We cruised on Explora I back in February to the Caribbean from Barbados to Miami and had an amazing experience.
This was the first time we had both cruised with a 6 star company so we weren’t sure what to expect.
The ship itself is fabulous, the attention to detail in every aspect is incredible, very modern and luxurious it feels very much like a luxury resort.
The staff were all very friendly and attentive, nothing was too much and they were always there to offer their recommendations and guidance, the bar staff in particular went the extra mile to make your day or evening enjoyable.
The food options on board are fantastic, there are 4 what you would call main dining venues, The Med Yacht Club which is a relaxed Mediterranean theme and Fil Rouge which is French, both are open dining meaning you have the flexibility to go whenever suits you.
Then there is the Steak House Marble and Co Grill and the Japanese restaurant Sakura, both of there required prior bookings but you could book these pre-cruise or on board, Sakura was also open for lunch where you could sit inside or outside at the Astern Pool.
The Emporium Marketplace is Explora’s buffet restaurant although it doesn’t feel at all like a buffet, all the tables are laid out with linen napkins and glasses ready for your choice of drink, and the food is unbelievable, the choice is huge and everything is made fresh to order right in front of you, the fresh pasta station was a personal favorite of ours.
The outside areas and pools were amazing, all felt spacious and un-crowded and the day beds are especially comfy! Our favorite place in the day was definitely the Astern Pool, the view from the back of the ship across the infinity pool and out to sea was beautiful, the Atoll Pool and Bar higher up at the back of deck 10 was also a great spot, we enjoyed sitting at this bar in the evenings before our meal.
We have done the Caribbean quiet a few times before and we had visited a lot of the ports before so this cruise was to experience the ship and Explora Journeys more than the destination however, I do think the ships perfectly suit sailing in the Caribbean, they are designed to make the most of the views you get from wherever you are in the world.
We were so impressed with Explora that we booked another one to sail in November 2025 as soon as we got back and we already cant wait!
