The New Cruise: Explora Journeys reimagines cruising through curated ocean experiences

Before this past summer, I’d never considered cruising. As Explora Journeys’ president Anna Nash paraphrased on a recent podcast, the quintessential cruiser is typically ‘newly wed, over fed or nearly dead’. But Explora Journeys, MSC’s new high-end offshoot, is looking not just to challenge those stereotypes, but rewrite the rulebook entirely on what ultraluxury ocean travel can look like.

In fact, to call Explora III a cruise ship feels like a disservice. When I check into my penthouse suite on the ship’s second voyage, I feel more like stepping into a boutique hotel that changes address with the tide, rather than a cruise ship. Explora III, the third of six Explora ‘floating hotels’ planned to be in service by 2028, debuts as a sea of luxury hospitality brands make their maiden voyage into cruising, with Four Seasons and Orient Express unveiling their own interpretation of luxury cruising in recent months. Aman will follow next year with the launch of Amangati, scheduled to sail in the spring of 2027. But with three centuries of seafaring history behind the Aponte family – the founders of Explora Journeys – this refined hotel on water is already oceans ahead. For its third ship, Explora has extended by 19.2 metres compared to Explora I and II, introducing a pair of new suites, but reserving most of the extension for thoughtfully designed spaces for guests to enjoy onboard. Its already-impressive culinary array is further enhanced with Shore Club, a Mediterranean beach club-inspired restaurant adjacent to the main pool; and the Wine Cellar, proudly home to the largest collection of labels on water. The lobby bar has also been reimagined, a sweeping spiral staircase adding theatrical wow-factor reminiscent of the golden age of cruising to a destination where guests sip coffees by day and cocktails by night to the sounds of live piano and acoustic guitar. The running track, which wraps impressively around much of deck 12, has also been extended, providing the backdrop for what is surely one of the most iconic workouts a traveller can do on the open sea.

Onboard, days are relaxed and refined, the concept of time told only by the way the sun’s rays hypnotically reflect like shimmering sequins on the water. There’s a peaceful serenity to seeing endless blues, whether it’s waking up to a morning coffee, glancing up from a book by the poolside, or gazing out at sunset from the rooftop sky bar, DJ sets and glasses of Champagne flowing with equal abandon. Those looking to cool off are spoiled for choice with five pools, and regardless of the time of day, none ever feels overcrowded. At the ship’s heart is Conservatory, the pool of choice for those looking to get their lengths in – to the sounds of melodic, piano-bar-style music, with a retractable glass roof making it weatherproof for seasonal sailing. Adjacent, an ambient pool bar transitions seamlessly from morning detox juices to afternoon cocktails, while the Shore Club serves as a chic daytime dining destination for those whiling away the day onboard, with a crowd-pleasing menu of salads, sandwiches and tapas.

But I find myself drawn most days to the fifth-floor Astern pool, with its hypnotic infinity edge that melds seamlessly into the ocean beyond as we sail from Portofino to Barcelona. Its shallow depth means it’s designed more for relaxing rather than swimming, but the breathtaking view is unparalleled. Encased by plush cabanas, it’s an effortlessly stylish spot to drink in the endless azure shades, served by a bar where guests are just as comfortable remote working with laptops and cappuccinos as they are sipping mimosas and snapping selfies of the breathtaking backdrop.

Meals unfold across nine restaurants, and the diversity of dining options means you can skip the main buffet entirely should you wish. But Emporium’s head-spinning array of cooked-to-order live stations will make you reconsider. One lunchtime, my multi-course meal features slivers of fresh nigiri, meaty lobster tail drizzled in lemon butter and fresh fruit, while another day’s dinner consists of fresh oysters spiked with shallot vinaigrette, al dente spaghetti alla vongole, and a creamy panna cotta with fresh berries. But you’ll want to book sleek steakhouse Marble & Co Grill or elevated Japanese restaurant Sakura for gastronomy at sea. At Marble, the decor and soundtrack are themed with a welcome touch of golden age glamour: dark, sultry and cinematic. Waitstaff smartly suited in monochrome bustle between tables, serving up caviar-topped crushed fingerling potatoes and sizzling steaks cooked to perfection. In-suite breakfast invites the opportunity to marvel at the sorbet shades as they give way to a Mediterranean blue morning sky as the ship pulls towards Portofino, the verdant Italian landscapes a scenic addition to the endless blue. Guests can customise every element of this morning feast, from continental freshly baked pastries and seasonal fruit platters to an avocado toast spiked with a hint of chilli or fluffy French toast with a generous swirl of maple syrup. Beyond idyllic poolside relaxation and gourmet dining, days onboard Explora III are curated to offer as much – or little – as your favourite hotel on land, ensuring time is spent exactly as it should be: exclusively on things that truly give you pleasure. Peruse the daily changing artworks at the floating Clarendon Art Gallery, the dazzling collections of Rolex, Cartier and Chopard (the latter’s first boutique at sea) at a row of boutiques, or pick up a memento from Ocean Atelier, where jewellery designer Fanny Blanchelande has masterminded an exclusive Mandala collection inspired by classic ocean motifs.

Staying active is effortless: I wake to a game of padel at the world’s only court at sea, strikingly situated on the ship’s top deck, join a rejuvenating open-air yoga class as day breaks, and use the open-air spin rowing machines to enjoy a workout with an inimitable view. When it’s time to unwind, I find a blissful sense of smugness in booking a treatment at Ocean Wellness, Explora’s interpretation of a spa, on a docked day. There’s only a handful of guests to share the salt room, steam, sauna and bubbling whirlpool with, and my one-hour signature massage uses rhythmic motions that mirror the ocean waves to gently soothe my skin with Subtle Energies oils, designed to detox the body and ease muscle fatigue.

Explora’s impeccable curation extends from the ships to the routes it follows, with Alexa Aponte Vago, Chief Financial Officer and daughter of MSC founder Gianluigi Aponte, describing the sailings as ‘itineraries we follow as a family’. It also extends to the subsequent destination experiences guests have exclusive access to. “Everything we do off the ship is complementary to what we do onboard,” explains Justin Poulsen, Head of Destination Experiences. During my Explora experience, that means a morning stroll along the idyllic promenade of haute boutiques in Portofino, followed by a sun-drenched lunch at Langosteria, the much-loved, family-run Italian restaurant nestled in the bay of Praggi, where coveted reservations have been taken care of. The day rounds out with an afternoon cruising the coastline in a boat captained by local guide Matteo, who traces the coastline north from Portofino, stopping at a hidden cove so we can swim in the crystal-clear waters, watch locals cliff jumping off the coast of San Fruttuoso, and visit the picturesque town of Camogli for a homemade ice cream.

As I depart Explora III, it feels as though I’ve spent a few days aboard the elegant yacht of a family friend, rather than a cruise ship with 461 suites. And isn’t that, in the end, what ultra-luxury ocean travel should be? Less like taking a cruise and more like being welcomed into a home – albeit one that happens to travel the world.

Explora III will sail Northern Europe in autumn, followed by the Americas in winter. explorajourneys.com

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