Luxury Cruise with the Family on the Explora I & to the Alps
- Esther
- Aug 17
- 8 min read
This year, we went on another fantastic family cruise aboard the Explora I. We had such a great experience last time that even the boys were eager to sail on this ship again.
My husband and eldest son left a day earlier by car, driving to Munich and continuing on to Venice the next day. My youngest son and I flew there to meet them. We reunited as a family at the stunning old countryside estate, Villa Condulmer, owned by Sabrina, a singer from the 1980s. There, we enjoyed delicious food in the company of my in-laws, who live in the Veneto region.
We left the car at the hotel, as we would return there for a final overnight stay after the cruise. From Villa Condulmer, we took a taxi straight through Northern Italy to Santa Margherita, where we would spend one night. The drive was absolutely breathtaking — through the Apennines, along the Cinque Terre coastline toward Genoa. In the evening, we visited the elegant town of Portofino, where massive yachts were docked — truly impressive! The atmosphere there reminded us a little of Monaco.
The next morning, our taxi was ready at 11:00 to take us to the port of Genoa. We arrived around 11:40, with our boarding time scheduled for 13:00. The terminal was quite busy — everyone had to wait because the police hadn’t yet arrived to carry out the passport checks. Luckily, the delay was no longer than half an hour. This time, the check-in took place in the terminal itself, rather than in the Journeys Lounge on board, as it had during our previous trip. It made the first impression feel a little less chic.
Once on board, we first had lunch at the Emporium Marketplace, as the suites were not yet ready. We enjoyed all the delicious options available. At this buffet, everything is served for you — you simply point to what you’d like to eat. It’s incredibly clean and perfectly organized. Not long after lunch, the suites were ready, and our luggage had already been placed in the room. Every guest on this ship has a balcony and a suite of at least 35 square meters — honestly, you don’t need more. Each suite includes a bottle of Mercier champagne and a stainless steel water bottle with the Explora logo, to use during the cruise and take home. On the first evening, you’ll also receive an Explora bag in your cabin, which is handy to use throughout the trip.
During the sailaway from Genoa, we headed to the Sky Bar, where a DJ was playing and it really felt like a party — such a fun atmosphere!
For the first evening, we had already booked dinner at Marble & Co., the steakhouse, via the app from home. On each cruise, you can reserve one dinner at Marble & Co. and one at Sakura, the Asian restaurant. All other restaurants are open without reservation, except for the exclusive Anthology, which comes with a surcharge.
After dinner, we went to the Journeys Lounge, where a live music show started at 9:45 PM. The atmosphere was lively and fun, with lots of Motown hits and a relaxed vibe. My first impression was that the ship was a bit busier than on our previous cruise, but it was still perfectly manageable. There were clearly more children of various ages on board, but they didn’t bother us at all.
That evening, the ship was experiencing some noticeable motion, but it didn’t spoil the fun. After a great night’s sleep, I decided to do some laundry early the next morning. On decks 9 and 10, there are washing machines and dryers available, with free detergent tablets. You can even iron your clothes there – really convenient. Just make sure to go early or during a port day when most guests are off the ship.
Today we are in Civitavecchia. After doing laundry, I grabbed a delicious caramel cappuccino to go at Bacio on deck 5. Mornings starting with coffee on the balcony are so wonderful — waking up peacefully with a sea view. We stayed on board today to enjoy the sun and the ship. At the Atoll Pool it was quiet, and we were able to use a cabana. Surprisingly many guests stayed on board in this port. In the afternoon, we moved to the Conservatory Pool. Since MSC/Explora is a sponsor of Formula 1, you can watch all the trainings and races on the big screen there. My son was pleasantly surprised.
In the evening, we went to the Med Yacht Club without a reservation, but unfortunately, there was no availability. Instead, we were accommodated at Fil Rouge, where we were seated immediately. We decided to make reservations for the rest of the cruise via the app right away. Highly recommended, especially now that it’s busier. On our previous cruise, you could just walk into any restaurant, but that’s no longer the case. After dinner, we enjoyed sitting outside with a drink.
That night the clock moved forward by one hour. The next day was a sea day, en route to Corfu. During the day, there was a Q&A session with Captain Sebastiano Chrisam and his staff. Various activities were organized, such as a Greek cooking class in the professional cooking studio and a dance lesson. In the evening, the “Name That Flag” quiz took place. My son is very good at recognizing flags, so we definitely didn’t want to miss it.
In the morning, we relaxed by the Atoll Pool. Afterwards, we had lunch at the Emporium Marketplace with a Greek selection: pita gyros, baklava, and much more. Of course, the regular menu was also available: homemade hamburgers, fresh pasta, ceviche, sushi, Italian pizza... truly everything was offered.
After lunch, we enjoyed the stunning view from our balcony while passing through the Strait of Messina. The pilot boarded the ship while we were cruising at 20 knots — quite impressive to witness.
Around 2 PM, we tried again to find a spot by the pool, but everything was full. So we went back to our suite for a while, and later managed to get a spot in the 12-meter-long jacuzzi at the Conservatory Pool.
Unfortunately, the time change threw us off. Our iPhones were still set to Italian time, while the ship had already switched to Greek time. We ended up being an hour behind and missed the "Name That Flag" gameshow, which was a shame — especially for my son who really wanted to participate. Instead, we headed to the Sky Bar, where the DJ created a great vibe. Later that evening, we enjoyed dinner at the Med Yacht Club.
In Corfu, we visited the Old Town. The free shuttle took us from the ship to the terminal and then on to the town center. Everything was well organized. My husband knows the captain—he himself sailed for many years as an officer on cruise ships—and often meets former colleagues on cruises because of this.
In the afternoon, we enjoyed the Atoll Pool again. During the sailaway, there was a DJ, and in the evening we dined at Sakura, the Asian restaurant. Here, you can share small dishes, except for the main course. We were lucky to eat outside, right at sunset – one of the most beautiful moments on a cruise. And no insects: definitely a plus!
In Kotor, we were amazed by the stunning views: mountains all around us, it reminded me the most of the Norwegian fjords. No wonder it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site. We had to tender ashore and expected to arrive around 10:00, but at 9:15 we already heard the anchor being dropped. First, I visited the spa—which is free to use while in port. After a briefing, I received slippers, a bathrobe, and a locker. I enjoyed the sauna, steam room, salt room, and then the jacuzzi. So wonderfully relaxing!
We were able to board a tender right away. After a 15-minute boat ride, we arrived at the pier. The village reminded me of Dubrovnik, with small churches and surprisingly many cats. Although they were stray cats, they were well fed.
Upon our return, we were greeted with a thoughtful surprise: wine and chocolates from the captain. After lunch, we enjoyed the sun again by the pool.
My son wanted to participate in the “Name That Airport Code” gameshow in the Astern Lounge, but it turned out to be more difficult than expected. No prize, but lots of fun. Afterwards, we dined in the Emporium Marketplace, outside on the deck during the sailaway. We took the bottle of wine we had received and had it opened with our dinner. We ended the evening at the Sky Bar with music from the DJ.
We had never been to Split before. We decided to go to the beach with the boys. This port is busy, with many ferries to the Croatian islands. Split is the second largest city in the country. Outside the terminal, many taxis were waiting; we took one to Joe’s Beach Club, about 15 minutes away. There were many young people from all over Europe, as well as other cruise passengers. The water was clear, with colorful fish, and surprisingly fresh.
Around lunchtime, we returned on board. It was quiet and the weather was beautiful. That evening, we dined again at the Emporium Marketplace, outside. I chose sushi and a butternut risotto with mascarpone — basically pumpkin risotto, my favorite! After the main course, Captain Sebastiano Chrisam and his wife Olga joined us. We talked for hours about maritime education in Venice, changes in navigation (from manual charts to digital uploads), life on board, and the Explora cruise line.
Afterwards, we took a walk around the ship: live music everywhere, a Celine Dion show, and an open-air movie by the pool. The atmosphere was fantastic.
In Rovinj, we had to tender again, but it went smoothly. What a beautiful, picturesque little town, with a church on top of the hill. We went ashore in the morning and walked up to the church. It felt very Italian: narrow streets, colorful houses. We took some stunning photos of the ship here.
Back on board, we had lunch at Sakura. I chose sushi and sirloin steak in teriyaki sauce. After that, it was time to sunbathe. At 5 PM, my son wanted to join the trivia in the Astern Lounge. We had practiced our general knowledge beforehand with ChatGPT. Unfortunately, we didn’t win, but it was fun!
Then it was time to pack our suitcases — always the least enjoyable moment of the cruise. Luckily, we still had a lovely evening ahead. We canceled our reservation at Fil Rouge because we preferred to dine outside with this beautiful weather and view. Eating outside on a cruise is so special: no insects, perfect temperatures, and breathtaking views during sunset. After dinner, we had a drink at the Explora Lounge, and then it was truly time to wrap things up.
This morning we arrived in Fusina, near Venice. A new cruise terminal has been built here, where taxis can now come directly, so you no longer have to take a water taxi to Venice. The terminal is located in the port of Marghera, a bit outside Venice, and is mainly used as a cargo terminal.
We had arranged a taxi in advance that took us back to Villa Condulmer in Mogliano, where our car was parked. That evening, we enjoyed a pleasant aperitif and dinner with the in-laws in Treviso.
The next day we headed towards the Alps in South Tyrol, where we stayed for three days at Resort Quellenhof. On the way, we stopped for lunch at Al Cacciatore in Mezzacorona. This restaurant is truly a gem: serving local, authentic mountain dishes at reasonable prices. I chose the tagliatelle with porcini – absolutely delicious.
If you want to completely unwind, this resort is definitely recommended. It’s located in a beautiful valley and has everything you need for a relaxing stay.
On the day of departure, we drove over the Timmelsjoch Pass at 2,500 meters altitude towards Austria, and then continued on to Germany. There we stayed one more night at Schlosshotel Monrepos before heading back home.
This marked the end of our cruise and land vacation with our family. Are you also a travel enthusiast and interested in going on a cruise? Feel free to send me a message, and together we can plan your dream cruise.
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