Explora Journeys have just launched the third vessel in their ultra-luxury fleet, and I had the incredible honour of spending seven nights sailing from Lisbon to Southampton on her second-ever voyage!
Whether you're yet to sail with them or you've experienced EXPLORA I or II, I'm here to give you an insight into what life on board this brand-new ship is really like...
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Pulling up to the port in Lisbon was a moment I'll never forget. Seeing EXPLORA III docked in her regal colours of navy and gold, I thought she looked more like a superyacht than any ship I'd seen before! After a quick, efficient embarkation, we were soon stepping aboard, being greeted warmly by the incredible staff and handed a glass of Champagne.
While we waited for our suite to be ready, we went and sat outside the Astern Lounge, and this moment truly set the tone for the rest of the trip. Although the ship was at capacity and you could feel the buzz of embarkation day, it was so peaceful with a relaxed atmosphere that had you instantly ready to unwind. EXPLORA III is slightly bigger than her earlier counterparts but with the same guest capacity, meaning more space per guest than ever before, and you could definitely feel this wherever you went on board.
Before long, we headed to our Ocean Terrace Suite and met our Suite Host, who gave us a tour of our home for the next seven nights and showed us how everything worked. On arrival, every guest receives a welcome bottle of Champagne and a bottle of wine and a spirit of their choice, which is such an amazing touch! Our Suite was simply stunning, tastefully decorated with calming, muted tones, boasting a balcony with a table and chairs and a day bed, and the comfiest bed I have ever slept in! As well as being a beautiful place to stay, these suites are also extremely practical, with so many little touches that made our stay feel so luxurious, including wireless charging ports by the beds, heated floors in the bathroom and a Dyson hairdryer and steamer in the walk-in wardrobe and vanity area.
If our suite was anything to go by, we had a feeling we were going to be blown away by the rest of the ship, and we certainly weren't disappointed when it came time to explore the different decks. Everywhere you go is so chilled and peaceful, whilst maintaining a feeling of indulgence and sophistication, and with four different pools and twelve bars and lounges to choose from, you never have to worry about finding the perfect spot to sit back and relax.
One of our favourite spaces on board had to be the Atoll Pool, located at the back of Deck 10 and featuring an ample number of sun loungers, including shaded cabanas and overwater daybeds, which are perfect for dipping your feet in and cooling off if you like to sunbathe! We spent many a sunny afternoon here, reading books and making our way through the delicious cocktail menu with the help of the attentive staff, who are always on hand to bring drinks straight to your sunbed and hand out ice cold towels on hot days.
We tried almost every dining venue on board EXPLORA III, and each one was exquisite! The Emporium Marketplace is open for all three meals and offers a buffet-style dining experience, but made better! We ate breakfast here almost every day, as it features so many different stations offering plenty of variety. Everything is plated up for you and served with a smile, whether you're picking from pastries, fresh fruit and cooked options or having pancakes or eggs, however you like them, made fresh in front of you. For lunch, we really enjoyed Shore Club, which is a new concept for this ship, offering a more relaxed poolside dining experience without compromising on the quality and freshness of the food.
The highlight for me, and I'm sure for many others who sail with Explora Journeys, has to be the speciality dining. We hadn't made any reservations before we embarked and were easily able to book tables for the times we wanted once we got on board, and we were so glad we did! You have Marble & Co, which is a refined steakhouse with an open kitchen that serves options to suit everyone and a selection of sumptuous sides. I had the tuna steak with truffle mash and a cauliflower gratin, which was all literally melt-in-the-mouth!
It's a tough choice, but my favourite venue had to be Sakura, an immersive restaurant serving Pan-Asian cuisine in one of the most stunning settings, complete with oriental murals adorning the walls and faux cherry blossom trees hanging overhead. Here, I enjoyed the tempura crab, miso-glazed black cod with teriyaki broccoli, and the chocolate fondant served with a matcha flavoured ice cream.
You will never be short of things to do on board EXPLORA III, whether you get off and explore in port or stay on board and make the most of the ship's amenities. We did a mixture of both and found it to be the perfect balance between discovering new places and soaking up every moment on board.
During the day, there is something for every type of traveller, from padel matches and dance lessons to talks from fascinating guest speakers. One of my favourite things to do on board, and my top tip for anyone sailing with Explora, would be to visit the Ocean Wellness Spa during a morning in port. Access is complimentary for all guests as many times as you like, and we had the whole place to ourselves! With a heated jacuzzi pool, salt room, steam room, sauna and heated marble beds, it's the ultimate space to relax on board.
The evening entertainment is also spectacular, from relaxed live music in several of the bars to nightly shows from special guest performers in the Journeys Lounge. Our favourite evening of the trip had to be one of the musical shows by the onboard entertainment crew, after which we all headed to the Lobby Bar, where their resident DJ had everybody up and dancing!
Overall, my sailing was nothing short of incredible and has set the bar extremely high for any future cruises! The crew were faultless, couldn't do enough for us and really seemed to love what they do, which definitely made our experience. I made some amazing memories during my time on board that will stick with me forever, and I can only hope that one day I'll have the chance to sail with Explora Journeys again...
If my experience has inspired you and you think you may like to embark on a voyage of your own, get in touch with our experienced specialist Cruise Concierge on 0808 274 9244.
