REVIEWS


EXPLORA II Explora Journeys


LOCATION: /hi ÃiVon` Ãhi« in Ý«loÀ> oÕÀniÞý yiiÌ] Explora II began its maiden season in Rome in September. The vessel will reposition to the Caribbean for winter before sailing in the western Mediterranean for summer 2025.


FIRST IMPRESSIONS: -Ì>vv ÜiÀi vÀiin`lÞ >n` >ÌÌinÌiÛi] offering a glass of champagne as I arrived. Big enough to ovviÀ > Û>ÀiiÌÞ ov `inin}] `Àinkin} >n` inÌiÀÌ>inminÌ ÛinÕiÃ] Explora II is also small enough to feel intimate – and I got my Li>Àin}à µÕiVklÞ° /hi >ÌmoëhiÀi Ü>à Àil>Ýi`] ÜiÌh ÃÌÞliÃh `iVoÀ in Ãh>`ià ov Ì>Õ«i] Vinn>mon] VÀi>m >n` ÃilÛiÀÞ }ÀiÞ° Þ «lÕÃh "Vi>n /iÀÀ>Vi -ÕiÌi vi>ÌÕÀi` ili}>nÌ oÀn>minÌÃ] > iëÀiÃÃo <iniÕà Vovvii m>Vhini] > `>ÞLi` on Ìhi L>lVonÞ >n` }>`}iÌà ÃÕVh >à > ÞÃon h>iÀ`ÀÞiÀ] moÌion->VÌiÛ>Ìi` ni}hÌ li}hÌà >n` ÜiÀiliÃà Li`Ãi`i `iÛiVi-Vh>À}in} ÃÌ>Ìionð


THE FACTS: Explora II h>à {È£ oVi>nvÀonÌ ÃÕiÌiÃ] >ll ov ÜhiVh h>Ûi «ÀiÛ>Ìi ÌiÀÀ>ViÃ] yooÀ-Ìo-Viilin} Üin`oÜÃ] >n` Ü>lk-in wardrobes and vanity areas. There are six restaurants and 12 indoor and outdoor lounge and bar areas. Anthology is Ìhi onlÞ ÀiÃÌ>ÕÀ>nÌ ÜiÌh > VoÛiÀ Vh>À}i ­å£{ä® voÀ iÌà ÃiÛin- VoÕÀÃi À>n` />ÃÌin} inÕ° 7i >Ìi >Ì «>n-ƂÃi>n ÀiÃÌ>ÕÀ>nÌ ->kÕÀ> >n` Ìhi i` 9>VhÌ lÕL] ovviÀin}


i`iÌiÀÀ>ni>n


food. Other options include European steakhouse Marble & o]


il ,oÕ}i voÀ ÀinVh VÕiÃini] >n` m«oÀiÕm >ÀkiÌ«l>Vi]


>n >ll-`>Þ LÕvviÌ ÛinÕi° n LiÌÜiin mi>lÃ] «>ÃÃin}iÀà can enjoy afternoon tea in the Explora Lounge and sweet treats at the Gelateria & Creperie. To work off all those V>loÀiiÃ] ÌhiÀi >Ài oÕÌ`ooÀ v>ViliÌiià ÃÕVh >à /iVhno}Þm Likià >n` > L>ÃkiÌL>ll VoÕÀÌ° /hiÀi½Ã > «ool in Ìhi ë>] ÜhiVh >lÃo Lo>ÃÌà > im>l>Þ>n Ã>lÌ V>Ûi] ÃÌi>m Àoom >n` ££ ÌÀi>ÌminÌ Àoomð /hiÀi >Ài voÕÀ oÌhiÀ «oolÃ] «lÕà wÛi in`ooÀ >n` oÕÌ`ooÀ ÜhiÀl«oolÃ] >n` È{ V>L>n>ð oÀi Ãh>`Þ areas have been added following customer feedback on Explora I° "ÌhiÀ v>ViliÌiià inVlÕ`i Ìhi >ÕÌilÕà lÕL voÀ ki`Ã] Ìhi oÕÀniÞà oÕn}i] > Ãm>ll V>Ãino >n` > m>lÌ ÜhiÃkÞ L>À°


EXPLORE: /hiÀi½Ã > Üi`i À>n}i ov ÃhoÀi iÝVÕÀÃionÃ] m>nÞ ÜiÌh > voVÕà on voo` >n` VÕlÌÕÀ>l iÝ«iÀiinViÃ] ÃÕVh


aspiretravelclub.co.uk


IDEAL FOR: Clients who stay in hotels such as Six Senses or oÕÀ -i>Ãonà ÜoÕl` wn` > homi vÀom homi on Explora II. The lini >lÃo h>à iÛinÌà voÀ Ãolo ÌÀ>ÛilliÀÃ] Ühili iÌà *ÀiÃm «Ào}À>mmi organises gatherings and activities for LGBTQIA+ passengers.


WOW: /hi viil on Lo>À` ià Ão«hiÃÌiV>Ìi`] VonÌim«oÀ>ÀÞ >n` cosmopolitan – with no sense of formality. The attention to `iÌ>il in Ìhi `iVoÀ] ÃÕiÌià >n` «ÕLliV ë>Vià Ü>à Àim>Àk>Lli°


BOOK IT: Explora II’s 14-night sailing from Miami to Barbados from February 14-28, 2025, costs from £5,400 in an Ocean Terrace Suite.


EXPLORAJOURNEYS.COM Samantha Mayling


NOVEMBER 2024 ASPIRE 115


>Ã /ÀÕvyi


ÕnÌin} in >}iV>l iÌioÀ> >n` ->nÌoÀini ÕlÌÕÀi


and Cuisine. Explora II will also be in Monaco for the oÀmÕl> "ni À>n` *ÀiÝ in >Þ ÓäÓx°


CREDIT: Ivan Sarfatti


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