New luxury cruise line Explora Journeys combines centuries-old seafaring experience with superlative European refinement to introduce a bold new vision for luxury ocean travel.
This is a story that starts in 1940s Sorrento with a Neapolitan ferry captain, Gianluigi Aponte, who, together with the Swiss sweetheart he met when she was a passenger on one of his crossings, went on to create MSC, a global shipping operation and the world’s largest privately-owned cruise company. Now this Swiss-Italian seafaring family are fulfilling their life-long dream and launching Explora Journeys, an exquisite, modern luxury cruise experience like no other.
Explora Journeys is set to transform ocean travel through a synergy of the chicest ships and the most immersive itineraries that allow guests to discover further, travel deeper and linger a little longer at each destination. These are enriching holidays for the curious, cosmopolitan traveler who wants to create connections that last long beyond the cruise itself.
On sailings between seven and 58 nights long, guests will venture both on and off the beaten path, with the Inaugural Journeys Collection covering the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Iceland and Greenland, USA and Canada, the Caribbean, South America and Hawaii. Whether that’s treading the cobbled streets of Europe’s hallowed capitals and exploring the ancient Acropolis in Athens; navigating the crystalline cool of the Norwegian fjords and sailing in the shadows of Svalbard’s soaring cliffs; or savouring French chic in Saint Barths, lolling beneath Hawaiian waterfalls and soaking up the sun-kissed shores of Brazil’s buzzing Buzios, Explora Journeys promises exclusive access that goes far beyond the classic luxury cruise experience.
Designed in partnership with the world’s foremost superyacht specialists and harnessing cutting-edge maritime technology, the first ship in the Explora Journeys fleet sets sail in 2023, with three more to follow by 2026. European elegance permeates every detail, while the 461 suites and residences - each with sweeping ocean views from their floor-to-ceiling windows and private sun terraces - offer guests comfortable homes at sea, with unrivalled space and privacy. More than 27,000 sq feet of outdoor space includes three swimming pools and 64 private cabanas, whilst an indoor pool with a retractable glass roof, and 9,700 sq feet for the spa and fitness studios ensure guests can do as much (or as little) as they like. The nine on-board restaurants promise something for every palate and provide the perfect scene for long, languorous lunches and vibrant evenings. All this supported by an industry-leading guest to team members ratio of 1.25 to 1, allowing for an intuitive, effortless and culturally intelligent service style that makes for the perfect hosts on-board.
With the founding family as passionate about preserving the sea as they are exploring it, each ship will be RINA DOLPHIN certified for reduced underwater noise whilst sustainability initiatives include no single-use plastic on board or ashore.
