Explorer or Grandeur?

[cwnhokie]

Looking for a port we can drive to since there will be 14 of us and would like to save on airfare. Explorer is 5 night and Grandeur is 7. Grandeur is closer to us, but Explorer is a newer. Taking kids aged 6-18, 5 of them on their first cruise. Explorer is about $150 cheaper per person but also 2 days shorter. SIL is on a tight budget since they have 5 kids. Thoughts?

[DEIx15x8]

The Grandeur is clearly the better deal in terms of price vs vacation time but their is a clear difference. The Grandeur has a much more traditional adult focused design. She was built in the 90's and does not have a sports deck, only a small gym. She does have a kids area but it is on the smaller side, she is a small ship though. The Explorer is part of the Voyager class which sort of initialized Royal Caribbean's kid and family focused initiatives with parades in the Royal Promenade, a large sports deck with mini golf, rock climbing, and a sports court, as well as an ice rink. The kids area is also larger since she is a larger ship. If you are looking for the better deal it's clearly Grandeur, but if your looking for the better ship for kids it is without a doubt Explorer.

[mbjboyle]

I would agree with DEIx15x8, EOS is better than GOS for the kids; especially if this is a first cruise for several of them. I've been on the EOS out of Bayonne a few times. You will also want to check parking. Parking rates at the cruise terminal in Bayonne are $19/day. There are several private lots in the area; I've used and recommend SNAP parking.

[DragonOfTheSeas]

I agree with the advise to sail the Explorer. I like the smaller ships and enjoy doing nothing. But, few kids like that.:p

 

There is so much to do on the Explorer. Ice rink, in line skates, rock wall, etc. It has a more youthful vibe.You can see form my signature that I have sailed the GOTS twice and have another cruise on her in March. But, in your situation I would go on Explorer.

 

The down sides of the Explorer are that the solarium is not enclosed. [not sure how that makes it a solarium :confused:] If you have a cold weather cruise from Bayonne it is really cold. Also, they have not had the refit, yet and do not have the park cafe and diamond lounge [if you are diamond].

 

PS--the 18 yr old would not be welcome in the kids activities. A larger ship would have more pax his/her age to hang around with.

Edited December 10, 2013 by DragonOfTheSeas

[At Sea 4Ever]

Explorer is a much better family ship especially for some first time cruisers!

[Redgrove]

Been on both and agree that EOS is the one for kids! On another note, I was looking at reviews and thought I saw an enclosed Solarium. I last sailed on EOS in 2008 and it was open so I was surprised to see it closed. Will need to look around to see where I noted this - I hope it has but all the experienced cruisers will likely know!

 

Paula

[hansolosmom]

We've been on both ships too. Have to agree on Explorer for that many/age range for the kids. When we were on Grandeur ours were only 5&7 so they were fine between the arcade and the pools. But the explorer is much better if they are active kids.

[Beach Ball]

Been on both and agree that EOS is the one for kids! On another note, I was looking at reviews and thought I saw an enclosed Solarium. I last sailed on EOS in 2008 and it was open so I was surprised to see it closed. Will need to look around to see where I noted this - I hope it has but all the experienced cruisers will likely know!

 

Paula

 

Just off of Explorer on Nov.23 and the solarium is NOT closed. Agree with the other posters that Explorer is better for kids of all ages.

[B-52]

Just cancelled our Grandeur cruise and booked the Explorer...again! (5th time)

 

Much better Itinerary, more days 9 instead of 7...

 

we do like sailing out of Baltimore, stay 2 nights before on the inner harbor, go to a ballgame, etc...

But we don't care for the current itineraries...

However the explorer was $2000 more expensive...

Edited December 10, 2013 by B-52

[Realtor at Sea]

Another vote for the Explorer. Many more activities for the kids! They will love it!

[cwnhokie]

Well that's seems overwhelmingly one sided. Maybe we take the extra two days and explore New York since we are from Baltimore.

 

Anyone have any opinions on Explorer, Grandeur vs. Carnival Pride?

[cwnhokie]

Also I think I failed to mention that we range from 20 minutes to 1 1/2 hours from Baltimore and 3 1/2 - 4 hours from NY. Does that change anyone's recommendations?

[luvscruising2007]

I have been on Explorer and Pride. Hands down I would select the Explorer. We just have had a much better experience on her.

I have not been on the Grandeur but there have been some very positive reviews of late and that may very well be in our future.

Ultimately, you will have to decide what is best for you all and no matter you will be on a cruise. Win, Win.

Edited December 10, 2013 by luvscruising2007

[AeroBaldness]

Well that's seems overwhelmingly one sided. Maybe we take the extra two days and explore New York since we are from Baltimore.

 

Anyone have any opinions on Explorer, Grandeur vs. Carnival Pride?

 

And now for something completely different. I posed the same question over the past few weeks, but in a slightly different manner. We've booked on a 7 day Grandeur Bahamas itinerary and I saw the 5 day Explorer trip too. The kids, who at cruise time will be 16 & 17, have been on both Freedom and Jewel, so they get the general differences and the chance there will be more kids and more kids stuff to do on Explorer. So, I posed it to them, which they'd choose. Neither even paused and both agreed 2 more days is two more days and nothing trumps this (this was the overwhelming sentiment in the thread I posted as well). Interestingly, they made lots more friends on Freedom as there were exponentially more kids to become friends with. But, they enjoyed the time with the friends they made on Jewel more. Where Freedom had an activity planned every waking second, the teen director on Jewel let the kids do the planning.

[jcl410]

There is PLENTY to do on the Grandeur for kids and adults. It also had a big refit earlier this year, so it has been revamped, adding new restaurants, and other features.

 

Our family has had good times on both the smaller, and larger ships... The ice rink, and Royal Promenade are nice, but for us, not required for a great trip.

 

So I'd pick the itinerary you like best and go with that. (Unless it's winter time, then I would give the edge to the Grandeur because of the enclosed pool. What caught my eye was the LACK of windows in public spaces. The Grandeur has a LOT of glass in the Centrum.

 

Aloha,

 

John

[Guest maddycat]

Well that's seems overwhelmingly one sided. Maybe we take the extra two days and explore New York since we are from Baltimore.

 

Anyone have any opinions on Explorer, Grandeur vs. Carnival Pride?

 

If you are going out of Bayonne you might want to read and post on the CC East Coast Departures board. There are some very knowledgeable posters there.

 

Coming from WVA you might want to stay at a hotel before your cruise that offers park and cruise deals....you pay for a one night hotel stay and park for free for your entire cruise. Some also offer free shuttles to the pier.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=415

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1693577

[DragonOfTheSeas]

What is the itinerary for the 2 ships? I almost always pick a cruise by where it goes.

[JMG]

We have cruised out of Balt and Bayonne. We have not been on the Grandeur in 10 years but we were on the Enchantment.

 

Some of this depends on the time of year that you are cruising. One Enchantment cruise was very much adult, and one at holiday time was more family oriented. Parking is less at Balt and the access to the port is very easy. You have to walk up a long ramp to access the ship. Cruising the Chesapeake Bay is a very different experience. The Grandeur will have an enclosed solarium for Adults...In the winter there will most likely be times when kids 16 and under can use that pool.

 

Explorer does have a more to offer but access to the port is not quite as easy. That should not be a deal breaker. You have to take a 1 minute shuttle bus to go from the terminal to the ship. Again, not a deal breaker. No enclosed pool area. For us, the ice rink meant one show on one evening. We are not ice skaters.

 

7 days versus 5 days and 2 days in New York. New York can be very pricey so the money you save on the 5 day cruise could be totally consumed with 2 days in NYC!

 

Do the kids need to be entertained, or can they entertain themselves? Will the experience of the 1st cruise be enough to keep them occupied? Lots of things to consider!

[cwnhokie]

We have sailed on the Pride but not with kids. In laws live about a half hour outside of Baltimore so we could easily take a cab and are familiar with our surroundings whereas in New York everything would be unfamiliar. We will be going in summer so should be warm.

[DragonOfTheSeas]

We have sailed on the Pride but not with kids. In laws live about a half hour outside of Baltimore so we could easily take a cab and are familiar with our surroundings whereas in New York everything would be unfamiliar. We will be going in summer so should be warm.

 

If the out of towners can stay with the in laws the night before the cruise you can easily get to the port the next day for either port. That saves a hotel stay.

 

It appears to me that you are planning to visit Bermuda. Is that correct? [i looked up the itineraries of both ships] This would have an effect on my advise.

 

Bermuda trips stay overnight. So, that cruise is all about Bermuda. . . and less about the ship. The casino and many shops will be closed during the time you are docked. We sat at a table on the Royal Promenade on the EOS while in Bermuda and it felt like a ghost town.

 

I see the EOS goes for 5 days in the summer. [Their 7 day fall itineraries are better for this--but, I know that is an issue for children in school] They give you 2 full days to explore. However, you would not be there for either the Dockyard celebration or the Hamilton Nights celebration. bummer!

 

The GOTS goes to Bermuda for 7 days. Your time in Bermuda is almost the same. Because GOTS does not arrive until 3pm on Sunday and leaves at 5pm on Tuesday. [but you have two nights there] On Sunday the public transportation closes early and taxi cabs charge a 25% supplement. [they are already pricey] There was usually a Dockyard party on Sunday nights in the summer. [past years]

 

As I mentioned I am more about the itinerary. I feel this is especially true for Bermuda since a cruise there is really more like a floating hotel for part of the cruise.

Edited December 12, 2013 by DragonOfTheSeas

[cwnhokie]

Grandeur would be Bahamas and Explorer would be Bermuda. I would like to try Bermuda, just because we have never done it, but not sure if it would be a great first cruise experience for the teens. It's so hard making decisions for other people, but still a good problem to have.

[InsideCruiser]

What are your dates?

 

Explorer is better with the kids. But 5 days is too short. :p

 

Take a look at Norwegian (Gem or Breakaway) out of NY. If you have time to wait, they occasionally run a Kids Sail Free promotion.

 

IC

[cabarr]

Just off the Thanksgiving cruise 600 plus kids on ship and really Never saw them

Except when there was an event going on on the main promenade. The ship has so much to offer them... You'll wonder Where in the world are they!!!! Even noticed some nights parents dining alone...while the kids were out having fun with their peers!!!!

Been on Explorer now for 3 different cruises love just driving to pier and walking on ship in a matter of minutes....

Yes like the smaller ships too but agree to KEEP the kids happy and occupied

I pick Explorer!!!