Anyone Missing Explorers Cam and Science Site?

History - WIth the launch of Explorer Of The Sea in 2000, RCI announced "This cruise ship is so high-tech, it even features the University of Miami Ocean Lab, a state-of-the-art oceanographic and atmospheric science lab." Since that time thousands of hours of data has been collected through the program, that has helped investigate our planet, diagnose global warming issues with real data and has even helped to solve a crime in NY. During the 7+ year program, on board scientists would give lectures and monitor the data gathering equipment.

Currently the program is no longer functioning and no definite return is planned. I first suspected something was wrong was when I went to the University website to see who the scheduled scientist on board would be and what the lecture topic was. I noted that the schedules stopped at the end of December 2007, with nothing scheduled for 2008. I made a query about the program to RCI and to the University of Miami but did not receive a reply. It was November when I started looking into this, as DD is very interested in Marine science and we had chosen Explorer in part because of the program, so I was doing the due diligence in trying to find out more.

On Dec 4th it all went to hell in a hand basket. The Bow-Cam disappeared. When I went to check on the ship position and the website (http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/rccl/obs/ex-rt-obs.html) vanished form the webserver it was on. Looking up the chain to the root directory, the entire site was deleted from the server. ( I've run an ISP and webservers, so I knew what I was looking at) Added to the no-schedule issue from the previous month, I suspected something bad had happened top the program.

I contacted the University of Miami in December and was told, yes the site is down and we are working on getting it back up in an automated fashion. Last week I sent a follow up message to inquire about the progress.

Here is the real deal... I got a couple of candid emails from Elizabeth at UM. Funding ran out. The university was working from a federal grant that expired last year. As a result there is no money to fund a scientist being onboard, nor to maintain the data stream and website. She agreed that the demise of the program has not been handled well, but she also stated that feedback was scant from cruisers and that they felt no one was watching.

Personally I am very sad to see the program go away. The data it has provided has been invaluable and has resulted in significant gains in the understanding of the gulf stream and Ocean waters where-ever it was sailing. I am also dismayed and disappointed that on my upcoming cruise on Jan 8th, there will be no program.

I understand that the dollar makes it all go, so the demise of funding would naturally result in the program being shutdown. I am also bit miffed that RCI doesn;t seem to know or care what is going on, or at least they are doing the same corporate dance of not communicating well. C&A has no clue what has happened or why. Questions to RCI get replies that they know nothing and I should contact the University.... I should clarify that is was totally a U of M decision to shut the program down. Well excuse me, but RCI is certainly willing to use the existence of the program to promote the ExOS as evidenced by the collateral they use that prominently mentions the Science program.

Sigh... I suspect there is more bad blood underneath all this than is showing. Why else delete the website? Why not put up a web page that says, "under construction". Having it disappear says a lot about how the program died. Everyone is so tight-lipped, there must be more than what I have been able to see. Why did it get to a bitter end before it died?

So while RCI chooses to continue to promote a program they know doesn't exist anymore, most cruisers will have to wait until they get on board to find out the system is dead in the water, and there is no lab tour, and there will be no lecture.

The U of M site was also the data pass through for the Explorer Bow-Cam, so this well known web cam no longer functions.

I think this situation is another sketchy situation that RCI is having real issues communicating about. Geez guys.. at least remove all that glowing text about the Science program if you don't have one! And how about an apology to those of us that booked the ExOS in part because there was an exceptional educational opportunity in addition to a great vacation??

So to sum up, the folks at RCI and the U of Miami don't know how much, if at all, "we" enjoyed the site. If you did find it something you enjoyed then you should let the U of Miami and RCI know about it. If not, then I suppose it is time to let it die a peaceful death....

Haruumph!!!!

Thanks for sharing the information you compiled.

Sad to hear it...I enjoyed the lectures (2 or 3) while aboard. I know the scientists were not really happy about the move north to NJ due to extra travel and crossing of the Gulf Stream at a different spot, but they didn't give any indication the program was likely to disappear.

Bummer!!!

I know this will probably sound pathetic on my part, especially after the wonderful post you just made, but I'll still say it. I have been on the Explorer of the Seas two times and still don't know where that place is located. I remember reading allll about it and even visiting the website quite a few times before I sailed her. Once I got on board, there was not one mention on either of the cruises. I checked every day in the compass but never saw anything. I was actually quite disappointed myself as I thought it seemed really interesting. I guess there wasn't enough interest and they decided to can the program.

double post :eek: :D

I know this will probably sound pathetic on my part, especially after the wonderful post you just made, but I'll still say it. I have been on the Explorer of the Seas two times and still don't know where that place is located. I remember reading allll about it and even visiting the website quite a few times before I sailed her. Once I got on board, there was not one mention on either of the cruises. I checked every day in the compass but never saw anything. I was actually quite disappointed myself as I thought it seemed really interesting. I guess there wasn't enough interest and they decided to can the program.

There was a small blurb in the Compass for where to sign up for the tours. It was one of those things you had to look for.

It was really a nice tour and made for a great way to spend a not so nice,weather wise afternoon.

The Oceanographic lab was way down on deck 1 or 2 (don't remember) and we were escorted there by a crew member since we had to go through a non-passenger allowed area. The Atmospheric Lab was way up on the top deck and while it was not a restricted area it was WAYYYYY off the beaten path.

Anyone Missing Explorers Cam and Science Site?

Yes. I miss it.

I accidently found the sign up sheets in the library. They had several times on several different days.

We were looking forward to it as well, sorry to hear of it's demise...

Based on the lack of concern for the demise of the program, I guess they were right in thinking that no one really cares all that much about the program outside the science community itself.

So why should RCI bring back the BowCam? Why should U of Miami try to get it running again? Perhaps a data collecting mission.... so ... boo hiss..whaa whaa.... whine whine....

What a bummer! I literally was going to check the bowcam when I left this site and then saw this post. I LOVE the Explorer and the next best thing to being on her was the bowcam. Guess I will have to wait until October to see her again....:mad:

My family and I were excited about the fact that the lab was on board and were looking forward to checking it out on our upcoming cruise. Actually, I think it is one of the things that would have most interested DH. I'm sorry that we won't have this opportunity.

We had no problem finding out when the tours were and found them very interesting. You could also find out when, and watch them, launch the weather ballons off the back of the ship. I would always go to the site to see where the Explorer was and what the weather was and llok at the bow cam (moslty before we sailed). It is a shame this program disappeared.

start sailing out of Bayonne, Cape Liberty, New Jersey? I wonder if Royal Caribbean knew that the University of Miami program was ending due to lack of funding so that is why they relocated Explorer to N.J. and why she no longer sails from Miami! Hubby and I sailed on her 11/04/07 to Bermuda/Boston! We did sign up in the library for the Ocean Lab tour but we got lost finding it and missed our tour! We then signed up again for it on Saturday but we had the wrong time and missed the final tour! Hubby said we will sail on Explorer to Canada/New England some year but I wonder if they will still offer the Ocean Lab tours! We had 3 days at sea and we still did not do all that we had planned on Explorer most but not all! The Ice Skating show was Fantastic and we we never miss those! On Monarch/Majesty we have no days at sea but we manage to find that we have more than enough time to do all that we want to do! I guess that just goes to show how much bigger these newer ships really are when you come home saying darn we missed doing this or that! Happy sailings and Bon Voyage!!! Melissa