Honestly, if you are looking for the explorer of the seas current position right now, you’re probably either sitting in a terminal with a suitcase or frantically checking if your family's ship is still on schedule. Today is January 15, 2026. If everything went according to plan this morning, the ship should be tied up at Port Canaveral.
It’s been a busy morning.
The ship was scheduled to glide into the channel around 7:00 AM, fresh off a five-night Western Caribbean run that took it through Cozumel and Costa Maya. If you’re standing at Jetty Park right now, you might see that massive white hull looming over the horizon. But here is the thing about cruise tracking: it’s never just a static dot on a map.
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Where in the world is Explorer of the Seas?
As of this morning, January 15, the ship has officially wrapped up its "Western Caribbean" itinerary. It’s "turnaround day," which is basically a controlled form of chaos where 3,000 people leave and another 3,000 try to get on as early as possible.
Right now, the explorer of the seas current position is at Port Canaveral, Florida.
Specifically, it's docked and prepping for its next adventure. If you are checking the AIS (Automatic Identification System) data, you’ll see the status listed as "Moored" or "At Anchor." It isn't going anywhere until later this afternoon. Around 3:00 PM or 4:00 PM, the lines will be tossed, the horn will blast, and she'll head back out to sea.
The next leg? A 4-night "Perfect Day & Bahamas" cruise.
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Basically, the ship is a floating hotel that never sleeps. While you're looking at a GPS coordinate, the crew is currently flipping thousands of mattresses and scrubbing the Windjammer buffet for the next wave of vacationers.
The actual itinerary: January 15 and beyond
Tracking a ship like this is kinda like following a bus route, but with more cocktails and better views. Since it’s 2026, the schedule is pretty locked in. Here is what the next few days look like for anyone on board right now:
- Jan 15: Departure from Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida.
- Jan 16: Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas.
- Jan 17: Nassau, Bahamas.
- Jan 18: A full day at sea (mostly involves the FlowRider and soft-serve ice cream).
- Jan 19: Back to Port Canaveral by 6:00 AM.
If you’re trying to find the ship on a map during these dates, it’ll be hugging the Florida coast before darting over to the Bahamas. It doesn't go very far out into the deep Atlantic on these short runs. You’re looking at the North West Atlantic Ocean, specifically the Lucayan Archipelago region.
Why the tracking data sometimes "Lies"
You might check a tracker and see the ship in the middle of the ocean when you know it should be in port. It’s annoying.
Satellite AIS is great, but it’s not perfect. Sometimes there's a delay. Other times, the ship might have to adjust its course because of a stray tropical depression or just heavy traffic in the channel. If the tracker says the ship is doing 0 knots, it’s docked. If it’s doing 21 knots, it’s making tracks to the next island.
Life on the Explorer in 2026
It is easy to forget that this ship has been around for over 25 years. It’s a Voyager-class legend. While it’s not as "mega" as the Icon of the Seas, it’s got a loyal following.
People love the Royal Promenade. It feels like a mall in the middle of the ocean. You've got the rock-climbing wall, the ice-skating rink (Studio B), and the FlowRider.
Honestly, the ship still holds up because Royal Caribbean keeps pouring money into its "Amplified" refurbishments. You get the newer water slides like the Perfect Storm duo—Cyclone and Typhoon. They are three stories of "I shouldn't have eaten that third burger before doing this."
Getting the most out of your tracking
If you’re a real ship geek, don't just look at the coordinates. Look at the "Draught."
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The Explorer of the Seas usually sits at about 9.1 meters in the water. If that number changes significantly, it usually means they’ve taken on a lot of fuel or supplies. It’s a weird little detail that makes the explorer of the seas current position feel more like a living thing than just a blip on a screen.
What to do if you're tracking a loved one
If you are checking the position because you have a friend or family member on board, don't panic if the "last updated" time was six hours ago. Ships sometimes lose terrestrial AIS coverage when they are further out at sea.
They are fine.
They are likely at the Schooner Bar listening to a piano player or watching a production of Grease.
Real-world tips for following the ship:
- Use multiple sources: CruiseMapper and VesselFinder are usually the most reliable for free data.
- Check the bridge cams: Royal Caribbean often has a bridge webcam feed. It’s way cooler to see the actual waves than a digital map.
- Time zones matter: Remember that the ship operates on "Ship Time," which usually matches the departure port (Eastern Time for Port Canaveral), but it can occasionally shift if they go far enough east.
The ship is currently en route to its next short-haul Bahamas loop. It’ll be back in Florida on January 19th before flipping around for a 5-night Eastern Caribbean run. If you are planning to book a trip soon, these winter months are actually some of the best times to find deals on the Explorer, especially the mid-week sailings.
To get the most accurate, second-by-second update, your best bet is to look for the ship's MMSI number: 311316000. Plug that into any maritime tracker, and you’ll see exactly where it’s tucked into the dock at Port Canaveral right now.
Check the Port Canaveral "Canaveral Webcam" on YouTube. You can often watch the ship pull out of port in real-time around 3:30 PM today. It’s a strangely satisfying way to say goodbye to the ship as it disappears toward the horizon.