HELLO, Explora Journeys!

MEET A NEW CRUISE GAME CHANGER BY AMY

ROBERTS

IN THE WORLD OF CRUISING, THERE’S A GOOD DEAL OF FANFARE SURROUNDING A SHIP’S MAIDEN VOYAGE — ANTICIPATORY EXCITEMENT, CHAMPAGNE TOASTS, A CEREMONIAL RIBBON CUTTING. But when a company launches both a new cruise line and vessel, well that’s a distinct level of special that only a privileged few are privy to.

This July, an elite group of people will be able to say, “I set sail on Explora Journeys’ inaugural ocean experience.”

The new cruise line set to debut this summer has ambitious plans to shift industry expectations. For starters, all cabins on EXPLORA I , the first ship in the Explora Journeys fleet, will feature a “Homes at Sea” atmosphere, boasting a minimum of 377 square feet of living space, with some suites offering more than 3,000 spacious square feet.

Regardless of suite selection – Ocean Suites, Ocean Penthouses or Ocean Residences — all guests will enjoy walk-in wardrobes, seated vanity areas, private terraces, sweeping ocean views, and an unrivaled roominess cloaked in European elegance. Heated bathroom floors, a customized minibar stocked to taste, espresso machine, personal binoculars, and wireless bed-side charging stations are additional touches conveying a sense of home and belonging.

Designed in partnership with the world’s foremost superyacht specialists and harnessing cutting-edge maritime technology, EXPLORA I will offer 27,000 square feet of outdoor space, three swimming pools, dozens of private cabanas, an indoor pool with a retractable roof, and an exceptionally large and poshly equipped spa and fitness studio, which is also where passengers will experience Explora Journeys’ signature Ocean Wellness program. Designed to optimize whole-body healing and centered around complete restoration, tailormade programs include energy flow classes to replenish stamina and strength, sleep programs to realign your body’s circadian rhythm, and immune-boosting experiences to promote health and reduce anxiety. Plus, all are enhanced by the revitalizing influence of the sea.

Ocean Connection And Conservation

While Explora Journeys might be a new name in the cruise industry, it’s hardly a naval novice. Explora Journeys is a descendent of MSC Group, but that’s just one proverbial drop in the ocean. In fact, founder and owner Gianluigi Aponte can trace his seafaring ancestry back to the 17th century in

Sorrento, Italy, where generations of Apontes ferried goods between Naples and Castellammare di Stabia.

True to the family business, Gianluigi Aponte began his maritime career as a ferry captain. After becoming smitten with a Swiss passenger who he later married, Aponte and his bride created the global shipping operation MSC Group, and later MSC Cruises, the largest privately-owned cruise line in the world. Now, the family synonymous with ocean travel and transport has launched Explora Journeys.

Given the family’s 300-plus years of livelihood by sea, it’s little wonder they’re as committed to ocean conservation as they are to exploration. That’s why each Explora Journeys ship will be RINA dolphin certified, reducing underwater noise to protect marine animals. Other sea safeguards include no singleuse plastic on board or ashore, high-efficiency and energy saving appliances, a state-of-the-art recycling and waste management program, and selective catalytic reduction technology.

All Ashore

Explora Journeys is poised to transform ocean travel through a synergy of the chicest ships and the most immersive itineraries. Explora Journey’s collection of Destination Experiences will provide inspiring opportunities for guests to discover authentic cultural, historical, and culinary delights from an extraordinary perspective, all while offering an impressive guest-tohost ratio allowing travelers to fully connect with each destination.

Itineraries range from seven to 44 nights, with the inaugural journeys covering Northern Europe, Iceland, Greenland, the US and Canada, Caribbean, South America, Hawaii, and Alaska.