Explora Journeys Wikipedia

Table Of Content

• And in place of one giant pool deck that grounds the ship, the vessel has four smaller pools.
• Current itinerary of MSC Explora 1
• If all of the rooms are filled at double occupancy, the ship can sail with 922 guests.
• Explora Journeys introduces exclusive Mediterranean experiences for 2024
• Discover The Ocean State of Mind
• MSC Explora 1 - user reviews and comments

The brand "Explora Journeys" debuts with the 14-night "Extended Journey of Scottish Isles, Danish Cities, and Icelandic Fjords" itinerary (roundtrip from Copenhagen, Denmark) leaving on August 1st (2023). Citing delayed delivery (due to supply chain issues affecting the Fincantieri shipyard), MSC canceled 12x voyages (including 10x Mediterranean). In July 2023, the ship's delivery was delayed (CruiseMinus) and the Maiden Voyage was rescheduled for August 1st. In October 2022, the brand's inauguration/ship's Maiden Voyage was rescheduled from May 31st (11-night "Maiden Journey into Mare Nostrum" from Barcelona to Piraeus-Athens) to July 17th, 2023 (out of Southampton England UK). The passenger-to-crew ratio of 1,25 guarantees attentive services by a dedicated staff.

And in place of one giant pool deck that grounds the ship, the vessel has four smaller pools.

The only thing that would make Explora's dining program better would be a bit more attention to the included wine program. The line no longer serves Moet as the house Champagne, and we were somewhat surprised to see Korbel sparkling wine make an appearance. Sakara, the ship's Asian fusion restaurant, has proved to be the most popular with Explora's guests. Located at the back of the ship, Sakura sets a tone as soon as you walk in, with a gorgeous cherry blossom design.

Current itinerary of MSC Explora 1

While a marble-clad bathroom and walk-in wardrobe are standard in luxury suites, Ocean Terraces feel extra special thanks to Italian custom-made beds and Frette linens that truly feel indulgent. The outdoor retreat (a row of sun loungers on the side of Deck 5) accessed off the thermal area, isn’t an inviting space. For whatever reason, this spot picks up a lot of wind and it’s shaded, too, making it feel dark and underwhelming, wedged between crew utility areas and the front of the ship.

If all of the rooms are filled at double occupancy, the ship can sail with 922 guests.

The Nautilus Club hosts age-appropriate supervised activities (for children aged 6-17) including interactive gaming (on PlayStation 5, PlayStation VR2, Nintendo Switch, Xbox), sports contests, fun workshops and games. Nautilus Club has its own heated swimming pools and a Sports Court. On Deck 11 (adjacent to the Chef's Kitchen) is the Children's Area (indoor playground) a spacious room designed for kids' entertainment and supervised activities.

Wealthy travellers are flocking to ‘quiet luxury cruise’ Explora I - Style

Wealthy travellers are flocking to ‘quiet luxury cruise’ Explora I.

Posted: Sun, 29 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Explora I is the first big ship with a dedicated outdoor fitness area, too, on deck 14, where one afternoon a group of go-getters were busting it through a boot camp — though they just as easily could’ve been playing pickleball on the outdoor court nearby. Here’s why I think it will most likely succeed in drawing new cruisers. Explora Journeys’ casual, barefoot style of luxury is appealing to travelers who have in the past been turned off by the more traditional style of luxury cruising.

Transforming Luxury Cruises into Ocean Journeys

Again, neutral colors and Italian furnishings gave the suite an elevated look. I also appreciated the balcony that accommodated a dinette and a couple’s daybed, the heated floors in the bath, the Frette bed and bath linens and touches like the Dyson Supersonic hair-dryer and Swarovski binoculars. Seen from afar, the 922-passenger Explora I cuts a rather sleek silhouette. Upon boarding, I found myself in the lobby, which manages to feel grand and intimate at the same time with its soaring ceilings.

There are nine dining options on Explora I -- just don’t expect a main dining room or traditional buffet restaurant in the mix. Instead, passengers will find five inclusive specialty restaurants, one extra-fee restaurant, an inclusive in-suite dining menu, a coffee shop for drinks and light snacks and a gelateria and creperie. 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.

MSC Explora 1 - user reviews and comments

Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it has a handful of stations where guests can choose from items like pastries, freshly made juices and smoothies, and eggs made to order. Then there are four sit-down restaurants where you order á la carte. Of these, my favorite was Sakura, the pan-Asian restaurant where I sampled sushi, lobster pad thai, and slow-cooked short rib beef Penang curry. At the Med Yacht Club, I enjoyed Middle Eastern-style mezze and the pasta of the day. Marble & Co. is a European-style steakhouse that serves German and Swedish beef, as well as seafood and caviar. The French restaurant, Fil Rouge, serves breakfast á la carte, unlike the other sit-down restaurants, which are not open for breakfast.

Maybe my bar is low — until now, I had only been on one premium cruise ship.

In January 2018 strong rumors started to circulate about MSC considering the establishment of a new (all-inclusive luxury) cruise brand. There was also the possibility (instead of creating a new brand) MSC to just create a parallel "expedition" fleet, but in 2020 was confirmed that this would be a new brand. On Deck 12 are the Forward Pool & Lounge (adults-only sundeck with a large swimming pool and sunbathing area) and the 2-lane Running Track (making a full circle/looping nearly the entire deck with lined up sun loungers for relaxation). The Conservatory Pool & Bar (glass roof-protected poolside lounge midship on Deck 11; in the evenings transforms into Cinema for movies under the stars). The ship is 63,900 gross tons and carries 922 passengers at full occupancy with 640 crew.

Explora Journeys is the luxury cruise line -- or luxury lifestyle brand -- by the Geneva-based MSC Group, with a further five ships in the pipeline. The line is working with luminaries and well-known names in different fields, such as exploration, that have never previously worked in collaboration with a cruise line. As well as adrenaline-fuelled activities there will be plenty of gentler options that provide an authentic taste of destinations visited, such as cookery classes showcasing ingredients from destinations visited. Elsewhere, there are three outdoor pools -- including the Helios adult-only pool with its own bar -- and one indoor pool with retractable glass roof, 64 private cabanas, indoor and outdoor whirlpools and poolside dining. The chef’s kitchen was a cooking class where guests are led in destination-specific recipes like Smørrebrød, where you went home with new skills on how to create a Danish open-face sandwich spread back at home. And while I typically prefer these more amusement park-at-sea type cruise ships, I can't deny that Explora's newest vessel is the most luxurious and beautifully designed I've been on so far.

Grill steakhouse; casual Med Yacht Club serving sharing plates; French-influenced Fil Rouge; and the Emporium Marketplace with live cooking stations; and the fine dining Anthology restaurant will feature specialties from guest chefs from around the world. As well as familiar labels, wine lists will include vintages from lesser-known boutique vineyards. Since Explora Journeys is aligning itself with luxury resorts -- not luxury cruise lines -- the suites, all with huge balconies, have a similar upmarket boutique hotel feel, too. Balconies feature a marble-top table, two chairs and a couples’ daybed with ample space for dining and relaxing. There are 461 suites, penthouses, and residences across five categories on the Explora I. All are oceanfront, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a private terrace with a daybed and dining area.

On 1 August 2023, EXPLORA I departed on her Maiden Journey, sailing from Copenhagen, Denmark on an epic 14-night journey through seven captivating destinations with a two-night stay in Reykjavik, before returning to the Danish capital. Guests on Explora I enjoy luxury vacations and are typically well-traveled. Some have crossed over from MSC Cruises’ MSC Yacht Club, while others are new-to-cruise. Spaces flow nicely, while maintaining a feeling of individuality to each venue. Even the art space has the feel of a Soho gallery, a destination for art, rather than a passageway on the ship. The ocean-inspired wellness philosophy of Explora Journeys, embracing a mystical power of the sea to invigorate our senses and lift our spirits.

Get your bearings before boarding with detailed deckplans for more information suites, restaurants, pools and entertainment and more across all floors. The MSC Group ventured into new waters last August with the much-anticipated first ship from Explora Journeys, its new luxury brand. Brimming with curiosity about the Geneva-based company’s take on high-end cruising, I boarded the Explora I last October for a quick four-day sail from New York City to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

My room came with a Technogym bag with a yoga mat, foam roller, and exercise bands, along with exercise classes built-in to the television. Even more impressive is that there was enough room in my suite to comfortably do a yoga class. But I have to say my favorite amenity of the guest room, even though there was a customized bar and Dyson supersonic hairdryer, were the auto-focusing binoculars for viewing the many archipelagos and wind farms in the North Sea. The tasting-menu venue Anthology is the most ambitious, with menus designed by culinary superstars who commit to three-month rotations aboard the ship.

The ship holds daily meet ups for solo passengers as well as a Prism gathering for LGBTQ+ travelers. As with luxury properties on land, people seemed to embrace Explora Journeys as a state of mind -- and were happy to meet others who shared it. Beyond its public rooms, outdoor areas and suites, where Explora truly shines is with the dining. This is luxury dining with all of the flavor and choice, and not too much pretentiousness (well, maybe a bit, but it's worth it -- that caviar-topped potato, served in the ship's steakhouse Marble & Co., tastes as good as it looks). This is the only pool onboard that has outdoor dining, as you can order bento boxes from Sakura, the ship's Asian fusion restaurant.