Sailing On Board the Brand-New EXPLORA I Cruise Ship

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

From the moment we approached the dock and saw the EXPLORA I up close to stepping on board for the first time, it was clear that the designers wanted to make this ship a true work of art. It definitely has a wow factor — the interior is beautifully decorated with European touches, and there is lots of space throughout the boat to meander and not feel crowded. The Lobby Bar, located in the center of the ship, is especially gorgeous — the perfect place to meet up for a cocktail (or two!) before or after dinner. 

Our room, the Ocean Terrace Suite, which is the leading room category on the ship, really did feel like a suite and is quite spacious — at 377 square feet, it’s one of the largest in the category. All suites are ocean-front with tons of storage space and a nice private terrace. We were very happy that our suite had a lot of great features and amenities that you might see in some of the higher room categories on other ships, including an espresso machine, kettle and tea pot, a walk-in closet with a seated vanity area, a Dyson hairdryer and more. In addition, we loved that we were presented with a welcome bottle of Champagne in our room, something I haven’t encountered or heard of before on other luxury cruise ships. For every room to receive an entire bottle and not just a glass makes for a very memorable and appreciated first impression.

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The Emporium Marketplace, which served made-to-order food throughout the day, was our go-to when we wanted to try a bit of everything. Our favorite place to indulge on wonderfully made, Parisian-like pastries and coffee was at the Crema Café — whether it was for breakfast or an afternoon pick-me-up, it was our preferred spot to relax in a casual atmosphere. In-suite dining is another choice offered, and this is something we had a few times and would do again.

SERVICE

What made our experience with Explora Journeys really stand out was not only the food but also the service. As soon as we stepped onto the ship, we could tell that all the staff was genuinely happy to serve the guests. Every person we met was so warm and welcoming with a truly positive demeanor, and it definitely showed. I’d like to give a special call-out to our suite host who was attentive and fabulous, ensuring that all of our requests were taken care of each day. In addition, the Guest Services team was incredibly helpful — not only did they make our daily dinner reservations and store our luggage on the last day, but they also lent me a computer mouse when mine suddenly stopped working. It doesn’t seem like such a big deal, but since I was working, it was a huge time-saver and I was very appreciative.

Since I was on a work trip and had to connect to the internet while at sea, I am incredibly pleased to report that the Wi-Fi is very good and really is hi-speed. I was able to attend Zoom calls without any problem. For those of you who worry about not being able to connect while away, you can rest assured that communication from the ship will remain the same as on land, which is also complementary.