The luxury lifestyle travel brand unveils a first look of the Ocean Suites.
Explora Journeys has unveiled the design of their Ocean Terrace Suites on its first ship, EXPLORA I, ahead of her maiden journey in May 2023. Explora Journeys was born from a long-held vision of the founders, the Aponte Vago family. With the family’s nautical heritage of over 300 years coupled with their innate understanding of luxury, the family have carefully curated the design of the suites, penthouses & residences to create a luxurious home at sea. The design reflects the brand’s philosophy of creating an Ocean State of Mind, thanks to light, colour, space, privacy, and connection with the sea.
Exquisitely designed to stimulate the senses and enhance the connection with the ocean, the Aponte Vago family has worked meticulously in collaboration with some of the world’s foremost superyacht, cruise and luxury hospitality designers and architects. The innovative ship will seamlessly blend elegant Swiss precision with modern European craftsmanship and vibrant design, to create luxurious, serene, and spacious ‘Homes at Sea’ ranging from 35 sqm (377 sq ft) in the Ocean Terrace category up to 280 sqm (3014 sq ft) for the Owners Residence.
Each suite has been created with simplicity and comfort as the focus, and presents unrivalled space and privacy to offer a real ‘Home at Sea’. The lead in category Ocean Terrace Suites and the 39 sqm (420 sq ft) Ocean Grand Terrace Suites are some of the largest in the industry, and feature their own private terrace, between 7-11 sqm (75-118 sq ft), creating an extension to the living space complete with daybeds and an alfresco dining area, bringing guests closer to the ocean.
Elevating the suites to a luxurious home, each ‘Home at Sea’ comprises a walk-in wardrobe with a seated vanity area and features a Dyson Supersonic hairdryer, heated floors in the bathrooms, personal binoculars, wireless bed-side charging, a personal mini-bar replenished according to the guests’ preferences, espresso machine with bio-degradable pods, a kettle and teapot, and a complimentary personal refillable water bottle for each guest. 24-hour guest services also ensure every desire or request is provided.
Michael Ungerer, Chief Executive Officer of Explora Journeys, said “The Homes at Sea have been a long-held vision of the Aponte Vago family. It is a truly exciting and profound moment for us to be able to welcome future guests to the carefully curated suites, penthouses and residences. Marrying the family`s impeccable taste and innate understanding of luxury, inspired by their personal travels and style, the interiors of EXPLORA I have been designed with their enduring dedication and incredible eye for detail, along with their vision for the future, weaving a thread of their passion throughout each touchpoint. We aspire to elevate the ocean experience and luxury travel to new heights, whilst being respectful to the ocean, environment, and the destinations and cultures we discover, to ensure we leave a positive legacy for generations to come.”
The European family roots and refined sense of style, inform an intuitive appreciation of design and luxury, which Explora Journeys embodies through its contemporary, cosmopolitan, boutique hotel vibe – vibrant, yet chic and intimate. Each of the 461 ocean-front suites, penthouses and residences comes with its own spacious private terrace, boast floor-to-ceiling windows to maximise natural light, and a neutral colour palette and a suite layout designed to indulge in the marine environment.
The design of each suite has been developed in collaboration with De Jorio Luxury & Yachts projects, and London-based architectural and interior design studio NenMar, to deliver considered and innovative interior design and meaningful decoration solutions.
Fusing a plethora of Italian interior details, each suite depicts true elegance and sophistication. Suites will be furnished with some of the best of Italian and European design furniture, such as Molteni&C, part of the Molteni Group, the leading independent industrial group in the high-end furniture sector with 100% Italian production. The identity of Molteni&C lives in all the Explora suites through high-quality products and iconic pieces by Gio Ponti, all marked by the core values of Molteni: tradition, quality, durability and reliability, supported by research and innovation. The lighting throughout the suites has been styled to create an intimate lighting concept. Linear lights integrated with the suite's furnishings offer an equally functional and design-led element, mirroring the linear flow from the entrance to the window of the suites, to give a clear perspective of the well-equilibrated spaces.
Conscious luxury is reflected in the choice of materials and Explora Journeys’ commitment to sustainability is demonstrated in their dedication to responsible sourcing of materials, and eco-friendly details such as refillable bathroom amenities and no single-use plastic on board.
Sales are now open for the Inaugural Journeys Collection for EXPLORA I from May 2023 and in its first year, the ship will visit 132 ports in 40 different countries, including two destinations, Kastellorizo, Greece and Saint Pierre, Martinique that have rarely been visited by cruise ships before. The itineraries include the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the UK, Iceland, Greenland, Canada, the U.S. East Coast, Caribbean, South America, and Hawaii. Sailings start from six-night journeys and culminate in an epic 44-night Northern Europe Grand Journey.
About Explora Journeys
Explora Journeys is the privately-owned luxury lifestyle brand of the MSC Group, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, created at the heart of Swiss luxury hospitality. The brand stems from the long-held vision of the Aponte-Vago family to redefine the ocean experience for a new generation of discerning luxury travellers, drawing on the Aponte family`s 300 years of maritime heritage. The brand’s aspiration is to create a unique ‘Ocean State of Mind’ by connecting guests with the sea, with themselves, and like-minded people, while remarkable itineraries will blend renowned destinations with lesser-travelled ports, for a journey that inspires discovery in all its forms.
A fleet of six ships, two of which are under construction, will be launched from 2023 to 2028. Equipped with the latest environmental and marine technologies, Explora Journeys will introduce a modern style of transformative ocean travel. EXPLORA I offers 461 ocean-front suites, penthouses and residences designed to be ‘Homes at Sea’ for our guests, all with sweeping ocean views, private terrace, a choice of ten distinct culinary experiences, nine indoor and outdoor bars and lounges, four swimming pools, extensive outdoor decks with private cabanas, wellness facilities, and refined entertainment. Inspired by the company`s European heritage, Explora Journeys will provide guests with an immersive ocean experience respectful and intuitive hospitality.