My first Journey with Explora Journeys

Dear sailors,

At Riviera, we strive to ensure that our service and client care is always at the highest possible level - and so it is with our new Riviera Journeys travel agency. In order to bring you the most accurate information, tips, experiences and options, we decided to test the Explora I by spending a week in full operation for ourselves. Are you curious how it turned out?

Explora Journeys, although an absolute newcomer to the world of luxury cruise lines, a year ago rolled out the steady waters of ultra-luxury lines that have the advantage of having been on the market for some time. S we can safely say that it is doing a great job and is designed to satisfy even the most discerning traveller. Her huge advantage is that she is part of the family business of the MSC group and its owners, the Aponte-Vago family, so she retains the uniqueness of Mediterranean culture and its richness.

This effort can be felt at every step. Designed by the owners' family, its design breathes simplicity and luxury. Expect no fashion fads here, it has been designed in detail in conjunction with nature and its natural beauty. Explora has lived up to its promises, slogans from its advertisements, videos and photographs. Expectations were high and we counted on a possible disappointment, but this did not happen at all. Explora is truly floating luxury at sea. You will find here perhaps everything that a demanding client requires on his holiday. Accommodation in beautiful suites with private terrace, excellent and superior service of the hosts, fabulous meals, a huge selection of drinks, beautiful and detailed surroundings and above all peace, relaxation. Join us for a closer look at the Explora I.

Oceanic state of mind: perfect relaxation at sea

The Explora I is mainly used for relaxation and rest. You will not find spectacular entertainment here. But you will appreciate the relaxation, peace and comfort. You can take part in yoga classes, lectures or fitness classes, which you will find in the well-equipped fitness centre. This is not only located indoors, but on Explora ships you also have the unique opportunity to stretch your muscles outdoors in the fresh air.

On board you will also find a small spa in the wellness centre. Not much information has been given to this topic, and I think unfairly so. Upon entering and touring the wellness center, I was directly enchanted by its facilities, options and amenities. Most importantly, everything here is so beautiful. The entrance to the spa is already included in the price of your trip - only treatments (massages, health treatments, beauty treatments, hair care) are above and beyond. In the wellness area you can relax in several saunas, relaxation and massage pool, experience showers and after all this you can relax on the outdoor deck where there are relaxation areas in the fresh air.

You can also enjoy your perfect holiday right by the 4 boat pools - how else but with salt water. They are located at the bow, amidships (with a retractable roof in case of bad weather) and two at the stern. One of the most beautiful is located aft on Deck 5. Its glass aft really makes you feel like you can touch the sea, which is really within your reach. There are plenty of sun loungers, beds and screened cabanas all around. Explora also offers several hot tubs, both indoors and outdoors. All of this with beautiful views of the ocean.

Dining: renowned gourmet specialties included in the price of the trip

A great holiday also includes great food. And that's what Explora excels at. The choice of restaurants and dining here is truly above standard. During your stay, you can choose from 5 restaurants that are included in the price of your Trip. You'll find Sakura with Asian cuisine, Marble, where you'll fall in love with the best steaks, Fil Rouge, which will enchant you with French flavors, or Med Club, which prepares breathtaking bites from all over the Mediterranean.

If you want to choose your food with your eyes and see what you're going to have in advance, I recommend Emporium Marketplace. It's a restaurant that operates as an upscale buffet where they prepare the food right in front of you. Perfect. The rule of eating with your eyes first really applies here. The choice here is huge, from salads, soups, to delicious homemade pasta, steaks, burgers, to the biggest attraction at the end - desserts. And the flavours? In a word, fabulous.

Accommodation: 461 apartments with outdoor terrace and luxury services

Explora Journeys wants to make guests who choose to embark on the Journey feel "at home" on its ships. Having a choice of several types of suites certainly helps with this. The suites are large, cozy, have their own dressing room, bathroom with shower or bathtub. What has been very much attended to here are the details. Heated floors in the bathroom, several kinds of lighting, whether main, evening or night. Amenities you might need during your stay - binoculars, a choice of several types of pillows for ultimate comfort, a Dyson hairdryer or a magnifying, illuminated mirror in the dressing room. The apartments have butlers who clean your apartment and are available twice a day.

Lounges and bars: from dancing to relaxing with beautiful ocean views

The ship's bars and lounges serve to entertain, but also to sit quietly. Again, the choice is great, there are plenty of places to sit and with a maximum capacity of 922 guests, there is something for everyone. Each bar or lounge has quiet relaxing music, great singers, pianists and guitarists.

The largest of the lounges - the Journeys Lounge - is the only one that doesn't have views of the open sea. It is in this spot, every evening, that a small performance by dancers or a band takes place. You will find beautiful lighting and a beautiful interplay of music, dance and light. For dance lovers, there is a small dance floor where you can air your dancing shoes.

Another lounge with a smaller dance floor is the Astern Lounge at the stern of the ship before the entrance to the aft pool. In this lounge, it's the other way around - thanks to its French windows, the whole place is illuminated by natural light from outside, and the atmosphere here is complemented by spectacular sea views.

There are several bars serving world famous drinks and popular drinks. But be warned, this is where Explora is really different - you can ask for your favourite drink at the bar and the smiling bartenders will make you a drink on the spot. Even with a little show in the making.

What more to say. The journey on the Explora is truly unique, luxurious and magical. The service is set to a high standard. The icing on the cake are the hosts, waiters and bartenders who, smiling from ear to ear, will do the first last for you: they will be happy to give advice, help or just chat with you. The boat is large and the capacity is set so that there is space everywhere and everything flows smoothly.

In today's hectic times, Explora has done a great thing. I don't know how, but this cruise company has really managed to slow down time. When you come on board, you switch off, slow down, unconsciously adjust to the pace on offer and time takes on a whole new dimension here. It's only when you return that you realise it was "just" a week, but all the experiences, the emotions, make you feel that the week of your holiday on the Explora lasted much longer. And it is in doing so that we realize that maybe THIS is the "Oceanic State of Mind" that Explora Journeys everywhere promises...

Come and experience it with us.

Zuzana Krajčová, Senior Manager Riviera Journeys