EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: NYC to Quebec City in Style! TMR Canada Unpacks EXPLORA III With Patricia Di Benedetto

The EXPLORA III isn’t your typical cruise ship.

It’s more like a five-star floating wellness retreat, where space is abundant, the Champagne flows and stress simply doesn’t exist.

That’s the impression Travel Market Report Canada came away with after completing a scenic October voyage aboard Explora Journeys’ newest luxury ship, sailing from New York City to Quebec City along a coastline bursting with fall colours.

Following the voyage, Patricia Di Benedetto, director of sales, Canada at Explora Journeys, joined TMR Canada on board in Quebec City for a video interview about the ship’s standout features and how travel advisors can introduce luxury-minded clients to this “Ocean State of Mind” brand.

Bigger ship, more space

There’s plenty to talk about.

Debuting this summer and making her maiden call in New York City in October, EXPLORA III is the third ship in Explora Journeys’ growing fleet.

At 879 feet long, she’s approximately 63 feet longer than her predecessors, yet accommodates just 922 guests (although, once on board, it feels far more intimate than that number suggests).

The result? More space to stretch out, unwind and escape the crowds (not that crowds were ever a concern on Explora!)

“We extended a lot of the popular spaces,” Di Benedetto said, highlighting the expanded, all-season, daybed-filled, glass-domed (and heated) Conservatory Pool, a particularly attractive feature as EXPLORA III prepares to sail Alaska next summer before heading to Asia.

Other enhancements include a glam redesigned lobby bar, an extended running track, The Cellar wine-tasting venue and Shore Club on 11, a casual Mediterranean-inspired dining spot near the indoor pool.

There are also multiple outdoor pools and bubbling jacuzzis, wellness facilities and inviting spaces where doing absolutely nothing kinda feels like an accomplishment.

And with an all-inclusive experience that includes specialty dining every night (from the European-style steakhouse Marble & Co. Grill to the Mediterranean Med Yacht Club to pan-Asian Sakura and more), paired with three-steps-ahead-of-everything service and super-spacious staterooms (“homes at sea”), it’s easy to slip into a relaxed rhythm, far removed from the usual cruise ship hustle and bustle.

Extraordinary places, closer to home

The destinations were just as memorable as the ship.

Our itinerary included New York City (where we enjoyed a pre-cruise stay at the historic Waldorf Astoria); Portland, Maine; Saint John, New Brunswick; the Magdalen Islands; Havre-Saint-Pierre; Baie-Comeau, and Quebec City.

Among the highlights were Quebec’s dreamy Magdalen Islands, a scenic archipelago in the Gulf of St. Lawrence known for dramatic red sandstone cliffs, windswept landscapes and picturesque coastal communities.

Then came Havre-Saint-Pierre, a gateway to Quarry Island in Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, where spectacular limestone formations, sculpted by natural forces over thousands of years, create an almost otherworldly landscape.

For Di Benedetto, these less-travelled destinations, ideally suited to smaller ships, are central to Explora Journeys’ appeal, especially as travellers increasingly seek cooler climates, uncrowded settings and meaningful discoveries closer to home.

“You can come home and tell the story about somewhere you got to see that your friends haven’t. There’s some bragging rights there,” she said.

How advisors can sell the experience

Di Benedetto also offered practical advice for travel advisors wondering which clients might be ready for Explora Journeys.

Start by listening, she explained. When clients return from any vacation, pay attention to the things they didn’t like, whether that’s lineups, crowded breakfast buffets, slow service or feeling overwhelmed.

Because you’re not going to find those things on an Explora ship.

“They’re already telling you that they’re ready,” she said.

Another natural fit? Clients accustomed to five-star land resorts who appreciate attentive service, exceptional dining, wellness and generous personal space, but may never have considered an ocean voyage.

Six ships by 2028

EXPLORA III also marks the halfway point in Explora Journeys’ ambitious plan to introduce six ships by 2028.

“As the third ship in our growing fleet, she builds on the strong foundation established by EXPLORA I and II while introducing thoughtful enhancements informed by guest and partner feedback and our commitment to continuous innovation,” said Explora Journeys’ Chris Austin, president of luxury travel partnerships, in a statement to Travel Market Report Canada.

“She further elevates the guest experience while remaining true to the spacious design, intuitive service and immersive experiences that define our brand and help guests slow down, reconnect and embrace the Ocean State of Mind.”

“More than anything, EXPLORA III reinforces our vision of creating an ultra-elegant travel experience that resonates with both seasoned cruisers and travellers who may be discovering ocean travel for the first time.”

TMR Canada had its cameras rolling throughout our East Coast voyage, capturing all the glamour, destinations and details that make EXPLORA III shine.

Watch our full interview with Patricia Di Benedetto above for an insider look at EXPLORA III, tips on matching the right clients with Explora and a sneak peek at what’s next for this ultra-luxury brand.