“We have guests who simply don’t want to leave us. We currently have one guest with 18 future Journeys booked. I believe we can officially call that an addiction,” quips Anna Nash.
Following the recent launch of Explora III, the president of Explora Journeys describes what she considers an “ocean state of mind”. For Nash, luxury at sea means the freedom to spend time exactly as one wishes, with space to breathe, disconnect, and see things differently.
Founded in 2021 as the luxury cruise division of Mediterranean Shipping Company, the Geneva-based line has three ships—Explora I, II, and III—in service, with six luxury ocean ships planned by 2028. Explora III will sail Northern Europe, the Baltic Sea, the Norwegian fjords, Iceland, and Greenland before crossing the Atlantic to Canada and New England, after its maiden journey from Barcelona to Lisbon.
Rooted in more than 300 years of maritime heritage through the Aponte-Vago family, the cruise line has always looked forward, blending European design with a personal approach to the guest experience.
Luxury travellers’ expectations are evolving, too. According to Nash, guests increasingly want an experience that has been designed around them, rather than having to adapt to it.
“At Explora Journeys, we have deliberately created a very generous environment, with around 19 sqm of public space per guest, which is significantly more than typical in ocean travel. We also maintain nearly a one-to-one guest-to-host ratio, allowing our hosts to be attentive and intuitive without the experience ever feeling intrusive,” she explains.
The experiences aboard Explora III embody this philosophy. The ship introduces The Chef’s Table by Explora Journeys, a new dining concept where guests collaborate with the culinary team to shape their own evening—from the menu and wine pairings to the inspiration behind the meal. It could be built around a favourite flavour, a cherished travel memory, or ingredients discovered along the Journey, ensuring no two experiences are alike.
For wine lovers, The Cellar by Explora Journeys offers the most extensive wine collection at sea. Beyond classics like Petrus and Screaming Eagle, the collection highlights lesser-known wine regions—from Lebanon, England, Hungary, and Romania to Japan, and China—guided by the ship’s cellar masters.
Another new addition is Shore Club on 11 at The Conservatory, which delivers a relaxed, Mediterranean-inspired poolside experience with made-to-order cuisine, artisanal gelato, wellness-focused options, and a playful beverage programme.
For the first time, the spa, fitness centre, and fitness studio unite into one harmonious space on Deck 5, enabling movement and restoration to flow naturally together. “It is about giving guests choice in how they look after themselves. They can move, train, restore, or simply pause,” Nash notes.
The ship also debuts the Sava Sound Pod, an immersive sound and vibration experience designed to promote relaxation and mental clarity. Beyond wellness, guests can browse boutiques featuring renowned names such as Rolex, Chopard, and Cartier, with a curated selection of fine jewellery and timepieces available throughout the journey.
Looking ahead, Nash says Asia will play an increasingly important role to Explora Journeys’ future, not only as a new destination for the fleet but as a key element of its long-term global growth strategy. “The region’s extraordinary cultural diversity, natural beauty, and depth of experiences align naturally with our philosophy of slower, more meaningful exploration,” she concludes.
