40 COVER STORY Onboard hosts deliver personalised services and experiences in dining venues like Marble & Co, Explora I’s European-style steakhouse “ Our hosts are trained to anticipate and respond to the individual needs of every guest” Koray Savas they visit. It really is purposeful and transformational travel.” Explora Journeys’ onshore teams and onboard hosts are integral to delivering the exceptional luxury guest experience, says Savas. “Their dedication and expertise ensure that every aspect of our guests’ journeys is seamless, personalised and memorable, from the moment they begin planning their voyage to long after they disembark.” Onshore teams play a crucial role in pre-journey planning, providing personalised concierge services, assisting guests with travel arrangements, pre-cruise accommodation, itinerary planning and more. Meanwhile, onboard hosts provide a warm welcome from the moment guests step on the ship, says Savas. “Our hosts are trained to anticipate and respond to the individual needs of every guest, whether it’s arranging a private dinner, organising a special celebration, or providing tailored activity recommendations,” he explains. “The food and beverage teams deliver an extraordinary culinary experience characterised by exceptional quality and personalised service, while our spa and wellness teams offer bespoke programmes to help travellers relax and rejuvenate. We also offer expert-led lectures, workshops and cultural performances to enhance understanding and enjoyment of the destinations visited.” Post-cruise, the onshore teams gather feedback and assist with future travel planning. “This ongoing relationship helps us continually refine our services and maintain a strong connection with our customers,” explains Savas. Such feedback also helps Explora Journeys to enhance its itineraries, some of which were designed with the help of Vago. “It’s very important to listen to guests and we did this particularly with the itinerary planning for Explora I,” says Staiano. “Time is precious, so we wanted to make our journeys more accessible. Now, we have shorter journeys starting from seven nights that can be combined into 14- and 21-night sailings without repeating ports. They all use easily accessible turnaround ports.” Designed to offer “ultimate flexibility”, the itineraries include longer port stays with “unconventional” arrival and departure times, allowing people to make the most of destinations. “We want to open up luxury cruising to a new demographic of guests who may never have considered a holiday at sea, including multigenerational families,” says Staiano. Explora Journeys considers several factors when choosing ports for its itineraries, including their cultural and Photo: Explora Journeys
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