Explora Journeys, A Journey of Sunsets Minarets, Sicilian Limoncello & Sleeping Giants

Itinerary: Istanbul to Genoa
Sailing Date: 26 July 2025
Ship: EXPLORA I
Author: Candice van den Bos – Infinity Cruise                                              

Explora Journeys has made a big splash in the luxury cruise space, so I was keen to see how the experience stacked up. Here are the moments that stood out most.

1. My Ocean Terrace Suite – Beautiful and spacious from the moment I walked in. There is a separate living area, a big wardrobe, a great sized bathroom with a proper shower, and a good sized terrace. It felt like a true home away from home.

2. The Hosts – Explora boasts a 1.25 to 1 guest to host ratio, and you feel it. The service was warm, attentive and genuinely personal.

3. Outstanding Dining, Especially Sakura – Every restaurant onboard delivered on food, but Sakura, the Japanese restaurant, was by far my favourite. Open for both lunch and dinner, it served amazing fresh sushi and sashimi. The black sesame gelato was nutty and delicious, and I would happily go back for it alone.

4. Truly All Inclusive Beverages – A bottle of champagne waits on arrival, along with a bottle of your choice of spirit and wine in your suite, and the mini fridge is restocked. We did not even open them and left them behind, because we could order any drink at any venue throughout the ship.

5. Journey Lounge – This was the venue I kept coming back to, with 270 degree views of the ocean or the port, depending on where we were. Board games were on hand, high tea was a treat, and there was live music on occasion. When you were ready for a cheeky cocktail, the full bar was right there. By day two the bartender knew my usual order, which may or may not be a good thing.

6. The Terrace Day Bed – Curling up with a book on the day bed of my Ocean Terrace Suite, looking out at the view, was pure bliss.

7. Room Service Breakfast – I highly recommend doing this at least once. Pre-order the night before, then wake up to fresh orange juice, a hot coffee and amazing pastries, fresh fruit or eggs, whatever takes your fancy. It is another great excuse to enjoy your terrace.

8. Crema Cafe – My go-to for an afternoon coffee and a sweet treat. Settle in with a book inside, or grab a spot outside in the sun.

9. Pompeii Shore Excursion – In Naples I booked a shore excursion to Pompeii to see the ancient city buried in time, and it was a great day out. The air-conditioned bus was a welcome relief in the middle of summer, and we spent the day walking around the famous archaeological site. My tip is to book excursions when there is a distance to travel. A couple of other excursions were delayed by traffic that day, and the ship held its departure for guests on Explora Journeys’ guided excursions.

10. Exploring Palermo on Our Own – In Palermo we chose to do our own thing, and it paid off. This is a world class food destination with vibrant street markets, and among other things I had to try an arancina, the iconic round, deep-fried rice ball. The cannoli was delicious too.