Explora Journeys has unveiled the design of its Ocean Terrace Suites on its first ship, EXPLORA I, ahead of her maiden journey in Summer 2023. Explora Journeys was born from a long-held vision of the founders, the Aponte Vago family. With the family’s nautical heritage of over 300 years coupled with their innate understanding of luxury, the family has carefully curated the design of the suites, penthouses & residences to create a luxurious home at sea. The design reflects the brand’s philosophy of creating an Ocean State of Mind, thanks to light, color, space, privacy, and connection with the sea. 

Exquisitely designed to stimulate the senses and enhance the connection with the ocean, the Aponte Vago family has worked meticulously in collaboration with some of the world’s foremost superyacht, cruise, and luxury hospitality designers and architects. The innovative ship will seamlessly blend elegant Swiss precision with modern European craftsmanship and vibrant design, to create luxurious, serene, and spacious ‘Homes at Sea’ ranging from 35 sqm (377 sq ft) in the Ocean Terrace category up to 280 sqm (3014 sq ft) for the Owners Residence.

Each suite has been created with simplicity and comfort as the focus, and presents unrivaled space and privacy to offer a real ‘Home at Sea’. The lead in category Ocean Terrace Suites and the 39 sqm (420 sq ft) Ocean Grand Terrace Suites are some of the largest in the industry, and feature their own private terrace, between 7-11 sqm (75-118 sq ft), creating an extension to the living space complete with daybeds and an alfresco dining area, bringing guests closer to the ocean.

Elevating the suites to a luxurious home, each ‘Home at Sea’ is comprised of a walk-in wardrobe with a seated vanity area and features a Dyson Supersonic hairdryer, heated floors in the bathrooms, personal binoculars, wireless bed-side charging, a personal mini-bar replenished according to the guests’ preferences, an espresso machine with bio-degradable pods, a kettle and teapot, and a complimentary personal refillable water bottle for each guest. 24-hour guest services also ensure every desire or request is provided.

Michael Ungerer, Chief Executive Officer of Explora Journeys, said “The Homes at Sea have been a long-held vision of the Aponte Vago family. It is a truly exciting and profound moment for us to be able to welcome future guests to the carefully curated suites, penthouses, and residences. Marrying the family`s impeccable taste and innate understanding of luxury, inspired by their personal travels and style, the interiors of EXPLORA I have been designed with their enduring dedication and an incredible eye for detail, along with their vision for the future, weaving a thread of their passion throughout each touchpoint. We aspire to elevate the ocean experience and luxury travel to new heights, whilst being respectful to the ocean, environment, and the destinations and cultures we discover, to ensure we leave a positive legacy for generations to come.”

The European family roots and refined sense of style, inform an intuitive appreciation of design and luxury, which Explora Journeys embodies through its contemporary, cosmopolitan, boutique hotel vibe – vibrant, yet chic and intimate. Each of the 461 ocean-front suites, penthouses, and residences comes with its own spacious private terrace, boasting floor-to-ceiling windows to maximize natural light, a neutral color palette, and a suite layout designed to indulge in the marine environment.

Fusing a plethora of Italian interior details, each suite depicts true elegance and sophistication. Suites will be furnished with some of the best of Italian and European design furniture, such as Molteni&C, part of the Molteni Group, the leading independent industrial group in the high-end furniture sector with 100% Italian production. The identity of Molteni&C lives in all the Explora suites through high-quality products and iconic pieces by Gio Ponti, all marked by the core values of Molteni: tradition, quality, durability, and reliability, supported by research and innovation. The lighting throughout the suites has been styled to create an intimate lighting concept. Linear lights integrated with the suite's furnishings offer an equally functional and design-led element, mirroring the linear flow from the entrance to the window of the suites, to give a clear perspective of the well-equilibrated spaces.

Conscious luxury is reflected in the choice of materials and Explora Journeys’ commitment to sustainability is demonstrated in their dedication to responsible sourcing of materials, and eco-friendly details such as refillable bathroom amenities and no single-use plastic on board.