Page 134 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL SPRING 2025 GRAND VOYAGE
P. 134
EXPLORA
CASUAL LUXURY CRUISING WITH EXPLORA JOURNEYS
By Tom Gable
ver the decades, we’ve enjoyed ral ship, Explora I, in 2023, then Explora II in
cruising, from our first trip in the 2024, to be followed by one more ship each
O Mediterranean aboard a 125-pas- year, and to reach a fleet of six ships in
senger Windstar to larger ships with Re- 2028.
gent Seven Seas, Crystal, Lindblad, Paul Its first two ships have 461 suites and a
Gauguin, and Carnival, to eight couples on crew of 900 each, for a staff-to-guest ratio
the tiny Aqua Amazon. of better than 1:1. Explora III will be slightly
In the ever-evolving world of luxury larger, with 463 suites. My wife, Laura
travel, we were pleased to be introduced to Gable, a luxury travel advisor, is on the ad-
a new line, Explora Journeys, the latest visory board for her agency, Traveledge.
venture from the MSC Group, based in Its board meets quarterly, and companions
Geneva, Switzerland. It launched its inaugu- and Sherpas are sometimes welcomed. I
134 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE SPRING 2025
