Review: Explora I

What is the line? Explora Journeys

Name of ship? Explora I

Passenger occupancy? 922

Itinerary? Maiden journey; Northern Europe

Start out with the big picture—what is this cruise line known for?

The third-largest cruise brand in the world, European cruise line MSC, announced its plans to move into the ultra-luxury market in 2018 and in the years since brought Explora Journeys from ideation to realty. The new arm of the business brings a completely new identity to both the MSC family and the medium cruise category, harkening its design, ethos, and service style more akin to a superyacht or boutique resort, than what is expected for a cruise ship. Explora Journeys has plans to launch five other Explora ships in the next four years.

Tell us about the ship in general

Explora I, which launched in 2023, had years of thought put into the collaborative ship design by Martin Francis, SMC Design, AD Associates, De Jorio Luxury and Yacht Projects. The result offers smart compartmentalized interiors that bleed out into the intentional exterior spaces—creating intimate gathering spaces that never feel overly crowded, or disconnected from the sea. There are four heated salt water swimming pools and over 10,440 sq. ft. of wellness facilities spread across the indoor and outdoor areas of the ship. The wellness slant is noticeable everywhere on board from the spacious spa facilities and the fitness areas (one of which is the first dedicated outdoor fitness space at sea) with the latest Technogym equipment to the turndown amenities, like the Aromatherapy Associates shower essential oils, which I found particularly relaxing. The lobby bar, which is also the first impression of the ship, is a particular stand-out which is in company with The Fairmont Olympic’s The George Bar, The Campbell, and the London Edition lobby bar. The atmosphere is one of elegance. A place where you want to take your time sipping an ice-cold New York-style martini, watching the other guests go by.

Who is onboard?

And what people-watching it is. I was surprised to discover a large variety of passengers, from obviously wealthy middle-aged Europeans akin to those portrayed in Triangle of Sadness and Miu Miu-and-Zimmermann-clad ladies on a group trip to a healthy representation of young, same-sex couples and multi-generational families. With the diversity of passengers, the environment created a welcoming atmosphere in all areas of the boat, most obviously seen at the Astern Lounge during “C’est Chic,” the resident disco night, where—strangely most everyone dressed in white—was two-stepping in one joyous conflation.

Describe the cabins

The Explora I is unique in that it offers 461 ocean front suites, each with floor-to-ceiling windows and private terraces. There are no interior-facing or balcony-less rooms. I was in a “Premier Penthouse,” a mid-tier room that had a separated living and sleeping space with a walk-in closet with a seated vanity and balcony equipped with a table, two chairs, and a chaise. The almost-entirely marble bathroom had a large vanity, a rainfall shower, and—a perk I couldn’t get enough of—heated flooring. The living area had a table for four and a comfortable sectional. The shelves were filled with curated objects, books, and games, creating a home-like atmosphere. 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.

Tell us about the crew

The crew was extremely discreet and operated in a European service style. There were some standards that I, as an American, could have gone without, such as having the female-appearing members of the party order or being served before the male-appearing ones, but overall the ambition of traditional service was appreciated. The illustrious Captain Serena Melani was seen throughout the ship, speaking with guests and ensuring everything was running smoothly outside of the bridge. Overall, the service was extremely personalized with 640 team members and a 1.25 to 1 guest to room host ratio. My room attendant offered thoughtful touches based on my behaviors, like providing extra water, sparkling and natural, after noticing that I regularly left the provided glass bottles empty and inquired what my favorite spirit was to customize the minibar.

What food and drink options are available on board?

With 11 globally-inspired culinary options available, each focused on sourcing from sustainable and local-to-the-port vendors, it is impossible to go hungry. The most notable of which is Anthology, which brings in guest chefs to create a quarterly tasting menu. During my journey, Michelin three-starred Ristorante Uliassi, located in Ancona, Italy, created an 8-course menu focusing on Adriatic seafood—the pasta with an infusion of fig leaves was exceptional. Other standouts were the steakhouse Marble & Co. Grill and the Asian-inspired Sakura. However, each dining establishment I tried left me satisfied, including the surprisingly excellent all-day dining venue Emporium Marketplace, which had made-to-order wood-fired pizza and an indulgent raw bar. The beverage program is exceptional. The house champagne is Moet & Chandon Imperial, options like Nikka Whiskey and Johnnie Walker are included at the Malt Whiskey Bar, and the wine list offers hard-to-find bottles at a surprisingly fair price point.

Is there a spa on board and is it worth visiting?

The 7,500 sq. ft. spa has nine treatment rooms and a thermal area complete with saunas, steam rooms, a hydrotherapy pool, and even a Himalayan salt cave. I had a muscle release massage on a sea day which effectively relaxed my muscles after the 12 or more hour travels from Vancouver to Copenhagen. The treatment rooms were spacious and the massage included soft stretching and aromatherapy. The thermal area would get pretty crowded during sea days, but I popped in on one port morning and had the area to myself for over an hour.

Activities and entertainment

There was always something to do. Between lounging at the four see-and-be-seen pools there was live music, travel writing workshops, trivia, afternoon tea, pickleball lessons (on the open-air pickleball sports court), wine tastings, and what seemed to be spoken about with the most enthusiasm, the chef’s kitchen. 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.

How was the experience for families?

I saw many families during my time onboard—families with young children, skip-gen units of grandparents and teenagers, and adult children with their parents. Overall, the atmosphere is similar to one found at ultra-luxury resorts like the Four Seasons or One & Only, so if you are comfortable there with your family, Explora I will be more than suitable. There is the Nautilus Club catered to kids 6 - 17 and 82 suites are connecting for multi-generational families.

Where did it sail and how were the excursions? Did anything stand out?

We sailed from Copenhagen, Denmark; Göteborg, Sweden; Oslo and Stavanger, Norway; to Hamburg, Germany. The itinerary was a nice mix of small, lesser-known Scandinavian towns to popular hits like Oslo and Copenhagen. There were many excursions, group and private, available. The food-specific tours were a hit, along with the hike to the popular Pulpit Rock in Norway.

Are there any stand out sustainability or green initiatives about this cruise?

Explora Journeys does not use any single-use plastic on-board and ashore, and has implemented LNG marine fuel, which is currently the cleanest available at scale. The Explora I utilizes high-efficiency and energy-saving appliances, a Baltic Standard wastewater treatment system, and is certified for reduced underwater noise. They are committed to reach net-zero by 2050 and supports environmental causes through the MSC Foundation.

Finally, give a sentence or two on why the cruise is worth booking.

If you want an indulgent, elevated cruise, look no further.