If the only way you can tell you’re on a cruise ship is by the motion of the sea, does that mean something’s gone terribly wrong—or absolutely right? Explora Journeys has the answer.
New cruise passengers find it downright uncomfortable to out themselves as such by saying "room" instead of "cabin" - after all, they are on board. However, when die-hard cruisers slip out a "I'll quickly get something from the room", it's clear that something has happened in the brain that is difficult to explain. Suddenly, you no longer feel like you're on a ship. But a concept can't work so well that it makes you forget after just a few hours that you're not in a 5-star hotel on land - or can it?
Explora Journeys, the luxury brand of the MSC Group, is attempting precisely this balancing act: you should enjoy the advantages of a cruise ship or rather a larger yacht, but at the same time have the impression of being in a floating boutique hotel.
The Explora I was launched in 2022 and entered service in August 2023. The Explora II followed a year later, and the III is due to set sail in 2026. By 2028, a total of six ships will explore the world's oceans and redefine the luxury cruise segment. With a maximum of around 900 guests per ship, it remains quiet and intimate. The prices reflect this claim: those who travel here pay not only for the journey, but also for personal service, generous space and the exclusive atmosphere on board.
The audience: a colorful mix and consistently sociable. Where else can you get into conversation so easily with Americans at breakfast, Spaniards at lunch, South Africans at afternoon tea, Dutch people at dinner and Japanese people - typical cliché - at karaoke? And even though the compact but extremely fine wellness and sports concept is primarily intended to offer rest and relaxation, it primarily brings like-minded people together.
If you want to enjoy a sauna session after a Reformer Pilates session or an exceptionally good massage, you can only do so in the sauna, which is a maximum of around five square meters in size. This literally and inevitably welds us together. It's not for everyone - but by the second day at the latest, you'll feel like you're in a private sauna club at sea. Anyone who gets involved will quickly find themselves talking about Michelin-starred restaurants around the world or yesterday's trip to Pompeii. Above all, it's these interpersonal encounters that remain in the memory long after the vacation is over.
The crew—called “hosts” at Explora—is just as international, primarily from Southeast Asia, warm, attentive, and genuinely accommodating. When else do you get served fresh ginger tea without even asking, just because the seas have turned a little rough? It’s one of those thoughtful touches in the ship’s more intimate concept—something travelers with sensitive stomachs will appreciate (and which might be best enjoyed during the calmer summer months in the Mediterranean).
Children are explicitly welcome, which is rather unusual in the luxury segment. Even in peak season, there are never more than about 80, who spend their time at Nautilus Club. And for those who prefer peace and quiet, Deck 12 offers an adults-only area complete with the Helios pool.
The interior of Explora’s ships conveys the atmosphere of an elegant hideaway. Frequent cruisers confirm: on traditional cruise ships you always have the subtle sense of being at sea. On Explora, that feeling almost disappears entirely. The lobby feels more like a boutique hotel, with a two-story, amber backlit bar wall and discreetly integrated reception elements. Light, earthy tones dominate the interiors, with no trace of showiness.
And the cabins—pardon, suites—are far removed from the standard cruise ship stateroom. You won’t find any inside or outside cabins here; every category is a suite. From the 375-square-foot Ocean Suites to the Ocean Penthouses and Ocean Residences with expansive terraces, whirlpools, and butler service, there’s something to fit every need. Peace and quiet can be found in the suites, but it’s never lacking in the public areas either. Four large and numerous smaller pools, generous sundecks, and cabanas invite guests to relax at any hour of the day.
When it comes to food, as frequent travelers of other large shipping companies say, the quality of the food has been declining for years. This doesn't seem to have passed by the MSC Group, which otherwise has to cater for up to 6,774 passengers compared to a maximum of around 900 Explora guests on its other ocean-going ships. For Explora, Franck Garanger has therefore literally been brought on board, even if not every day of the year - and is thus setting standards for culinary delights at sea.
Having grown up in the Loire region, the top chef has already worked for Paul Bocuse and Thierry Marx, among others. His pride and joy: Anthology, the only restaurant not included in the tour price, where, according to Garanger, the best Italian products meet French cooking techniques: Scallops with Oscietra caviar, Gamberi Rossi from Mazara del Vallo, sea bass with Arabica coffee - dishes that Garanger himself rates at a level of up to two Michelin stars, the Michelin Guide would also rate restaurants at sea.
In the Asian Sakura, guests can watch the chefs cooking sushi à la minute live, while the steakhouse Marble & Co. surprises with Simmental beef. Emporium Marketplace replaces classic buffets with live cooking stations, complemented by the French-inspired Fil Rouge, the Med Yacht Club, the Creperie, Gelateria, Café Crema and Chef's Kitchen cooking school with private dining. It's striking: Despite its international clientele, Explora focuses on a European ambience, especially when it comes to food and wine - which appeals to the cosmopolitan clientele.
Ocean State of Mind is the slogan used to advertise MSC's luxury segment. Even after a week, you can't really imagine much about it, but the association with Jay Z's and Alicia Key's hit Empire State of Mind might not be so wrong. After all, he also emphasizes the feeling of being part of a unique place - and that certainly applies to Explora.
