The Unexpected Joys of Luxury Family Travel

Of all the places one might imagine offers delicious surrender to the feeling of escape that comes with travel, a luxury ocean journey is a likely destination. When that destination is one of Explora Journeys’ stunning ships, that sense of escape is the essence of the experience. Explora Journeys encourages its guests to discover their ‘Ocean State of Mind,’ a sense of possibility and relaxation felt whilst gazing out at the mysterious, endless sea.

Spaces are designed to maximise one’s feeling of proximity to the water. Every suite is oceanfront, with a private, comfortable terrace. The spaces and service are reminiscent of those enjoyed at an exquisite boutique hotel, rather than a cruise, which invites guests to let go and be looked after.

For parents with children, the idea of being looked after can be irresistible. A couple might even think only of travelling without their children, which can be glorious. But an Explora Journeys holiday with children might also be the perfect nexus of relaxation, discovery, transformation and rest – for all members of the family.

Explora Journeys has mastered the art of blending sophisticated elegance with family-friendly experiences. Its intimate kids’ programme, Nautilus Club, is a well-kept secret that’s transforming the way families think about luxury travel. Your clients with younger travelling companions will thrill at the dedicated space for kids ages 6-17, Nautilus Club, where the decor is reminiscent of being nestled into a lush and spacious treehouse.

At Nautilus Club, open from 9 am until midnight every day, kids can enjoy foosball and a multi-game table, a pool table crafted in Italy by MBM Biliardi, a modern jukebox tablet connected to online music streaming platforms, a big selection of board games and a digital library with books of different genres, in different languages. Nautilus Club offers the latest generation of video games and VR consoles, such as PlayStation 5 and PlayStation VR2, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, iPads and Oculus Pro.

Certified expert hosts lead fun, enriching activities like art, tech tournaments, sport sessions, sustainability projects and more. They take kids out into the ship for gelato, a game of pickleball, or dinner. At night, the Conservatory Pool transforms into a silent movie experience for kids, who nestle into comfortable lounge chairs, popcorn in hand (and mouth), wearing headphones to hear the movie being shown on the large screen. Children have a sense of freedom whilst the expert hosts looking after them see to both their safety and their sense of wonder. New friendships emerge, often across cultures and languages. Hosts leading activities both in the Nautilus Club space and into the ship keep groups intentionally small, ensuring personalised attention and an awareness of children’s appreciation for familiarity.

From one day to the next, through Nautilus Club and whilst enjoying restaurants and a luxurious Home at Sea, your clients’ children discover their Ocean State of Mind.

All this, whilst parents are savouring their own rich experiences, rediscovering their own sense of joy. Whether enjoying treatments and a hydrotherapy circuit offered by Ocean Wellness to the Technogym equipment in the Fitness Centre; tuning in to free-flowing, small-venue entertainment and enrichment; mastering new techniques at Chef’s Kitchen; enjoying daily afternoon tea with an unparalleled view; sipping a new favourite cocktail at the adults-only Helios Pool & Bar; or simply gazing at the sea and drifting into a restorative nap, parents are free to escape in any way they like.

Families who appreciate relaxed luxury in a vibrant cosmopolitan atmosphere, and who most enjoy travel experiences where everyone has the freedom to relax in the way that suits them and also the opportunity to feel connected to one another, are right at home on an Explora Journeys holiday.

With suites that interconnect, families can stay together whilst also enjoying ample space and privacy. EXPLORA I and EXPLORA II each offer 80 connected suites available as Ocean Suites, Ocean Penthouses and Ocean Residences. The range of suite combinations gives your clients numerous ways to be deeply comfortable. Young guests can also enjoy special amenities like child-size robes.

Culinary discoveries on Explora Journeys are a delight for families. At Emporium Marketplace, an exceptional array of offerings at breakfast, lunch and dinner gives everyone the chance to select from an irresistible and varied lineup of fresh housemade dishes inspired by global tastes. Immersive dining experiences such as Sakura’s Pan-Asian cuisine, Fil Rouge’s French-inspired international cuisine, Marble & Co. Grill’s redefined European steakhouse experience, are appealing to families for their artistry, which blends wholesome ingredients and exceptional technique.

On land, a series of Destination Experiences will immerse your clients in fun and discovery through activities such as a day at a farm, an archaeological exploration or a whale-watching adventure.

Anyone, at any age, can discover their Ocean State of Mind – the feeling that anything is possible, that something wonderful awaits. For families with children where everyone can be uplifted by joy, relaxation, time to oneself and sensorial discoveries, Explora Journeys is ideal.

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 personalised 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.