Explora I, the first vessel from Explora Journeys, was home to luxury travel advisors Robyn and Murray Sinfield during a recent Mediterranean cruise. Read their impressions in this exclusive review for Karryon Luxury.
What a privilege now as cruisers to have so much choice, especially in the inclusive luxury sector. We recently enjoyed nine days on Explora I cruising the Mediterranean on an Athens/Athens itinerary.
These are our personal observations of our experience. Over our career, we’ve had more than 900 nights each at sea over the past 40 years.
Let’s start with the seamless embarkation in Pireaus Athens. Explora I has a ship capacity of less than 900 guests and 640 crew and 63,900 tonnes. For those who don’t cruise much, this means space and plenty of it – and especially for our departure which is at the end of the Mediterranean season in Autumn with just 370 guests. So we enjoyed perfect weather and fewer crowds.
This is the time of year we should be promoting as it represents a sustainable option without overtourism: with fewer people in major places! If you take Santorini, Greece as just one example, officials are going to embargo the season and cap the number of cruise ship guests to 18,000.
Straight away we feel the interaction between the team (called Hosts) and ourselves.
So many luxury cruise lines have you waiting in a room filled with those who arrive and you’re all given an embark group number. But this is not the case with Explora Journeys. We are welcomed and checked off at the first table on deck 4 near the Lobby bar, then escorted through security straight onto the ship where a table is set up for check-in, photos taken for security purposes, our credit card is imprinted and then it’s straight to our suite. Did I mention the nice glass of Champagne Mercier we sipped on during the embarkation process?
We also noticed the age of the guests was so much younger than any other line we’ve cruised on and very ‘international’ and well-dressed, especially as the sun goes down and we head out for the evening.
The suites
Explora Journeys makes it easy for guests and advisors to understand the accommodation options. There are three main categories: Ocean Terrace, Penthouse and Residence.
In industry speak we talk about lead in cabins. On Explora I, there are suites from entry level as they are some of the largest at sea with a total size of 35 square metres with a maximum capacity of two adults and one child under 18 years.
The seven square-metre balcony (on average) has its own comfy daybed for relaxing and watching the world go by. There is plenty of storage, heated floor bathrooms, rainfall shower and king size beds. Bathrooms are very well appointed and include a Dyson Supersonic TM hairdryer and illuminated make- up/shaving mirror. This is very good value for money when you consider the per diem.
We were staying in an Ocean Residence, the pinnacle of Explora Journeys’ accommodations, and this represented a style of accommodation we’ve not experienced with any other cruise line in our career.
The Ocean Residence (#7115) was a tranquil sanctuary with an aft sweeping private deck also going around the portside corner, private whirlpool and outdoor shower, dining table and lounges outside.
We were met on arrival by Stanley our Residence Host (Butler) who could not do enough for us, but he wasn’t intrusive in any way. He reminded us of Raj, the consummate professional we had on MSC Yacht Club a number of years ago., quietly going about the business to enhance our time onboard andRestu our Suite Host.
Our suite was 60 square metres and the terrace was 53 square metres. It was huge and it could have taken a maximum of three adults or two children (with two adults utilising the double sofa bed).
It’s good to see onboard that the owners don’t hide from their heritage and key brand, with ‘MSC’ proudly displayed on most things, including the plush pool towels.
In addition to the ocean terrace, our suite had a Technogym Bench and kit in case we wanted to stay fit within the comfort of our suite. But…we didn’t even unzip it! We enjoyed the in-lounge dining table that would seat four. It allowed us to work comfortably with plenty of space. Being able to close the lounge door to the bedroom was good for privacy and noise control when one of us had a Zoom call.
Life onboard
This ship is more like a 5-star hotel than a cruise ship. It is luxury that is understated. Every area has space: whether it’s the art gallery or the many lounges.
The retail is different and very high end, with Rolex, Cariter, Panerai and Piaget boutiques. Everyday items can be sourced from the Journeys Boutique – so don’t panic, another toothpaste is possible!
Children are welcome and we had families onboard with well behaved little people . We imagine in the summer holiday season families would come on with their Nannies or similar.
This ship is ideal for multi generations, with some 82 interconnecting suites across varying types. Children can have access to their very own Nautilus Club, for ages 6–17 years. Children aged 3-5 years are welcome at specific timings for age appropriate activities, if accompanied by a parent or guardian. Infants between 6 and 23 months old sail free of charge and in suite toys are provided.
When it comes to food, without doubt Explora I has serious choice across all meal times. One of our favourite experiences was The Chef’s Kitchen which is an immersive experience held in an ocean-front private kitchen setting for 12 guests.
For our session there were just two couples and regardless of our cooking skills, we had a wonderful time trying our hand at handmade ravioli and tortellini, and accompanying sauces. This is not part of the included culinary experiences and costs EUR150 (about AUD$247) per person.
Wellness, relaxation and entertainment
Something quite different onboard is the opening hours and choice of pools and whirlpools. Most are open from 8am-8pm, but the Conservatory pool is open until 9pm.
Multiple pool options include Astern Pool deck 5, Atoll Pool on deck 10, and Conservatory Pool on deck 11 (with a retractable roof). Whirlpools are located on decks 11, 12, and 14; and Helios Pool adult-only on deck 12.
The only drawback on Explora I is the limited shade for this faded red head! However, I understand from my Virtuoso Icon training this has been rectified on Explora II.
The Spa is large and has every treatment required and there’s a well equipped fitness centre and open air fitness.
Being a sophisticated ship, the activities onboard match the overall vibe. There’s yoga to start every day on the cruise. The program listed each day the featured lectures on the region. There’s also the perennial trivia where all start out as friends and as the days progress, the foes appear!
Entertainment is held in the Journeys Lounge. It’s like walking into a private show and taking a casual seat to be immersed in the action. Resident entertainers are called Artistes, and the entertainment is different each night.
We didn’t participate in many excursions because every port we had already been to multiple times, but the two we did attend were well organised, meeting in the Explora Lounge before being dispatched to coaches in an orderly manner. Onboard currency is Euros and typically each shore excursion is 3-4 hours in length and costs EUR110 (about AUD$181) on average, per person. There is also children’s pricing.
The Explora Journeys app is efficient (once onboard and connected) and easy to navigate, providing a quick reference to your day and night activities and what is coming up. Explora I is also perfect for any business people mixing business and pleasure (the buzz word ‘bleisure’), as each guest has three simultaneous and fast StarLink connections.
The verdict
We had an amazing time!
Our tip for those who are still not sure of travel dates: we recommend booking the furthest out Ocean Terrace lead category for the shortest cruise duration (eg: seven nights) because guests can change their purchased journey, free of charge (only once) when they know exactly what they need, as long as the changed booking is in the same suite category or higher to the original booking (other conditions apply).
Disembarkation was also polished. Your bags can be left out anytime between 11pm and 7am; and you can take breakfast in your suite or three dining locations. The last available time to leave the suite is 9am with the latest time to leave the ship being 9:30am – that’s the most civilised at sea!
We’ve enjoyed Explora I – and Explora II is now in the water too, with four more ships still to launch. Explora I and Explora II are sister ships with varying changes really in décor: with Explora II having a blue, green and grey colour palette.
Explora III is set to launch in 2026; Explora IV in 2027; with Explora V and Explora VI in 2028.
What we’ve realised for our market in Australia is the lack of brand awareness which is alive and well with the European guests onboard. We believe because of the MSC Heritage, the world’s oldest cruising family with more than 300 years of history, that’s something that should be celebrated and not hidden.
Awareness may well improve with some key sponsorships and events with Explora Journeys sponsoring the New Zealand vessel in the America’s Cup; and becoming the only cruise line to be docked per annum at the Monaco F1 Grand Prix, just 150-metres from the track and offering pre- and post-journeys.
There’s an area on the ship that tells the story of the MSC Foundation and how the Aponte family give back. The sea is their heritage and tradition and they understand the need for environmental conservation, community support, education and emergency relief working with many key partners like Mercy Ships, UNICEF, Marevivo.
This is so proudly supported by guests onboard which is heart-warming as we all have the duty to leave a better world for future generations.
For those of us in the cruise industry, and for our clients who love cruise, Explora Journeys is unique. It’s ideal for new-to-cruise, guests who love hotels and the hospitality that hotels offer but the ideal is for them to experience Explora Journeys because the ship can also be the destination – with the bonus of ports along the way. You unpack once and receive attentive service in a home-away-from-home atmosphere.
As advisors, we cannot assume a new-to-cruise person understands what is included until they experience it, so we need to articulate it. This was evident on our voyage when, during a shore excursion lunch, we sat with a couple in their late 40s who were on their first cruise.
They booked direct and had no clue they got it all in the fare. They had already booked onboard for their next voyage for next November: happy repeat clients. We all have clients who will go to the Amalfi, they will pay for the best room in the hotel with the best sea view and they will book the best restaurant recommended at the time in the hotel or the village – and Explora Journeys has all of this.
On tour and around the bars, we mingled with those who are new-to-cruise and on their first cruise ever and they all asked ‘why haven’t we done this before!?’ They have realised the value that comes into play.
For more information, visit explorajourneys.com
*The writer travelled at her own expense.
