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 How long are you aboard for in weeks?


 It was my initial night aboard, and surprisingly, it marked the third occasion I had encountered this query. This time, it came from Torren, an elegantly dressed Dane, who seemed to be asking what must have become a routine question.


 He mentioned to me that he and his wife, Suzanne, were in the midst of their second week aboard the Explora II. In contrast, Elise, who was traveling alone from Toronto, had reserved an additional two weeks on board following our cruise.
 Barbados
 to
 Puerto Rico
 concluded.


 In the meantime, Elena and Thomas, a couple in their late thirties, mentioned they were "only planning to stay for a week" since they had entrusted their young child to their grandparents' care.


 Obviously, Explora Journeys — the premium luxury division of the MSC Group established by the Italian maritime dynasty, the Aponte Vogas — has garnered a significant following since launching in 2021. This is evident from my personal experiences aboard their ships as well as the numerous accolades the company has received.

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 Eager to discover if it met the expectations, I boarded Explora II (the fleet's lackluster moniker for its second vessel, introduced in 2023) for a four-night journey—a duration that prompted understanding nods from Torren, Thomas, Elena, and Elise—as she embarked on a week-long cruise through the Caribbean.


 Even though the 922-passenger vessel has an unexciting moniker—Explora III, Explora IV, Explora V, and Explora VI will join the fleet in the coming years—it certainly doesn’t appear dull at all.


 The exterior of Explora 11 boasts an elegant navy color, and from afar, the ship looks like a superyacht (which isn’t surprising considering its hawkish silhouette was designed by seasoned British yacht creator Martin Francis).


 Board the ship, though, and it feels as if you've stepped into a luxurious five-star resort.


 The lobby features an expansive two-story space adorned with a gleaming white-and-gold bar complete with a backlighted drink display wall. Up above, you'll find an open-air sky bar. Throughout the area, custom art pieces from Emilio Isgrò and Yves Dana can be spotted across various levels. The property boasts four visually stunning swimming pools designed for social media fame—one pool even has a roof that opens and closes. In addition, there are multiple hot tubs available for guests' enjoyment. High-end shopping options include stores like Piaget, Panerai, Cartier, and Buccellati.

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 In other locations, the lodgings are designed as suites—beginning at an ample 35 square meters for the basic "ocean terrace suite," which was the type of accommodation I chose. Spacious enough—it rivaled my flat in South London in terms of space—even though it carried only a base classification. The room featured a king-size bed adorned with Frette linens, included Steiner binoculars, had a capacious dressing zone equipped with a robust Dyson hair dryer, boasted a marble-clad bathroom fitted with radiant floor heating alongside custom-made Mandara Blue bath products; additionally, there was a distinct lounge area opening onto a balcony furnished with an exceptionally comfy Manutti daybed.


 Visitors who manage to escape from their minimalist-toned rooms (which is quite an accomplishment) have the option to cleanse themselves at the spa—where a 60-minute deep-tissue massage (£194) had all the tension in my neck skillfully alleviated by Gineesh’s adept fingers—or utilize the expansive fitness zones equipped with high-end Technogym machines. Afterward, they can indulge again at one of the vessel’s twelve bars and six dining venues.

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 During a coffee at Crema Café – the bustling hub of Explora II, always brimming with visitors chatting, savoring newly baked pastries, and typing on their laptops – General Manager Marco van Belleghem shared with pride that "guests have been extremely pleased with our cuisine."


 We receive numerous positive remarks. In contrast to other cruise lines, we feature solely independent restaurants, each possessing its distinct character and incorporated into the overall fare.


 The coziest place to eat is Emporium Marketplace – a high-end buffet that I frequented for lunches (imagine options like salads, stone-baked pizzas, and all sorts of pastas you can think of).


 Meanwhile, Marble & Co acts as the ship's sophisticated steakhouse, offering lobster and Black Angus beef essentially on demand. The Med Yacht Club menu embraces a Mediterranean twist, whereas French-inspired Fil Rouge presents dishes like fish soup and prawn risotto.


 The standout venue was undoubtedly the pan-Asian Sakura. There, seated at the sushi bar alongside another lone traveler named Susan from Wisconsin, we enjoyed juicy gyoza and a delicately tender yet crisp seaweed salad—overlooking the bustling activity of the chefs in the open kitchen.


 There’s an additional fee of £118 for the "upscale Italian dining" at the restaurant Anthology, but I didn’t want to spend that much. On the other hand, Susan, who recently retired and decided as a reward for herself, spoke highly of both the service and the seven-course Italian meal. She particularly praised the radicchio risotto, saying it surpassed anything she had tasted even in premier restaurants in London.
 New York
 hotel.”

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 Susan, much like Toronto residents Andrea and Paul and numerous other visitors I talked with, was inexperienced with cruising. She chose Explora II because of what it lacks—boisterous nightclubs, flashy casinos, and unexpected additional fees (tips are even included).


 These visitors—well-educated, widely traveled, and connoisseurs of luxury—thoroughly enjoyed the understated nightly performances (a pianist played elegantly on a Steinway in the lobby bar, while Broadway alum Zoe Tyler earned a standing ovation in Journeys Lounge), along with the ample personal space and notable guest-to-staff ratio of 1.25:1 ("hosts," as Explora refers to their crew members).


 Van Belleghem’s face lit up when I shared everything with him during our coffee break. "Our aim isn’t to draw customers away from other cruise lines," clarified the friendly Dutchman, who had accumulated 16 years of experience at Holland America before taking a turn on solid ground.
 in the Netherlands
 At a modest hotel group.


 Our owners, the Aponte Vago family, have developed an exceptionally distinctive offering. You know, Explora II feels more like a private residence than a typical vessel, doesn’t it? We stand out entirely from all other cruise lines.


 Perhaps none stands out as much as MSC Cruises does; with MSC World America set to launch in April, this impressive vessel can welcome an astounding 6,762 guests aboard, making it both daring and dazzling compared to its sibling fleet.


 “Definitely,” he concurred. “However, what sets Explora Journeys apart is that we aren’t merely another upscale cruise line; our aim is to revolutionize how individuals perceive sailing vacations.”

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 The brand aims to achieve this by concentrating on experiential travel—Explora prefers the term "experiences" over "excursions"—exploring less-frequented destinations, and extending stay times at each location.


 “During our previous cruise, we stopped at the ABC islands.”
 Aruba
 and
 Bonaire
 “We remained until 9 PM, and in Curaçao, we stayed till 11 PM,” disclosed Van Belleghem. “Our aim is for our guests to fully experience the different places we visit.”


 In
 St Lucia
 I enrolled in Explora’s "Scenic West Coast Hike with Chocolate Tasting" experience (£100), which involved hiking along the Tet Paul Nature Trail to view the iconic landmarks of the island—the UNESCO-protected Pitons, two distinctively pointed mountains situated on the southwest coast. Our knowledgeable and engaging local guide, Vina, led us through this scenic route before we embarked on a comprehensive tree-to-bar tour. This educational journey covered every step of cocoa production, from grafting trees to sampling the fruit and even roasting the beans right there to create our own bars.


 In Bequia, I chose to explore on my own and took the route from Port Elizabeth to Lower Bay — a stunning expanse of pale golden sand where I enjoyed nearly complete solitude.

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 However, everything didn't go entirely smoothly—there were minor hitches. For instance, my suite was cleaned only once daily instead of the advertised two times, and I needed to leave a note asking for the shower gel dispenser to be replenished.


 First-world problems aside, if Explora aims to achieve its objective of turning into – as Van Belleghem shared with me – "the top luxury brand globally," then these concerns must be addressed accordingly.


 Resolve their issues, and based on the bustling activity I noticed at the upcoming cruise desk, the line seems to have a very promising future ahead.
 the Caribbean sun
 .

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 Essentials
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 Kaye Holland was a visitor
 Explora Journeys
 (0800 031 8935) provides a Bridgetown to San Juan sail for £3,200 per person, covering an ocean terrace suite, beverages, dining, internet access, and tips. Flights are not included.


 
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How long are you aboard for in weeks? It was my initial night aboard, and surprisingly, it marked the third occasion I had encountered this query. This time, it came from Torren, an elegantly dress…