Inspired by the Sea: Announcing New Destinations on EXPLORA II, Sublimely Suited to Seeking One’s Ocean State of Mind

Have you ever noticed, while gazing at the sea, that even during the calmest moments, the water is constantly in motion. Water is never perfectly still, with currents, waves and tides constantly interplaying with one another, resulting in gently lapping shorelines or swirling eddies. In fact, the Explora Journeys logo itself subtly represents the curves and movement of the sea and waves.

Observing this constant state of motion can be mesmerising – and it can also inspire us to consider how we must shape and reshape, evolving as we must in order to rise, or to ebb, or to pull powerfully toward the horizon. 

Just as you are always working to evolve and grow your business, so, too, are we, which is why we are so thrilled to announce journeys for EXPLORA II – beginning in 2024 – to follow our flagship, EXPLORA I, which will begin sailing in 2023.

The same thoughtfulness and precision in curating experiences onboard and ashore that nurture travellers’ sense of wonder and transformation will be tangible on both EXPLORA I and EXPLORA II – namely, the emphasis on the deeply valued attributes of space, choice, privacy, design and destination.

Both ships will offer an unprecedented guest-to-host ratio of 1.25 to 1. Service is intuitive and highly inclusive, allowing guests to relax into their Ocean State of Mind knowing that everything is taken care of.

Both EXPLORA I and EXPLORA II feature 461 Homes at Sea, each with private terraces that are among the largest in the category, large floor-to-ceiling windows and elegant interiors. And from the moment guests arrive, they can relax into their comfortable homes at sea – to start, they’ll enjoy having their luggage delivered and a chilled bottle of champagne waiting as they undertake their ocean journey – and the authentic, cultured and intuitive service continues in every facet of their experience.

Both ships will offer multiple distinctive culinary experiences – inspired by all corners of the globe – featuring fresh, locally sourced ingredients, artfully presented in stunning spaces. There will also be numerous thoughtfully curated indoor and outdoor lounges with curated entertainment and intimate performances. EXPLORA I and EXPLORA II will each hold three outdoor pools, including one only for adults, and one indoor pool with a retractable glass roof – not to mention poolside cabanas and dining options.

Well-being will be a focus for guests on both ships as our Ocean Wellness program aims to promote personal journeys of inner discovery and rejuvenation, not only through curated experiences and the presence of extensive fitness equipment and spa services, but also through the oceans’ calming and revitalising influence.

And, ever-present on both ships is our inherent respect for the seas and oceans that sustain us – leading to the use of the latest environmental-supporting technologies including hybrid-ready energy solutions, an innovative hull design, RINA DOLPHIN certification for reduced underwater noise, high-efficiency and energy-saving appliances, high-standard waste management techniques, and no single-use plastics onboard or ashore, among other practises.

Yet, for all their beautiful similarities, EXPLORA I and EXPLORA II will differ in one deeply satisfying area: their paths through the world.

When EXPLORA I debuts in 2023, she will traverse the world through a breathtaking Inaugural Journeys Collection. With sailings between seven and over 44 nights long, the Inaugural Journeys Collection covers Northern Europe, Iceland and Greenland, USA and Canada, the Caribbean, South America, Pacific Coast, Hawai’i and Alaska.

Then, with EXPLORA II, we will add even greater breadth to the plethora of destinations to which we will travel. With great intention, all the destinations we visit with EXPLORA II are new to our brand. Between August 2024 and April 2025, guests on EXPLORA II will visit the Mediterranean, the Arabian Peninsula, India, the Indian Ocean and Africa.

These destinations and the way we visit them are designed with the mantra of traveling slower and deeper, with ample time at sea, unconventional arrival and departure times and overnights in port. This offers the perfect blend of renowned destinations and marquee ports, with lesser travelled “off the beaten path” destinations – fully celebrating discovery and the joy of seeing the world from a new and original point of view. Our journeys will inspire and excite our discerning travellers, leaving them feeling exhilarated and not exhausted.

Truly, when our guests – curious, cosmopolitan travellers who long to connect with themselves, with their travel companions and with the world itself – travel with Explora Journeys, the possibilities for personal enrichment and transformation are endless.

And for travel advisors, our commitment remains more central than ever, to ensuring a mutually joyful way of doing business, for your success and the continued growth of your business is deeply important to us.

That’s why we cherish sharing knowledge and practising the art of listening. We know that just as luxury is personal, so, too, is the cultivation of each advisor’s business, which is why we offer a robust slate of industry-first policies such By Appointment + Service, which ensures deep support for closing the sale as advisors and their clients can join a pre-scheduled appointment with one of our expert ambassadors.

As well, we offer unprecedented support through an inaugural commission programme of up to 18%, commission on all add-ons (pre-booked destination experiences, pre- and post-journey land experiences, transfers); no NCFs, our Journey Together/+ groups programme with significant additional earning opportunities, and the ever-more-powerful knowledge and engagement hub called the Explora Travel Advisor Centre.

Your forward motion drives us, and the constant buzz of energy and around what we are building – together – is powerful.

As Albert Einstein said, “Nothing happens until something moves…everything is connected.”

From The Sponsor

Explora Journeys is set apart through five central elements: space, choice, design, destination experiences – and an unwavering commitment to the travel advisor community. In fact, travel advisors can begin enjoying our industry-first rolling commission programme today.

To join us, register in the Explora Travel Advisor Centre. There, you’ll find our industry-leading policies for advisors and exclusive benefits for your clients, including a “Flexible Journeys” programme that promotes peace of mind when booking travel. You can access robust learning modules in our bespoke Knowledge Suite, to help you tell the Explora Journeys story and generate your own go-to-market strategy. You will gain access to a dazzling library of digital and print assets to help you market Explora Journeys; a booking portal that makes it easy to match clients to their perfect transformative holidays; the latest Explora Journeys news; and a personalized reporting dashboard – all designed to bring you and your clients closer to an Ocean State of Mind.

We invite you to enjoy a seamless booking experience, whether online, with your By Appointment + Service, or by calling an Ambassador at 1.833.697.8348.

We delight in welcoming you into the Explora Journeys travel advisor community.