FIRST LOOK: Inside Explora Journeys' first ship, EXPLORA I

Table Of Content

• Ocean RETREAT Residence
• Explora really wants you to know that unlike most cruise giants, they are family owned and European.
• Maiden Journey
• Ocean CACOON Residence
• For the fitness enthusiasts, there’s even a small outdoor gym on the top deck.
• Ocean COVE Residence
• It seems I’m not the only one whose affinity for luxury has made me a fan of Explora.

This includes an infinity pool overlooking the ocean and one under a retractable glass roof. Instead, it was subtly luxurious, appearing more like a premium hotel than a cruise ship. Think "quiet luxury" instead of something glamorously ostentatious.

Ocean RETREAT Residence

The shop is dedicated to the ultra-luxury Swiss watch brand and offers for purchasing an extensive selection of models including from the renowned Rolex Oyster Perpetual series. "MSC Yacht Club" 24-hour butler services are provided complimentary to all Ocean Residences and Ocean Penthouses. What will likely put some travelers off is the cost (around $200 per person, without wine). The line will partner with a new top chef from the world of fine dining every three months to create the menu. It’s pricy, but foodies with a penchant for visiting some of the world’s best restaurants will likely go for it. Explora I is an easy-to-navigate ship, with suites located on decks 6 to 10 and most public spaces located on decks 11 to 14 (there is no Deck 13) and on decks 4 and 5.

Explora really wants you to know that unlike most cruise giants, they are family owned and European.

Speaking of luxury goods, Explora I has the world's only Rolex boutique at sea (there are also Cartier, Piaget and Panerai shops onboard). What Rolex lovers know is that it's impossible to walk into a store on land and walk out with a watch, as the company has a system of waiting lists for the luxury time pieces. A gorgeous Steinway piano anchors the top of the lobby (and there's another in the ship's Explora Lounge). Explora Journeys has a partnership with the legendary piano company and often has guest artists onboard (known as "luminaries") who specialize in the delicate instrument. If the next five ships are just as ritzy as the Explora I, I have no doubt this new brand will go on to become a strong competitor in the growing luxury cruise market.

Maiden Journey

Explora I is currently sailing around the British Isles before crossing the Atlantic to New York, where the ship arrives on September 25. Some spa-goers may not even know it’s there unless they request a tour, since it’s not visible from inside the spa and there is no signage to it. Under a gorgeous blue sky filled with hundreds of migratory Canadian geese, I followed our park guide through the wilds of Zwin Nature Reserve, straddling the Belgium–Netherlands border on the North Sea coast. We were on a mission, foraging for samphire and sea buckthorn, just 25 minutes north of Zeebrugge, with swooping cormorants and wading herons on the watery horizon. Later, guided by a local chef, I chop, blend and saute our bounty to add to dishes of samphire tapenade and seafood bisque.

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Overall, the service was extremely personalized with 640 team members and a 1.25 to 1 guest to room host ratio. My room attendant offered thoughtful touches based on my behaviors, like providing extra water, sparkling and natural, after noticing that I regularly left the provided glass bottles empty and inquired what my favorite spirit was to customize the minibar. Ocean Terraces, Explora Journey’s 301 entry-level suites, measure 377 square feet, making them among the largest in their category at sea. Space matters, too, especially on a luxury ship, with close to 1,000 passengers at capacity.

At the top of the ship on Deck 14 is the open-air sports court and outdoor fitness area, allowing passengers to get their fitness fix while enjoying the ocean’s breeze. Below, on Deck 12, are two of the ship’s slim and long hot tubs, towards the aft, while the adults-only Helios Pool & Bar lies at the front. The running track loops Deck 12, and rows of sun loungers and a cluster of cabanas are here, too, making it one of the best spots for sunbathing away from the main pools, with typically fewer younger passengers using this space. With 11 globally-inspired culinary options available, each focused on sourcing from sustainable and local-to-the-port vendors, it is impossible to go hungry.

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The suite's interior features ultra-luxury Italian furniture (by brands like Molteni and Florence Knoll) and Italian designer lamps (by Astep). As a welcome gift is provided a bottle of Dom Perignon (vintage Champagne). OCEAN PENTHOUSES and OCEAN RESIDENCES are with separate living and sleeping areas, 4-6-seat dining tables, plenty of lights, contemporary furniture, original artworks. OCEAN RESIDENCES' terraces are fitted with an outdoor Jacuzzi/whirlpool, 4-seat dining table and padded sun loungers.

Ocean COVE Residence

This brand-new high-brow cruise line is currently showcasing its first ship, Explora I, in Northern Europe where I joined a three-night sailing from Hamburg to Southampton, following its maiden voyage on August 1. However, the naming ceremony was postponed and held on October 12th (2023) at NYC's Manhattan Cruise Terminal. On October 18, 2018, MSC Group and Fincantieri signed the MoA (memorandum of agreement) for building 4x ultra-luxury ships, with contract value EUR 2,0 billion (~USD 2,3B / ~GBP 1,75B). The announcement mentioned that the first unit will be delivered in 2023-Q2, and that the design is based on GT tonnage/volume ~64,000 tons and capacity 500 staterooms. Aft are the Pan-Asian Restaurant, Aft Lounge & Bar, and the Lower Aft Plunge Pool & Lounge (outdoor swimming pool with a sundeck area).

It seems I’m not the only one whose affinity for luxury has made me a fan of Explora.

These boats are owned by MSC Group and operated as a separate fleet under the company's new luxury brand MSC EXPLORA JOURNEYS. Explora Journeys is welcoming of the family market and multi-generational groups, with 82 cabins that connect two suites together. This is a smart move to draw larger families or even groups of friends traveling together.

With cruising experiencing growth on all levels, it's perhaps not surprising that the environment is ripe for a new all-inclusive luxury cruise line. Typically, Ungerer says this demographic is split between the Americas and the rest of the world. And about half of these travelers are first time cruisers, the CEO of the new brand said. This concept is helmed by rotating guest chefs, including some who have led kitchens with several Michelin stars.

The thermal area would get pretty crowded during sea days, but I popped in on one port morning and had the area to myself for over an hour. Travelers who are put off by the idea of a main dining room and buffet restaurant and instead like to feel they have the choice of upmarket restaurants will be in their element. There’s also a culinary school, the Chef’s Kitchen, where daily classes take place for an extra fee for those passengers that are keen to learn how to cook some of the dishes served onboard. And for those who see money as no object, Anthology could be a hit.

Cabin types include Owner's Residence (1), Ocean Residences (22), Ocean Penthouses (67), and Ocean Suites (371). The ship has a total of 82 interconnecting cabins (Family Suites) designed for families and small-group travelers. Passengers disperse nicely to the different venues to enjoy drinks or a bite to eat. Emporium Marketplace and, for breakfast, Fil Rouge certainly appeared the busiest dining spots on our sailing, but, again, never overcrowded. From Crema Café to the Astern Pool & Bar, there was always a nice buzz onboard throughout the day, with the ship’s passengers mostly winding down early.

Facilities include 78 interconnecting suites, suitable for families who prefer a separate bedroom from their older kids and teens. There are high chairs in restaurants, a modern kids’ club, Nautilus Club, with organized activities, age-appropriate toys in suites for passengers two years and younger and a shore program with families in mind, too. The outdoor retreat (a row of sun loungers on the side of Deck 5) accessed off the thermal area, isn’t an inviting space.

The turquoise-hued pool is flanked by plush padded double loungers that seem to float over the shallow edges of the pool, with two hot tubs facing the ocean. The popular Emporium Marketplace takes up half of Deck 11 and venues including the Chef’s Kitchen, Malt Whisky Bar, Nautilus Club and the Explora Lounge fill the other half. Passengers spend plenty of time on this level, with spaces for dining, drinking, relaxing and enrichment. The majority of Deck 10 is occupied with suites, though it’s also where the Bridge, Ocean Wellness Fitness Center and the Atoll Pool & Bar are located. Cabin types include OWNER'S RESIDENCE (1), OCEAN RESIDENCES (22), OCEAN PENTHOUSES (67), and the majority are the OCEAN SUITES/RESIDENCES (371, including 70x GRAND). The ship has a total of 82 interconnecting cabins (family suites) designed for families and small-group travelers.