Explora to host ‘as many agents as possible’ in revamped fam programme
Speaking to Cruise Trade News, Explora Journeys’ vice president international sales Antonio Paradiso said the luxury line plans to welcome more agents onboard than ever before following the launch of its second ship, Explora II
On Sunday (15 September), the cruise industry came together in Civitavecchia for the naming ceremony of Explora II. The ship, which set sail on its maiden journey on 16 September to Sicily, Malta and Spain, boasts 461 oceanfront suites, penthouses and residences, six restaurants, 12 bars and lounges, four swimming pools, and a variety of wellness venues.
The ceremony also saw the keel-laying ceremony for EXPLORA III, a new liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered vessel which is set to enter into service in 2026.
Cruise Trade News sat down with Explora Journeys’ Antonio Paradiso to learn more about the luxury line’s trade engagement plans and to ask what we can expect from the upcoming Explora III.
What features of Explora II do you think guests will be most excited to experience?
For me the real standout is always the food. The quality of the food and the delivery are exceptional, and as a customer you are always really spoiled for choice. From Sakura to Fil Rouge, everyday you’re in for a brand-new experience.
The other thing I’m particularly in love with is the look and feel of the ship. It has a subtle European elegance. It’s not in your face, you can appreciate it without feeling overwhelmed. Ultimately that’s the whole purpose of Explora Journeys. It’s the opportunity for you to reach the ‘ocean state of mind’ as we call it.
Then there’s the accommodation. So much attention has been paid to the little details, like the lights that adjust as you’re getting out of bed, the coffee and tea making facilities, the bathroom design and the walk-in wardrobe. And my favourite touch is the fact that you can find a different selection of books in every suite.
How will you be looking to engage with the UK trade now Explora II has fully launched?
At Explora Journeys we do a range of fam trips – or as call them, Insider First Looks – on a regular basis. Last year alone we had more than 300 agents from the UK and Ireland come aboard Explora I to see it and experience it themselves.
It’s part of the educational process we have implemented since day one. We try and host as many advisors as possible because you can do all the talking but if you don’t feel it and experience it yourself, you will never fully embrace the philosophy behind Explora Journeys.
With Explora II we finally have a fleet and the fact that this ship will be based in Europe, covering East and West Mediterranean, will increase the opportunity to arrange more fam trips. We have a big one coming up in October which I’ll be hosting with Priti Mehta, our head of sales, but I would say pretty much every two-to-three weeks there’s a new fam trip.
How will you be looking to lure the new-to-cruise market to the brand?
What we try to do is invite all sectors of the industry, so we’re not just focusing on agents or retailers, we’re also inviting brands that have never sold cruises before. They might be specialised in luxury hotels, but by having them onboard they understand what Explora Journeys stands for, because ultimately this is a luxury boutique hotel at sea.
That also explains the strategy that we’re pursuing. It’s not about stealing customers from other luxury cruise lines – yes, we’ll have many passengers switch from one brand to another – but ultimately our core mission is to attract new-to-cruise [guests] and to attract customers who spend their holidays in a luxury boutique hotel somewhere on land.
A lot has been made of Explora II’s sustainability features, can you tell us a bit more about the work that’s gone into minimising the ship’s impact on the planet?
When it comes to MSC group, sustainability is always one of our main drivers. Some of the key eco-friendly highlights would be that Explora II is equipped with shore to power facilities, which means that every time the ship is docked we don’t need to run our fuel as we can rely on local electric grid.
We’ve always been ahead of the game when it comes to water and waste treatment because we have the opportunity to test new systems on larger ships, so all the latest technology has been implemented on board Explora II. We are also looking at the possibility of implementing LNG on Explora III and Explora IIII.
What can you tell us about Explora III and how will it differ from Explora I and Explora II?
They’re going to be slightly longer; we’re looking at an additional 11 metres. There will be a few tweaks in terms of offering on board, which will apply to restaurants and boutiques, but ultimately the main mission is to increase the public space onboard and slightly increase the number of top suites, because we’ve realised those are the first ones to be sold.
The real standout is the crew to guest ratio. We’re looking at 1.25 guests to every one crew member which says a lot about our attention to detail and level of service.
There’s also an opportunity to adopt LNG on board. Those are the key highlights. Hopefully this time next year we will be able to disclose a bit more information.
When it comes to pitching Explora to consumers, what are some of the key features agents should promote and are there any misconceptions about the luxury cruise sector you’d like to address?
Sometimes there’s a misconception about how expensive these experiences can be, but ultimately if you see how much is include in the price proposition, I think it’s exceptional value for money.
Rather than focus on the price, I invite travel advisors to focus on the experience and what’s included in the bundle. I would suggest agents focus on the itineraries we provide because this ship is doing something different pretty much every week. We offer the perfect blend of well-known destinations that we use to facilitate accessibility, like Barcelona, Rome, Naples, with at least two off-the-beaten-track destinations.
We have the largest suites at sea and Explora Journeys provides the best culinary experiences, hands down.
Explora II was originally delayed for several months to allow more time for “final touches” to be made to the vessel. The luxury line also recently unveiled Anna Nash as its new president. She joins the senior leadership team following a career in the luxury market spanning two decades.
