EXPLORA II

Wonderful wonderful and not so good

November

Pros: The service cannot be beat. It's a 12 out of ten. The food is all made onboard .

Cons: Minimal entertainment and ship safety issues

Recommended: No

I never thought I would rave about an almond croissant, but it was that good. That's just an example of the excellent food onboard. Pasta made fresh on board, gelato, Neapolitan pizza, wonderfully tender steaks, expertly cooked veggies, delicious fish, raw bar. The only dining venue that failed to amaze was Sakura, the Oriental restaurant. The service could not be improved in any way. Before you knew you needed something, it was there. Blew me away, and we've been on over 80 cruises. Onboarding and leaving were both quick and easy, well planned and efficient. The entertainment or lack thereof. Dance shows for 2 nights, a magician for one., this on a transatlantic crossing. All other evenings were the same singers, over and over again. We were there for 22 nights so you can imagine how tedious it was. Most people didn't even come to the shows.Not even a piano bar. The ship itself is lovely to look at, modern design, lots of polished chrome, shiny marble, muted browns, but I saw trip and fall hazards everywhere and indeed, I did fall. The grab bar in the shower is in the wrong place, off in a corner. Several people fell showering while the ship was in motion because there was nothing to hold on to. They were told about this with Explora I, but apparently the aesthetics of design are the priority. Also, there are unnecessary stairs without handrails. Maybe it's only four steps, but when a ship is in motion, it's nice to have something to grab onto. This is on Deck 5, leading to the coffee bar, and entering the Journey Lounge, where the shows are done. The only thing there is a glass wall that I clutched and left fingerprints all over. A similar problem is with the Conservatory pool. Nice steps to get into the pool, but to access the steps, one must navigate a maze of sharp edged, multi level lounges just waiting to stab you in the shins.

Explora II cruise

October

Pros: Outstanding luxury cruise

Cons: Not enough time

Recommended: Yes

My wife and I sailed on the Explora II from Barcelona to Barcelona for 10 days starting the 6th of October 2024. We arrived at the dock 10 min prior to our appointed time. We were quickly greeted by a host of the ship, our luggage was quickly tagged and taken to be loaded and delivered to our room. We were then taken to a waiting area where we sat for about 10 min. We were then escorted by another host to the ship and directed to the ships lounge. Here we were officially checked, issued room keys and then allowed to go to our room. Total time was about 30 min. We found our room and was immediately greeted by our cabin attendant. Hey took a moment to acquaint us to our room. For the remainder of the cruise he was always available to take care of our needs. The room was very comfortable, well laid out, with plenty of closet space, drawers, hangars and other items that made the stay perfect. We never felt cramped or crowed. The bed was wonderful and we hard a small sofa to sit and watch a movie on. Plus room service was also nice in our room. The overall service on the ship was never an issue. Outstanding! The 5 restaurants, and the open buffet were absolutely divine. I was never disappointed in the amount, quality or selection. I felt like I was eating in a 5 star restaurant all the time, with fine china, table clothes and wonderful atmospheres. and the service was impeccable. We were very pleased and we are looking forward to returning for another Explora II cruise soon.

A floating Four Seasons but, in some ways, even better

September

Pros: Extraordinary quality of facilities, interior design, staff and food. Attention to every detail on board.

Cons: Good selection of shore experiences. However, there were some inaccurate descriptions or confusion about the content of some shore excursions. Example, tour that was described as ending with a swim in the Mediterranean went well until the guests shocked the tour guide who knew nothing about a promised swim being part of itinerary. Another, a trip to Positano turned out to be an unguided drop and shop. Another, tour guide and Explora host in Sicily spent most of the time disagreeing about how many people were on the tour, and the tour guide moaning loudly that "she was in trouble." I believe that I may book my own land tours in the future.

Recommended: Yes

I cannot wait to sail on Explora again and will do so. The creators obviously thought everything through and then delivered on their vision. Even the details were spectacular like repeated patterns in different materials...mirror, tile, leather and soothing color palettes. Avoided the normal cruise ship overdone schtick to convey "elegance"...this ship was by its essence elegant. Very international shipmates. Lots of things to do, including nothing in a most pleasant environment. Constant cleaning of every shiny surface by crew. Windex in the air. Suites were spacious and beautifully designed. Large balconies. Lots of light everywhere. Food in the restaurants was of a high quality, creative, and beautifully served and presented. This was the maiden voyage and I'd say they worked extraordinarily hard to make it a memorable experience for all who shared the voyage.

Perfection on the sea

September

Pros: Everything

Cons: None

Recommended: Yes

I have nothing but superlatives to describe my week on Explora ll. The ship was gorgeous, immaculate, and filled with every amenity you could imagine or want. The crew was warm and welcoming, competent and always available to help. The dining was a delight; every restaurant offered imaginative menus and served delicious food and wine. The excursions on shore were small groups led by very knowledgeable local guides. I wouldn’t have changed a thing.