Explora Journeys review: A cruise connoisseur's insight

Explora Journeys is the new ultra-luxury brand of the MSC Group, the attention to detail is apparent the minute you step on board. The "Ocean State of Mind" mantra is evident throughout the ship, with views overlooking the ocean in all suites and almost all public areas. The décor is contemporary and modern which matches the extremely relaxed atmosphere onboard.

There are no formal nights and the dress code is very much whatever you feel comfortable in!

Luxury Ocean Terrace Suite

We stayed in an Ocean Terrace Suite on EXPLORA I which was absolutely stunning, we were greeted with a complimentary chilled bottle of champagne on arrival. Whilst on board there is an option to request another or a complimentary bottle of selected spirit, accompanied by refillable soft drinks from the minibar. The lead-in ocean terrace suites are graded OT1 through to OT4. These are identical—the only difference being the location on the ship.

The Ocean Terrace Suites are 35 square metres, alongside the 7 square metres terrace with a daybed, table and chairs on the terrace. The suites have a large bathroom with underfloor heating and a full size walk-in shower and some do have bath tubs; the bathrooms also come with complimentary toiletries in Explora Journeys' own gorgeous in-house scent, Mandala Blue. There is a dressing area between the bathroom and the bedroom which is equipped with a Dyson hairdryer, and there is more than enough storage space in the dressing area and bedroom area. All suites are equipped with binoculars for guests to capture the magnificent views onboard. Explora Journeys-branded water bottles are provided and drinking water is refilled in the room every day.

Facilities on board 

There are four outdoor and one indoor pools, with my personal favourite being the infinity Astern Pool on Deck 5. There was never a scramble for beds even right next to the pool; there is more than enough space for everyone, even on sea days! Another of my personal favourites were the infinity whirlpools, situated on either side of the ship on Deck 12, with the most spectacular views across the ocean as you relax and find your Ocean State of Mind!

The spa area is stunning and complimentary for all guests, with some time restrictions on sea days. Treatments are chargeable. Again, this was never busy and always extremely relaxing. I even tried the gym one day, which has a wide range of Technogym equipment and floor to ceiling windows so you can still enjoy those amazing sea views whilst getting your steps in on the treadmill!

The food!!! Oh my word, the food!!!

Where to start? It was all divine! Emporium Marketplace is the main all-day dining restaurant with individual cooking stations, offering freshly cooked food from around the world. Fil Rouge is a French-inspired restaurant where we had the most delicious lobster thermidor followed by lemon meringue dessert. The food in Sakura is the best Asian food I have ever tasted, and the Mediterranean tapas in Med Yacht Club was fabulous—the chargrilled octopus was simply amazing. My personal favourite was Marble and Co., the most unreal steakhouse. The meat melts in your mouth and the truffle mash and creamy spinach sides were to die for. The pièce de résistance was the Eton Mess dessert and if you have a sweet tooth you must try it!

And for those who fancy a night in you can even dine in the comfort of your own suite or on your terrace.

A variety of daytime activities 

Evening entertainment offers something for everyone. You can enjoy live music and dance shows in the Journeys Lounge, quiz shows and karaoke in the Astern Lounge or simply relax in the Lobby Bar whilst listening to the pianist tickle the ivories. If you prefer to have a few drinks al fresco in the evening, the Sky Bar on Deck 14 is perfect for a few quiet drinks while capturing the stunning ocean views.

There are a variety of age groups on EXPLORA I, which makes for a very enjoyable trip. The ship caters for everyone, with the Nautilus Club available for the younger guests open every day from 9am to midnight. While children are allowed on board, there is a maximum of 70 allowed per sailing. There is an onboard casino for those who fancy a little flutter and as well as a whisky bar for the whisky experts, complete with a walk-in humidor, cigar expert and a dedicated outdoor cigar-smoking terrace. Crema Café was another personal favourite of mine, relaxing with a lovely creamy latte and a little mini dessert after a lovely day exploring the local area or relaxing around the pool was a perfect end to the day before getting ready for the upcoming evening.

Final thoughts
In my opinion, Explora Journeys have literally thought of everything with these ships and the staff is what makes the experience unforgettable. They are so happy and friendly and nothing is too much trouble. They go out of their way to make sure you are having the best time.

If you haven’t tried Explora Journeys yet then you must! You won’t be disappointed.

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