8 Nights A Journey through Mediterranean Gems & Historic Grandeur Cruise

Explora Journeys Is VERY Special

I have done 35+ cruises in 44 years with my first cruise being my honeymoon. I rate all my cruises based on what I have experienced on previous voyages. No cruise is ever perfect in every way. How can it be? It is a luxury hotel in the middle of the Ocean. Explora Journeys came close with many PROS and some CONS. The PROS out weighted the CONS. My wants, needs and motives will be different then many based on my previous experiences. Some cruisers will agree, some will disagree. That is the nature of cruise and cruise enthusiasts. Ship (Explora 1) (Rating: 10 out of 10): Stunning in every way. Colors, decorating, quality of furnishings, layout and design. What stands out most to me when remembering my experience was the Pools and Hot tubs. So many to choose from, each with a different personality. I love hot tubs but was disappointed in the past because there were so few, and all were filled with unsupervised children ever open hours. Not on Explora 1. Sometimes, even on sea days I was the only one in the hot tub. The pools were always warm and never too cold. If water features are important to you, look no further. Bars and Lounges (Rating 9 out of 10: Lets start with the pool/hot tub areas. Each had a full bar with lots of crew to assist you. Unlike other brands where it was so crowded and had a lack of crew. You NEVER go thirsty on Explora. They even offered while at the pool to bring Potato chips and mixed nuts as a snack. If you are a wine drinker, the selection is ok but not great compared to Luxury/Ultra-Luxury Competitors. Knowing this allows you to bring your own wine onboard with, as I know it, no corking charge. You can also purchase bottles from the ship who had a very night wine selection for sale. The Premium Liquors were OK and adequate for my needs. Some guests wanted higher end premium spirits to be included, when they were not. Knowing this about wines and liquors should allow you to have plan and establish “Realistic Expectations”. Food and Dining (Rating: 9 out of 10): No main dining room as would be the case in a 5-6 star hotel. The ship has four formal sit-down Restaurants. Each with their own characters and flavors. Fil Rouge (Rating 8 out of 10) which is Breakfast every day and dinner each night was French. Med Yacht Club (Rating 8 of of 10) which had Mediterranean flair, open selected lunch and dinner every night. Marble and Company Grille (Rating 7 out of 10) focused on meat open for dinner. Sakura (Rating 9 out of 10) which was Asian fusion open some lunches and dinner nightly with a lovely sushi bar. The Emporium Marketplace (Rating 8 out of 10) was Explora Journeys approach to a Buffet. I loved eating here for lunch. Breakfast I preferred Fil Rouge and dinner I liked a more formal dining experience. That said, at dinner you had the options of Lobster Tails, Crab, Shrimp, all of which was very good and made fresh. They made Pasta to order. They made Burgers and small steaks to order giving you a beeper to let you know when your food was ready. A crew member could get your food or you could do so. Unique approach to buffet for sure. The complaint is there was any focused on three things: 1) With no main dining room and occupancy getting close to full; you really needed a reservation to gain a nice seating time. Some found that to be unpleasant, especially waiting for a table. 2) The menus for the most part never changed and those that wanted variety felt that was a flaw; 3) The selection of Beef was hit or miss. This is a European brand. Their beef was grass feed vs. grain feed. It tended to be tough or chewy as it would be in many places in Europe. The one exception was a GREAT steak in Med Yacht Club. This information is yet again so we can all have Realistic Expectations. Overall Service (Rating: 10 out of 10): The ships ratio is 1:00 to 1:25. Service for me was never a problem and very much a highlight. One day in, everyone seemed to know my name. Bar tenders knew what I liked to drink. Crew were enjoying the job, and it showed in their engagement with guests and each other. The true test of a brand wanting to be in the Luxury/Ultra-Luxury category is “Personalized Service” and Explora Journey crushed this goal. Embarkment (Rating: 9 out of 10): For me it was perfect, however full disclosure. I was in a top end suite called a “Retreat Residences Suite”. Under the suite information below I will overview. OT and Penthouse guest had a much different experience. The normal boarding time was 01:00 PM, with your suite ready at 02:00 to 03:00 PM. The luggage was delivered around 03:00 to 03:30 PM. Many who got to Terminal D (Carnival’s Terminal) at 11:15 AM had to wait for both check-in and board. They were not pleased but those were the rules. The good news was your EJ mobile app worked at the port so you could start making reservations for Fil Rouge and Med Yacht Club while waiting. Those in the Residences Suites was a whole other experience. See below. Spa/Gym (Rating: 8 out of 10): The spa was stunning with the best equipment I have ever seen in a cruise ship spa. Was it expensive, of course. Yet, unlike other brands you could reserve your services pre-cruise, pay on the cruise so you could use OBC to pay for your spa services. I was traveling with my sister and we both got two 60-minute Massages. The amenities in the spa like heated lounge chairs, salt room, sauna, steam room and thermal spa were available to everyone with some restrictions during very crowded sea days. I loved this amenity being part of my fare investment. The gym was very well equipped with all new equipment and a focus on a brand called Technogym. Sorry, I never went in and used the gym on this vacation. Food and drink were my exercise of choice. On/Off Ship (Rating: 9 out of 10): Small ship, less guest so no real issue getting on or off the ship for ports or Dis-Embarkation. When on an execution you still had to meet in a location, wait for guests that did not know how to read their watches and be walked off to the excursion location on the port. I dislike this with passion and there for hardly ever do excursions on a cruise ship. Instead, I have a long breakfast at Fil Rouge, lever everyone gets off the ship and takes my time. Just me. "You do you". Retreat Residences Suite (Rating: 9 out of 10): This suite was stunning, well appointed, roomy and felt like a luxury apartment. Was it the largest or best laid out suite I have ever had, "NO". But it was in the ball park. Most would think the suite itself was the main benefit but I would disagree. It was the very special amenities received for the premium investment paid. Those included but not limited to: 1) Embarkment: Drop off luggage at port, go to the EJ Tent, share your suite number (NOTE: The Retreat Residences Suites on Deck 7 had the biggest footprint) a Retreat Residences Suite and immediately get an escort to the security, up to the check-in. A special check in for Residences Suites where you are transferred to your butler who take you from there. Escorted to muster, then directly to your suite which is ready. From luggage drop off to suite was less then 10 min. 2) Full Bar Setup of Premium Spirits and Brut Moet Champagne with a fully stocked Mini-Bar. 3) Huge suite and in this specific suite, a hot tub on your veranda. This suite of all the residences suites had the smallest veranda but it was still larger then most and all we needed. We did ask for another lounge chair and got it immediately. 4) Professionally trained butler that did every single thing for you if you let them. Priority reservations, checking on excursions or spa treatments. Reminded you of special event like a very special Captain's dinner for only Residences Guests and a bridge tour which was very special. The walk in closet was over the top. Now the downside was the size of the bathroom which seemed just slightly cramped. I would assume, the closet got the extra room. The guest bathroom was perfect for having a small party or drinks with friends new and old. Relating the great bar setup. You could have in-suite dining from any restaurant served by course by your butler with some advanced notice. More amenities but I think you get the idea. This was my sisters first cruise at age 72. She could never replicate this experience.

A pleasant Journey aboard the EJ1!

After two wonderful cruises aboard MSC’s Sea-class ships in the Yacht Club, along with several dozens of cruises since our first in 1992, we decided to try out the new Explora Journey offerings from MSC. We enjoy our Elite status on Princess (yes, still!) and have cruised many times with Viking River, once on Viking Ocean, and twice on Oceania, among several other lines as a comparison. Armed a healthy onboard credit package and high expectations dampened a bit by recent reviews, we set off on our familiar two hour drive to Miami. Our arrival was without difficulty and right on time for our appointed embarkation slot. That’s where the expectations took a bit of a hit. Some foul-up, allegedly due to a “communication issue” resulted in a 1-1/2 hour rather uncomfortable delay in a bland, cavernous terminal that could have been used as beef storage facility – it was that cold! Not a great way to start our Journey. Once we were finally herded onboard, we were directed confusingly to another deck for the check-in – and wait again. Not being familiar with the ship, and thoroughly disgusted by the wait, this only compounded our growing frustration. Fortunately, by this time, our bags were waiting by our cabin door and we settled in for the cruise. Things sharply improved from there. We made our way to the Emporium Marketplace, the ship’s buffet, and had a very lunch accompanied with a fair amount of Champagne (Mercier). Things only got better after that! Our dining reservations secured, we then explored this magnificently designed vessel. Our “suite” was an OT1 towards the Aft on Deck 7, Port side. We thought the cabin was well appointed and had a covered balcony, not visible to others, There was a small table, two comfortable chairs, and a very nice chaise on the balcony. We could easily see the extended balconies on Deck 6 below us, in Ocean Terrace suites. Beware these cabins if you expect privacy – half of them are fully exposed to folks like us on Deck 7. Also, you may want to stay away from Starboard suites above or near Crema, the excellent coffee bar (check the deck plans before booking). Right outside of Crema on the Starboard side is the smoking area on a small deck. ‘Nuff said about that! Our first dinner was at the “French” restaurant Fil Rouge and was delicious. If you are a seafood lover, you will be very happy with the dining. The Dover Sole is perhaps the best, most consistently good dish onboard. I had a Bream special the first night which was also quite good. I ended up eating seafood on 7 of our nine-night voyage, with the meal at Anthology and one of the best Osso Bucca’s I ever had at the Med Yacht Club. Both of these are the “open” restaurants – they do take reservations, but they are not required. You may wish to book ahead for your optimal dining time. Anthology is the only premium restaurant – it’s a prix-fixe menu, very good, but it doesn’t change, the same every night. Price is $140 pp, with an optional wine pairing for $60pp more. Yes, folks, that’s a $400 dinner! Only book if you have OBC’s that you need to burn off. It’s really a bit excessive for an out-of-pocket dinner when your other options are so good. Also bear in mind that you will receive a welcome drink and two pourings of vin blanc inclusive with the meal. The pairing wine was a very good 2017 Barolo. They don’t skimp on the pours. The other two restaurants do require reservations, and passengers are limited to one night at each. They are Marble & Co., the ship’s “steakhouse”, and the Asian themed Sakura. We blew off our Marble res after a long beach day and opted instead for the Emporium where we had a fantastic meal of a dozen fresh raw oysters, grilled lobster tail, and sliced beef lion. Hard to see how it could have been better in Marble, except for the service part (Emporium is self-serve, but all food is behind glass and plated for you). This feast was washed down with more Mercier, this time their Rose Champagne (included). The Champagne, as my wife observed, flows like water on the EJ ships. If you are not familiar with Mercier, it is nice, dry Champagne from Epernay that is not frequently seen in the US. Our meal at Sakura was less enjoyable. We did have a very nice sashimi lunch under the silk cheery blossoms on day, so we anticipated a similarly enjoyable dinner. That was not to be. Our table, by the glass wall, was uncomfortably close to another 2-top seemingly crammed in, but it was the extremely loud, smoky environment, coupled with way-too-fast service (I had to ask the waiter to slow down) that marred our experience here. Worse, the smoky atmosphere was the greasy smoke type that permeated on your skin, hair, and clothing. The rather bland food didn’t help – I had the Lobster Pad Thai, easily the worst Pad Thai I have ever had. I’m not Asian and I make a better Pad Thai than this! After our main, we abruptly left only to be chased down by our waiter and manager. We were offered a seat outside on the adjacent deck for our dessert. This only exasperated us more as we requested another table before our main course and were told there was none available. There were plenty of seats outside, but that option was never presented to us. If you go, skip the Pad Thai and request outside seating. Asian restaurants should be serene, quiet affairs. This was anything but. Rant over, Fil Rouge, the Med Yacht Club, and even the sometimes-busy Emporium all offer a superb dining experience. We’re not Steakhouse fans, so the missed Marble & Co was not a big deal for us. While the ship’s carefully thought-out interior design is overall contemporary and elegant, some of the lounge and lobby seating is curiously low – too low for many elderly folks who may require assistance to get up. If you have ever renovated your home, check out the incredible lighting fixtures throughout the vessel – very high-end. OT suites are a little small for this class of ship and the bathrooms are way too small. Get the ones with a shower only of you are not tub fans. Included wines have received several “meh” votes in reviews. We found otherwise. Yes, there are some clunkers, but if you know your wines, you will be pleased with the delicious Barbera from Italy )perfect with the Osso Bucca), a nice Granache from Spain – both on the red side; while we also enjoyed a Alvarinho and Trentino (Italian Chardonnay) on the white end – both fine with any seafood entrees. Avoid the Jeff Carrell chardonnay from the Languedoc region of France unless you like fully oaked, sweet bombs similar to many inexpensive California Chards. There is an excellent, if not a bit too pricey, wine list for bottle selections. Again, if you have the OBC’s, use them. The entertainment ranged from excellent to sensational in our appraisal. Perhaps the best feature of this new entry into premier cruising is the vibe that EJ attempts to set onboard. Not once, did we hear any of the ubiquitous “party” songs that are played ad-nauseum on other ships. Classical music was few and far between thankfully. In their place we got folks like Doug Cameron, a classically trained contemporary violinist extraordinaire who blends his rich education and ability with the soul of a rock star. A guitar duo, Josh and Raphael, based out of Ireland, were exceptional – particularly when Doug sat in with them for a few rousing performances. The ship was blessed with a fine orchestra comprised of all ace players: keyboard, two wind players, a bassist, an ace guitarist, and the leader, one of the best drummers I ever heard on a cruise ship. This band supported a fine quartet, 2M, 2F – each of whom starred in several performances. The harmonies from this quartet were outstanding! One of the women, Nicole Corris, gave a show-stopping show tune performance on her own and with group on the “reimagined” show – don’t miss it! Nicholas also shines as a solo artist, as did the rest of the ensemble (apologies for not remembering their names – they were all fabulous. This is not a “snooty” atmosphere aboard the EJ1 unlike some other “premium” vessels. It is casual, cool, and elegant in a very inclusive way. The demographic reflected the diversity of age groups and nationalities. We loved it! I would be remiss if I didn’t include the very funny Kyle Marlett and his unique brand of humor and magic (no, not just another ship magician!). Congratulations to Kyle and his lovely fiancé also onboard! Cole and Conor – two excellent vocalists also perform through the vessel. Last but never least for us, was the inimitable Leo Rossi. Leo is a retired veteran Rock tour Manager/Director/Roadie who in his long, distinguished career toured the world managing the tours of the likes of Fleetwood Mac (in their heyday) and the Beach Boys legendary 50th Anniversary tour, among many, many others. Leo’s stories were a can’t miss events, expertly put together with films, photos, and sound of these iconic bands. One night, Leo decided to play records on the open Sky deck! It was a perfect night – near full moon, sky full of stars and planets! Leo set up a turntable on the bar, hooked up to a killer sound system that he rigged up (with help from the awesome onboard tech staff). At 11pm, he played the entire Dark Side of Moon album for those lucky enough, or awake enough, to enjoy. I settled into a comfortable chair like the guy from the old Memorex tape commercials while the sound washed over me. It was magical! Leo’s final show included a homage to his late son, who sadly passed away from cancer. His son was a very talented musician and writer in his own rite. Remember the old Huey Lewis song, The Heart of Rock & Roll? Leo is the beating heart of R & R, a genre that must include heart in order to fully enjoy and understand it. Thank you Leo, you did your son, and family – and all R&Rers – proud! OK, dab the eyes and wrap it up! It was then time to bid farewell to this glorious adventure and disembarkation was totally unlike embarkation. Well organized, on our selected time, and stress-free. Briefly, the ports included Puerta Plata DR, Samana DR, San Juan PR, St, John’s Antigua, and Virgin Gorda. We booked an independent in Puerta Plata, stayed on board in Simana and Puerta Rico (been there several times), went to a resort for a day in Antigua (Ocean Point), and just briefly went ashore in Virgin Gorda. We love sea days the most! The poor embarkation and our flawed meal at Sakura could have easily demoted my rating to four stars, but the overall effort put forth by an outstanding crew of people who really care about your experience, the fabulous design, the incredible entertainment, the heated pools, the dining, all combine to earn Five Stars! We booked another for next year!

EXPLORA DELIVERS AS PROMISED!

This journey was special, we were fortunate to have an outstanding crew who truly try to make your experience one of a kind. We enjoyed meeting Captain Diego Michelozzi and Lazar Brkic, general manager at Explora 1, they lead a top-notch group of people, from the top down. A BIG thank you to Mr. Brkic for making possible a remarkable celebration for us. Our embarkation was quite good with only a minor hiccup with one of the immigration officers, it did get resolved but made for a somewhat stressful beginning of the journey. The facilities on board are first class throughout. The lounges and bars, restaurants and common areas can be enjoyed without ever feeling crowded. The outside whirlpools on deck 12 are delighful and seldom crowded. There is a lot written about cabins and the food that can be experienced on board. The cabins are spacious and ideal for a couple. My cabin was on deck 10 and although I do not mind the ship movement, if you do, you may want to select one of the lower decks and toward the middle of the ship. About the restaurants, I felt that Med Yacht Club was the best (I did not dine at Anthology), I visited at least 3 times and felt that it was above the others. Fil Rouge was also quite good. I only ate once at Sakura and it was good, the variety and quality at Emporium Marketplace makes it a good alternative for breakfast and lunch. The coffee shop was also good and a destination for afternoon coffee and one of their delicious pastries and snacks. We only had breakfast in the cabin on a couple of occasions and the delivery was on time, precise and really good. I have seen a lot written about the entertainment, on the first night, the Astern Lounge was hopping until 2 am and thought to myself "this is not bad at all". However, that was really the only night that we had such experience. I did not mind the nightly entertainment, perhaps it is a bit short but feel that it was ok. We had a change in our itinerary due to the weather in Lisbon and only had a day visit instead of overnight and had an extra day at sea. That was a bit disappointing but understand that safety comes first and agree with that completely. The ports of call were spot on and our visit to Granada from Motril was a highlight of the experience. Tangier, Lisbon, Malaga, Alicante all had things to offer and we enjoyed every minute of it. One thing that may help visitors is that even if you find that the ship's tours may be booked, do not be discouraged. I bought a tour via internet from Viator for La Alhambra in Granada and it was outstanding. We had a private guide for just two people!! I did take advantage of the ship's tour to Granada and from there did everything on my own. Disembarkation was smooth and took just a few minutes, I tried to drag it on and stretch the journey as much as possible. It is not surprising that Cruise Critic has awarded Explora best luxury cruise line for 2024. I believe that award is well deserved and would recommend this cruise line without reservation. I would just like to mention Deisy with guest services, Joel at the Helios Pool & Bar, Vatsal and Suki at Med Yatch Club, Mr. Dibenedectis at the whisky bar. Truly amazing people that made our stay that much better. Thank you to all of them and the team at Explora. I am already planning a return in a not too distant future.