Cruise Question: Explora Journeys 1&2 Cruise Ships

[pedro47]

How any TUGGER heard or sailed on the Explora Journeys Cruise Line? This a new premium cruise line out of Europe and apart of the MSC Cruise Line.

 

[Passepartout]

How any TUGGER heard or sailed on the Explora Journeys Cruise Line? This a new premium cruise line out of Europe and apart of the MSC Cruise Line.

Putting 'premium cruise line' and 'MSC Cruise Line' in the same sentence seems like a contradiction in terms. Now, Ritz Carlton Cruises and Premium Cruise Line goes together like a hand on your wallet.

 

[pedro47]

Passepartout, please read Cruise Critics, Cruise Critics “Best in Cruise Awards for 2024“. and Explora Journeys beat out many of the established cruise. Their overall rating are must higher than Celebrity Cruise Lines, Regents and Oceania Cruise Lines.

Plus EJ 1 & 2 have all suite stateroom, with true balconies.

You need to read Cruise Critics. IMHO.

Confucious, said read it with your own eyes.

 

[pedro47]

Putting 'premium cruise line' and 'MSC Cruise Line' in the same sentence seems like a contradiction in terms. Now, Ritz Carlton Cruises and Premium Cruise Line goes together like a hand on your wallet.

You need to cruise MSC Yacht Cub. It is large than Celebrity Suite Retreat area with better views, food and service. Passepartout, please read the reviews on Cruise Critics and compared the two for suite guests. You maybe surprise.

Now MSC have up the cruise vacation level with their two (2) luxury Explora Journeys ships. They are all suite with less than 1,000 passengers on board, they have upgraded their food served in all these restaurants.

 

[Ken555]

How any TUGGER heard or sailed on the Explora Journeys Cruise Line? This a new premium cruise line out of Europe and apart of the MSC Cruise Line.

Yes, I've heard of it… I’d be tempted one day, but if I was going to spend that much I would likely go on Ponant instead.

 

[Passepartout]

Now MSC have up the cruise vacation level with their two (2) luxury Explora Journeys ships. They are all suite with less than 1,000 passengers on board, they have upgraded their food served in all these restaurants.

OK, OK, I got the memo. I retract my quick and unstudied response. At this time, however, I can't see changing loyalties from Celebrity in favor of an all-suite (and VERY expensive) alternative.

Now, maybe, if I hit a lottery and 'my ship comes in', my caregivers and entourage can hoist my old, tired bones onto one of those double sized lounges around the pool and gently spoon a few tastes of the chef-prepared delicacies into my waiting mouth. Until then, the Celebrity Retreat will have to do.

Be sure and write on your experiences when you get back.

 

[GrayFal]

You need to cruise MSC Yacht Cub. It is large than Celebrity Suite Retreat area with better views, food and service. Passepartout, please read the reviews on Cruise Critics and compared the two for suite guests. You maybe surprise.

Now MSC have up the cruise vacation level with their two (2) luxury Explora Journeys ships. They are all suite with less than 1,000 passengers on board, they have upgraded their food served in all these restaurants.

I have heard the same about MSC Yacht Club - a great experience.
Not so great about the lesser categories but they are catering to a different clientele .

 

[jorcus]

How any TUGGER heard or sailed on the Explora Journeys Cruise Line? This a new premium cruise line out of Europe and apart of the MSC Cruise Line.

If the price was right I don't think I would hesitate to get on one of those ships. Having said that I think everyone has to ask themselves what they want to get out of a cruise in the first place. Are you a person that wants to be on the boat or use the boat to get to places to get off the boat? Who do you want to be on ship with you? You can't always control that but cruises have target markets. Kids vs no kids. Elegant vs casual or something in between. Mobility issues. Are the port times long enough if you are an off the ship person? How hard is it to get to to the embark / debark ports? What's the added cost.

There seem to be 2 higher end classes of cruise ships. Luxury vs Premium. It seems like they have geared Explora to compete with the Luxury market. So Compare to Viking, Silver sea, and Regent to name a few. The Premium market would include Azamara and Oceana. The Explora ships are a bit larger than many of the other Lux/Premium ships. This is important to think about. They can offer more on ship experiences but may not be able to dock at smaller destinations or off load as quickly.

Because these ships sail from port to port with out repeating the same cruises over and over you will find many people who do back to back or more cruises. I was amazed at some of the stories on the Azamara cruise of how people just lock up the house or condo and cruise around for months at a time. It's cool but not for me. Many of those people cruised on a number of the Lux lines. I don't remember Explora coming up in conversation but it fits the profile of what these people do.

I would not worry too much about what you read on Cruise critic. People can be pretty picky about small stuff. I saw a whole thread about the type of Tonic water the ship was using. Good luck I hope you get to go.

 

[pedro47]

OK, OK, I got the memo. I retract my quick and unstudied response. At this time, however, I can't see changing loyalties from Celebrity in favor of an all-suite (and VERY expensive) alternative.

Now, maybe, if I hit a lottery and 'my ship comes in', my caregivers and entourage can hoist my old, tired bones onto one of those double sized lounges around the pool and gently spoon a few tastes of the chef-prepared delicacies into my waiting mouth. Until then, the Celebrity Retreat will have to do.

Be sure and write on your experiences when you get back.

To the OP, when I include all the extras I’m paying with Celebrity. The Explora Journey suite experience is only $300.00 more per person for the cruise. We are Elite Plus with Celebrity and we loved sailing on new The Ascent.

We would not hit Zenith with Celebrity unless. We hit the Mega Lottery. LOL

We start sailing with Celebrity Cruise Line on The Century.
Michael Rourke was the head chef with Celebrity back in does days.

 

[pedro47]

I have heard the same about MSC Yacht Club - a great experience.
Not so great about the lesser categories but they are catering to a different clientele .

I agree, we would only sail with MSC in their Yacht Club Suites.
But the EJ 2, is a whole difference cruise experience. We cruise for accommodation, service and fine dining restaurants. IMHO.

 

[pedro47]

If the price was right I don't think I would hesitate to get on one of those ships. Having said that I think everyone has to ask themselves what they want to get out of a cruise in the first place. Are you a person that wants to be on the boat or use the boat to get to places to get off the boat? Who do you want to be on ship with you? You can't always control that but cruises have target markets. Kids vs no kids. Elegant vs casual or something in between. Mobility issues. Are the port times long enough if you are an off the ship person? How hard is it to get to to the embark / debark ports? What's the added cost.

There seem to be 2 higher end classes of cruise ships. Luxury vs Premium. It seems like they have geared Explora to compete with the Luxury market. So Compare to Viking, Silver sea, and Regent to name a few. The Premium market would include Azamara and Oceana. The Explora ships are a bit larger than many of the other Lux/Premium ships. This is important to think about. They can offer more on ship experiences but may not be able to dock at smaller destinations or off load as quickly.

Because these ships sail from port to port with out repeating the same cruises over and over you will find many people who do back to back or more cruises. I was amazed at some of the stories on the Azamara cruise of how people just lock up the house or condo and cruise around for months at a time. It's cool but not for me. Many of those people cruised on a number of the Lux lines. I don't remember Explora coming up in conversation but it fits the profile of what these people do.

I would not worry too much about what you read on Cruise critic. People can be pretty picky about small stuff. I saw a whole thread about the type of Tonic water the ship was using. Good luck I hope you get to go.

You are going to get my in trouble on CC, the posters on that website are pro Celebrity cruisers. However, they disliked Celebrity new Edge ships because of their IV cabins because it does not have a true balcony.