Sailing Aboard Explora III: My Perspective After Experiencing All Three Ships

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After more than four decades of reviewing ships around the world, I’ve learned something.

The best cruise ships aren’t always the biggest. They’re not always the newest. And they’re certainly not always the flashiest.

The best ships are the ones you miss after you leave them. 

Feeling the Journey

I was fortunate to be invited to Explora III’s naming ceremony, joining industry friends, travel partners, and the global media to celebrate the arrival of the newest ship in the Explora Journeys fleet.

The ceremony was memorable (Cristina Ozores makes a fascinating godmother), but if I’m being honest, what I was really looking forward to was spending several days on board.

Having already sailed Explora I and Explora II, I wasn’t looking for a prettier ship; that would be a really tall order. No, I wanted to find out whether Explora Journeys had taken everything it learned from the first two ships and made the experience even better.

By the time my voyage came to an end, I had my answer: Yes … but probably not for the reasons you’d expect.

The first thing you’ll notice is that Explora III really is absolutely beautiful. But there are plenty of beautiful ships sailing today.

What impressed me wasn’t the marble, the décor, or the artwork. It was how the ship made me feel.

Even though Explora III is larger than her two sisters, it never feels larger in the “more people, more crowds” sense. In fact, it feels even more spacious.

Instead of filling every available inch with more suites, Explora Journeys preserved one of the things I love most about the brand: space.

Whether I was relaxing by the pool, wandering through the public areas or simply looking for a quiet place to enjoy the ocean, I never felt crowded.

Isn’t that what luxury cruising is supposed to be?

Sustaining Conversations

One of my favorite discoveries was The Cellar.

I’ll admit it — I enjoy a good glass of wine, and somehow I kept ending up there before dinner.

It’s relaxed, comfortable and welcoming. Nobody expects you to know everything about wine. You simply sit down, start talking, and let the team introduce you to something new.

I did, and I wasn’t disappointed.

Fair warning: If you stop by for just one glass, don’t be surprised if you’re still there an hour later talking with people you met five minutes earlier.

That’s one of the things I love about cruising.

Another addition I really enjoyed was The Chef’s Table.

If you’re a foodie, don’t miss dining here. Every course has a purpose, every dish has a story, and you can tell the chefs really do enjoy what they’re creating.

I found myself talking about the cuisine almost as much as I was enjoying it … and that’s saying something.

What I appreciated most is that these additions weren’t made just so Explora could say it had more dining venues. They actually add something to the voyage.

Long after the cruise ends, you’ll remember the experience … not just the menu. Meal after meal was consistently excellent, astounding, outstanding in quality, presentation, and variety.

The expanded in-suite dining menu was another pleasant surprise. Some evenings, there’s nothing better than enjoying dinner on your own terrace while watching the sun disappear over the horizon.

Healthy Flow

One of the smartest changes on this ship is something many guests probably won’t think about until they experience it. The Fitness Centre and Ocean Wellness area are finally together.

That may not sound like a big deal, but after spending time on board, you’ll see how everything flows naturally. The entire space feels like one complete wellness destination.

By the third day, I realized something that sounds funny. I was actually looking forward to going to the gym. I know!

It wasn’t because I suddenly became a fitness fanatic. It was because this place never felt like a gym. It felt warm, inviting, and comfortable. Instead of forcing myself to work out, I actually wanted to be there.

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The Technogym equipment is among the finest you’ll find anywhere at sea, but what really caught my attention was the attention to detail. Even the dumbbells carry the Technogym and Explora Journeys branding. That’s a little thing. Then again, Explora III is full of little things that make a difference. Little differences that add up. 

So, in this case, my mornings quickly developed into a routine: First, coffee. Then, a walk around the running track. A little quiet time before the ship came alive.

For me, that morning walk became the best therapy imaginable. Fresh sea air, endless ocean views, and absolutely nowhere else I had to be.

One morning, I joined the running club — not for the running, but for meeting people. It was a great decision. Some of the best conversations on a cruise don’t happen over dinner. They happen while walking around the deck at sunrise.

Padel, an international version of pickleball, turned out to be another social hotspot. Every time I walked by, somebody was playing, somebody was laughing, and somebody was cheering. Whether guests had played before or were trying it for the first time, everyone seemed to be having fun.

Those moments are something Explora does remarkably well. It creates opportunities for people to connect naturally.

Sea Changes

Another feature I kept coming back to was Galleria d’Arte.

Curated in partnership with Clarendon Fine Art, it feels less like artwork hanging on a ship and more like walking through a real gallery. What I loved most was that the artwork changed throughout the voyage.

I’d walk through the same corridor a day later and discover an entirely different painting. I actually found myself slowing down just to see what was new. What are we looking at today? 

I never thought I’d say that about an art gallery on a cruise ship.

And then there’s the crew.

Yes, Explora III is a beautiful ship. But if you asked me what really makes this ship special, it would be the people.

From the moment I stepped onto the gangplank, every interaction felt genuine. Nobody seemed to be reading from a script. People smiled because they wanted to. Conversations happened naturally.

One of the nicest surprises was seeing so many familiar faces from Explora I and Explora II. It honestly felt like seeing old friends again.

What made it even more special was realizing they were just as excited to be aboard Explora III as I was. Their enthusiasm was contagious. This was a great ship filled with great people.

As my voyage came to an end, I found myself thinking about why I enjoyed Explora III so much. Yes, it’s a beautiful ship. The cuisine is outstanding, the wellness offerings are first-rate, and the new venues are terrific additions.

But if you asked me what I’ll remember a year from now, it won’t be any one restaurant or one lounge. It’ll be the people, the familiar crew members who welcomed me back like an old friend.

It’ll also be those quiet morning walks around the deck with nothing but the sound of the sea, and it’ll be the conversations over a glass of wine in The Cellar. It’ll be all those little improvements that, by themselves, might not seem like a big deal, but together make Explora III feel like the most complete ship in the fleet.

I’ve been fortunate to sail on all three Explora ships, and what’s impressed me most is watching the brand evolve without losing what made it special in the first place.

In a business where cruise lines are always trying to build something bigger or flashier, Explora Journeys has taken a different approach. They haven’t forgotten that, at the end of the day, luxury isn’t measured by how many restaurants or suites a ship has.

It’s measured by how a ship makes you feel.

For me, Explora III felt welcoming. It felt familiar.

And when I walked down the gangway for the last time, I caught myself doing something I always pay attention to: I was already thinking about when I could come back.