THE OCEAN STATE OF MIND:

The MSC Group Reveals New Luxury Cruise Brand, Explora Journeys, Created for

the Next Generation of Discerning Luxury Travellers

 

Watch the Brand Reveal Video at ExploraJourneys.com

 

 

London, United Kingdom - 10 June 2021 - The MSC Group today announced the company’s entry into the luxury cruise market with the launch of a new brand created for the next generation of discerning luxury travellers: Explora Journeys. Built by Fincantieri, the first of four luxury ships will set sail in 2023, with the remaining ships ready in 2024, 2025 and 2026. Each will utilise the latest in cutting-edge maritime technology to provide journeys of discovery through destinations on and off the beaten path. Guests will be hosted on a ship like no other, with the highest level of service and amenities.

 

“Building a luxury brand that will redefine the cruise experience and create a category of its own has been a long-held vision of mine and my family,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Group’s cruise business and broader passenger division. “Inspired by our personal travel wishes, Explora Journeys will be an ocean escape like no other, allowing guests to relax, make memories, and cherish the time at sea with their loved ones. After all, time is the ultimate luxury.”

 

Designed in partnership with the world’s foremost superyacht and luxury hospitality designers, the innovative ship will seamlessly blend elegant Swiss precision with modern European craftsmanship. With 461 oceanfront suites and residences, guests will enjoy striking views at sea and in port from their floor to ceiling windows and personal private terrace. Suites will start at 35 square metres which is among the most spacious for the category in the industry.

 

Fourteen decks will provide ample indoor public space, maximising guest choice and seclusion. Generous outdoor decks will boast more than 2,500 square metres overlooking the sea, with 64 private cabanas across 3 outdoor pools. A fourth pool, with a retractable glass roof, will allow swimming and poolside relaxation in any weather. Combined with various indoor and outdoor whirlpool baths on the ship’s promenade deck, the ship was designed with water as a focal point to put guests in an ocean state of mind.

 

“Explora Journeys was designed for guests who want to stay longer, leave later, and travel deeper,” said Michael Ungerer, CEO of Explora Journeys. “Customer centricity is at the core of everything we do. We’ve commissioned research, organised focus groups, and hosted roundtable discussions with global specialists in luxury to design the perfect ship for our guests. Explora Journeys will bring a new perspective to the travel industry, reinventing the classic cruise experience for the next generation of luxury travellers.”

 

With the perfect blend of intimate and vibrant spaces, a guest to crew ratio of 1.25 to 1 ensures anticipatory service at every turn. Tailored to suit personal preferences, flexible dining times at nine distinct restaurants will provide unrivalled variety at sea. Each venue will celebrate global culinary talents, with a focus on wholesome ingredients sustainably sourced from local partners. To make sure guests are spoilt for choice, several indoor and outdoor bars and lounges will also be available. Relaxation begins the moment a guest steps aboard, not having to reach for their wallet for any additional costs.

Personalisation continues in wellness with a spacious indoor/ outdoor spa and fitness area on board. From treatment rooms to state-of-the-art fitness equipment, group workout classes to personal training appointments, tailor-made programmes make staying well while on holiday easy and enjoyable. Bespoke wellness experiences in each destination will make relaxation and rejuvenation easily accessible onboard and ashore.

 

Guided By The Sea

In partnership with Fincantieri, Explora Journeys is building ships for tomorrow, utilising the latest in environmental-supporting technologies, while being ready to adapt to alternative energy solutions as they become available. The design incorporates provision for battery storage allowing future hybrid power generation, as well as the latest selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology, enabling a reduction of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 90%. Built with ship-to-shore power capabilities to avoid CO2 emissions while at berth and powered by marine gas oil, all four ships will be RINA DOLPHIN certified for reduced underwater noise. Single-use plastics will not be used onboard the ship, nor will they be offered during land-based experiences, as Explora Journeys is focused on leaving a positive impression on the places and people visited.

 

“The MSC Family knows the sea like few others, and with that knowledge comes passion, love and most of all, a deep respect,” continued Pierfrancesco Vago. “Our ships will utilise state of the art technology to ensure we are leading the movement towards a more sustainable future. Together with our partners, we’re currently developing ground-breaking technologies that will elevate the status quo, not just for this generation but also beyond.”

 

With journeys starting at 7 nights, a best-in-class guest experience will ensure relaxed mornings and exciting evenings. Non-conventional arrival and departure times combined with overnight stays will allow Explora Journeys to offer guests exclusive access to once in a lifetime experiences. With ships that travel far north and south of the equator, itineraries in the inaugural collection will offer the ideal blend of celebrated destinations such as Saint Tropez, Bordeaux and Reykjavik, and hidden gems such as Kastellorizo, Bozcaada and the Lofoten Islands. Explora Journeys will bring guests to lesser-travelled harbours to enjoy a more authentic experience and a slower pace of travel.

 

A Symbolic Emblem

Inspired by the mandala, the Explora Journeys logo was designed by Alexa Aponte-Vago, CFO of the MSC Group, daughter of founder Gianluigi Aponte and wife of Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago. With roots in spirituality, the pattern represents a journey of personal discovery and fulfilment. Illustrations of the lotus flower symbolise purity of body, speech, and mind, while a nod to the fleur-de-lis represents humility and a connection to European heritage. A sophisticated typeface alludes to the subtle curves of the sea.

 

Building a Ship Like No Other

This morning, Explora Journeys hosted a steel cutting ceremony at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. A long held maritime tradition, this moment celebrates the commencement of the building process for the first ship from Explora Journeys, Explora I, which is scheduled to set sail in 2023. Mr. Vago and Mr. Ungerer were both in attendance, alongside representatives from Fincantieri’s management team.

 

 

Bookings for the 2023 Inaugural Collection will open in Autumn 2021. To learn more about Explora Journeys, please visit ExploraJourneys.com, contact your travel advisor, or join the conversation @ExploraJourneys.

Princess Cruises unveils themed cruises for this summer 

Princess Cruises has announced two of its Seacations this summer will be themed. The ‘Mind, Body and Soul’ and ‘Culinary Stars’ themed cruises will be hosted by Radio Times TV and film critic Andrew Collins, and will feature a star line-up of celebrity speakers. 
MedallionClass ships Regal Princess and Sky Princess will offer a series of UK-only ‘Seacations’ between July and September this year, sailing roundtrip from Southampton. 
Details on the themed cruises, which will take place on short scenic voyages that depart over the weekend, are as follows:- 

‘Culinary Stars’ cruise 
Three-night Seacation, departing 10 September, 2021 on Sky Princess. 
Culinary experts will share their tricks of the trade during this foodie-themed cruise. Guests will hear from John Torode, a TV presenter, judge and celebrity chef, and Michel Roux Jr., chef-patron at London’s two Michelin-starred restaurant Le Gavroche and presenter for BBC’s Saturday Kitchen. Joining the line-up will be star of series 11 of Channel 4’s The Great British Bake Off, Lottie Bedlow. 

‘Mind, Body and Soul’ cruise 
Three-night Seacation, departing 21 August, 2021 on Regal Princess. 
Focussed on mindfulness and self-care, this cruise will feature a number of wellness talks and events. Guest speakers include NHS clinician and TV doctor Dr. Ranj; professional quizzer from ITV’s The Chase Jenny Ryan; and The Reverend Kate Bottley, known for her time on Gogglebox and Songs of Praise, as well as co-hosting BBC Radio 2’s Good Morning Sunday. 

“Guests can experience a cruise like no other with our star-studded themed cruises, which offer a unique weekend away this summer.” Tony Roberts, vice president Princess Cruises UK & Europe, said. “Our Mind, Body and Soul cruise offers guests the chance to nurture their well-being, while foodie fans can learn the inside tips and tricks on becoming a culinary master on our Culinary Stars voyage.” 
Roberts continued: “We are excited to welcome a host of headline speakers onboard Regal Princess and Sky Princess for these themed cruises, and look forward to hearing them share their personal experiences and expert knowledge with our guests.” 
All-inclusive fares for a balcony stateroom on Princess Cruises’ three-night Seacations start from £389pp. Fares include premium drinks, unlimited Wi-Fi, crew incentive and the cost of any COVID-19 testing which may be required at the time of travel. 
Princess has also expanded its ‘Book with Confidence’ policy, which now allows guests the flexibility to change their holiday plans 30 days before the day of departure, receiving cancellation fees as a future cruise credit. This flexible booking option is available for any cruise bookings made up to June 30, 2021, on voyages departing up to December 31, 2021. 
Princess Cruises' ‘Summer Seacations’ can be booked through a professional travel agent, by calling 0344 338 8663 or by visiting princess.com. Available to UK and CTA* resident COVID-19 vaccinated** guests only.

20^th May 2021, a momentous day for the Cruise Industry as the newest Flagship of MSC Cruises, MSC VIRTUOSA, was set to sail, not only on her Maiden Voyage, but the first proper sailing after 15 months suspension due to the covid pandemic.

MSC Cruises have made the decision to welcome vaccinated and non-vaccinated passengers onboard enabling everyone to sail, including children. The stipulation is that within 72 hours before departure you will need to take either a PCR test or a lateral flow test before you can enter the terminal building, keeping all staff and fellow passengers in the building as safe as possible.

On arrival at the port terminal, we had to queue for a short time before we could enter the lobby area. Typical Spring weather meant it was a little wet and cold, but happy faces everywhere, as we were back cruising.

Once we entered in the lobby, we were greeted by a bank of staff, sat at desks, awaiting our arrival.  They were sat, two to a desk, tasked with scrutinising everyone’s insurance documents as they had to check that you were insured for Covid Cover, failure to prove this could mean you were refused boarding. I had used a marker pen to highlight the relevant pages, which I’m so glad I did as the team checking documents were struggling as so many different policies to read through. At this point also we had to show either a record of vaccination or a negative test result. That all completed, we could hand over our suitcases and move through to security.

Security was just as normal, but with added social distancing in place. 

With security and x-ray all complete we moved into the main check in area.  We had to follow the route through to have our main covid test performed. There were approximately 10 booths with clinically dressed staff in white overalls, we each had to sit in a private booth and have a nasal swab test and it only took a matter of seconds, nothing to be anxious about. Each test takes approximately 20 minutes to process. We were handed a numbered card and told to proceed to a check-in desk, where we went through the normal process of having our picture taken, credit card registered and handed our cruise cards – almost there!! We were invited to take a seat, complimentary soft drinks available, Yacht Club members having their own section. 

With our cruise cards we also had a track and trace band that we had to pop on our wrists. These keep track of your position onboard for track and trace purposes and doubled up as your cruise card to buy drinks and access your cabin.

Within around 10 minutes our number was called, and it was time to board this amazing ship!! From arriving at the terminal to the stepping foot onboard took around 90 mins which includes the extra time for the covid test.

Once onboard we could go straight to our stateroom. We had a Fantastica Balcony Cabin on deck 11, which had great storage, drawers and wardrobe, plenty of space to put our clothes and our cases fitted perfectly under the bed.  For our safety the TV remote control had even been sanitised and was in a secure envelope on the desk alongside the daily cruise planner. Swim towels were also there for our use along with bathrobes and slippers.  In the bathroom there was shower gel and shampoo.

Plug sockets are European and American style with a hidden USB plug on the underneath section of each bedside light as well as on the main dressing table.  Hair dryer and Mini bar are also available. Our balcony had two sunchairs and a table.

So lets talk ship!

MSC Virtousa is the flagship and the second Meraviglia plus class ship.

Her 19 decks named after famous composers, such as Ennio Morricone, a touching tribute as he sadly passed away last year, famous for countless film scores including The Good The Bad and The Ugly and The Mission to name just two.

A massive 331 metres long, 16 metres longer then MSC Meraviglia and MSC Bellissima

21 bars, 4 main restaurants and 5 specialty restaurants including all you can eat taco’s, a fantastic steak house, sushi cooked in front of your eyes and outstanding French Vietnamese cuisine is all available to tempt your tastebuds.  The new specialty Starship lounge, features Rob the Robotic cocktail maker, but be aware this is not included in any drinks package, Cocktails start around £18, and you can keep the plastic beaker. He has a quirky personality, and the kids can join in with a mocktail too.

A 945-seat theatre offering different productions every night, along with a Carousel Lounge for smaller productions with a central circular stage with the audience all around it.

12 different cabin types including interconnecting Super Family cabins, accommodating up to six people or Super Family Plus accommodating up to 12 people. Duplex cabins with jacuzzi are found in the Yacht Club. There is something to suit all budgets.

Five swimming pools including a fabulous indoor pool on deck 15, perfect for cooler days, not forgetting different shape Jacuzzis out on deck for relaxing in with a cocktail after a day ashore.

A Himalayan Rope Bridge on deck 19 offers a fun rope course 80 metres above the water. The Aqua Park has water slides, but you might find the opening times vary on the outdoor activities due to the weather. There is an array of indoor activities, Bowling and Formula 1 simulators, arcade games and Virtual reality experiences and the best value would be to purchase a Fun Pass. Children’s clubs are also available, and the Teens have a cool hangout lounge.

Without doubt the most photographed area on the ship is The Galleria and Atrium Swarovski Crystal staircases. The Galleria is home to the longest LED Dome at sea.  It totally brings the ship to life with different displays throughout the day. As for the impressive staircases, photographs do not do justice, they are stunning!

The indoor promenade with 1168m2 is also home to Boutiques, selling clothing, perfume, cosmetics, jewellery and souvenirs, plus you can enjoy one of many flavoured Ice-cream at the Gelato station or delicious topped crepes. Jean Phillipe Chocolatiers are also here, and they spend the day making all sorts of chocolate yummies. Its lovely to enjoy a latte here and watch them hard at work!

And for those that fancy a flutter, on the slot machines or the tables, there is a very impressive casino, open into the small hours. 

If you’re after a touch more luxury then there is Yacht Club, a Ship within a ship featuring a private lounge and restaurant, own pool, cabanas and Butler service. Plus, there is also the Aurea Spa, offering various treatments, sauna, hot beds etc and incorporating the Top Sail 19 private sun deck and jacuzzi area which is the “suite life” for sure. NB due to UK Covid restrictions, certain areas within the spa are currently unavailable. 

The one thing that was on our mind was the Lifeboat safety drill, how was that going to happen? A whole new style was now in place. We now had to stay in our cabin and watch the drill on our stateroom televisions. Once the information had finished, they told us to dial a certain code on the telephone and this would advise the reception desk that we had watched the drill to the end. We then had to take our cruise card to the muster station for them to be scanned. In my opinion this was a much better way and easy to identify the staterooms that didn’t call/attend, those individuals were sent a letter and requested to attend a further drill on the sea day. 

Life back onboard was fabulous, the ship is easy to navigate and only having 1000 passengers instead of the 6000+ she can carry, she felt spacious with social distancing being clearly observed in bars and restaurants. Masks worn when moving around the ship and when in the theatre. Chairs and tables were marked with an X which separated parties well but you were still able to engage in conversations with another.

Due to reduced passenger capacity the restaurant offered an anytime dining option, which meant we could see all the shows in the Grand Theatre, The Comedian and Soul Sisters Motown Act without having to rush, if a last minute plan was made alternatively you can book a seat in advice. 

Our fare included gratuities, and a premium drinks package up to the value of £10 per drink but this was easily upgradable to the premium plus for £16 per person per day, should you want more named brands and champagne. One glass of Champagne was £16 so in my opinion, the upgrade was a big yes! Drinks menus are available to view by scanning the QR code you will find on the table, but don't worry if you don't carry a smart phone as paper menus are available if you ask.

With the new protocols in place, the social distancing and the twice daily temperature checks, I felt completely safe and relaxed, the mask wearing was no issue, it’s only required when moving around the ship inside, but once seated in bars/restaurants, it can be removed. In fact, I wear it longer when visiting my local supermarket. 

Behind the scenes a team of cleaners are working tirelessly to keep the ship clean and sanitised and without doubt, MSC Cruises have got this balance of safety measures right whilst allowing you to have an amazing and safe holiday.

I would have no hesitation to book another and I really hope this is the kick start the UK cruise market had been longing for.

Congratulations MSC CRUISES!