voyager vs explorer

Voyager of The Seas vs Explorer of the Seas

The Voyager of The Seas and the Explorer of the Seas are both operated by Royal Caribbean International. Both ships offer a variety of dining options, specialty restaurants, and amenities such as rock climbing walls, surf simulators, and theaters. While the Explorer of the Seas focuses on business and leisure facilities, the Voyager of The Seas is larger and offers additional amenities such as ice skating rinks and mini-golf. Overall, guests can expect a similar experience with some differences in available activities and entertainment options.

Specialty Dining Options

Voyager of the seas, explorer of the seas, complimentary dining options.

The 7 classes of Royal Caribbean cruise ships, explained

Editor's Note

Even if you're a newcomer to cruising, you've probably heard of Royal Caribbean 's giant Icon Class and Oasis Class ships. With the exception of a single MSC Cruises vessel , they're far bigger than any other cruise vessel afloat and like nothing else you'll find at sea.

Indeed, when you hear people talking about the wow factor of Royal Caribbean's "floating megaresorts," it's likely they're referring to the six ships in these two sets of vessels. This includes the just-unveiled Icon of the Seas — the world's biggest cruise ship.

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That said, not all Royal Caribbean ships are similarly supersized. While the line is perhaps best known for giant vessels — it operates six of the 10 biggest cruise ships in the world — it also markets some relatively smaller, more intimate ships.

In fact, Royal Caribbean has eight vessels that are less than half the size of the Oasis Class ships.

If you're thinking about booking a Royal Caribbean cruise, you'll find the line offers a wide range of ship styles and designs.

With the relatively recent removal of two older ships from its fleet, Royal Caribbean — the world's largest cruise line by passenger capacity — now has 27 oceangoing vessels in all. That's more than any other major cruise line, and it means that you have a lot of choices when it comes to picking the perfect Royal Caribbean ship for you.

Related: The ultimate guide to Royal Caribbean

The good news for those of you trying to get a handle on all the options is that the 27 ships can easily be bunched into just seven groups of vessels that have similar amenities. If you know one member of the group, you know them all.

These seven groups are made up of ships constructed around the same time with the same basic design. They're known in cruise industry lingo as "classes," and each has its own look and feel.

An introduction to Royal Caribbean ships

For the most part, Royal Caribbean operates big, bustling megaships that will appeal to people who like a megaresort experience. The company has built its brand around offering vacationers a ton of diversions on its ships, whether for dining (some vessels have more than 20 distinct places to grab a bite) or entertainment. Its vessels are lively and fun.

The over-the-top megaresort experience on a Royal Caribbean ship varies from class to class, though.

Related: Everything you need to know about Royal Caribbean cabins and suites

The line's one Icon Class and five Oasis Class ships are unlike anything else you'll find at sea when it comes to size, amenities and capacity. They each can hold more than 6,600 passengers, with every berth full.

Somewhat smaller in size but still giant by any measure, each of the line's five Quantum Class and three Freedom Class vessels has a total capacity ranging from around 4,500 to 5,600 passengers. With space for around 3,800 passengers at maximum occupancy, the line's five Voyager Class vessels are relatively large, too.

Together, the 19 vessels of these five classes — Icon, Oasis, Quantum, Freedom and Voyager — make up Royal Caribbean's big-ship fleet. The line's remaining eight vessels, split among two classes, are smaller, with maximum occupancy topping out at around 2,500 passengers.

While no longer the focus at Royal Caribbean, the smaller ships (which are generally the line's older ships) allow it to offer itineraries to places that aren't as easy for big ships to visit. Not all ports in the world can handle a ship the size of Icon of the Seas.

The smaller ships also appeal to a subset of Royal Caribbean fans who prefer more intimacy in a cruise vessel and don't mind giving up some onboard amenities to get it. They are also often less expensive to sail per day.

Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line

As you might expect, the biggest Royal Caribbean ships have the most amenities. With each step down in size, you'll find fewer restaurants, bars, entertainment venues and attractions. Even the smallest Royal Caribbean ships still have quite a bit to offer, though.

If you're sailing with the line for the first time, it's important to understand that not all of Royal Caribbean's signature attractions and venues are present on all its ships. For instance, while every Royal Caribbean vessel now has one of the line's iconic climbing walls (some have two), only the 19 ships of the line's big-ship classes have a FlowRider surfing simulator. Only the 14 ships of the Icon, Oasis, Freedom and Voyager classes have ice skating rinks.

Here is a look at the seven classes of Royal Caribbean ships in more detail.

Ships in class: Icon of the Seas (2024), Star of the Seas (coming in 2025); unnamed vessel (coming in 2026)

Size: 250,800 tons

Is your idea of a great vacation a trip to a megaresort loaded with more restaurants, bars, theaters and watery amusements than you can imagine? Royal Caribbean's new Icon Class is the ship class for you.

As mentioned above, Icon of the Seas — the only Icon Class ship currently in operation — is bigger than any other cruise vessel afloat at 250,800 tons, and for big-ship lovers, there's really nothing quite like it. The two more Icon Class ships debuting soon will be equally over-the-top in size and venues.

Each of the Icon Class vessels that are operating or soon to debut has been designed with seven separate pools (a new record for a cruise ship), a water park with six waterslides (also a record), a kiddie splash zone, surfing simulators, a miniature golf course, a basketball court and even a zip line. And that's just on their top decks.

Inside the vessels, you'll find more lounges, bars, restaurants and shops than you can imagine — plus huge casinos, spas and showrooms with Broadway-style shows. They even have indoor ice skating rinks, just in case you want to get your Michelle Kwan on.

What you won't find on the Icon Class ships is intimacy. These are vessels that can carry as many as 7,600 passengers when every berth is filled. They operate with around 2,300 crew members. That means you could be sharing your vacation with nearly 10,000 people.

If the above sounds downright outrageous to you, it is. Keep in mind, though, that the biggest megaresorts on land are even bigger. The biggest resort in the U.S. — The Venetian in Las Vegas — has 7,092 rooms. That means it can hold more than 14,000 guests, assuming there are two people per room.

By that measure, Icon Class ships are almost small.

Icon Class ships also don't necessarily feel as crowded as they are. Royal Caribbean's designers are masters at creating vessels that can carry thousands and thousands of people but still feel relatively uncrowded — at least in some areas. You can have a quiet afternoon reading a book on a bench in the sometimes nearly empty, tree-lined Central Park area of Icon of the Seas while, just a few decks above, thousands of vacationers are frolicking about at the ship's pools.

Related: Why Royal Caribbean's new Icon of the Seas won't feel as crowded as you think

Only one ship in this series (Icon of the Seas) is currently operating, but the second vessel in the series (Star of the Seas) is already open for bookings. Its maiden voyage is set for Aug. 17, 2025.

Quantum Class

Ships in class: Quantum of the Seas (2014), Anthem of the Seas (2015), Ovation of the Seas (2016), Spectrum of the Seas (2019) and Odyssey of the Seas (2021)

Size: 168,666 to 169,379 tons

Unveiled in 2014, the Quantum Class may be Royal Caribbean's most innovative class ever.

In addition to a wide range of restaurants, bars and showrooms, the five ships in the class feature some of the most unusual new attractions you'll find at sea. This includes bumper car pavilions (yes, somehow they found room for these) and skydiving simulators.

The ships also have glass-enclosed capsules mounted on mechanical arms that will take you soaring into the sky for bird's-eye views. They're called the North Star rides, and they may be the oddest attractions ever added to the top of a cruise ship.

Quantum Class ships also feature unusual, multilevel entertainment spaces with floor-to-ceiling glass walls called Two70. The spaces are home to innovative shows that often feature aerial performers, singers and dancers who emerge from openings in the floor or the ceiling. At certain times of the day, the glass walls transform into an expansive ambient surface called Vistarama that projects real and imagined scenes.

Related: The 10 wildest attractions you'll find on a cruise ship

All the above come in addition to many of the core Royal Caribbean attractions you'll find on most of the brand's ships, including pools, rock climbing walls, casinos, spas and Broadway-style shows. But don't expect all the classic Royal Caribbean features on Quantum Class ships. For instance, you won't find ice skating rinks on the vessels even though they're a staple of all other big Royal Caribbean ships. Quantum Class ships also don't have water parks.

The Quantum Class ships aren't quite as big as Royal Caribbean's Icon Class and Oasis Class vessels (and thus don't have quite as much room for things like ice skating rinks). At around 169,000 tons, though, they're still among the biggest ships at sea, with a significant number of venues.

They also can carry a lot of people. Most of the ships in the class hold 4,180 passengers at double occupancy — 4,905 if every berth is filled. One exception is Spectrum of the Seas, which was specifically built for the China market with some design differences. It can hold up to 5,622 passengers. Additionally, the newest ship in the series, Odyssey of the Seas, can hold up to 5,498 passengers.

Related: 4 things you'll love about Royal Caribbean's new Odyssey of the Seas

One more big difference between the ships of the Quantum Class and other big Royal Caribbean ships: The Quantum Class ships are designed to be more versatile.

If you look closely at their deck plans, you'll notice that more of their main attractions are indoors and protected from the elements than the ships of the Icon, Oasis or Freedom classes, for example.

One of the two main pool areas on each Quantum Class ship (except Odyssey of the Seas) is enclosed. The bumper car pavilions are, too, doubling as roller skating rinks or indoor basketball courts. This allows Royal Caribbean to send the ships to cooler regions of the world, such as Alaska and Northern Europe, where the temperatures aren't always conducive to outdoor activity.

Royal Caribbean has also used some Quantum Class ships for sailings out of China.

Related: Everything you need to know about Royal Caribbean's loyalty program

Oasis Class

Ships in class: Oasis of the Seas (2009), Allure of the Seas (2010), Harmony of the Seas (2016), Symphony of the Seas (2018), Wonder of the Seas (2022) and Utopia of the Seas (coming 2024)

Size: 226,838 to 236,857 tons

Until this year's debut of Icon of the Seas, these were the world's biggest and most venue-packed cruise ships. Although they're not quite as big as the new vessel, they remain among the very best options for vacationers who love nothing more than a big, bustling resort with every sort of amusement known to humans.

Each of the Oasis Class vessels has three separate main pool areas, a kiddie splash zone, surfing simulators, a miniature golf course, a basketball court and a zip line on their top decks — a nearly as wide array of features as the new Icon of the Seas. Inside the vessels, as on Icon of the Seas, you'll find a seemingly endless number of lounges, bars, restaurants and shops, as well as large casinos, spas and showrooms. Like Icon of the Seas, each ship has an indoor ice skating rink.

As is the case for Royal Caribbean's new Icon Class ships, which have many similarities with the Oasis Class ships, these vessels carry a huge number of people. They can carry as many as 6,988 passengers when every berth is filled. They operate with around 2,200 crew members. That means you could be sharing your vacation with more than 9,000 people — not quite as many as the nearly 10,000 you could find on an Icon Class ship but still a huge number.

The good news for those of you worried about excessive crowds is that, as is the case with the Icon Class ships, the Oasis Class ships don't necessarily feel as crowded as they are. Royal Caribbean designed them with a "neighborhood" concept that spreads passengers out in seven or eight (depending on the ship) distinct areas, such as the Pool and Sports Zone and the Boardwalk amusement zone. A lot of thought went into how passengers move between these neighborhoods, too.

Note that there are a few differences from ship to ship in the Oasis Class series. For starters, the three newest and largest ships in the series — Wonder of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas — have a few additional attractions and venues. Among them is the Ultimate Abyss, a terrifying slide that drops nine decks. (Royal Caribbean says it drops 10 decks, but don't be fooled; the line counts a nonexistent Deck 13.)

There are also giant waterslides on four of the five ships. Only Allure of the Seas is missing them. There are plans to add waterslides to Allure of the Seas, but they were put on hold after COVID-19 shut down cruising in 2020.

Related: The 6 most spectacular waterslides and watery fun zones at sea

A handful of restaurants also differ from ship to ship in the series.

The newest and largest ship in the series, Wonder of the Seas, has the most differences from the other Oasis Class vessels. At 236,857 tons, it's about 4% bigger than the next biggest ship in the series; the extra space is devoted to such additions as a dedicated suite area with a private lounge, a restaurant and a sun deck.

Related: Why Wonder of the Seas is awesome for families | Wonder of the Seas cabin comparison | A wild race to try every Wonder of the Seas attraction in 2 days

A sixth ship in the Oasis Class series, Utopia of the Seas , is scheduled to debut in July. Construction of the vessel began in April 2022 at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France — the same shipyard that built Wonder of the Seas.

Radiance Class

Ships in class: Radiance of the Seas (2001), Brilliance of the Seas (2002), Serenade of the Seas (2003) and Jewel of the Seas (2004)

Size: 90,090 tons

Not sure you want to sail on a megaship with 6,000 people but still want a vessel with a good amount of features and activities? The Radiance Class ships may be the perfect solution.

At 90,090 tons, the four vessels in the series are less than half the size of Royal Caribbean's massive Icon Class and Oasis Class ships, but still big enough that they have a lot to offer.

Each vessel has more than a half-dozen places to eat, including the main restaurant, a casual buffet, a steakhouse, an Italian restaurant and an Asian venue.

You'll also find three pools on each ship, whirlpools, a rock climbing wall, a miniature golf course, a sports court and an adults-only solarium. Each ship has a theater, a spa, a casino, and multiple bars and lounges.

What you won't find on the ships, because of their smaller size, are all the gee-whiz attractions — such as ice skating rinks, surfing simulators, giant waterslides and bumper car pavilions — that Royal Caribbean has put on its bigger vessels. If you can't live without those sorts of features on a cruise ship, the Radiance class probably isn't for you.

Each Radiance Class ship holds more than 2,100 passengers at double occupancy (plus a few hundred more with every berth filled). That's less than half the number of passengers on the biggest Royal Caribbean ships.

That makes them perfect for cruisers who want to get away from the sort of crowds on the biggest megaships without giving up many of the amenities that big ships offer.

Freedom Class

Ships in class: Freedom of the Seas (2006), Liberty of the Seas (2007) and Independence of the Seas (2008)

Size: 154,407 to 156,271 tons

As recently as 2009, these were the biggest cruise ships in the world, and they're still quite big compared to almost all other cruise vessels afloat.

While no longer on the list of the top 25 biggest cruise ships — they've been displaced by Royal Caribbean's Icon, Oasis and Quantum Class vessels, as well as several ships from other lines — the Freedom Class vessels offer a classic big-ship experience with lots of restaurants, bars, showrooms and deck-top attractions.

The Freedom Class ships, notably, were the first Royal Caribbean ships to feature a FlowRider surfing simulator on their top decks — now a signature attraction for the line. The vessels also have multiple pool areas, a water park, a miniature golf course and a rock climbing wall on their top decks (which are among the most activity-packed at sea).

Indeed, the top decks of Freedom Class ships are more loaded with attractions than any other Royal Caribbean vessels except the Icon Class and Oasis Class vessels. You just won't find several of the most over-the-top attractions, such as zip lines, that Icon Class and Oasis Class ships have.

In their interiors, Freedom Class vessels have the mall-like Royal Promenade spaces filled with eateries, bars and shops that have become standard on bigger Royal Caribbean ships. They also have large casinos and spas.

Related: Royal Caribbean just fixed the worst part of cruising

At around 156,000 tons, the Freedom Class ships are about 38% smaller than the Icon Class ships and 31% smaller than the Oasis Class ships, a significant step down in size. They're nearly 8% smaller than the Quantum Class ships.

They also carry significantly fewer passengers than the Oasis Class ships. Freedom of the Seas and Independence of the Seas carry about 3,900 passengers at double occupancy (closer to 4,600 with every berth filled). Liberty of the Seas can carry several hundred more.

Voyager Class

Ships in class: Voyager of the Seas (1999), Explorer of the Seas (2000), Adventure of the Seas (2001), Navigator of the Seas (2002) and Mariner of the Seas (2003)

Size: 137,276 to 139,999 tons

The Voyager Class ships are similar to Freedom Class ships but shorter in length. In other words, the Freedom Class was a stretched version of the Voyager Class.

Like the Freedom Class vessels, the Voyager Class ships have many of Royal Caribbean's signature attractions, including rock climbing walls and ice skating rinks. In fact, the ships were the first at Royal Caribbean to have those attractions.

Voyager Class ships were also the first to feature a Royal Promenade with bars, cafes and shops in their interior. Each also has several specialty restaurants in addition to the main dining room and casual buffet; specialty restaurants include a version of Royal Caribbean's signature Chops Grille steakhouse and an Italian restaurant.

One of the main differences between the Voyager Class and the Freedom Class is that the Royal Promenades on Voyager Class ships are shorter. The top-deck areas of the Voyager Class ships are also more truncated than the Freedom Class vessels.

There are also fewer cabins on the Voyager Class ships, resulting in fewer passengers on board a typical sailing. Most of the ships carry around 3,100 passengers at double occupancy — about 800 fewer than the typical Freedom Class ship.

At around 139,000 tons, the ships are about 11% smaller than the Freedom Class ships.

There are also some variations in attractions among the five Voyager Class vessels. Navigator of the Seas has a relatively new waterslide zone that's home to The Blaster, the longest waterslide at sea . You won't find that on the other ships, though most of them have different waterslides. Only three of the five ships — Voyager of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas — have laser tag courses. Adventure of the Seas is the only vessel in the class with a kiddie splash zone.

Related: Why the overhaul of Navigator of the Seas was so great

Vision Class

Ships in class: Grandeur of the Seas (1996), Rhapsody of the Seas (1997), Enchantment of the Seas (1997) and Vision of the Seas (1998)

Size: 73,817 to 82,910 tons

Dating to the 1990s, the Vision Class ships are the smallest at Royal Caribbean, and they offer fewer onboard attractions and amenities than is typical for the line's vessels.

In general, they appeal to cruisers looking for a more intimate experience on a cruise ship as well as those who care more about the destinations they visit than the onboard attractions.

Along those lines, Royal Caribbean often sends some of its Vision Class ships to Europe in the summer to operate port call-intensive itineraries. The vessels also often sail longer trips in the Caribbean that include less-visited southerly islands. In both cases, the allure of the cruises has more to do with the ports the ships visit than the onboard experience.

Vision Class ships are also sometimes based in secondary ports such as Baltimore or San Juan, Puerto Rico, where the size of the local cruise market might not warrant a larger vessel.

Except for rock climbing walls, the Vision Class ships have none of the signature Royal Caribbean deck-top attractions such as surfing and skydiving simulators. For the most part, their top decks are lined with pools, whirlpools and sunning areas, as is typical for ships built in the 1990s. All have at least two pools and six whirlpools, except for Enchantment of the Seas, which has three pools and six whirlpools.

Related: Is cruising right for you? Start by asking yourself these 7 questions

In addition to main restaurants and casual buffets, each ship has at least one (and often several) additional specialty restaurants. The line's signature Chops Grille steakhouse and Italian eatery Giovanni's Table are two of them. Rhapsody of the Seas has the biggest selection of dining; Enchantment of the Seas has the smallest. Three of the four vessels — all but Enchantment of the Seas — have an Izumi Asian restaurant.

Each of the ships varies slightly in size. Grandeur of the Seas is the smallest of the four vessels, measuring around 74,000 tons. Enchantment of the Seas is the biggest, measuring around 83,000 tons (it was, notably, lengthened by 73 feet in 2005).

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• Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Voyager comparison to Explorer?

By BearClaws , August 12, 2022 in Regent Seven Seas Cruises

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We just completed our first Regent cruise on the Explorer and absolutely loved it.

Now we are interested in a future cruise to Northern Europe which happens to be

on the Voyager.  Would love to hear impressions of Voyager, especially of the suites and any differences to be aware of.  We stayed in a PH on the Explorer, and our adult kids were in Concierge.  Would we be disappointed in the Voyager?

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Samuel Clemons once remarked: "It is Opinions that make the Horse Race Interesting" 

They are different ships - but they are the same Regent Experience.   The Voyager is smaller - thus more intimate.  The Explorer is larger, thus more dining options and rooms are larger - though there are a few more passengers. 

We were also in a Penthouse[B] Suite on Explorer and afterwards a Concierge Suite on Voyager.  It was fine.  We had a Seven Seas Suite [Fwd] on Mariner and will soon be in a Concierge Suite on Splendor.   Will that be a problem?  I don't think so.  As I've joked before:  You can place me in the Regent Suite on a Grand Voyage and it wouldn't change me a bit.   

And I'd Love to have the Opportunity to Prove that. . .

Enjoy your Voyages of Discovery

DeepFreeze63

Lots of personal preferences involved in such a comparison!

We have done 20 Regent cruises; just off the Voyager (7/30/2022) and sailed on the Explorer in February 2022. We have cruised 8 times on the Voyager (3 times in PH B) and 7 times on the Explorer (never in PH; once in Explorer Ste. but usually in Concierge). As luck would have it, we have reserved 4 future Voyager cruises (73 nights) and 2 Explorer cruises (also 73 nights).

Our favorite ship, based upon our 1 TA, is the Splendor, in Concierge. But ALAS, she doesn’t go where we want to go!

Recent Voyager cruises have been selected because of their itineraries. We heartily enjoyed our recent Voyager cruise but it had a lot uniquely going for it – Iceland/Greenland, special Regent 30year anniversary cruise, and also we sailed with our youngest grandson, So!!!!

For us, the comparison of the ships is:

·        Explorer has MUCH nicer cabins. Our recent PH B cabin was “dated” (especially the bathroom)and tight on storage space for a 15-day cruise. 

·        Voyager theater has great sight lines and can be walked through safely. Explorer theater has terrible sight lines and even after modifications the steps on ground floor present DW difficulty with the lights dimmed.

·        Aft lounge on Voyager is very enjoyable. We only used the Explorer’s aft infinity pool once.

·        We love the Explorer's light lunches in Prime7 and/or Chartreuse; much nicer than lunches in Voyager’s CR.

Otherwise we expect the same Regent experience of staff service and passenger   comradery .

We have cruised on both Explorer and Voyager.  To me, the Explorer often lets you forget you are on a ship, and I enjoy being on a ship at sea.  The Explorer is very nice indeed.  We enjoyed both ships.   The Voyager only have 2 specialty restaurants, but we enjoy the Main Dining Room so much with the great menu, that we don't miss the additional restaurant that the Explorer has.  Voyager has a better Theater.  Explorer Theater has some areas with seats behind a column and the aisle and steps are very hard to see where you step and where you don't.

Be sure to understand the size of the suites on the Voyager before you book, since they are not the same as Explorer.

If I had to decide between the two ships for the same itinerary - it would be a hard choice.  They are both very nice.

We have enjoyed sailing on both ships and they each have their own unique attributes.

Since we are ambivalent about having a butler (nice to have but not essential) we opt for a G grade suite on Voyager; F2 on Explorer.

1982CruzStart

I sail for the itinerary so the ship is less of a choice for me. Most of our cruises have been on Voyager and really enjoy her but if Voyager and Explorer were offering the exact same itinerary we want for about the same price, I would pick Explorer over Voyager. The F2 suites on Explorer are better than the equivalent suites on Voyager as well I really enjoy going to Pacific Rim and being able to have lunch in the specialty restaurants.  At the moment we have only 1 more cruise booked (we had to cancel this year and last) and it is on Voyager cuz it is going where we want to go.  I will be looking for a cruise to book using onboard booking for Explorer or Splendor going forward for the reasons stated above. 

wishIweretravelling

Unlike on Explorer, penthouses on Voyager are not very different from the Deluxe Verandah or Concierge suites. Some are slightly larger than the verandah cabins, but most are the same size. None have the two rooms that the Penthouses do on Explorer.

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Explorer of the Seas VS Voyager of the Seas

Find out all the differences between these two cruises at 2024

The most distant human-made object

No spacecraft has gone farther than NASA's Voyager 1. Launched in 1977 to fly by Jupiter and Saturn, Voyager 1 crossed into interstellar space in August 2012 and continues to collect data.

Mission Type

What is Voyager 1?

Voyager 1 has been exploring our solar system since 1977. The probe is now in interstellar space, the region outside the heliopause, or the bubble of energetic particles and magnetic fields from the Sun. Voyager 1 was launched after Voyager 2, but because of a faster route it exited the asteroid belt earlier than its twin, and it overtook Voyager 2 on Dec. 15, 1977.

• Voyager 1 discovered a thin ring around Jupiter and two new Jovian moons: Thebe and Metis.
• At Saturn, Voyager 1 found five new moons and a new ring called the G-ring.
• Voyager 1 was the first spacecraft to cross the heliosphere, the boundary where the influences from outside our solar system are stronger than those from our Sun.
• Voyager 1 is the first human-made object to venture into interstellar space.

In Depth: Voyager 1

Voyager 1 at jupiter.

Voyager 1 began its Jovian imaging mission in April 1978 at a range of 165 million miles (265 million km) from the planet. Images sent back by January the following year indicated that Jupiter’s atmosphere was more turbulent than during the Pioneer flybys in 1973–1974.

Beginning on Jan. 30, 1979, Voyager 1 took a picture every 96 seconds for a span of 100 hours to generate a color time-lapse movie to depict 10 rotations of Jupiter. On Feb. 10, the spacecraft crossed into the Jovian moon system and by early March, it had already discovered a thin (less than 19 miles, or 30 kilometers, thick) ring circling Jupiter.

Voyager 1’s closest encounter with Jupiter was at 12:05 UT on March 5, 1979 at a range of about 174,000 miles (280,000 kilometers). It encountered several of Jupiter’s moons, including Amalthea, Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, returning spectacular photos of their terrain, opening up completely new worlds for planetary scientists.

The most interesting find was on Io, where images showed a bizarre yellow, orange, and brown world with at least eight active volcanoes spewing material into space, making it one of the most (if not the most) geologically active planetary body in the solar system. The presence of active volcanoes suggested that the sulfur and oxygen in Jovian space may be a result of the volcanic plumes from Io, which are rich in sulfur dioxide. The spacecraft also discovered two new moons, Thebe and Metis.

Voyager 1 at Saturn

Following the Jupiter encounter, Voyager 1 completed an initial course correction on April 9, 1979, in preparation for its meeting with Saturn. A second correction on Oct. 10, 1979, ensured that the spacecraft would not hit Saturn’s moon Titan.

Its flyby of the Saturn system in November 1979 was as spectacular as its previous encounter. Voyager 1 found five new moons, a ring system consisting of thousands of bands, wedge-shaped transient clouds of tiny particles in the B ring that scientists called “spokes,” a new ring (the “G-ring”), and “shepherding” satellites on either side of the F-ring—satellites that keep the rings well-defined.

During its flyby, the spacecraft photographed Saturn’s moons Titan, Mimas, Enceladus, Tethys, Dione, and Rhea. Based on incoming data, all the moons appeared to be composed largely of water ice. Perhaps the most interesting target was Titan, which Voyager 1 passed at 05:41 UT on Nov. 12 at a range of 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometers). Images showed a thick atmosphere that completely hid the surface. The spacecraft found that the moon’s atmosphere was composed of 90% nitrogen. Pressure and temperature at the surface was 1.6 atmospheres (1 atmosphere equals the average air pressure at sea level on Earth) and minus 290°F (minus 179°C), respectively.

Atmospheric data suggested that Titan might be the first body in the solar system (apart from Earth) where liquid could exist on the surface. In addition, the presence of nitrogen, methane, and more complex hydrocarbons indicated that prebiotic chemical reactions might be possible on Titan.

Voyager 1’s closest approach to Saturn was at 23:46 UT on Nov. 12, 1980, at a range of 78,000 miles (126,000 kilometers).

Voyager 1’s ‘Family Portrait’ Image

Following the encounter with Saturn, Voyager 1 headed on a trajectory escaping the solar system at a speed of about 3.5 AU per year, 35° out of the ecliptic plane to the north, in the general direction of the Sun’s motion relative to nearby stars. Because of the specific requirements for the Titan flyby, the spacecraft was not directed to Uranus and Neptune.

The final images taken by the Voyagers comprised a mosaic of 64 images taken by Voyager 1 on Feb. 14, 1990, at a distance of 40 AU, of the Sun and all the planets of the solar system (although Mercury and Mars did not appear, the former because it was too close to the Sun and the latter because Mars was on the same side of the Sun as Voyager 1 so only its dark side faced the cameras).

This was the so-called “pale blue dot” image made famous by Cornell University professor and Voyager science team member Carl Sagan (1934-1996). These were the last of a total of 67,000 images taken by the two spacecraft.

Voyager 1’s Interstellar Mission

With all the planetary encounters finally over in 1989, the missions of Voyager 1 and 2 were declared part of the Voyager Interstellar Mission (VIM), which officially began on Jan. 1, 1990.

The goal was to extend NASA’s exploration of the solar system beyond the neighborhood of the outer planets to the outer limits of the Sun’s sphere of influence, and “possibly beyond.” Specific goals include collecting data on the transition between the heliosphere, the region of space dominated by the Sun’s magnetic field and solar field, and the interstellar medium.

On Feb. 17, 1998, Voyager 1 became the most distant human-made object in existence when, at a distance of 69.4 AU from the Sun, it “overtook” Pioneer 10.

On Dec. 16, 2004, Voyager scientists announced that Voyager 1 had reported high values for the intensity for the magnetic field at a distance of 94 AU, indicating that it had reached the termination shock and had now entered the heliosheath.

The spacecraft finally exited the heliosphere and began measuring the interstellar environment on Aug. 25, 2012, the first spacecraft to do so.

On Sept. 5, 2017, NASA marked the 40th anniversary of its launch, as it continues to communicate with NASA’s Deep Space Network and send data back from four still-functioning instruments – the cosmic-ray telescope, the low-energy charged particles experiment, the magnetometer, and the plasma waves experiment.

The Golden Record

Each of the Voyagers contain a “message,” prepared by a team headed by Carl Sagan, in the form of a 12-inch (30-centimeter) diameter gold-plated copper disc for potential extraterrestrials who might find the spacecraft. Like the plaques on Pioneers 10 and 11, the record has inscribed symbols to show the location of Earth relative to several pulsars.

The records also contain instructions to play them using a cartridge and a needle, much like a vinyl record player. The audio on the disc includes greetings in 55 languages, 35 sounds from life on Earth (such as whale songs, laughter, etc.), 90 minutes of generally Western music including everything from Mozart and Bach to Chuck Berry and Blind Willie Johnson. It also includes 115 images of life on Earth and recorded greetings from then-U.S. President Jimmy Carter (1924– ) and then-UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim (1918–2007).

By January 2024, Voyager 1 was about 136 AU (15 billion miles, or 20 billion kilometers) from Earth, the farthest object created by humans, and moving at a velocity of about 38,000 mph (17.0 kilometers per second) relative to the Sun.

National Space Science Data Center: Voyager 1

A library of technical details and historic perspective.

Beyond Earth: A Chronicle of Deep Space Exploration

A comprehensive history of missions sent to explore beyond Earth.

Discover More Topics From NASA

Our Solar System

• The Contents
• The Making of
• Where Are They Now
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Q & A with Ed Stone

golden record

Where are they now.

• frequently asked questions
• Q&A with Ed Stone

Mission Status

Instrument status.

Where are the Voyagers now?

To learn more about Voyager, zoom in and give the spacecraft a spin. View the full interactive experience at Eyes on the Solar System . Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

View Voyager

Space Flight Operations Schedule (SFOS)

SFOS files showing Voyager activity on Deep Space Network (DSN)

2024 Tracking Schedule

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Niupipo Voyager Pro & Explorer Pro Pickleball Paddle Comparison Review

Niupipo Voyager Pro and Explorer Pro Pickleball Paddle Review Voyager Pro Direct From Niupipo Explorer Pro Direct From Niupipo Niupipo Voyager Pro Pickleball Paddle Niupipo Explorer Pro Pickleball Paddle

New Pickleball Paddle Pro Series, the all-new Niupipo’s – you’ve got to try a Niupipo!

Who the heck is Niupipo pickleball? Well, they quite possibly have the best entry-intermediate level pickleball paddles values on Amazon . Now.. they have entered the Pro Series arena with some strong contenders. The Voyager Pro and Explorer Pro pickleball paddles are being used with great success by Pros like Anthony Davis, Vivienne David and Jack Foster. With such a high profile Pro-Team, PickleballReviews is excited to bring you the Niupipo Voyager Pro and Explorer Pro Pickleball Paddle Review.

Niupipo Pickleball Paddle Development

The very first thing you need to know about Niupipo is that their name is simply pronounced “New People” with no “L”. The second is that Niupipo pickleball paddles have some of the top selling and best beginner to intermediate level paddles on the market. One could almost say, they are the big gorilla of pickleball paddles on Amazon. Niupipo Sports entered 2022 with big goals for their company. They not only wanted to introduce their professional level paddle series, but also wanted them tournament tested. The Niupipo Voyager Pro & Explorer Pro pickleball paddles were developed and released in late 2021 & spring of 2022 respectively.

Niupipo Voyager Pro & Explorer Pro Pickleball Paddle Review

Both paddles are USAPA tournament approved, have the same polypropelene honeycomb core, and graphite carbon fiber surface with grit added for control & spin. The main difference is the paddle shape & handle length, so your preference will depend on your playing style & budget.

Our Pickleball Review Team (multiple players from across the US 3.5-5.0) evaluated these 2 paddles for 60+ days playing offense and defense at many performance levels. We tested the paddles in the most important playing aspects of pickleball, (serves, drives, drops, blocks, slams, returns, lobs, volly battles and of course dinking). Here is our performance feedback. Because the Voyager Pro & Explorer Pro have the same core, surface and texture, the main differences were the pros & cons of the elongated shape of the Voyager Pro vs. the standard shape of the Explorer Pro. The sweet spots were as expected, with the elongated shape having a longer sweet spot & paddle reach, while providing more leverage for consistent power shots (serves, drives, slams & volley battles). The standard shape was more accommodating and player friendly in the soft game (drops, blocks, lobs & dinking).

When hit in the sweet spot, they both excelled in power for strong serves, drives and slams at the same time offering adequate top & back spin. Their grip handles are comfortable & tacky for many hours of easy play with good control. Niupipo has a good reliability rating over all and has one of the longest warranties (15 months) when your paddles are registered on their site.

In the end: The Niupipo Voyager Pro & Explorer Pro Paddles have some of the best price per performance values we have seen, they are not $200+ paddles for sure. The Voyager Pro excedes in power & reach, whereas the Explorer Pro performs well at blocking and drops. Both drive well with adequate control at the net. Some very nice add-ons are that they both come with a protectitive paddle cover and extended warranty when registered. Many of the players thought they were competitive with $130-$150 paddles. If you are looking for a performance upgrade without breaking the bank, you can’t go wrong these Niupipo Pro Series paddles.

Voyager Pro Pickleball Paddle Specs

Pickleball Paddle: Niupipo Voyager Pro Pickleball Paddle Shape: Elongated MSRP: $109.99 (with Amazon Discount) Voyager Pro Discount Code at Amazon: “VOYAGERPR” Skill Level: Beginner to Pro Paddle Length: 16.5 inches Paddle Width: 7.5 inches Paddle Thickness: 0.59 inches or 15 mm Weight: 7.8 oz average Grip Length: 5.2 inches Grip Size 4.25 inches Grip Style: Cushion, perforated, Comfortable & Tacky Paddle Face: Textured Graphite Core Material: Polypropylene Honeycomb Core Edge Guard – Yes Graphic Design – Nice Warranty – 1 Year & Amazon satisfaction guarantee – https://niupipo.com/pages/product-protection – live chat tech support – registering product gets you additional 3 months warranty China made USAPA Approved Overall Score 9.6 SHOT CONTROL 9.5 SHOT POWER 9.7 SHOT SPIN 9.4 PADDLE GRIP 9.5 SURFACE SIZE (SWEET SPOT) 9.7 PRICE/PERFORMANCE: 10 – Incredible Value with Amazon Discount

Niupipo Voyager Pro Pickleball Paddle Discount

Voyager Pro (25% off retail $109.99 by checking coupon code & using discount code “VOYAGERPR”)

Explorer Pro Pickleball Paddle Specs

Name: Niupipo Explorer Pro Pickleball Paddle Shape: Standard MSRP: $89.99 (with Amazon Discount) Explorer Pro Pickleball Paddle Discount Code at Amazon: “EXPLORERPR” Skill Level: Beginner to Pro Paddle Length: 16 inches Paddle Width: 7.9 inches Paddle Thickness: 0.59 inches or 15 mm Weight: 8 oz average Grip Length: 4.5 inches Grip Size 4.25 inches Grip Style: Cushion, perforated, Comfortable & Tacky Paddle Face: Textured Graphite Core Material: Polypropylene Honeycomb Core Edge Guard – Yes Graphic Design – Nice Warranty – 1 Year & Amazon satisfaction guarantee – https://niupipo.com/pages/product-protection – live chat tech support – registering product gets you additional 3 months warranty China made USAPA Approved Overall Score 9.5 SHOT CONTROL 9.5 SHOT POWER 9.4 SHOT SPIN 9.4 PADDLE GRIP 9.4 SURFACE SIZE (SWEET SPOT) 9.5 PRICE/PERFORMANCE: 10 – Incredible Value with Amazon Discount

Niupipo Explorer Pro Pickleball Paddle Discount

Explorer Pro (30% off retail $89.99 by checking coupon code & using discount code “EXPLORERPR”)

Niupipo Sponsored Players

Niupipo Sports is aggressively enter i ng the professional pickleball market in 2021-22 by sponsoring the World Pickleball Championship in Punta Gorda Florida and Professional Players like Frank Anthony Davis, Vivienne David & Jack Foster. Sponsorship at the highest competitive level helps them develop and test their new Pro Series Pickleball Paddles while letting people know that their paddles are not just for family fun matches & recreation play, but also for competing in regional and national events.

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Experience with 4AllFamily Coolers

Anyone here have experience to share about the 4AllFamily Explorer or Voyager models? https://4allfamily.com/

I’m preparing for an extended visit overseas to a remote village, and I’ll be dealing with high temps (100F).

For my in-use insulin I’ll have Frio packs.

I’m using the cooler for my backup supplies, to keep them cold until I absolutely need them.

I’ll have a car with USB port, and electricity will be fairly reliable at home stays (I’ll have power banks, too).

Tips, etc., are appreciated. These are TSA approved, and shouldn’t cause customs issues on arrival.

I’ve never used one. I don’t worry too much about insulin temp.

How much time do you have before your trip?

I’m assuming it could be returned if it does not work well. Maybe you can buy it, try it at home, and then decide if it will work for you.

I have not used them. Given recent review of studies on temperature effects on common various insulin types, I question the value of these devices given their cost. While manufacturers caution of the temperatures and ≈28 day life of insulin, major well founded studies in both developed and remote regions of the world have shown insulin degradation to be minimal over several weeks with minimal cooling efforts (water in clay pots for example) being effective. While I wouldn’t ignore the manufacturer warnings completely, they are only putting out what they’ve studied and founded FDA approvals on. Perhaps using ice/cooling packs/gels and insulated containers is just as effective, obviating the costs of such devices, simplifying travel, recusing the cost and mental stress over the safety required. Obviously the environment traveled will be a deciding factor as well; I certainly wouldn’t leave supplies in the glove compartment of a car parked in Death Valley.

I’m trying it this weekend. But I was hoping others had tried it and knew of any quirks, etc.

After doing everything right one similar trip, and still my insulin went bad, I’m extra cautious.

I used ice packs and insulated containers (a Yeti), and still on a similar trip my backup insulin went bad. Delays, etc., happen, I didn’t have enough frio packs for everything all at once, since my backup was to stay cold on purpose. Ice packs require a freezer, which not everyone has. Fridge, yes. That’s why I’m trying this method this time.

Potency: once I open a vial I notice my insulin losing potency after 21 days. I am extremely sensitive.

For reference, 1g of dextrose raises my BG 35 mg/dL and my ISF is 1:95.

After 21 days, each and everything month, for years, I have to increase my basal rate 10-15% the last week (and adjust my carb ratio, ISF, etc), and longer it acts more like R insuli. And no, it’s not my menstrual cycle, that needs 25-30% more.

As an experiment, for three months I opened a new vial every 21 days. Never needed to increase my basal rate, other than my menstrual cycle.

So while the experiments may have noticed “minimal” change, how the body reacts to that change varies from person to person. Trust me, I notice!

I know this is off topic, but I would take a full month to finish off a single vial on my pump (I fill each reservoir with 1mL/100u and it lasts me three days), so my endo prescribes me cartridges. Would using 3mL cartridges instead of 10mL vials solve your potency sensitivity issue?

This is an interesting point to bring up, and it may bring some things to light about insulin degradation, and some of the possible causes.

We don’t really “open” an insulin vial ever. We take the cap off and start using it, but that does not open it. The insulin is still enclosed with the rubber stopper, and the stoppers are self-sealing.

After we take some insulin out, it is still closed inside the vial by the stopper.

The only difference when we start using a vial is that we are introducing outside air, and also exposing the insulin to more surface area of air.

A bit hard to describe with words, so here is a quick illustration I made to show what I mean.

This image is assuming someone is storing their vials upright, but the same applies no matter how you store your vials.

As @Finn mentioned cartridges, the difference there is that the insulin is NOT ever exposed to air. Since the plunger moves, there is minimal air contact.

What I do is minimize air exposure in the vial by keeping it under negative vacuum.

When I first start the vial, I take out 200 units of air right away. That starts it at negative vacuum.

Then, I always remove less air than insulin I am taking out. That keeps it at negative vacuum.

For example, if I am removing 100 units of insulin to put in a pod, I only put in about 65 units of air.

Thoughts on this?

Yay! It’s FUD! This post describes it pretty well:

@jbowler , this seems like something you would have thoughts on too, so adding you.

I use 3mL reservoirs and fill to only 70U. I use 10-13 u per day total, and change every 4th day. Starts losing effectiveness after that. It’s a lot of waste, but it is what it is.

Thanks for the insight, however, I’d like to focus on who has used this particular equipment for similar trips.

I am a former bench chemist and field geologist with a Masters degree and PG. I use the term “opened vial” because that’s what most people understand.

@MsCris You’ve done your own history and seen impacts with opened and un-cooled/refrigerated products, so obviously go with your experiences. Your sensitivities are significant; the first person I’ve heard from that level, so all the more reason to use what works for you! Please come back and let us know what you think of whatever product you try; always good to know and pass on for others of similar situation.

Just to be sure we’re not mixing up 3mL reservoirs and 3mL cartridges , I was suggesting getting 3mL cartridges of insulin (penfills that would be used in reusable pens) to fill your pump with, rather than insulin from a 10mL vial .

You said you fill your reservoir with 70u every 4 days, so a 3mL cartridge/penfill of insulin would be finished after about 17 days on average, under your 21 day potency cutoff.

Obviously you know what works for you and have probably already considered changes like this, but I thought I’d mention it in case it helps you or someone else who’s sensitive to insulin.

And sorry again, I know this isn’t the question of your post, but it could be another way of partially solving your problem of insulin not working as effectively after 21 days. I also appreciate that prescriptions for cartridges and vials might not be as interchangeable in some places and on some insurance. I’m in Germany and my endo is happy to prescribe whatever insulin I request in whatever format I ask for and it’s all covered the same by insurance.

Finn, I’m in the U.S. A different healthcare landscape for T1s!

My private insurance no longer covers the Penfill cartridges. I still have the pen though, just in case they ever do again. I used to carry them as my pump backup.

Yes, I change the reservoir every 4 days. While I fill with 70u (so I can have the min 60u required), there’s the tube to fill, air bubbles to flush on occasion, etc. And site changes every 1-2 days with 0.75 u each time (different body parts, different absorption, mine just don’t last).

The insulin in my pump never lasts more than 4 days. It starts losing effectiveness and I notice it. At first I thought there was something wrong with the pump overheating - they replaced it, no difference. I’ve tried novolog and humalog, same thing happened (with humalog being slightly worse).

I’m just that sensitive to it all. When I’m out eating and ask many questions about ingredients…I know within 20 minutes if they didn’t tell me the whole truth!

That’s annoying. I hope for you that your insurance covers penfills again one day. Cartridges certainly make pump life easier for those of us who are really sensitive to insulin or use low doses. And as you said, they’re ready-made pump backups.

@MsCris , please do share about your experience when you return and what you learn. Your post has appropriately reminded us that our diabetes experiences differ from each other, yet we can still learn from each other.

I use this cooler for my travels. I have been very happy with it! My previous cooler was a liquid that once it melted and sounded like liquid caused all kinds of trouble with TSA. I believe this is a gel. My only concern is that the small bottles of insulin do not fit tightly. My husband constructed padding to go around it that keeps it secure and is easy to see what it is when it is flagged by TSA. We keep it in a refrigerator when we are on the road. I’ve had no issues with my insulin and its usage. That being said, I have not had a super long trip where I’ve had no refrigeration available! Good luck!

That’s no problem for durations of a few months. There isn’t much literature about this but a lot of research has been done on people in Sudan as a result of the war there (which makes them free experimental subjects):

For those who aren’t going to follow the link, or, indeed, aren’t going to read it:

[W]hile storage at ambient temperature (25–30°C) is usually permitted for the 4-week usage period during treatment

So that’s 86F for the Americans out there, then:

[T]emperature fluctuations were measured in Dagahaley refugee camp (Northern Kenya) using log tag recorders. Oscillating temperatures between 25 and 37°C were observed.

(The camp is where Sudan refugees were ending up.) 37 is 100F.

Taken together, these results indicate that insulin can be stored at such oscillating ambient temperatures for the usual four–week period of use.

There is at least one other paper using the same disgraceful data source that documents the degradation of insulin efficacy while stored in non-refrigerated conditions in, I think, the same refugee camps.

We really do need to do this research on ourselves. It’s been done (by us) for freezing, but for heat it’s more difficult because heat really does damage insulin and measuring reduction in IU with heat is a lot more difficult.

I use a 4AllFamily canister, medium size, the economy system that doesn’t connect to a power supply. It was $40. I balked for quite a while before buying it and tried to get by using my YETI tumbler as well. The 4AllFamily is much better at keeping insulin at refrigerator temperature, longer. I don’t put it through any extreme events but this coming Saturday is a good example of when it will be used. I’ll be outdoors, in both shade and sun, for about 12 hours. It’s 90 degrees out there with horribly high humidity. The humidity is so high that Frios won’t work. I’ll be able to have it hold the pen that’s almost out and the next to be used, all day, and never think about it. Even with the canister being opened when I want to dose, it stays cool with my bag in and out of the sun, on a beach, or in the car while I hike. Worth it.

Hi, see above my explanation as to why I need to start a new vial every 21 days. I know that data well, my body, however, is extremely sensitive.

Thank you @mremmers ! I just gave it a test run and will post about it. I had a great experience.

Thank you @Carol ! I am about to post my test run.

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Cruise Spotlight

Helping you find cruise ships you'll love

Brilliance of the Seas vs Voyager of the Seas

The Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas was built in 2002. It's 3 years newer than the Voyager of the Seas , which was built in 1999 and renovated in 2019.

Comparison Overview

Number of passengers, food and restaurants, bars and drinks, pools and hot tubs, ship features and activities, cruise costs, onboard costs.

The Brilliance of the Seas is considered a small size ship. Coming in at 962 feet long and 106 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.7 football fields, as wide as 2 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 12-story building. Compared to the Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas, the Brilliance of the Seas is 34% smaller in terms of overall tons.

Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas holds 41% fewer passengers than the Voyager of the Seas based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, or what we call the "Space Ratio," the Brilliance of the Seas has more space per person compared to the Voyager of the Seas. This means that you might have a bit more space to yourself on the ship, although there still could be some crowded areas like buffets, pools, etc.

Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.

The Brilliance of the Seas has 14 different dining options like Chops Grille , Chef's Table , and Izumi Sushi & Hot Rocks . Of those options, 8 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 6 options have an additional fee.

The Voyager of the Seas has 1 fewer dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Izumi Sushi & Hot Rocks , Cafe Promenade , and Windjammer . 8 of these restaurants are complementary and the other 5 have an additional fee.

The Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas has about the same number of dining options as the Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas.

Both ships have a similar number of paid versus included dining options.

Restaurants on Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas & Voyager of the Seas

The Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas has 1 fewer bar than the Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas.

In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. Both ships serve the Coca-cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship. Most Royal Caribbean ships also have Coke Freestyle machines where you can make 100 different flavor combinations.

You can check out recent the bar menus for the Brilliance of the Seas and the Voyager of the Seas below.

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day for 7 days in a pool, a cruise isn't for you. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.

The Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas has a total of 2 pools and 3 hot tubs. Tired of loud kids and splashing? 1 of the pools and 1 of the hot tubs are adults only.

Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas has more pools than the Brilliance of the Seas and more hot tubs.

Cruise Coloring and Activity Books for Kids Get your kids ready for their cruise or keep them entertained while on board with our custom made coloring and activity books. These are the Royal Caribbean editions with places like Studio B and Sorrento's featured.

Cruise Ship Coloring Book for Kids 3-5 - Royal Caribbean Edition

Let's Get Cruising Activity Book for Kids 6-8 - Royal Caribbean Edition

Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. You might up paying more while on board the Brilliance of the Seas. Only 70% of the activities below are included in your cruise fare. On the Voyager of the Seas, 80% of the activities are included at no additional cost.

Royal Caribbean is a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.

Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. Typically newer ships cost more, so a cruise on Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas will likely be more expensive than on Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas.

Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.

Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.

The table below will help you understand what you might spend onboard a Royal Caribbean ship.

Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing, which means the pricing for many things will vary per sailing. The daily gratuities and tip are consistent across the fleet, but the pricing for the drink package, internet, and excursions will change. The only way to know your price is to consult the Royal Caribbean cruise planner once you're booked.

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