PortMiami welcomed Explora I for her maiden call, marking the ship's debut in South Florida. The vessel is the first of a fleet of six for the luxury ocean travel brand.
"We take immense pride in introducing our remarkable new ship, EXPLORA I, to the Magic City," said Michael Ungerer, CEO of Explora Journeys. "Miami is a paramount destination and important gateway to the Caribbean for ocean travel and it is a privilege to showcase our new ship and immersive journeys to this market."
The maritime tradition of a crest exchange to celebrate a ship's first visit to a destination took place on 03 NOV 2023 at PortMiami.
"As the cruise industry continues to rebound and make a strong comeback, we are grateful for our new partnership with Explora Journeys," said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. "Their commitment to providing a world-class experience to passengers and a net zero-carbon emissions target by 2050 is critical to keeping PortMiami on the cutting edge of the cruise industry."
Following her maiden call, Explora I set sail from Miami to San Juan, Puerto Rico. From NOV through MAR. the luxury ship will explore the Caribbean and Central America, calling on ports like Samana/Dominican Republic and Bridgetown/Barbados, with stops in Antigua and Barbuda, Turks and Caicos, Cartagena, Saint Barthélemy and the Grenadines, among others, before heading to the U.S.' West Coast.
"Journeys aboard EXPLORA I aim to transport guests to an 'Ocean State of Mind' by delivering best-in-class service, exquisite onboard offerings and immersive destination experiences, authentic to the places the ship serves," commented Ungerer.
As Open Jaw reported, Explora I first set sail in JUL 2023. In OCT, Open Jaw President Nina Slawek spent a week exploring a new concept in luxury cruising on Explora Journeys’ first ship. During the voyage, a guest onboard shared that it was like “nothing you would expect and everything you would hope for.”
Explora II will enter service in the summer of 2024 and operate until APR 2025 in the Mediterranean Sea and the Middle East. Explora III and Explora will enter service in 2026 and 2027. Explora V and Explora VI will enter service in 2027 and 2028.
More information on Explora Journey's website.
