SAILING ON THE MAIDEN voyage of a ship is an occasion worth remembering; sailing on Explora Journeys’ Explora II is memorable indeed. The younger sister of Explora I made its debut in September 2024, with a splashy naming ceremony and the naming of a new president, Anna Nash. The inaugural sailing launched from Civitavecchia near Rome (Explora II’s home port), and down Italy’s southwest coast with stops on the Amalfi Coast, the Aeolian Islands and onward to Sicily.
Oceanfront Luxury in Every Suite: Every one of EXPLORA I’s 461 suites offers sweeping ocean views, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows and private terraces. The entry-level Ocean Terrace Suites are among the largest in the industry, featuring spacious interiors and elegant lounge areas.
Apropos, perhaps, as the family behind Explora Journey’s parent company, MSC Cruise Line, has its roots in Italy (it may be the largest shipping company in the world but it’s still family owned and operated), and many of the details are informed by the women in the family business. And we’re not talking gentle nonnas, but power women Rafaela Aponte (the co-founder of MSC and quite possibly the richest woman on the planet) and Alexa Aponte Vago (her daughter and MSC’s CFO) lead the way; in September 2024 Nash came on board to take the reins of Explora Journeys, after an illustrious career in the hospitality biz, most recently, Aman, the global uber luxe hotel brand.
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Captain Serena Melani is the Master of Explora II; she also took Explora I for a spin when it first launched. The Mediterranean dolce vita is evident in the hospitality team’s joyful approach to service. Am I at a luxury hotel? My concierge makes me feel as if I am; I ask for a top sheet on the bed so I can throw back the lofty duvet on warmer nights (we’re in Italy in September, after all) and when I return after dinner, the bed has been made anew, exactly as I’ve asked.
The ship is a near-carbon copy of the brilliant Explora I, with only a few soft touches and modifications to the navy, chocolate and mocha mousse decor scheme; suites are super spacious with balconies, walk-in closets and bathrooms big enough for two.
Considering there are about 900 other passengers, no doubt asking for everything from more towels to extra Diet Coke (or sparkling wine) in the fridge, I’m impressed. Oh, and did I mention you can order a bottle of your favourite spirit as part of your mini bar set up? Gin Tonics on my suite’s balcony before dinner? Yes, please.
The ship is a near-carbon copy of the brilliant Explora I, with only a few soft touches and modifications to the navy, chocolate and mocha mousse decor scheme; suites are super spacious with balconies, walk-in closets and bathrooms big enough for two.
Chic and elegant, the Lobby Bar on EXPLORA II offers refined cocktails, live piano music, and a stylish space to unwind at sea.
Aside from adding a few more hits of colour to its neutral scheme, I have no notes. It’s a luxury hotel on the water; step into the two-deck-high Lobby Bar for a welcome cocktail or a pre-dinner drink and fellow guest gazing; watch the sun set with a sundowner at the Sky Bar on the top deck; stay up late with a night cap at the sexy jewel-box Malt Whisky Bar with talented mixologists who are happy to experiment; in between, book a table at one of the nine restaurants (don’t miss Sakura, the ship’s showstopping Pan Asian outlet or the classic Marble & Co. Grill for elevated steakhouse vibes).
The ancient tea rooms of Kyoto provide the inspiration for Sakura, where dark wood frames lead your eye to traditional Japanese ceiling details. A cherry blossom tree canopy adds to the warm atmosphere.
More than a steakhouse, Marble & Co is the realisation of a vision where careful attention to ingredients and passion for cooking come together to create a truly special dining experience.
And there are plenty of opportunities to hear live music and get your groove on. During our sailing, Paul Hadley of Spandau Ballet fame sang a selection of his band’s greatest hits. (PS he’s still got it.) If you fancy yourself a singer there’s also Karaoke, naturally, and DJs spinning around the ship.
On the menu: crushed fingerling potatoes made with Le Beurre Bordier butter, topped with crème fraîche, chives, and Calvisius Oscietra caviar—Marble & Co. Grill’s signature dish, simple yet crafted with world-class ingredients.
The Spa is an escape mechanism well-worth activating: bracing jets spill into the warm pool with a massage action that really works out the kinks; a 10-minute detox in the sauna helps sweat out last night’s night cap; and a body treatment by an intuitive therapist all have me reset for the rest of the sail.
Explora Journeys’ Panoramic Pool. Inspired by the Ancient Greek god of the sun, “Helios”, this adults-only area is indeed the sunniest venue onboard.
Of course, there are excursion concierges on board who have picked out the best things to do on shore; to say that being atop Mt Etna at sunset as the clouds roll in is a thrill I won’t soon forget is an understatement, nor will my continuing (and somewhat failing) efforts to replicate a pistachio pesto pasta dish I tasted in Taormina recede.
It’s all the joys of a ship that’s built with the high-end hotel guest in mind or, as the brains behind these ships say, for inspiring “An Ocean State of Mind.” If that’s you, I highly recommend planning your own exploration of the high seas.
WHAT TO BOOK
A Journey of Limoncello Days & Sardinian Sunsets sails from Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy, making stops in Sorrento, Sicily’s Palermo, Sardinia, and finally, Spain’s Balearic Islands and Barcelona. Seven nights; September 15 – September 22, 2025.
Sunlit whitewashed walls, mosaic courtyards, and ancient ruins—Tunis is a timeless blend of North African soul and French flair.
A Journey of Volcanic Vistas & Catalonian Culture sails from Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy, making stops in Naples, Sicily, Tunis (Tunisia), Sardinia, Valencia and Barcelona. Seven nights; September 29 – October 6, 2025.
Explora II is also part of MSC’s partnership with The Formula 1 experience. The ship will act as a floating hotel – the only ship docked in Monaco’s Port Hercule, during the Grand Prix de Monaco 2025, from May 21 to May 26, 2025.
EXPLORA III sets sail for her inaugural journeys in Summer 2026, and is the first ship in the fleet to be powered by LNG in an effort to reduce any environmental impact. The ship will also travel to diverse destinations such as Reykjavik, Iceland, Greenland, and Eastern Canada’s Quebec City on A Journey through Rugged Landscapes & Remote Coastal Scenery, September 17 to September 28, 2026.
Polar plunge into the wilds of Nanortalik, home to bears, bergs, and unbelievable beauty.
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