60 PLANNER PERSPECTIVE Discovering new destinations Justin Poulsen explains to Rebecca Gibson how growing its fleet of ultra-luxury cruise ships is enabling Explora Journeys to craft immersive itineraries in new regions of the world Explora Journeys takes guests to boutique destinations, such as those on the Amalfi Coast When guests embark on a cruise with Explora Journeys, they can expect a unique experience – both onboard the brand’s ultra-luxurious, yacht-style ships and onshore in the myriad of destinations they visit. “We invite discerning travellers to experience a ‘home away from home’ onboard our luxurious ships as we sail to lesser-known destinations and off-thebeaten-track locales, offering immersive cultural encounters and tranquil escapes that redefine ocean travel,” says Justin Poulsen, head of itinerary planning, destination experiences and ground handling at Explora Journeys. The brand takes a “straightforward” approach when selecting homeports for itineraries. “We choose ports that can offer the most seamless and comfortable experience from home to ship, accommodate our vessels, provide efficient infrastructure for embarkation and disembarkation, and enable us to design the most compelling itineraries possible,” says Poulsen. “We also like to innovate, often by identifying opportunities for less traditional deployments, such as offering winter journeys in the Mediterranean. Our deployment strategy is essentially about positioning our ships in the right place at the right time to meet demand for cruise travel in key regions.” To date, Explora Journeys’ two vessels – Explora I and Explora II – have primarily been based in the Mediterranean for the summer and the Caribbean for winter. However, with Explora III, Explora IV, Explora V and Explora VI set to join the fleet between summer 2026 and 2028, the brand will soon have capacity to expand to new regions of the world. Between December 2026 and March 2027, Explora II will operate the brand’s first Middle East sailings, calling at destinations in the Red Sea and along the Arabian Peninsula. Guests will be able to explore Unesco World Heritage sites, renowned souks, modern cities, deserts and other attractions in places such as Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Petra in Jordan, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, and Khasab, Salalah and Sur in Oman. Explora I and Explora V will sail similar itineraries in the winter 2027-2028 season. “These itineraries will open up a new region rich in culture, history and contrast,” says Poulsen. Later in 2027, Explora III will embark on Explora Journeys’ inaugural season in Alaska, offering 14 departures from either Vancouver, Canada, or Seward, Alaska, in the summer season. While in the region, the ship will sail the Inside Passage, navigate various fjords, and call Photo: Explora Journeys
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