38 Exploring the world in effortless luxury Achille Staiano and Koray Savas of Explora Journeys explain to Rebecca Gibson how boutique ships, personalised services, flexible itineraries and exclusive excursions are helping the brand to redefine the luxury cruise experience The Aponte family, which owns MSC Group, achieved a long-held ambition in July 2023, debuting Explora I, the first boutique ship for its new luxury cruise brand, Explora Journeys. “Our executive chairman, Pierfrancesco Vago, started with a blank piece of paper and a vision of redefining the luxury ocean travel experience,” says Achille Staiano, chief commercial officer of Explora Journeys. “For the family, the true meaning of luxury is experiencing new things and making the very best of the most precious gift any of us has: time. We wanted to bring vibrant and cosmopolitan yet relaxed European luxury to the world’s oceans.” One of the brand’s main goals was to build small ships capable of calling at destinations that cannot be accessed by larger vessels. “However, luxury is not about being small, it’s about being authentic,” says Staiano. “We also wanted ships that were large enough to offer a wide choice of amenities and unrivalled space, but remain intimate, private and exclusive. And we decided early on that our guest profile would not be that of a typical luxury cruise passenger.” Spanning 14 decks, Explora I has more than 2,500 square metres of outdoor public spaces, including three pools, a promenade deck with whirlpools, and poolside dining venues and bars. Other highlights include a 1,000-squaremetre wellness and fitness complex, six restaurants, indoor bars and lounges, a pool with a retractable roof, an art gallery, a casino, a boutique retail space, and 461 expansive ocean-front suites, penthouses and residences, all with floor-to-ceiling windows and private sun terraces. The ship also has one of the highest guest-to-space ratios in the luxury category. “Our ship was built in partnership with some of the world’s foremost superyacht and hospitality designers, and has an abundance of fantastic restaurants, holistic spa and fitness areas, and great spaces for vibrant entertainment,” says Staiano. “It is much more like a floating boutique hotel than a traditional cruise ship. Guests can immerse themselves in cosmopolitan European luxury with generous value, while enjoying the finest comfort and privacy at sea and waking up to a new view every day.” Since its maiden journey from Danish capital Copenhagen, Explora I has carried thousands of travellers to both renowned and lesser-known destinations. It will be joined by a sister, Explora II, in September 2024. “We’ve recorded incredibly high levels of satisfaction from guests who have sailed with us so far,” says Staiano. “Explora II will also offer exceptional service, gourmet dining and outstanding destination options, creating a luxurious and memorable ocean travel experience unlike any other.” Paying attention to every little detail is a key element of Explora Journeys’ luxury promise, particularly onboard the vessels. “We want our guests to be pampered and experience the very best service they could ever imagine, while always feeling like they are in the comfort of their own home,” says Koray Savas, vice president of hotel operations at Explora Journeys. “Our brand is built around the concept of achieving the ‘ocean state of mind’, so we give people time to connect with the ocean, themselves, their travel companions, fellow guests, and the places and communities COVER STORY
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