Explora Journeys - 2
Maybe is the word of the moment. Maybe EXPLORA III is a ship of the future. Maybe it's an ocean state of mind. Maybe it's just a completely different way of learning more about the world and yourself. EXPLORA III was launched 10 days ago, and her first customer or guest was two-time Wimbledon champion, Jannik Sinner, cleverly signed before his 2025 win as Ambassador for this the luxury beauty of the mighty and caring MSC family company.
MSC, which has ocean heritage going back over three centuries, is still owned 100% by the Aponte Vago family, and the executive chairman of the seafaring division, Vago, was on board for part of what turned out to be an amazing four-night not so much holiday as an exploration of the world and its people and its culture. And, one must admit, of all the over 400 people who were on it at some point during the festivities. Vago co-hosted the whole event with the President of Explora Journeys, Anna Nash. They're both people people who understand how to make everyone else feel at home. They both also understand the importance of the sea. Vago is part of a ship-captaining family. Anna Nash was brought up by the sea in Devon, and as a child she commuted to school by boat. What more suitable then to have this pair on board EXPLORA III? She’s LNG-fuelled, 19 meters longer than her older siblings, EXPLORA I and EXPLORA II. All three were built by Fincantieri, with interiors designed by members of the Aponte-Vago family (the word ‘family’ was probably, by the way, subservient only to ‘maybe’ during the eight days of festivities).
Who was aboard EXPLORA III as she set sail from Rome's Civitavecchia port enroute to Barcelona, stopping on the way in Portofino? Well, Explora Journeys had done a fabulous job, in a team led by the lovely Communication wiz,, Verena Koetzle. They were courting an American market, a UK market, Europe and Asia, with the exception really of India. Asia, to give an example, had six representatives, including Greater China, amongst the 100-plus media who flew in specially for this event. Girlahead was intrigued - and sad - how many of the media had never been to sea. But as McKinsey's Nicola Sandri pointed out in a fascinating presentation, there are over 200 far less than 10 percent of ultra-highest net worth individuals have ever been to sea.
OK, as Girlahead has said, and she will say again and again, EXPLORA III is not a cruise ship. Going on one of the Explora ships is akin to a world-class resort with the added attractions of never having to unpack as you move from place to place. And that attraction does take you to different places. This was a work trip for the invitees, who also included really top travel designers. Some of them had to sing for their supper. There was a women's panel – above - moderated by Bal Harbour Media Editor in Chief Deb Frank, one of the American media contingent, brought along by Explora’s US guru Melanie Brandman. The line-up and starred Captain Serena Melani, Master of EXPLORA III. She claims to have been at sea for over 30 years, which one could, methinks, mean she went to sea in swaddling clothes. Also on the panel was the ship’s head of security, a South African woman formerly in her country's army (she might look tall, slender, and feminine, but you can be quite sure she's really tough). The executive chef of EXPLORA III is another South African female, Tania Arnold.
There are several areas on EXPLORA III which are ideal for events. And there are also so many areas where you can escape and not see anybody, or if you want to catch up with a couple of friends, as below, without the whole world seeing, that's easy too.
The routines quickly established. In Girlahead's case, the day started with floor exercises in suite 7039, a haven of mushrooms and taupes relieved by a letterbox-red sculpture and bright colours of some of the 52 books which, what a surprise, exactly fitted their shelves – an eclectic selection, ranging from The Beach to a Diane Chamberlain to Ask Again, Yes – plus David Attenborough’s iconic Ocean. Pull back one of the two French windows to go on to the 20-meter-wide balcony and glorify the sun. Then quickly down to deck five to the gym, which intriguingly has the latest Technogym. One room is all in palest ash-pink colors. And right next to it is the traditional black highlighted in gold (there’s also an outdoor gym, up 20 gold-edged wood steps from deck 12 to deck 14, next to the best rooftop sunset bar in the world). Maybe. Again. And again.
But you didn't have to be doing things, anything, at this extended house party. You just ran into people. Some, like an Indonesian fashion fanatic and a Danish at-sea entrepreneur, were new to Girlahead. Everyone was having a good time and discovering. Mark Ellwood, was, for instance, ecstatic about the onboard retail (by shopping aboard you could save so much on watches your ‘cruise’ seemed free). Maybe, just maybe, next time Girlahead will travel with an empty suitcase.
