We spent an amazing month on Explora 2 and by the time we disembarked we felt we had visited every nook and cranny.
This line was started by parent company MSC and they have delivered a 'home run' in our opinion. Their goal was to create their branded luxury line for their portfolio.
First, the ship is INCREDIBLY comfortable- Italian leather everywhere and so many seating areas for everyone to spread out and relax.
Second, the service was incredible. From our room steward to the restaurant and coffee shop service staff, we felt well taken care of from the moment we set foot on board.
We participated in the fitness center on a regular basis as well as they had a robust class offering that we actually both attended from time to time. I will say that with their focus on fitness it was disappointing that the gym is very small. There were only two ellipticals which is what I need to use for cardio and I had to be down there pretty early to be able to use it without having to wait. I believe they are addressing this on future cruise ship designs
the fitness center staff were incredible to work with they are all personal trainers as well and take the time to get to know you and understand your fitness needs. There is both interior and exterior fitness classes and equipment and based on the temperature in the Caribbean at the time of year, it was best for us to use the indoor equipment.
I will say after cruising so many different cruise lines, We were greatly impressed with the food. Their buffet- you can't even call it a buffet- There is a full-service sushi bar, fresh cooked to order seafood every night, shrimp towers, and all sorts of ceviche's as well as so many different specialties , cooked to order pasta, carving stations, and specialty pizzas every night. It was just unbelievable the quality of food.
They had two specialty restaurants that did not require any additional charge but did require reservations because there were so many people on board so this is good to know before you board. If your ship is full, you will need to make reservation.
They do have one restaurant, anthropology that is an additional up charge. You should consider this a Michelin level restaurant, and the servings are as such. It was absolutely fantastic and was a bonus that was part of our cruise fare
We had one of their entry-level rooms and were absolutely pleased. The bed was super comfortable, king-size, and luxurious linens and pillows. We had a beautiful balcony and one of my favorite features was a chaise lounge- I cannot tell you how many hours we spent out here, including watching fireworks over Puerto Rico one evening. We also had a table for dining out here as well as chairs.
One small downside is that there is only one laundry room for everyone, we jokingly called it laundry wars- but you had to time it just right in order to get your laundry done. I do wish they would build washers and dryers onto every floor so that this wasn't such a hassle.
The coffee shop was excellent and had both sweet and savory bites throughout the day. This is one of those ships where there is no food desert or times where there is not something available to eat if you want it.
We will be cruising Explora more as soon as they enhance their itineraries and we know they will as they come out with more ships. read more