** This Review is intended to promote sales for Explora Journeys.  If you are interested in sailing on Explora Journeys, I’d appreciate that you contact me to help you book your cruise **

We have a new cruise line in the market and that would be Explora Journeys.   Currently, at the time of this review there is only 1 ship out on the oceans, Explora I with Explora II entering service the fall of 2024.  They have contracted to build 4 more ships over the next several years.   These ships are all ocean facing and all suites of varying sizes and their smallest suite is VERY spacious.   These ships hold approximately 900 guests and are considered a luxury brand with most everything included. 

I was invited to experience Explora Journeys and had been given a long list of sailings from which to choose and though I would have loved to try one of their Caribbean sailings, I just could not get the dates and flights to work out, so we opted for a 6 day Coastal Cruise from Los Angeles to Vancouver, BC. 

We flew down to LA and stayed one night pre-cruise at the Doubletree San Pedro.  What a piece of crap this hotel has become.   We will not be staying there again.   There was nothing welcoming, the room was nasty, and the hallways were gross.  Our dinner was “OK” but getting service at first was a bit difficult.   We decided to skip breakfast at the hotel and skip the hotel shuttle to the port and get our own Uber.   

Upon arrival to the San Pedro Cruise Terminal, we were directed to go upstairs and directed to a section of chairs where we waited to be directed to a check-in person.   It was a very relaxing check-in process and once we met with our check-in person, we gave them the health questionnaire and we were given our keys and directed to proceed on board.   On our way to the gangway, there was a backdrop that said “Explora Journeys” for anyone who wanted to take their own photo, but they did not have their own photographers taking photos of all the passengers.   When the cruise lines have their photographers there taking photos, the expectation is that passengers will purchase them.   So, with no photographers, it’s a much more relaxed atmosphere.   

Once on board, we were greeted with a glass of champagne and within 15 minutes it was announced that the suites were ready, so we went to our suite to drop off our carry-on bag and of course take a tour.  We had been upgraded from the smallest Ocean Suite to the Ocean Penthouse Suite.  What a beautiful, spacious suite.   Complete living area with a sectional couch, a table with 3 chairs, nice bedroom with a King-Sized bed, bathroom with separate sitting/dressing area as part of the closet, two TV’s and a very specious balcony with a lounge chair, small table and two chairs and larger table.    The suites also have heated bathroom floors and motion activated lights under the night stands so when you get up in the middle of the night you do not need to turn on any lights.  Lush carpets, I never used my slippers – and they did provide slippers and robes.   Our suite also had a bottle of champagne and some snacks.

Everything on this ship is elegant, beautifully appointed artwork, neutral tones, several areas where you can find a quiet spot if you desire.  There are a few shops on board, we never went into them but if you are a shopper, you’d have options for shopping.   Several pools including an aft-facing infinity pool. Of course, our weather was not great for using the pools, we were cruising up the Pacific Coast in April.    But if we had been in hot weather, I would have enjoyed the pool areas for sure.  

Explora offers a variety of small dining venues, so you feel as though you’re “going out to dinner” every night.   A few of them require reservations but getting reservations was not difficult.  We dined in each venue except Anthology which is an additional fee and a culinary feast.   I am a picky eater so that experience would have been lost on me.   We did pay for the Chef’s Kitchen experience and had a great time learning how to make pasta and then of course, we ate the pasta.   Their “buffet” is not your ordinary cruise ship buffet. It is called the marketplace, and everything is served to you, so you don’t have hundreds of people handling the same serving utensils.   If you want a burger from the grill, they take the order and give you a beeper so when it’s ready you can come pick it up.  However, if that beeper goes off and a server is nearby, they will insist that they get it for you.   Fresh ceviche and sushi/sashimi every day (Bill was in heaven) and honestly not a bad meal during our entire cruise.

There was a variety of entertainment, some music trivia, regular trivia, great musicians and guest lecturers in the theatre.   Speaking of their theatre-it’s set up like a dinner club where you have two chairs with a table and a lovely dance floor in front of the stage and when the performers were singing and dancing on stage, they did invite the audience to join in and dance, so the shows were about entertaining but also about including you in the fun. 

Shore Excursions or “Experiences” as they are called are not included in the cruise fare and the prices are on the higher side, but they are curating smaller group experiences, and we did take part in two of the Shore Experiences.   In Astoria, Oregon we went wine tasting and there was a group of 8 of us on the trip. We visited 2 wineries and enjoyed a lovely lunch outside.  We did have a nice day as far as the weather goes.   

In Victoria, BC we did an experience that included the Malahat Skywalk visit and then a charcuterie lunch with wine tasting at the Blue Grouse Winery that also included a tour of the winery.   Again, a small group so it was very nice, and you do pay more for small group experiences.  

Our other port of call was an overnight in San Francisco, my hometown.  We arrived on a Saturday evening and set sail Sunday evening.  We enjoyed sailing under the Golden Gate twice and it was cool to see the excitement in the crew upon arrival, many had never been and only dreamed of visiting San Francisco one day.  We sometimes take for granted the places we’ve known all our lives, so their excitement did give me a renewed appreciation for where I grew up. 

What did I love about Explora- EVERYTHING!!    What didn’t I love about Explora- NOTHING!!

I would 100% go on this cruise line again and am hoping to plan a group cruise for a future sailing.  Right now, with one ship, the ship keeps moving and doing unique itineraries and the second ship will do the same but as their fleet grows, they will be able to position ships in seasonal markets and do well with what they offer and their ability to get into smaller ports of call.

To see more of my photos from Explora Journeys, along with photos of their extensive suites and residences, please view them here:  EXPLORA I PHOTOS