Onboard Review: Explora II—Luxury Line Expands and Excels

POOL DECKEXPLORA II—Luxury Line Expands and ExcelsBy Zachary LaksWith precise attention to detail and a remarkable vision for the future of luxury cruises, Explora Journeys’ new ship, EXPLORA II, delivers a remarkable product, blending sleek design with lesser-traveled ports. We’re just off the ship’s 7-night maiden journey, which debuted with a naming ceremony that welcomed high-profile dignitaries and A-listers. The gala evening was hosted by Italian actress and TV personality Lorella Cuccarini, with a special music performance by English pop singer Tony Hadley, a ribbon cutting by the ship’s godmother, Rosalba Giugni, founder and president of the Marevivo Foundation, an environmental conservation organization, and a thrilling drone show enjoyed from the aft of the ship. The ship sailed from Civitavecchia, Italy, to Sorrento, Lipari, Trapani, Siracusa and Valletta, ending in Tarragona, Spain. The sailing represents Explora Journeys’ approach to building itineraries that take guests on and off the beaten path.SUITEA Luxury Hotel at SeaThe 14-deck, 922-passenger ship is a wonder of Italian design and craft. Your clients will be in awe of the sleek interiors, elegant pool decks (there are four on board) and the all-inclusive service. The ship was near capacity during the sailing and never felt crowded or overrun. Plenty of comfortable loungers were always available, restaurant reservations were easy to secure and the excursions didn’t fill up too fast. The new EXPLORA II is nearly identical to its sister ship, EXPLORA I, but with a few new features. EXPLORA II has the first Buccellati jewelry boutique at sea, a redesigned Ocean Wellness spa with Ayurvedic treatments and a refreshed Helios Pool & Bar with new outdoor furniture. The new ship continues the line’s celebrated partnership with Steinway & Sons, with three Steinway Spiro pianos supplied by the legendary music company. The Steinway keys accompany guest artist performances throughout the ship in venues that include the Lobby Bar and Explora Lounge. Our favorite details standard in every suite include crisp Frette linens and bathrobes, a Dyson hairdryer, heated bathroom tiles and a wireless charging base on each side of the bed. In conversation with Chris Austin, president of North America of Explora Journeys, he differentiates Explora Journeys from its competitors by saying: “The other cruise lines are traditional, classic luxury brands. But we are not classic and traditional. We are a boutique luxury resort whose home is the ocean. We are delivering a differentiated type of experience that is very personalized and very authentic. We’re elegant and relaxed, a lot of things the other brands are not.”STREETAll the InclusionsThe top inclusions for all fares are nine dining experiences, fine spirits and wine, all onboard gratuities and robust WiFi connectivity throughout the ship. The ship features bow-to-stern WiFi provided by two service providers, Starlink and SES, which counterbalance to ensure smooth connectivity and fast connections worldwide. There are routers in every suite with generous access for six devices per suite. Austin understands that staying connected is a top priority for the line’s guests, emphasizing how he regularly takes Zoom calls at sea on the Explora fleet. Austin shares that Explora can be an excellent sailing option “for a younger traveler or the traveler who’s still working…you need to know that you’ve got
great connectivity.” Tell clients that the ship has an extensive fitness and wellness program. My favorite was the open-air fitness deck complete with Technogym weights, rowers and bikes. And point them to my favorite pool deck: Astern Pool & Bar on deck 5 on the ship’s rear aft. This elevated day lounge features a stunning infinity pool that looks out onto the ship’s wake. You’ll find new, sleek shade structures over the daybeds on EXPLORA II. RESTAURANTDelectable DiningThe ship offers nine complimentary dining experiences, and we were fortunate to try all of them during our voyage. Favorites included the Emporium Marketplace, a casual all-day restaurant with multiple cooking stations (the pizza here is the best I’ve ever had at sea), specialty coffees and a fresh juice and smoothie bar. Tell your clients there is outdoor seating on the back deck. Sakura impresses with its Pan-Asian menu, which includes a large selection of fresh sushi. Eating here immersed in the white cherry blossom setting is a transportive experience. (For clients who appreciate the fine details, the cherry blossoms are pink on EXPLORA I.) Marble & Co. Grill is the ship’s European steakhouse, with a wide array of included steaks, sustainably farmed. The prime rib is the steak to get. Dinner reservations are encouraged but not mandatory, and there are no formal nights. The best happy hour on the ship is at the Ocean Pearls raw bar, where freshly sourced oysters and ceviche are always included. Your client will love the free-flowing champagne as they toast to another wonderful day on board. A Luxury Line That Encourages Multi-Generation SailingsExplora Journeys is the rare luxury line that welcomes children from six months of age. The line’s Nautilus Club is an enclave of fun for guests ages 6 to 17, where two attendants custom-design a day of activities around each child’s interests. Your client’s children will be wowed by the extensive gaming systems, including the latest Nintendo Switch games and a Meta Quest VR headset. The line also curates a series of Destination Experiences in each port that is open to all ages so all family members can take part. Explora Journeys balances its family-friendly and sophisticated manner well with welcoming, spacious common areas and many alcoves of serenity. There’s plenty of entertainment on board for all ages, including a rousing Billy Joel production, a hopping silent disco and karaoke nights.For Travel AdvisorsAustin emphasizes that Explora Journeys is “very committed to the travel advisor community” and proud of the “very bold commercial terms” they have for travel advisors, “which include very high commissions and no NCFs in our fares.” Austin describes the current fares for sailings as “too good to be true” and notes that “pricing will go up because the value we’re delivering is absolutely undervalued from the price point.” He asserts that “the time is now to get in. If your client tells [you] that they have sailed the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, let them know that the EXPLORA ships are the destination.” Contact Information Explora Journeys: explorajourneys.com
COVERPALLADIUM SPREADTable of ContentsSANDALSSANDALS SPREADEditor's NotesEDU HOUSE ADLuxury Travel Insights and TrendsMGM RESORTSMGM RESORTS SCSEABOURN SCSEABOURNCustom Content: Living the Luxe Life, Vancouver-StyleALASKA RAILROAD SCCruise: These are the Cruise Itineraries to Book for Luxe ClientsSilversea: Immersive ExperiencesAMA WATERWAYS SCAMA WATERWAYSATLAS OCEAN VOYAGES SCATLAS OCEAN VOYAGESEXPLORA JOURNEYS SCEXPLORA JOURNEYSOCEANIA SCOCEANIA CRUISESPRINCESS CRUISES SCPRINCESS CRUISESST. LAWRENCE CRUISE LINES SCST. LAWRENCE CRUISESSCENIC CRUISES SCSCENIC CRUISESOnboard Review: Exploring Coastal Maine on American EagleOnboard Review: Explora II—Luxury Line Expands and ExcelsOnboard Review: Regent Seven Seas Explorer—All-Inclusive Elegance at SeaOnboard Review: The Viking Mississippi—Adventures on Tom Sawyer’s RiverMexico/Caribbean: Exclusive Escapes—Fresh High-End Experiences in Mexico and the CaribbeanOnsite Review: Spotlight on the Brand-new AVA Resort CancunTURKISH AIRLINES