The stateroom attendant separated these for us before bedtime
You make an appointment for boarding now, so there's little lineup for the health screening and boarding. Our stateroom wasn't ready quite yet, but we went there to pick up the envelope of our Seapasses, and then we got some lunch at the Café, and enjoyed an adult beverage. Then it was time to go to our now open stateroom, and change into attire suitable for the Solarium.
The Solarium is my favourite space on cruise ships. An adults only pool with hot tubs and a quiet space makes me quite happy. And I can spend time not in the hot tub just vegging and watching the ocean go by. The one on the Explorer was a good one, being kept at a reasonable temperature for wet people in bathing suits. I find some ships keep their Solariums absurdly cold for what the expected usage is.
The Izumi sushi restaurant has some wonderful choices, including a lobster champagne roll. We had a lovely lunch here, with a la carte pricing.
I loved the pattern on the Izumi carpet
Ah, the Schooner Bar! The best thing about Royal Caribbean! From the lavender daiquiris, to the singalong piano show, this is my favourite venue on board.
Lavender Daiquiri
Speaking of singing, they also have karaoke every night. Although, some nights it's a contest with the audience voting for their favourites. To be honest, I'm not a fan of this format. To me it flies in the face of what karaoke is all about: each, according to their ability.
Be ye warned! They allow smoking indoors in the casino, so if you are smoke sensitive, you will want to avoid this space. Also, the floor has a glass inset at the entrance, so it can be a bit awkward to step on.
The Promenade has snacks, bars, and shops
View from the Viking Crown Lounge
The Johnny Rockets onboard is available for an upcharge
I plan to cover shore excursions in the next post, but I will finish by saying that the dinner in Chops Grille was wonderful, and the lavender martinis were even better than the lavender daiquiris in the Schooner Bar. The service was, of course, also excellent. This meal was one of the better ones I've had, and it was definitely worth the upcharge.
Next: Part III - Ports of Call
