Istanbul: The Prologue

We built in an overnight in Istanbul before the cruise, arriving late on Friday afternoon with just enough time to head to Taksim Square. Despite the Friday night crowds, it felt completely safe and vibrant – the kind of energy that makes you immediately want to return and explore everything properly. Mental note made: Istanbul deserves more than a stopover.

Embarkation at Galataport had been disarmingly smooth; within minutes we were welcomed aboard and shown to our suite – upgraded to a Premier Penthouse, which gave all three of us our own space and privacy, which would matter much more than we realised.

Finding Our Sea Legs

The real magic began with the Sail Away experience at Sky Bar on Deck 14, which remains one of my favourite evenings of the entire trip – full of anticipation, the bar alive with DJ beats (a perfect mix of classics and Ibiza-style tracks) and chatter, as the city’s silhouette faded from view. This was the moment we all looked at each other and thought: okay, maybe we do get this cruise thing.

From the very first evening, the balance struck me: this wasn’t a stiff, formal cruise, nor a noisy floating theme park. Explora manages that rare alchemy of relaxed luxury: staff greeted us by name within 24 hours, remembered how we took our coffee, and moved with a quiet confidence that made everything feel effortless. Another revelation was that passengers can book a Rolex appointment and potentially buy one the same day (apparently a rarity on cruises).

What surprised me most was how quickly the ship revealed itself to be something different for each of us on sea days. The daily programme, delivered to our suite each evening, listed everything from morning yoga and solo traveller coffee meet-ups to pickleball tournaments and afternoon tea. You could do as much or as little as you wanted.

Nick took to the pickleball courts with coaching that left him unexpectedly competitive. Tia gravitated to Crema Café, happily chatting over iced coffees with fellow passengers of all ages. But my personal sanctuary was the Atoll Pool on Deck 10, strawberry daiquiri in hand, staring out across the endless sweep of Mediterranean blue. One afternoon we headed to the Conservatory bar and pool deck to watch the Belgian Grand Prix on the giant screen – and later that night a movie under the stars. And we would all spend long, languid hours by one of the five pools (two of which are adults-only).

The Rhythm of Port Days

After a leisurely breakfast – either in our suite or at the Emporium Marketplace – each port of call added texture and contrast to our days. Lesbos was green and expansive. Paros greeted us with its narrow alleyways spilling over with shops and tavernas. In Palermo, we got pleasantly lost finding the cathedral, stumbling upon hidden piazzas along the way, and Porto Santo Stefano felt refreshingly un-touristy – a proper fishing and sailing town where locals lingered over lunch and pebble beaches unfurled quietly.

Naples lived up to its gritty reputation, but Pompeii – haunting in its preservation – was absolutely unforgettable, and Sorrento’s Piazza Tasso sparkled with lemon stalls and cafés spilling onto cobbles – we laughed as every corner seemed to offer yet another limoncello. It was this particular excursion which underscored for us just how seamless Explora’s operation is. We’d left Tia onboard that afternoon and, on our way back, a road closure delayed us by over two hours – but not once did we worry. The crew had told Tia the ship would not sail until we returned and, while she later admitted she had been worried, knowing the ship was waiting made all the difference. That kind of reassurance is priceless for families, though it is worth noting that the ship only waits for passengers on organised excursions.

Where We Ate (A Lot)

Every dining venue exceeded expectations, but we all had our own favourites. Sakura became Tia’s obsession – cherry blossom details everywhere, an open-seating sushi bar, salmon nigiri and sashimi so fresh she would have happily eaten there every night. For me, it was the lobster thermidor at Fil Rouge: rich, indulgent, and perfectly cooked, served with slick but unfussy service in slightly more formal surroundings. And Nick declared the steaks at Marble & Co the best of the entire trip.

We had also heard extraordinary things about Anthology, the Italian fine dining option (which carries an additional supplement), though we never made it there ourselves… there were too many other temptations! And, like Tia, I also made a beeline for Crema Café, for its incredible pasteis de nata and lattes that begged to be lingered over. It became my daily ritual – half an hour’s peace with a book, sea rolling endlessly beyond. Tia would roll her eyes at my predictability. I didn’t care.

Who It’s For

Explora I is pitched perfectly for those who want boutique intimacy without sacrificing facilities. We saw guests across generations, but most were couples and families in their thirties to sixties, enjoying the easy rhythm of sea and shore. Safety protocols for under-18s are watertight (literally: when Tia once tried to disembark without us, her key card immediately flagged her as a minor). Solo travellers are discreetly looked after with meetups and pins, while non-drinkers are gently signalled so staff don’t make awkward assumptions.

Of course, Explora I isn’t for everyone. Entertainment is deliberately low-key – trivia tournaments, movies shown on the Conservatory’s big screen, and casual evening programming rather than Broadway-style productions. The spa is superb but eye-wateringly expensive, and excursions can be pricey too, so you’d be wise to pre-book before boarding through Explora’s app (which also handles restaurant reservations). And those who crave strict formal nights may find the dress code too relaxed. But for us, those trade-offs were part of the appeal.