Latest news with #ExploraIII
Travel Weekly
18-05-2025
- Travel Weekly
Explora Journeys schedules first Alaska season
Explora Journeys will sail Alaska itineraries for the first time in 2027. The Explora III, a ship debuting in August 2026, will sail Alaska cruises from early May to early September. Sailings will embark from Vancouver or Seward, Alaska. "Bringing its blue-ice glaciers, verdant forests and life-filled waters into Explora Journeys' collection of destinations is a major milestone in the brand's onward expansion," Explora said. The line's fourth ship, Explora IV, is also coming in 2027. In the summer, it will sail western and northern Europe, Iceland, Greenland and the East Coast of the U.S. and Canada.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What do you want on a cruise? How private resorts are changing travel
Cruise ships are trying to navigate murky waters. Do travelers want more and faster waterslides? Or the number of decks to reach the 30s? Do they still want to hike on all seven continents? Or just stay on the ship and sip fruity cocktails? Growth in cruise ship travel is starting to slow compared to the post-pandemic boom. That trend has cruise lines looking at several ways to keep people coming on board. Some are creating new private resorts. Others are doubling down on super high-end luxury trips. Still others are offering river cruises. How all this unfolds affects South Florida and the Sunshine State, home to the three largest passenger cruise ports in the United States: PortMiami, Port Canaveral and Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. The industry fills about 130,000 jobs in Florida. In December, Royal Caribbean will debut its third all-inclusive resort, the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in the Bahamas. The company is promising the resort will include the 'world's largest swim-up bar.' It spans 17 acres of land with seven beach bars and 'pools for every vibe.' The project is a partnership with the Bahamian government. This will be Royal Caribbean's third private island, following Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas and Labadee in Haiti, where the company has suspended travel. MORE: Inside a new cruise ship: 22 decks, a dozen restaurants, a mall. Take a tour MSC Cruises remodeled its private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, in the Bahamas in 2024, adding a private yacht club and solar farm. Now, the cruise line will be creating a second private island near the original thanks to a dredging project at Ocean Cay. Ryan Rea, a 37-year-old frequent cruiser from Miami, is drawn to that idea. 'I prefer the private island because I've been to the ports so many times,' Rea said. 'They're comfortable, safe and relaxing,' he said. 'You know you won't get bothered.' Several cruise lines are creating more high-end luxury cruises, in part because that's where the money is. And MSC Cruises, which opened a modern new terminal in April at PortMiami, is betting on it. Explora Journeys, the luxury company it owns, will have its two ships, Explora I and Explora II, sail from Miami starting in November through the winter season. Each offers over 20 trips that are either 8 or 16 nights. Many sail to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and elsewhere in the Caribbean. That includes Greater and Lesser Antilles, St. John's and the lagoons of Tortola. The Explora III, a new vessel that will start sailing during the summer of 2026, will have 13 trips from PortMiami starting in November 2026, mostly to San Juan and the Caribbean but also, for the first time, La Romana in the Dominican Republic. The publication Cruise Critic has noted that all cabins on Explora I are suites, and each has an outdoor terrace. 'Suites mirror public spaces, designed to feel like a boutique hotel or room at a luxury resort, rather than a cruise ship,' one reviewer wrote. 'The line has achieved this not just in the décor — modern and neutral — but in scale.' Of course, these journeys aren't for everyone — eight-night trips start at about $3,000 per person. One catalyst for MSC pushing more into high end is how costly things are on land. Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman for MSC Group's cruise division, recounted in April to an audience in Miami Beach at the yearly Seatrade Cruise Global conference how expensive he found things on land when he visited. 'When I see the prices … it's incredible,' he said. 'The dinner alone cost the same as a day on a luxury ship.' That helped convince him that MSC was on the right track. 'How can we be wrong?' Vago asked. The cruise industry experienced massive growth as the COVID-19 pandemic faded and millions decided to jump into their bucket lists. In 2024, 35 million people took an ocean cruise worldwide, up 9% from 2023, according to a new report from the trade group Cruise Lines International Association. That's nearly twice the NFL's total attendance for the 2024 regular season. Yet the growth rate is slowing. The report forecasts 3% growth in 2027 and 2% in 2028. The 310 ocean vessels operating in 2025 is just a 2% increase from the year before. That's the smallest annual growth since at least 2018, excluding the pandemic year 2021. And there are other challenges. Cities throughout the world are imposing restrictions on large ships docking at their ports. In January, the mayor of Nice, on the French Riviera, issued a decree barring cruise ships with 900 or more passengers from docking at its ports. Last year, Juneau, Alaska, had a ballot measure that would ban ships from docking on Saturdays. While voters rejected it, that has given life to other ways to limit cruise tourism. In November, voters in Bar Harbour, Maine, chose to maintain their limit of 1,000 passengers per day. Cities making it tougher for big cruise ships to dock is one concern. But even busy ports have finite space, industry analysts say, and will soon have to cope with congestion. PortMiami, for example, will be able to handle 12 ships simultaneously once it finishes all three berths at MSC's new terminal inaugurated in April. Earlier this year it set a record when 10 ships arrived one morning. 'They may have room to build one or two more docks,' said Stewart Chiron, a cruise expert. 'But then what?' The author of The Cruise Guy, who takes at least 10 cruises a year, wonders: 'You can build new ships but where are you going to put them?' PortMiami's Florida neighbors to the north have already had to face that question. Last year, Port Canaveral suspended an effort to expand its port after state departments of commerce and transportation objected, saying it would bother the Space Coast. The port in Tampa has height restrictions. This may be leading to one of the biggest trends in cruising: visiting private islands held or built by the cruise companies. The first one, Great Stirrup Cay launched by Norwegian Cruise Line, dates back to 1977. Those were early days for cruise companies. That was also the year 'The Love Boat' debuted on ABC television. But they are now in vogue like never before. 'The cruise lines are limited' in where they can dock, Chiron, the Cruise Guy, said. 'That's why they have to create these destinations.' Next year, Royal Caribbean will open another private port, Royal Beach Club Cozumel, in Mexico. Guests can snorkel, kayak and enjoy tequila tastings and cooking classes. The resort will include swim-up bars, street markets and private cabanas. In 2027, it'll launch what it dubs Perfect Day Mexico. Each allows for 'new adventures in the western Caribbean,' the company said. Notably, the islands in Mexico will be closer to Galveston, Texas, than other destinations. That could create a test of whether Galveston can compete with South Florida's main ports. Galveston is about 50 miles from Houston, which is home to about 2 million people. Doral-based Carnival told the Miami Herald it expects to have ready Celebration Key, its own private development in the Bahamas, for sailing trips starting in July. On the southern side of Grand Bahama island and about 17 miles northeast of Freeport, the resort will have its own pier with two berths where Carnival's largest ships can dock. In 2026, the pier at Celebration Key will add two more berths so a total of four Carnival ships can dock at the same time. Costing $600 million, the area will feature water slides for kids, scuba diving and other sports, and excursions. And there will be more than 30 restaurants and bars that passengers can reach by walking or swimming. Carnival is so keen on Celebration Key that 20 of its 27 ships plan to sail there, including all five ships that call PortMiami home: Carnival Celebration, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Conquest and Carnival Magic. Ships sailing from Baltimore, New Orleans and Galveston will also head there this year. In addition to giving the ships additional and alternative places to dock, the private resorts give travelers more beach time, expand group activities and bring in more money to the cruise lines. The business justification was expressed by Josh Weinstein, president, chief executive officer, and chief climate officer of Carnival Corp. He said in April at the cruise conference in Miami Beach that the private island or resort 'gets a broader audience, it gets more customers, and it will ultimately result in more demand.' Cruise companies are hoping that's also true for luxury travelers. Royal Caribbean is also making a play in that space, all the way in Antarctica. It expects to have an 'Antarctica Bridge fly-cruise program' ready by the end of 2025 that allows travelers to fly directly from Santiago, Chile, to Puerto Williams before getting on a cruise. But before that, guests can stay at a 150-room hotel, The Cormorant at 55 South in Puerto Williams, which is in the Beagle Channel and near Ushuaia. The site, self-proclaimed as the 'southernmost hotel on Earth,' is planning to open by the end of this year. It overlooks the channel and is surrounded by forest and water and the snow-capped Patagonian mountains. Amenities include a fitness center, gift shop, lounge and a large restaurant. The hotel and the expedition cruise ships are being organized by Silversea Cruises, an ultra-luxury and expedition cruising company Royal Caribbean acquired in 2018. Silversea has three expedition ships. Then there are river cruises. In 2027, Royal Caribbean will start offering trips along European rivers on its subsidiary company Celebrity River Cruises. It has already ordered 10 ships and will go up against better-known river carriers like Viking. Whether these trends will fend off the uncertainty is another question. President Donald Trump has used executive power to raise tariffs against China to 145%. He's put a 10% tax in place against all imports from most countries including close allies and those who hold trade deficits against the U.S. He later suspended some of them for 90 days. Still, businesses are reporting slowdowns. At the Seatrade cruise conference in April and in subsequent earnings calls, cruise executives have acknowledged they aren't immune to the policies. 'The uncertainty, and the ripple effects absolutely have an impact on the industry,' Carnival's Weinstein said. Still, he noted that 'we had more bookings in the first quarter than we have ever had.' Meanwhile, on a conference call on April 29 to discuss first-quarter results, Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty said the company is over 86% fully booked for the year and 'we see really no impact, no change in cancellation rates and no real change in how our consumers are acting.' The company reported serving 2.2 million guests in the first quarter, up 9% from the same period in 2024, and said travelers' spending on board was higher than a year ago. That may be due in part to travelers like Ryan Rea. The Miami resident has averaged taking four to five cruises in past years. 'This year will remain the same,' he said. He already has one trip booked on Virgin Voyages in October to the Dominican Republic. Rea said he still finds cruising the most economical way to vacation and he regularly receives promotions because he's a regular and he gambles while on board. But he also believes cruise companies can stave off tariffs because of their influence with government leaders. 'The cruise lines,' he said, 'are pretty powerful.'
Miami Herald
02-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
How private resorts may boost cruise travel. What's changing on the high seas
Cruise ships are trying to navigate murky waters. Do travelers want more and faster waterslides? Or the number of decks to reach the 30s? Do they still want to hike on all seven continents? Or just stay on the ship and sip fruity cocktails? Growth in cruise ship travel is starting to slow compared to the post-pandemic boom. That trend has cruise lines looking at several ways to keep people coming on board. Some are creating new private resorts. Others are doubling down on super high-end luxury trips. Still others are offering river cruises. How all this unfolds affects South Florida and the Sunshine State, home to the three largest passenger cruise ports in the United States: PortMiami, Port Canaveral and Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. The industry fills about 130,000 jobs in Florida. Private islands In December, Royal Caribbean will debut its third all-inclusive resort, the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in the Bahamas. The company is promising the resort will include the 'world's largest swim-up bar.' It spans 17 acres of land with seven beach bars and 'pools for every vibe.' The project is a partnership with the Bahamian government. This will be Royal Caribbean's third private island, following Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas and Labadee in Haiti, where the company has suspended travel. MORE: Inside a new cruise ship: 22 decks, a dozen restaurants, a mall. Take a tour MSC Cruises remodeled its private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, in the Bahamas in 2024, adding a private yacht club and solar farm. Now, the cruise line will be creating a second private island near the original thanks to a dredging project at Ocean Cay. Ryan Rea, a 37-year-old frequent cruiser from Miami, is drawn to that idea. 'I prefer the private island because I've been to the ports so many times,' Rea said. 'They're comfortable, safe and relaxing,' he said. 'You know you won't get bothered.' Luxury trips Several cruise lines are creating more high-end luxury cruises, in part because that's where the money is. And MSC Cruises, which opened a modern new terminal in April at PortMiami, is betting on it. Explora Journeys, the luxury company it owns, will have its two ships, Explora I and Explora II, sail from Miami starting in November through the winter season. Each offers over 20 trips that are either 8 or 16 nights. Many sail to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and elsewhere in the Caribbean. That includes Greater and Lesser Antilles, St. John's and the lagoons of Tortola. The Explora III, a new vessel that will start sailing during the summer of 2026, will have 13 trips from PortMiami starting in November 2026, mostly to San Juan and the Caribbean but also, for the first time, La Romana in the Dominican Republic. The publication Cruise Critic has noted that all cabins on Explora I are suites, and each has an outdoor terrace. 'Suites mirror public spaces, designed to feel like a boutique hotel or room at a luxury resort, rather than a cruise ship,' one reviewer wrote. 'The line has achieved this not just in the décor — modern and neutral — but in scale.' Of course, these journeys aren't for everyone — eight-night trips start at about $3,000 per person. One catalyst for MSC pushing more into high end is how costly things are on land. Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman for MSC Group's cruise division, recounted in April to an audience in Miami Beach at the yearly Seatrade Cruise Global conference how expensive he found things on land when he visited. 'When I see the prices … it's incredible,' he said. 'The dinner alone cost the same as a day on a luxury ship.' That helped convince him that MSC was on the right track. 'How can we be wrong?' Vago asked. Euphoria ending for the cruise ship industry? The cruise industry experienced massive growth as the COVID-19 pandemic faded and millions decided to jump into their bucket lists. In 2024, 35 million people took an ocean cruise worldwide, up 9% from 2023, according to a new report from the trade group Cruise Lines International Association. That's nearly twice the NFL's total attendance for the 2024 regular season. Yet the growth rate is slowing. The report forecasts 3% growth in 2027 and 2% in 2028. The 310 ocean vessels operating in 2025 is just a 2% increase from the year before. That's the smallest annual growth since at least 2018, excluding the pandemic year 2021. And there are other challenges. Cities throughout the world are imposing restrictions on large ships docking at their ports. In January, the mayor of Nice, on the French Riviera, issued a decree barring cruise ships with 900 or more passengers from docking at its ports. Last year, Juneau, Alaska, had a ballot measure that would ban ships from docking on Saturdays. While voters rejected it, that has given life to other ways to limit cruise tourism. In November, voters in Bar Harbour, Maine, chose to maintain their limit of 1,000 passengers per day. Cities making it tougher for big cruise ships to dock is one concern. But even busy ports have finite space, industry analysts say, and will soon have to cope with congestion. PortMiami, for example, will be able to handle 12 ships simultaneously once it finishes all three berths at MSC's new terminal inaugurated in April. Earlier this year it set a record when 10 ships arrived one morning. 'They may have room to build one or two more docks,' said Stewart Chiron, a cruise expert. 'But then what?' The author of The Cruise Guy, who takes at least 10 cruises a year, wonders: 'You can build new ships but where are you going to put them?' PortMiami's Florida neighbors to the north have already had to face that question. Last year, Port Canaveral suspended an effort to expand its port after state departments of commerce and transportation objected, saying it would bother the Space Coast. The port in Tampa has height restrictions. This may be leading to one of the biggest trends in cruising: visiting private islands held or built by the cruise companies. The first one, Great Stirrup Cay launched by Norwegian Cruise Line, dates back to 1977. Those were early days for cruise companies. That was also the year 'The Love Boat' debuted on ABC television. But they are now in vogue like never before. 'The cruise lines are limited' in where they can dock, Chiron, the Cruise Guy, said. 'That's why they have to create these destinations.' New places and faces on a cruise Next year, Royal Caribbean will open another private port, Royal Beach Club Cozumel, in Mexico. Guests can snorkel, kayak and enjoy tequila tastings and cooking classes. The resort will include swim-up bars, street markets and private cabanas. In 2027, it'll launch what it dubs Perfect Day Mexico. Each allows for 'new adventures in the western Caribbean,' the company said. Notably, the islands in Mexico will be closer to Galveston, Texas, than other destinations. That could create a test of whether Galveston can compete with South Florida's main ports. Galveston is about 50 miles from Houston, which is home to about 2 million people. Doral-based Carnival told the Miami Herald it expects to have ready Celebration Key, its own private development in the Bahamas, for sailing trips starting in July. On the southern side of Grand Bahama island and about 17 miles northeast of Freeport, the resort will have its own pier with two berths where Carnival's largest ships can dock. In 2026, the pier at Celebration Key will add two more berths so a total of four Carnival ships can dock at the same time. Costing $600 million, the area will feature water slides for kids, scuba diving and other sports, and excursions. And there will be more than 30 restaurants and bars that passengers can reach by walking or swimming. Carnival is so keen on Celebration Key that 20 of its 27 ships plan to sail there, including all five ships that call PortMiami home: Carnival Celebration, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Conquest and Carnival Magic. Ships sailing from Baltimore, New Orleans and Galveston will also head there this year. In addition to giving the ships additional and alternative places to dock, the private resorts give travelers more beach time, expand group activities and bring in more money to the cruise lines. The business justification was expressed by Josh Weinstein, president, chief executive officer, and chief climate officer of Carnival Corp. He said in April at the cruise conference in Miami Beach that the private island or resort 'gets a broader audience, it gets more customers, and it will ultimately result in more demand.' Cruise companies are hoping that's also true for luxury travelers. Royal Caribbean is also making a play in that space, all the way in Antarctica. It expects to have an 'Antarctica Bridge fly-cruise program' ready by the end of 2025 that allows travelers to fly directly from Santiago, Chile, to Puerto Williams before getting on a cruise. But before that, guests can stay at a 150-room hotel, The Cormorant at 55 South in Puerto Williams, which is in the Beagle Channel and near Ushuaia. The site, self-proclaimed as the 'southernmost hotel on Earth,' is planning to open by the end of this year. It overlooks the channel and is surrounded by forest and water and the snow-capped Patagonian mountains. Amenities include a fitness center, gift shop, lounge and a large restaurant. The hotel and the expedition cruise ships are being organized by Silversea Cruises, an ultra-luxury and expedition cruising company Royal Caribbean acquired in 2018. Silversea has three expedition ships. Then there are river cruises. In 2027, Royal Caribbean will start offering trips along European rivers on its subsidiary company Celebrity River Cruises. It has already ordered 10 ships and will go up against better-known river carriers like Viking. Whether these trends will fend off the uncertainty is another question. Trump tariffs President Donald Trump has used executive power to raise tariffs against China to 145%. He's put a 10% tax in place against all imports from most countries including close allies and those who hold trade deficits against the U.S. He later suspended some of them for 90 days. Still, businesses are reporting slowdowns. At the Seatrade cruise conference in April and in subsequent earnings calls, cruise executives have acknowledged they aren't immune to the policies. 'The uncertainty, and the ripple effects absolutely have an impact on the industry,' Carnival's Weinstein said. Still, he noted that 'we had more bookings in the first quarter than we have ever had.' Meanwhile, on a conference call on April 29 to discuss first-quarter results, Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty said the company is over 86% fully booked for the year and 'we see really no impact, no change in cancellation rates and no real change in how our consumers are acting.' The company reported serving 2.2 million guests in the first quarter, up 9% from the same period in 2024, and said travelers' spending on board was higher than a year ago. That may be due in part to travelers like Ryan Rea. The Miami resident has averaged taking four to five cruises in past years. 'This year will remain the same,' he said. He already has one trip booked on Virgin Voyages in October to the Dominican Republic. Rea said he still finds cruising the most economical way to vacation and he regularly receives promotions because he's a regular and he gambles while on board. But he also believes cruise companies can stave off tariffs because of their influence with government leaders. 'The cruise lines,' he said, 'are pretty powerful.'
Telegraph
19-03-2025
- Telegraph
This fledgling cruise line wants to become the world's ‘number one luxury brand'
'How many weeks are you onboard for?' It was my first evening on board, and already the third time I'd been asked. This time it was Torren, a well-dressed Danish guest, posing the apparently common question. He and his wife, Suzanne, were enjoying their second week on Explora II, he told me – while Elise, a solo traveller from Toronto, had booked to stay onboard for a further fortnight after our cruise from Barbados to Puerto Rico concluded. Meanwhile, Elena and Thomas, a late 30-something couple, told me they were 'just doing a week for now,' as they'd left their young son with his grandparents. Clearly, Explora Journeys – the new ultra-luxury arm of the MSC Group, founded by Italian shipping family Aponte Vago – has won a legion of fans since its inception in 2021, something evidenced both by my onboard encounters, and the slew of awards the brand has scooped up. Keen to see if it lived up to the hype, I joined Explora II (the line's unimaginatively named second ship, launched in 2023), for four nights – a number that garnered sympathetic expressions from Torren, Thomas, Elena, and Elise – as she sailed a weeklong Caribbean voyage. Despite the 922-passenger ship's bland name – Explora III, Explora IV, Explora V, and Explora VI are slated to follow over the next few years – she looks, it must be said, anything but. Explora 11's exterior is an elegant navy, and from a distance, the vessel resembles a superyacht (perhaps not a surprise, given that its aquiline profile was crafted by veteran British yacht designer Martin Francis). Step onboard, however, and it's like walking into a five-star resort. There's a glittering white-and-gold, double-height Lobby Bar with a back-lit drinks wall; open air Sky bar; bespoke artwork by Emilio Isgrò and Yves Dana dotted around the decks; four Insta-worthy swimming pools – one with a retractable rooftop; numerous hot tubs; and upmarket shops in the shape of Piaget, Panerai, Cartier and Buccallati. Elsewhere, the cabins are all suites – starting at a spacious 35 sq m for an entry-level 'ocean terrace suite', the category I opted for. Enormous – almost as large as my south London flat – despite the entry-level badge, with a king size bed, Frette linens, Steiner binoculars, a walk-in dressing area featuring a powerful Dyson hairdryer, marble bathroom with underfloor heating and bespoke Mandala Blue toiletries; and a separate living area leading to a terrace, complete with supremely comfortable Manutti daybed. Guests who successfully manage to leave their neutral-hued suites (a challenge in itself) can opt to detox in the spa – where a 60-minute intensive muscle release massage (£194) saw the knots in my neck expertly worked out by Gineesh's nimble hands – or extensive workout areas filled with swanky Technogym equipment, before retoxing in the ship's 12 bars and six restaurants. Over a coffee in Crema Cafe – the heart of Explora II that's invariably packed with guests gossiping, tucking into freshly baked cakes, and tapping away on laptops – general manager, Marco van Belleghem, proudly informed me that 'the feedback from the guests for our food has been unbelievable. 'We get so many positive comments. Unlike other cruise lines, we only have individual restaurants, each with their own identity and all included in the fare.' The most casual dining venue is Emporium Marketplace – an upmarket buffet which became my go-to spot for lunch (think salads, stone-baked pizzas and every kind of pasta imaginable). Marble & Co, meanwhile, is the ship's smart steakhouse (lobster and Black Angus beef on tap, so to speak), while the menu at Med Yacht Club has a Mediterranean flavour, and French-inspired Fil Rouge serves dishes such as fish soup and prawn risotto. The pan-Asian Sakura, however, was the stand-out. Here I sat at the sushi counter with a fellow solo traveller, Susan from Wisconsin, and grazed on plump gyoza and a tender, crunchy seaweed salad – while watching the chefs at work in the open kitchen. There's an extra charge (£118) for 'elevated Italian fine-dining' restaurant Anthology, which I wasn't willing to pay. However the newly retired Susan, who took herself 'as a treat', raved about the service, and the seven course Italian menu which included a radicchio risotto she claimed was 'superior to anything I've eaten in a top London or New York hotel.' Susan – like Torontonians Andrea and Paul and so many other guests I spoke to – was new to cruising, and attracted to Explora II for what it is not: blaring night clubs, blingy casinos, and petty extra charges (even tips are included). Instead these guests – educated, well-travelled and appreciative of fine living – relished the low-key evening entertainment (a pianist tinkled at a Steinway in the lobby bar, while West End veteran Zoe Tyler received a standing ovation in Journeys Lounge), sense of space and impressive ratio of 1.25:1 guest-to-crew (or 'hosts', as Explora calls them). Van Belleghem positively beamed when I relayed all this to him over coffee. 'We're not trying to attract passengers from other cruise lines,' explained the affable Dutchman – who spent 16 years working for Holland America and also enjoyed a stint on land in the Netherlands at a small hotel chain. 'Our owners, the Aponte Vago family, have created a very unique product. I mean, Explora II doesn't even feel like a ship, does it? We are completely different from any other cruise line.' Arguably none more so than MSC Cruises, Explora Journeys' big (MSC World America will be able to accommodate a whopping 6,762 passengers when it launches in April), bold and bling-tastic older sister. 'Absolutely,' he agreed. 'But where Explora Journeys differs is that we're not just another luxury cruise line: we're one that's here to transform the way people think about cruising.' One of the ways the brand is trying to do this is by focusing on experiential travel – Explora uses the word 'experiences' rather than 'excursions' – visiting lesser-known ports, and then staying longer. 'On our last cruise, we called at the ABC islands. In Aruba and Bonaire, we stayed until 9pm; and in Curaçao we were there until 11pm,' shared Van Belleghem. 'We want our guests to experience the various destinations we go to.' In St Lucia, I signed up for Explora's 'Scenic west coast hike with a chocolate tasting' experience (£100): a hike along the Tet Paul nature trail to see the island's icons – the Unesco-protected Pitons, a pair of pointy peaks on the south-west coast – with charismatic local guide, Vina, followed by a tree-to-bar tour that took us through the whole process of cacao production (from grafting a tree to tasting the pulp and roasting the beans to make a bar). In Bequia, I opted to explore independently and followed the path from Port Elizabeth to Lower Bay – a beautiful stretch of pale gold sand that I had almost entirely to myself. But it wasn't all smooth sailing – there were small wrinkles, amongst them that my suite was serviced once a day rather than the promised twice, and that I had to leave a note requesting the shower gel dispenser be refilled. First-world problems, I know, but if Explora wants to fulfill its aim of becoming – as Van Belleghem told me – 'the number one luxury brand in the world', then these are issues that will need to be ironed out. Fix them and – judging from the hive of activity I observed at the future cruise desk – the line's future looks as bright as the Caribbean sun. Essentials Kaye Holland was a guest of Explora Journeys (0800 031 8935), which offers a Bridgetown to San Juan sailing from £3,200 per person, including an ocean terrace suite, drinks, meals, Wi-Fi and gratuities. Excludes flights.
