Explora I: the ship that started the line.
Explora I launched in 2023 and set the template for the brand: an all-suite, all-oceanfront ship with a calm, design-led atmosphere. It's the most-sailed and most-reviewed ship in the fleet, which makes it the safest known quantity if you want a proven product.
The essentials
- Launched: 2023, the first ship in the fleet
- Suites: 461, all with private oceanfront terraces
- Guests: up to 922, at a guest-to-host ratio of about 1.25 to 1
- Pools: 5, including the retractable-roof Helios Pool
- Dining: 6 restaurants plus bars, lounges, and 24-hour in-suite dining
- Godmother: Sylvia Earle, the oceanographer, fitting for a brand that leans on its "ocean state of mind" identity
What it's like
Explora I is spacious and unhurried. Because every accommodation is a suite with a terrace, there's no sense of a hierarchy of rooms, and the public spaces are generous for the guest count. The design is contemporary rather than the gilded-cruise-ship look, closer to a design hotel. The food is a genuine strength, with the included Sakura and Marble & Co. among the highlights. The full dining lineup is here.
Who should book Explora I specifically
If you want the most proven ship with the longest track record, Explora I is it. In practice, though, I is functionally identical to Explora II, so I'd let the itinerary and the date drive the decision rather than the hull number. If you're choosing between the current fleet and the new Explora III, that's a more meaningful decision, and I've laid it out separately.