Great Trip-Attention to need for Gluten-Free Meals

What a wonderful cruise! We have been on 5 cruises and this was our favorite. The cabin was spacious with plenty of storage, and the bathroom was on par with any business hotel bath. The ship was beautifully and comfortably appointed. The staff were attentive to the nth degree, and took great pains to ensure that my meals were enjoyable and completely gluten-free. Easiest and most well-organized embarkation and debarkation we have ever experienced. We would absolutely go on another Explora cruise if there is one going where we want to go. Note: Even though we were not able to put ashore at Mykonos, we enjoyed every single day. If you have other clients with special dietary needs, Explora is the cruise line to choose. (Note: I have also had an excellent experience with Uniworld, but they only do river cruises.) We were also very impressed with the measures in place to control any possible outbreak of viral disease: elegant basins IN THE DINING AREA for hand washing before meals, none of the guests can serve themselves – only staff can serve, hand sanitizer stations throughout the ship, staff discretely but frequently cleaning door knobs, elevator buttons and anything that is touched by dozens of hands. We felt very safe and had no concerns about our health while on board.

Not good or great, but EXCEPTIONAL; booked 2 more!

Amazing! Let me start by saying it was my first Explora cruise, and it was so good that I booked TWO more Explora Journeys transatlantics (11/25 & 3/26) within a week of disembarking Explora I. I’m a habitual cruiser and decided to try Explora Journeys after enjoying my first ever MSC Yacht Club cruise in January 2025 on multiple carriers. The MSC World Europa was so pleasant that I decided to try Explora Journeys. If the MSC Yacht Club is what you like, an Explora cruise will blow your mind; it’s so much better (hard to believe, I know) Everything on Explora 1 was exceptional, not great…EXCEPTIONAL.. I booked the starting level room (all suites; no oceanviews or interiors). It was the largest, best equipped, best decorated, best balcony (including impressive outdoor furniture) & best maintained cabin I’ve EVER stayed in; the cabin attendant was unlike any other cabin attendant I’ve had. My room would be made up almost every time I left my room. The cabin was kept in impeccable condition, with sheets changed daily as were their FRETTE (luxurious) towels. Even the shower mat had a no-slip backing; they thought of EVERYTHING. I’m a 25+ year American diplomat so I’ve experienced great service in beautiful locations. I found Explora much better than anything I’ve experiences before. My fear is that Explora is so exceptional (& fairly priced) that once the brand becomes more known, the demand will increase & prices will rise. That’s, in part, why I booked two more 17-day cruises on Explora 1 & 2 and watch for zero solo supplement offeringsuto book a few more. Considering everything is included (either exceptional internet), it’s about the same amount I paid for a regular balcony cabin in 2023 on NCL (Iceland/Greenland). The ship is the perfect size, varied delicious meal options, pleasant entertainment options, impressively kind officers & crew….it was all GREAT. And it starts from the top. GM Maarten Smeets set the right tone on Explora 1. I noticed him within moments of having boarded in Miami for the 17 day transatlantic; leaders stand out. The GM was visible and engaged with guests while on the ship & ship-side at ports. He never appeared hurried or overwhelmed (despite occupying what must be the most stressful job onboard). That in itself is a skill worthy of praise; Maarten’s interpersonal skills are excellent. Maarten is a perfectly-cast Explora brand ambassador: elegant, relaxed, kind, honest, concerned, attentive, friendly, caring, efficient & highly professional & experienced. And along with Maarten were an excellent team of top management; I met & chatted with a few; all equally visible, friendly & engaging. The Explora 1 crew is exceptional: amazing really, like no other. And among the exceptional crew i applaud the crew members that made me feel especially valued & welcomed. In great part because of my experiences with these crew members & Explora 1 senior management, my first Explora cruise turned out to be the best cruise experience I’ve had (and I’ve been on 50+ cruises In multiple cruise lines).

The Best Ship

I am in love with Explora! Embarkation was easy peasy--you are treated to champagne and snacks or could go to the buffet (Emporium) for lunch. I took public transit to the Port of Miami and the Orange Trolley stop is right across from the ship! The suites are absolutely gorgeous--large, and well appointed with fine linens, furniture, etc. The balcony was great. They kept cleaning the glass walls and the exterior of the ship. Everything was perfect. The staff are SOOO friendly and can't do enough for you. The pools are to die for. And the food??? OMG. It was sooooo delicious and plentiful. All the restaurants were great but I preferred Emporium (the buffet). I even tried pickleball--which was fun. I didn't participate in many of the activities and only attended 1 evening show. I kept pinching myself. Was I really on this gorgeous ship?? I highly recommend it. We had 650 people on board. Even without reservations, you could get into the restaurants.

Wonderful Experience

Activities: With multiple sea days on this cruise, the crew provided a wide variety of activities to keep passengers occupied. They had a crew vs passengers cornhole game in the lobby that was as much fun to watch as it was to participate in. They offered "Chef's Kitchen" cooking classes, and a full range of spa services, some of which I was told were open to all guests free of charge. Service: All crew went over and above in providing excellent service in all areas of the ship. Very noticeable on this ship was how visible all senior members of the crew were throughout the journey. Tours of the bridge can be arranged in advance if you want one. Cabins: This cabin was comparable to other high-end cruise lines we have been on, providing a spacious shower with a bench seat. One complaint here was that the grab bar was awkwardly placed - and on sea days it would have been helpful if it had been positioned more conveniently. Bathroom comes with a heated floor, which is nice if you are in bear feet. Cabins are equipped with a new Dyson hair dryer, but it comes neatly tucked in a drawer with a pre-formed compartment - meaning , you have to ease it out then meticulously place the cord and parts back into their proper slots - like placing it back into the box it came in if you want to return it. There was also a vanity stool and lighted mirror in the closet area. Nice, but the stool was very low to the ground and difficult to get up and down. Also, considering how new this ship was, I was surprised to find multiple stains in the cabin (rug, curtains, pillows and sofa). For part of this journey, the ship was not full and it should be a prime time to tackle those interior areas of the ship that need a deeper cleaning. Dining: Most experiences were excellent, including the Emporium (the main buffet dining room). Particularly memorable was the bread station; everyone raved at how good the baguettes were. Included was a pizza station, with fresh pizzas made continuously throughout the dining period. There was also a fresh hand-made pasta section; carving station, burgers, seafood and specialty items. Only place where I would like to see improvement is in their salad bar, with more add-in toppings available. We ate at three of the restaurants aboard - Marble Company and Grill is their 'meat' restaurant. They offer Filet Mignon and Strip Steaks, but no roasted Prime Rib. The Med Yacht Club offered a varied menu and Anthology is a specialty Restaurant with a $140-$200 price tag per person. We had excellent meals at all the restaurants and I am especially grateful. Due to dietary limitations, they were all willing and able to prepare my meals according to my needs. Children's club: Explora does allow children, and there were several on our cruise. They were all well behaved and mostly invisible. There is a separate play area with activities available for them, but we did not investigate it. Entertainment: NIce variety of offerings - musical, dancing, and lectures. Evening shows were a grade above what I had experienced on previous cruise ships, although the acoustics distracted from the overall performances. Embarkation and Disembarkation: Both processes were smoothly run: staggered embarkation times allowed for rapid entry onto the ship. We opted for early disembarkation, due to flight arrangements, and all went well. TIP - After sailing multiple cruises at various times of the year and to both hot and cold locations, I have finally learned that from here on out - REGARDLESS OF WHERE OR WHEN YOU ARE TRAVELING, ALWAYS - ALWAYS - make sure you have warm clothing. It was freezing on the plane, and cold many times onboard, even though we were cruising in the Caribbean. The ship will have its air conditioning on, and many areas of the ship will be cool (restaurants, lounges, and small meeting rooms). Overall, this was a very memorable experience. The ship and crew were spectacular, and we will be cruising with them again soon.