Explora Journeys: An Ultra-Luxury Family Cruise That Delivers for all Generations

From the moment we approached the ship, its elegant lines and cascading decks hinted at the thoughtful design on board. Several inviting pools shimmered in the afternoon sun, including those aft-tiered terraces that became a fast favourite. After boarding, we made our way to the Emporium Marketplace - Explora's elevated take on the buffet restaurant - via the main pool, its retractable roof open to the cloudless sky. This became our daily lunch spot. Always stocked with fresh sushi and seafood, it also offered an exceptional pasta station, grill, pizza oven, rotating healthy options, and staff always on hand to help.

Dining is central to the Explora Journeys luxury cruise experience, so we immediately secured our restaurant bookings with the maître d' who made herself available at Marble & Co. Grill and remained a visible and welcoming presence throughout the cruise. Our preference for an early table means we must be organised and seeing the booking slots fill quickly on the Explora app I'd recommend all guests secure their dining at the first available opportunity.

Next stop was the Nautilus Club - a haven for children aged six to 17. It's a cool, contemporary space, particularly suited to teens, featuring game consoles, a pool table, and offering an unscheduled programme of activities between 9am to midnight, although on my cruise this was morning to 11pm or 2pm to 11pm during a port day. The multilingual team of three were fantastic, allowing our nearly six-year-old to stay without an adult when with her older sister. From ship-wide Easter scavenger hunts to sports and crafts, the activities were engaging and inclusive. They even offered to escort our girls to the Emporium Marketplace for a supervised dinner should we have wished to enjoy dinner à deux.

Explora I is masterfully laid out to support multi-generational cruises, ensuring families feel welcome without dominating the space. Adults in search of tranquillity will appreciate the serene Helios pool (exclusively for adults), refined lounges such as the Malt Whisky Bar provide stylish sanctuaries, whilst the Astern Lounge with pool table is great for younger guests. Entertainment varied from DJ-led sailaway vibes at the Sky Bar to a Billy Joel tribute in the show lounge - broad enough to appeal to all ages.

Thoughtful details enhance the experience throughout. For example, one of the five public whirlpools is subtly marked as family-friendly, leaving the others undisturbed for quieter enjoyment. Dining was similarly well managed. With no central restaurant, guests dine across seven elegant venues, from the Mediterranean-inspired Med Yacht Club to the sophisticated Sakura (my personal favourite). The menus remain constant but are supplemented by daily specials, and although there's no formal kids' menu, staff adapt dishes with ease - miso-glaze salmon was just pan fried, starters were upsized, and plenty of sides could be combined with pared-back mains. And of course, as everything is included it's easy to order a few extra bits to try. If your children are comfortable in a refined setting, they'll be more than well looked after - and so will you.

Accommodation options support luxury family travel needs perfectly. Entry-level Ocean Terrace Suites and Ocean Grand Terrace Suites, with even more generous balconies, are suitable for families who want interconnecting rooms, triples, or twin configurations. Premier Penthouses and Grand Penthouse offer separate sleeping and living spaces - ideal for ultra luxury family cruise travellers seeking privacy alongside togetherness, whilst several of the Residences can interconnect with smaller room types to create expansive two-bedroom suite options where parents, or grandparents, can enjoy an indulgent level of refinement and kids have their own space.

Our overwhelmingly positive experience suggests Explora Journeys is making serious strides into a growing segment of the luxury travel market - tempting families away from the traditional villa holiday towards a small ship cruise experience where every member enjoys independence, indulgence, and seamless service.

On the horizon, Explora III promises even more for families, with expanding Nautilus to have separate kids' and teens' spaces and plan to welcome kids of an even younger age. Combined with new destinations in Alaska, South America, and Arabia - alongside the established Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Northern Europe itineraries - Explora Journeys is defining what a truly ultra-luxury cruise can be for families.