Explora I held a press cruise from Italy to Monaco — Jerusalem Post
In Italy, Explora Journeys' Explora I liner conducted a three-day press cruise from Civitavecchia near Rome to Porto Santo Stefano and Monaco. Explora Journeys is the luxury cruise brand of MSC Group, The Jerusalem Post reports. After disembarking in Monaco, the trip participants visited Monte Carlo, Èze and Saint-Paul-de-Vence in France, and the journey concluded in Nice.
The vessel and route
Explora I entered service in 2023. The vessel has 461 sea-view suites with private terraces and can accommodate up to 900 guests. During the described voyage, there were about 850 guests and 640 crew members on board.
The liner has four pools — three outdoor and one indoor with a retractable glass roof — hot tubs, a wellness area of more than 700 square meters, gym and fitness spaces, a casino, a culinary school, an art gallery, boutiques, six main restaurants, and 12 bars and lounges.
In Porto Santo Stefano on the Tuscan coast, passengers could reach the town by tender boats. Explora I's captain is 39-year-old Italian Francesco Russo from Sorrento, who has about 20 years of experience at sea. According to him, a captain needs the crew's trust and team motivation.
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Restaurants, spa and cost
Among the dining venues on board, the publication mentions Emporium Marketplace, the pan-Asian Sakura, Med Yacht Club, and the Marble & Co. Grill steakhouse. The wellness area includes a Finnish sauna, steam room, salt room, hydrotherapy pool, heated marble loungers, and treatment rooms.
Sports facilities include Technogym equipment, fitness and Pilates studios, and an outdoor running track around the vessel: four laps equal one kilometer. All accommodations on Explora I are suites: the smallest start at 35 square meters, while Ocean Penthouses range from 43 to 68 square meters.
According to the publication, Explora Journeys cruises cost approximately $3,500 to $5,500 per person, depending on the itinerary and sailing date. The price includes most meals, premium alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, a minibar, 24-hour in-suite service, Wi-Fi, gratuities, access to the thermal spa area, and fitness programs.
