If you love cruising, or the idea of cruising, but are looking for more, then Explora Journeys is the option for you. The offering by MSC Cruises, synonymous with luxury cruising, Explora Journeys offers a slower-paced, highly curated experience aimed at taking guests on a profound journey into the heart of nature and culture.
The Explora Journeys experience is founded on its two specially designed ships, Explora I and II. Explora I was officially named on July 8, 2023 at Civitavecchia near Rome and departed on her maiden journey from Southampton on July 17, 2023. Explora II will undertake her maiden voyage in 2024. The ExploraJourneys fleet will ultimately comprise six vessels.
These cruise ships are designed with sustainability and luxury very much in mind. Ecologically sound materials are used in their construction, and the ships are ready to use hybrid power-generation technologies as they become available. Explora I sports a range of technology advances aimed at making it more environment-friendly, from how wastewater is processed to the use of energy-efficient appliances and reduced underwater noise to protect aquatic life (Rina Dolphin certified).
Care for the environment is combined with attention to detail in creating a luxurious environment. Expect everything that a luxury cruise would offer, but in the distinctive Explorastyle: fine dining, bars and lounges with curated entertainment, extensive deck facilities, a range of bar and dining venues, a casino, the Ocean Wellness spa and fitness facility (including a beauty salon).
Explora I also offers guests a unique shopping experience via three luxury stores: Cartier and Panerai watch stores, and a Piaget watch-and-jewelry store. Each store is carefully designed to embody a distinctive brand personality, and offer discerning travelers a world-class shopping experience.
Explora Journeys offers a mixture of short and long sailings from accessible homeports such as Barcelona, Civitavecchia, Miami and Bridgetown. Journeys are designed to offer a slower pace of travel, with enough time to be fully immersed in local cultures and landscapes.
Call it mindful tourism—it’s all about seeking out interesting and little-visited destinations and getting to grips with them.
Explora Journeys travelers will also have the privilege of undertaking excursions with celebrated adventurer, explorer and environmentalist, Mike Horn, Explora Journeys’ brand ambassador: for example, on the inaugural Iceland and Greenland journey, ‘Arctic Geyser, Calving Glaciers, and Fiery Lands of Ice’, Mike took participants on two hikes in remote parts of Greenland and presented a seminar on “Setting goals and being resilient” onboard.
Yes, it’s cruising—but as you’ve never imagined it.
Visit https://explorajourneys.com/ for more information or to book.
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