I lived and worked on cruise ships for years, and this is the only cruise line I'd vacation on

I thought I'd never set foot on one again.

After years working as an entertainer aboard ocean liners, I left the career and thought I’d never set foot on another ship again. Cruise ships have always felt a bit like Las Vegas to me—at times, overstimulating and artificial. Other times, they reminded me of floating amusement parks, with water slides, go-kart tracks, rock climbing walls, and other gimmicks. These kinds of cruise ships aren't the kind of vacation I crave now.

But in the decade since I last worked on ships, a lot has changed. New cruise lines have entered the market, and they’re offering a different experience at sea, one that’s uncrowded, relaxing, and easy on the senses. Curious to see if a cruise ship could actually feel like a boutique hotel (my preferred kind of travel: quiet, elegant, and aesthetically pleasing), I boarded the Explora I, for a 7-day cruise through the Caribbean this spring—and Explora Journeys changed my mind about what cruising can be.

What is Explora Journeys?

I didn’t grow up with Explora Journeys as a household name. In fact, no one did. The new-to-market cruise line debuted its first ship in 2023, and by 2028 will have five more vessels in the fleet. The relatively small ships cap their passenger count at just under 1,000. By comparison, the average cruise ship capacity is 3,000 guests, with that passenger number more than doubling to 7,600 for the biggest cruise ship in the world—Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas. 

Aboard an Explora Journeys ship, each guest gets a balcony suite (there are no interior rooms). Explora Journeys began as a passion project of the Italian family behind MSC cruise and shipping. The family wanted to create a cruising experience that they themselves would enjoy sailing—one with European styling, exceptional food, and an attention to detail that often gets lost on mega ships.

Amenities

Food & Drink

When I was living on a cruise ships, I was eating buffet dishes that could best be described as “warm.” Since then, my travel writing career has offered me the opportunity to dine at Michelin-starred establishments and some of Florida’s best restaurants. I know how important quality ingredients are, and how to see through overly doctored dishes. 

I wasn’t expecting to be wowed by cruise food, but onboard the Explora I some of my meals included: house-made pasta made with European flour, fire-flecked pizza pulled from the onboard Italian pizza oven, Balfegó tuna sashimi, escargot, and Prime Rib sourced from the Loire Vallée. For breakfast, pastries crispy croissants served with French butter. And the best part? I never had to sign a check or calculate tips at the end of any meal. Explora is an all-inclusive line, meaning the fare you pay includes unlimited food and drink at the ship’s six different onboard restaurants.

Activities

Cruise ships are often packed with things to do, encouraging you to fill every minute of your schedule. But onboard the Explora I, I found the ship’s activities and cadence encouraged me to slow down.

I started my mornings with a cappuccino made with Illy Italian espresso at the ship’s cafe, then headed up to the pickleball court for a rally with fellow guests and the resident sports coach. Afterward I made my way to the breakfast buffet for a green juice and chia seed breakfast pudding. For the afternoon I packed my tote with a good book and headed to the pool decks. Instead of one large pool with rows of tightly packed plastic loungers facing each other, Explora creates several smaller pool environments throughout the ship that feel more like private clubs than communal water parks. Imagine soft, cushioned loungers and plush French terry towels, space apart so you can’t hear your neighbor’s conversation. 

My favorite design detail was the long infinity whirlpools on each side of the ship. Unlike circular whirlpools where you’re soaking and staring across at strangers, these pools run the length of the ship and overlook the ocean, giving everyone their own personal view of the sea.

Onboard Entertainment

When I wasn’t by the pool, I was trying out the onboard activities, like the exclusive F1 simulation experience. Explora is the only cruise line partnered with F1. As a result, this cruise line will have the only ship docked in Montecarlo’s Port Hercule for the duration of the race this summer. Even if you’re not on the special F1 sailing in June, you can experience what it's like to be in the driver’s seat aboard all the ships. I drove two laps around the famed Montecarlo course while other racing enthusiasts cheered me on from the theatre seats as they watched my car make hairpin turns on the big screen. 

Service

As a former crew member, I know how hard it is to maintain crew morale, energy, and attention to detail. The job of a crew member is one you don’t clock out of for months on end. On large ships where crew members are often stretched, that fatigue can sometimes be felt by passengers. But aboard the Explora I was met with genuine smiles and patient, exacting service—likely a result of a lower crew to guest ratio. Dining room servers frequently waved hello when they saw me about the ship, and remembered my drink order after ordering it the first night.

Great hospitality is hard to fake, and what I could see from the Explora I crew was that the leadership onboard felt supportive. This fosters a healthy crew work environment that is the bedrock of a relaxed, smooth-running cruise ship. This behind-the-scenes leadership is a detail most guests wouldn’t pick up on, but as a former cruise ship crew member I can confidently say it has the greatest impact on the guest experience.

Design

The first thing you notice about the Explora I ship when it's docked in port next to other vessels is its elegant design. A navy blue hull with a gold stripe supports a slender stack of decks, much like a yacht. It’s a stark departure from the boxy white mega-ships that look like floating condo complexes. Its long lines and curves carry throughout the exterior and interior of the ship.Inside, it feels like a contemporary European hotel. Most walls are mirrored, making the halls and lounges feel bigger, bright, and airy; reflecting the oiled teak decks and sparkling waters outside. All rooms aboard Explora ships are suites, and feature comfortable details like soft underbed lighting, full-size chaise loungers on deep set balconies, and a Dyson hair dryer at a dedicated vanity.

At sail away, the open-air decks carry the vibe of a chic French beach club. A resident DJ spins poolside lounge beats accompanied by a saxophone player. In the evening, as the ship comes alive while at sea, guests roam its onboard boutiques including Explore exclusive storefronts, like Rolex and Cartier. I couldn’t help but purchase from the onboard resortwear boutique from a selection of bespoke European brands I knew I wouldn't be able to find back ashore in the US. 

Sustainability

Having worked at sea, I’ve seen firsthand the environmental impact of cruise ships. The cruising industry still has work to do to be carbon neutral, but some cruise lines are holding themselves accountable. Explora is one cruise line leading the way, committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. Its new ships will be powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). Ocean-conscious engineering, such as a six-blade propeller system (where most ships have just three or four) reduces underwater noise. This detail makes Explora ships RINA Dolphin-certified, prioritizing the health of marine life. And then there are the sustainability details onboard you can actually see and feel, like no single-use plastics, at sea or ashore on Explora excursions.

I never thought I’d be thinking of booking a cruise vacation after having lived and worked aboard them for years—but Explora showed me an elegant, relaxing, beautifully designed, and exceptionally delicious side of cruising worth the trip.

Read the original article on Southern Living