Explora Journeys - 4
The godmother of Explora III is Cristina Ozores, the renowned marine educator, diving instructor and conservationist who co-founded Vellmarí in the Balearic Islands. Onboard EXPLORA III, she and the boss of the extraordinarily commendable MSC Foundation described what has already been achieved through marine education and seagrass restoration—and what that work means for the ocean, its inhabitants and humanity. Cristina Ozores is already part of the family, or families – inner core the Aponte Vagos, supported peripherally by the MSC giant, of which Explora Journeys is a vital part. The fact that all this is family-owned actually gives a great sense of loyalty amongst all those working on EXPLORA III, many of whom moved here from EXPLORA I, launched 2023, and the 2024-vintage EXPLORA II. You can see the company-wide camaraderie when talking to the lovely, affable, and so-talented Master of EXPLORA III, Captain Serena Melani, and her officers.
They're a great crowd, those leading guys and gals - look at a line-up above, David Hockney couldn’t have bettered that as they lean over one of the upper decks postprandially after the gala dinner, watching seven highly active females gyrating and singing to the Sister Sledge 1979 best-seller ‘We are family’.
The food at the final gala banquet was truly memorable. Tuna tartare slices to start, then a pasta coil, then a small strip of perfect Wagyu, and finally a chocolate-filled meringue bombe. There were, to be honest, so many memorable dishes in the 11 eating venues aboard. How about Marble & Co Grill’s starter - below - of crushed fingerling potatoes topped with caviar? Asian restaurant Sakura, with full size towering cherry blossom trees wish for is one of the most popular. But then, oenophiles would head for the wine cellar or eve a new addition, dot, dot, dot, Clu, where Girlahead had a quick lunch of a burger filled with crushed peas. It was so good, as were the slimmest French fries she'd ever had. What more can one want? The ocean state of mind that this company, which never uses the word luxury, instills is a great feeling of joy and happiness. Watch the sunset. Get a good sleep. The stabilizers must be amazing. Girlahead didn't even realize the ship was moving. And then the sunrise in the morning. And there's nobody up on the deck at that hour. And there's time to walk around and just think. The ocean state of mind has an effect on you. Be mindful if you go on Explora Journeys.
Family ownership seems to inspire a genuine sense of loyalty among those working aboard. It is evident when talking to the lovely, affable and enormously talented master of Explora III, Captain Serena Melani, and her officers. They are a terrific crowd. Look at them above: they could almost have stepped from a Banksy painting—or perhaps a David Hockney.
Following the gala dinner, they leaned over one of the upper decks to watch the dancers below performing to Salt-N-Pepa and Sister Sledge.
The final banquet was truly memorable: slices of tuna tartare to begin, followed by a perfect coil of pasta, a small strip of exquisite Wagyu and a chocolate-filled meringue bomb.
There were so many other memorable dishes. At Marble & Co. Grill, for instance, how about the starter shown below—crushed fingerling potatoes crowned with caviar? Sakura, the Asian restaurant, is among the most popular venues. Oenophiles, meanwhile, will gravitate towards The Cellar, while the new Shore Club offers relaxed poolside dining.
Girlahead stopped there for a quick lunch: a burger filled with crushed peas, accompanied by the slimmest French fries she had ever seen. Both were extraordinarily good. What more could one want?
The Ocean State of Mind created by this company—which never uses the word “luxury”—instils a wonderful feeling of joy and contentment. Watch the sunset. Sleep deeply; the stabilisers must be remarkable because Girlahead barely realised the ship was moving. Wake for sunrise, when almost nobody else is on deck, and walk around quietly with time simply to think.
The Ocean State of Mind has an effect on you. Be mindful when you journey with Explora.
