November/December 2023
PIANO PLAYER
Explora I—Ultra-Luxe & Relaxed at Sea
By Laurel Herman
Explora I
,
Explora Journeys’
461-suite all-terraced, yacht-style vessel that premiered this past August and which we sailed on from Quebec City to NYC, seamlessly combines a relaxed home-away-from-home vibe and an ultra-luxe experience.
The stunning ship is elegant, modern and warm, inviting passengers to kick-back and relax. The attentive, friendly and well-trained international crew (referred to as “hostsâ€) is complemented by top-notch culinary and entertainment offerings.
“
Explora I
is unlike any other cruise ship today,†says Chris Austin, Explora Journeys’ chief sales officer. “She’s inspired by yachts, ultra-luxury resorts and boutique hotels and our guests can feel that difference as soon as they step into the lobby. Our guests appreciate the host-to-guest ratio of 1.25:1, one of the highest in the industry.â€
Every venue on the ship is refined, featuring neutral tones and sophisticated textures—suedes, wood, marble and onyx, to name a few. The high-end and very comfy furniture and unique lighting fixtures are art pieces in themselves.
Speaking of art, throughout the ship passengers will find sculptures, paintings and photography that play an integral role in the ship’s exquisite sense of place aesthetics. The cruise line’s “ocean state of mind†branding is felt throughout with many outdoor spaces, such as
The Conservatory
, as well as public spaces featuring large windows that allow the outdoor daytime light in. This includes
Explora Lounge
, where there’s daily entertainment on the Steinway baby grand, as well as at
Crema Cafe
and
Emporium Marketplace
.
The
Lobby Bar
, located in the ship’s 2-story atrium and a favorite gathering place for passengers, features yet another Steinway piano with an artist playing tunes nightly. Another not to miss is the
Journeys Lounge
, featuring comfy and stylish rust- and light grey-colored chairs and small tables. This is the place for sipping on a cocktail when watching musical performances by Steinway artists (yes, a third baby grand!) and other resident artists.
CHEF
Home Away from Home
The
Ocean Terrace Suite
category we called home (one of 301 in this category) is quite spacious with 377 sq. ft. including the terrace. Just like in the public areas, the suite features neutral tones of greys and taupe complemented by books, artwork and modern lighting. The large-screen multimedia TV swivels so passengers can enjoy it in the sitting area or in bed. The terrace features two chairs and a table for alfresco dining as well as a couch for relaxing. We loved the dressing/closet and bathroom area separated from the bedroom and luxuriated in the marble heated bathroom floors, large shower with bench and the extra-large Frette bath towels and comfy Frette robes as well as the high-end Dyson hair dryer with multiple attachments. The room also comes with a hidden fridge stocked with custom-ordered waters, sodas and beers plus preferred wine, spirits and welcome champagne. My suite host never let me down and kept my accommodations impeccable—when I put the “make up my suite†button on, he always had it completed before my return and kept my fridge stocked with my preferences. The ship also features 70
Grand Ocean Terrace Suites
, 67
Ocean Penthouses
, 22
Ocean Residences
and 1
Owners Suite
.
ROOM
All-Inclusive Dining & Spirits
The ship is all-inclusive, with all nine culinary experiences (except
Anthology
)
as well as
an array of bars and lounges serving a wide variety of wines and spirits included at no up-charge. Meaning, your clients won’t have to be pulling out their room cards to record every drink or meal they consume. The all-inclusive pricing also extends to the service charges, reliable Internet throughout the ship and wellness activities.
When it comes to the ship’s culinary experiences, your clients will thoroughly appreciate the freshness, quality and creativity that
Explora I
’s varied venues offer. Every restaurant has meat, fish and vegetarian offerings as does the in-suite menu. No matter where I ate, the food and service were exceptional. For example, at
Sakura
, the pan-Asian restaurant serving lunch and dinner, I enjoyed bluefin tuna o-toro sashimi, lobster pad Thai and black sesame ice cream. Each dish was sublime.
At the European steakhouse,
Marble & Co. Grill
(serving dinner only), I had the opportunity to have a fabulous steak one night and then halibut on another evening. The latter was cooked to perfection and artfully deboned tableside. At
Med Yacht Club
(lunch and dinner), which serves dishes influenced by the Mediterranean, I ordered a vegetarian quinoa vegetable couscous. The dish bursts with deliciousness combining roasted sweet potatoes, lime leaves, Loire Valley quinoa, onion pickles, harissa and cilantro. At
Fil Rouge
, the ship’s French-inspired restaurant (serving breakfast and dinner), I swooned over the foie gras as well as a 72-hour slow-braised black Angus beef short rib that was tender and flavorful.
Emporium Marketplace offers just about anything you can imagine, including a sushi bar and pasta and salad stations (available for lunch and dinner). For breakfast, a must is the
Nectar Juicery
, where guests will find an array of custom fresh juices, smoothies and energy bowls with fresh fruit and ingredients such as ginger and turmeric.
In-Suite
dining, available 24/7, was a hit in my book too, offering such fantastic choices as tuna tataki poke bowl, Loire Valley buddha bowl, burgers and organic salmon fillet. Crema Cafe, too, proved to be very popular offering guests all kinds of coffee options such as espresso, latte and cold brews, with choices of Brazilian and Guatemalan beans, as well as breakfast pastries, cookies and afternoon snacks. This area is a great place to meet up with friends/family or just enjoy some quiet time on one’s own.
As if the aforementioned venues didn’t make for enough dining choices, there’s also Anthology, the only up-charge eatery. Here, passengers feast on a divine 7-course tasting menu by chef Emma Bengtsson of New York’s 2-star Michelin restaurant Aquavit. My dinner included a caviar creation, hamachi crudo, lobster, mushroom barlotto and an artfully created dessert, the Arctic bird’s nest, made of a blueberry sorbet, goat cheese parfait and chocolate twigs. All the courses were presented exquisitely and paired with amazing champagne and wines. This is a must recommendation as it makes for a memorable evening.
LOBSTER
Ocean Wellness
On
Explora I
, the cruise line’s “ocean state of mind†mantra is certainly validated via its wellness offerings. For starters, the fitness center offers everything from complimentary yoga, bootcamp and Pilates classes to Technogym equipment, lectures, personal training and individual assessment. There’s also outdoor fitness activities such as a pickleball court, aqua yoga at the sky pool and a fitness track.
The Spa
offers all kinds of treatments—from body to facial for both men and women. Although these treatments are at an extra charge, the wet area is complimentary and includes a steam room, a whirlpool, a salt room and heated loungers.
LOBBY BAR
Entertainment & Excursions
The ship offers 12 bars and lounges (four of which are outdoors), with many offering daily entertainment in the form of music as well as talks by guest luminaries. Of note in the music arena is Explora Journey’s exclusive and ongoing partnership with Steinway & Sons Pianos. There are, as I mentioned, a trio of baby grands on board with various Steinway & Son Ambassadors playing these magnificent instruments. To our delight, we heard artists such as British pianist Dominic Ferris, currently musical director to Dame Shirley Bassy, and Canadian pianist Lucille Chung, a celebrated Steinway pianist who performed classical pieces.
When it came to lectures by luminaries, we enjoyed photography tips from photographer Erin Manning as well as mindfulness insights from psychologist Jason Roth and others.
When in port, the ship offers a myriad of experiences (all at an extra cost). Explains Austin, “We’ve carefully curated every itinerary and destination experience to create the perfect balance of celebrated destinations as well as lesser-traveled places, offering our guests a sense of discovery and inspiration. Each journey on board
Explora I
is meant to be more immersive and enriching, tapping into slow travel and a transformative ‘ocean state of mind.’â€
SCULPTURE
What Travel Advisors Have to Say
Our sailing had 30 travel advisors getting first-hand experience to better sell the brand to their clients.
“I loved the boutique resort at sea feel of
Explora I
and the stunning decor plus the attention to detail around the ship,†Katie Pachuta, travel specialist & owner of
Lux Escapes Travel
, told
Recommend
. “I was beyond impressed with the food and service, which was second to none. Additionally, I really appreciate how much Explora Journeys values travel advisors and how much they advocate for us and want us to be successful.â€
We also spoke with Tina Robinson-Quirke, owner/travel advisor of
TRQ Travel
, who said, “Book clients that are looking for varied itineraries with longer stays in port, a refined luxury cruise experience but also enjoy resort-stye elegance and service with high staff-to-guest ratio and many sophisticated spaces that connect guests to the sea.â€
Robinson-Quirke also explained that she found the entire Explora Journeys team to be incredibly travel advisor- and guest-centric in their approach to cruising with generous incentives and offers including ample training and opportunities for advisors to sail on
Insider First Look Journeys
to better advise their clients about the onboard experience.
BIRDS NEST DESSERT
Selling Tips
Austin tells Recommend that
Explora I
has opened a new segment of luxury travel that caters to a wide range of discerning travelers, from loyal ocean lovers to first-time cruisers. He also points out that the cruise line welcomes solo travelers with journey fares starting at +115 percent up to a maximum of 175 percent as well as families with a number of interconnecting homes at sea that create a spacious family suite.
SHIP POOL
Austin notes: “I suggest leaning into the assets we provide in the marketing suite within the travel advisor center. Share our videos and photography.†He adds, “My biggest tip is don’t tell your luxury land lovers they cannot enjoy what they love. Sell them a combination: Perhaps a stay at their favorite resort brand for three, four or even seven nights and then join Explora Journeys for seven nights. And lastly, if you’re a travel advisor who has experienced
Explora I
, sell your very own experience or that
of colleagues.â€
Contact Information
Explora Journeys:
explorajourneys.com/int/en/travel-advisors/login
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