October 2024
POOL DECK
EXPLORA II—Luxury Line Expands and Excels
By Zachary Laks
With 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.
SUITE
A Luxury Hotel at Sea
The 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.â€
STREET
All the Inclusions
The 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.â€
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
.
RESTAURANT
Delectable Dining
The 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 Sailings
Explora 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 Advisors
Austin 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.â€
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.â€
Contact Information
Explora Journeys:
explorajourneys.com
COVER
PALLADIUM SPREAD
Table of Contents
SANDALS
SANDALS SPREAD
Editor's Notes
EDU HOUSE AD
Luxury Travel Insights and Trends
MGM RESORTS
MGM RESORTS SC
SEABOURN SC
SEABOURN
Custom Content: Living the Luxe Life, Vancouver-Style
ALASKA RAILROAD SC
Cruise: These are the Cruise Itineraries to Book for Luxe Clients
Silversea: Immersive Experiences
AMA WATERWAYS SC
AMA WATERWAYS
ATLAS OCEAN VOYAGES SC
ATLAS OCEAN VOYAGES
EXPLORA JOURNEYS SC
EXPLORA JOURNEYS
OCEANIA SC
OCEANIA CRUISES
PRINCESS CRUISES SC
PRINCESS CRUISES
ST. LAWRENCE CRUISE LINES SC
ST. LAWRENCE CRUISES
SCENIC CRUISES SC
SCENIC CRUISES
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Onboard Review: Regent Seven Seas Explorer—All-Inclusive Elegance at Sea
Onboard Review: The Viking Mississippi—Adventures on Tom Sawyer’s River
Mexico/Caribbean: Exclusive Escapes—Fresh High-End Experiences in Mexico and the Caribbean
Onsite Review: Spotlight on the Brand-new AVA Resort Cancun
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