On Explorer recently, and these photos are correct. Last renovation saw the wooded sauna door replaced with a solid smoked glass door that is difficult to latch closed. Steam room seems to have more light than before and there is not much steam.
My travel companion said the Female steam room is dimly light and has too much steam.
Thanks for the update. Does the Pearl have great free amenities or is an extra fee required to make it worth it? If required, do you know how much the extra fee is?
Damn. I was getting excited. I guess we'll have to wait to hear from someone who has been on her recently. Do you know if the Jade, Gem or Pearl are still a good choice?
Good News for Royal Caribbean fans. Explorer of the seas recently completed a drydock refurbishment. Although they made some upgrades, including twin waterslides there was no change to the sauna, steam room, men's changing room or gym.
I'm glad it was well used. Was there a big difference between see and port days? I bet your had an amazing cruise. What port did your sail from and where did you go?
I'm on Explorer in July. I checked the floor plan and it does not show any changes to the gym/sauna area (deck 11), after the dry dock. But sometimes the floor plans are incorrect.
Today I spent some time making mock bookings for almost every cabin type. I didn't find any cabins on deck 11. So maybe RC will not make the same changes they have to similar ships. Such as replacing the sauna space with cabins.
You make an excellent point. Someone trying too hard to make things "equal" without careful thought. Rather than make things accessable to everyone, they make them accessable to no one. Sad.
I was also on Adventure in the fall and can confirm nothing had changed. I don't think Adventure has been in dry dock since.
Deck plans for Freedom show the gym still in place with cabins added on either side. Removing the sauna to make space.
I'd be interested to know if this is the same approach taken on Explorer. If you're friend is still on the ship maybe he can verify. Iet's hope Royal decided to leave the sauna in place.