2 March 2025, a female passenger went overboard on the first day of a themed "The 80s Cruise" traveling from Miami to Nassau, Bahamas. The ship stopped for search and rescue, but resumed course several hours later while the Coast Guard continued search and recovery efforts.[32]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d "Explorer of the Seas (19903)". Vessel Register for DNV. DNV. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
2. ^ a b "Advanced Masterdata for the Vessel Explorer of the Seas". VesselTracker. 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
3. ^ "Explorer of the Seas". STX Finland. Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
4. ^ "Cruise Ship Guide". Cruise Travel. Lakeside Publishing Company: 37–43\. January–February 2009. ISSN 0199-5111.
5. ^ "Carnival Destiny (16001)". Port State Information Exchange. United States Coast Guard.
6. ^ "Explorer of the Seas Oceanlab Research Program". Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
7. ^ "Now Our Best Ship Is Every Ship" (PDF). Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
8. ^ "VOYAGER CLASS FLOWRIDER REFURBISHMENT". Mobimar.com. Archived from the original on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
9. ^ http://www.royalcaribbean.com/connect/ship-godmothers-with-serious-sports-status/ Joyner-Kersee[full citation needed]
10. ^ "RCL's Explorer of the Seas to undergo $162 million makeover". 26 September 2019.
11. ^ "What was added to each Royal Caribbean ship during its Royal Amplified refurbishment". 17 June 2020.
12. ^ Wile, Rob; Hanks, Doug. "Facing a hotel bed shortage, some condo rescue crews will sleep aboard a cruise ship". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on 2 July 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
13. ^ "Cruise Calendar". Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
14. ^ "Explorer of the Seas to Homeport in Southampton, and Sail European Waters in 2015". Royal Caribbean Press Center. Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
15. ^ Ellis, Greg (8 March 2018). "Explorer the latest mega cruise ship to discover Wollongong". Illawarra Mercury.
16. ^ Ellis, Greg (18 January 2019). "Giant cruise ship to bring thousands of holiday makers to Wollongong". Illawarra Mercury.
17. ^ a b Silverstein, Erica (27 February 2008). "Royal Caribbean Ship Rescues Sailors in Distress". The Independent Traveler. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
18. ^ "Satyanand Buddaru". Cruise Ship Missing. 5 May 2010. Archived from the original on 4 July 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
19. ^ Greg (15 September 2012). "Norwegian Star Breaks Moorings in Bermuda". CruiseInd.
20. ^ "281 passengers ill aboard Royal Caribbean cruise". cp24.com. 25 January 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
21. ^ David McFadden (27 January 2014). "Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas cruise ended after hundreds sick with diarrhea, vomiting". The National Post. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
22. ^ Aleccia, JoNel (29 January 2014), "'We made it!': Nearly 700 sick as illness-plagued cruise ship returns home", NBC News, archived from the original on 29 January 2014, "At least 630 of the ship's 3,071 passengers and at least 54 of the 1,166 crew members came down with diarrhea and vomiting—classic signs of norovirus."
23. ^ "Gastro outbreak aboard cruise ship bound for Sydney hits 182 passengers". News.com.au. 16 December 2015.
24. ^ "Storm, Strong Winds and Big Wave Hit Explorer of the Seas". cruisecritic.com.au. 16 December 2015.
25. ^ Thakkar, Emrys (2 November 2019). "Intense Storms Impact Two Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Sailings". Cruise Hive.
26. ^ "CDC's role in helping cruise ship travelers during the COVID-19 pandemic | CDC". 22 April 2020. Archived from the original on 22 April 2020.
27. ^ "Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Assists Florida Search and Rescue Teams". The Maritime Executive. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
28. ^ "British passenger falls overboard from Royal Caribbean cruise ship". The Independent. 12 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
29. ^ Dex, Robert (13 August 2024). "Search called off after British tourist lost at sea on Croatian cruise". Evening Standard. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
30. ^ Escenas de pánico en un crucero que sufrió vientos huracanados y se llegó a escorar 45 grados Antena 3 (23 de noviembre de 2024)
31. ^ Pánico en alta mar: un crucero se escora 45 grados cerca de Tenerife El Día (23 November 2024)
32. ^ [1]

## Further reading

[edit]

* Marsha Walton (25 June 2004). "Scientists study high seas in high style". CNN. Retrieved 8 May 2013.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to IMO 9161728.

* Explorer of the Seas official website
* Voyager-Class.com \- the largest online resource for information & pictures of the Voyager-class ships
* Miramar Ship Index - Explorer of the Seas

* v
* t
* e

Timeline of largest passenger ships

* Briefly held the title before the preceding ship reclaimed it†
* Shared record‡

* SS Royal William (1831)
* SS Great Western (1837)
* SS British Queen (1839)
* SS President (1840)†
* SS Great Britain (1843)
* RMS Atrato (1853)
* SS Adriatic (1857)
* SS Great Eastern (1858)
* SS City of New York (1888)
* RMS Campania (1893)‡
* SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse (1897)
* RMS Oceanic (1899)
* RMS Celtic (1901)
* RMS Cedric (1903)
* RMS Baltic (1904)
* RMS Empress of Scotland (1906)
* RMS Lusitania (1907)
* RMS Mauretania (1907)
* RMS Olympic (1911)
* RMS Titanic (1912)†
* SS Imperator (1913)
* SS Vaterland (1913)
* RMS Majestic (1922)
* SS Normandie (1935)
* RMS Queen Mary (1936)†
* RMS Queen Elizabeth (1942)
* SS France (1972)
* MS Sovereign of the Seas (1987)†
* Sun Princess (1995)
* MS Carnival Destiny (1996)
* MS Grand Princess (1998)
* MS Voyager of the Seas (1999)
* MS Explorer of the Seas (2000)
* MS Navigator of the Seas (2002)
* RMS Queen Mary 2 (2003)
* MS Freedom of the Seas (2006)
* Liberty of the Seas (2007)
* Oasis of the Seas (2009)‡
* Harmony of the Seas (2016)
* Symphony of the Seas (2018)
* Wonder of the Seas (2022)
* Icon of the Seas (2023)‡

Oceans portal

* v
* t
* e

Ships of the Royal Caribbean International fleet

Vision class|

* (1996) Grandeur of the Seas
* (1997) Rhapsody of the Seas
* (1997) Enchantment of the Seas
* (1998) Vision of the Seas

Voyager class|

* (1999) Voyager of the Seas
* (2000) Explorer of the Seas
* (2001) Adventure of the Seas
* (2001) Navigator of the Seas
* (2003) Mariner of the Seas

Radiance class|

* (2002) Radiance of the Seas
* (2003) Brilliance of the Seas
* (2003) Serenade of the Seas
* (2004) Jewel of the Seas

Freedom class|

* (2006) Freedom of the Seas
* (2007) Liberty of the Seas
* (2008) Independence of the Seas

Oasis class|

* (2009) Oasis of the Seas
* (2010) Allure of the Seas
* (2016) Harmony of the Seas
* (2018) Symphony of the Seas
* (2021) Wonder of the Seas
* (2024) Utopia of the Seas
* (2028) TBA

Quantum class|

* (2014) Quantum of the Seas
* (2015) Anthem of the Seas
* (2016) Ovation of the Seas
* (2019) Spectrum of the Seas
* (2021) Odyssey of the Seas

Icon class|

* (2023) Icon of the Seas
* (2025) Star of the Seas
* (2026) Legend of the Seas
* TBA (2027)

Former ships|

* (1970) Song of Norway
* (1971) Nordic Prince
* (1972) Sun Viking
* (1982) Song of America
* (1982) Viking Serenade
* (1988) Sovereign of the Seas
* (1990) Empress of the Seas
* (1991) Monarch of the Seas
* (1992) Majesty of the Seas
* (1995) Legend of the Seas
* (1996) Splendour of the Seas

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template