Nash credits agents for successfully distinguishing Explora Journeys from luxury hotel brands launching yachts in the consumers' minds. She argues they achieved this by emphasising Explora's focus on space.
“It’s a hyper-competitive industry, but I really think we’ve found the sweet spot,” Nash told TTG. “Our ships look and feel like super yachts, while operating as one of the world’s finest hotels at sea. We also have this incredible generosity of space, which gives guests more choice.”
Nowhere is this more evident than on the 268-metre Explora III which is 19.2 metres longer than its predecessors, says Nash.
This extra length, required to accommodate the large cryogenic tanks of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) technology, presented Explora Journeys with two options.
It could increase profit by adding more suites, or it could cement Explora III's reputation as one of the roomiest ships at sea. After a brief discussion, Explora’s bosses chose the second option.
Explora Journeys has doubled down on its reputation as one of the most spacious luxury ships on the market
“We could have chosen to have more suites,” admitted Nash. “But then of course we looked at feedback from both guests and agents. One of the strongest pieces of feedback about Explora I and Explora II is how much they value space onboard. Not just the physical space, but also, never having to compete for it.”
Therefore it was decided to expand Explora III’s communal square footage, starting with the dining venues. Along with all the signature restaurants of Explora I and II, guests can expect three new culinary concepts, including the poolside Shore Club on 11, onboard the brand’s latest ship. There will also be a wine cellar, where passengers can join curated wine tastings, as well as an exclusive Chef’s Table offering a collaborative dining experience.
Explora also utilised the extra space to unite its wellness facilities, which had previously been split into a separate spa and fitness centre.
“We could see that guests of Explora I and II were frequenting the spa, then going straight into the fitness centre, so we have positioned these areas together,” Nash explained.
All of Deck 5 has now been dedicated to wellness, with the central thermal suite connected to the Technogym fitness centre. Explora III also features the line’s first-ever Sava Sound Pod, a multi-sensory chamber that uses low-frequency vibrations alongside acoustic frequencies to reset the nervous system.
Nash says these decisions were easy to make. “As we’re privately owned, we don’t always have to make decisions based on the bottom line,” she explained.
She added that Explora's senior leadership team can “make decisions incredibly quickly". “We’re very nimble – we see feedback and we act on it,” she said.
Explora III features a total of 463 ocean-front suites
Power of Agents
Nash believes Explora Journeys’ trade partners have been instrumental in hitting, what she calls, a "sweet spot". “Agents are almost more important than our regular paying guests,” said Nash. “They're an extension of our family. They're investing their time to experience our product, so it is so important that we invest in them too and that we exceed their expectations.”
The luxury hospitality veteran also shared her surprise at “the last-minute nature” of bookings for Explora III ahead of its maiden voyage next month.
From its inception, Explora Journeys has been widely viewed as a trade-friendly operator. The brand has implemented several measures to bulletproof its relationship with agents, including commission rates of up to 18% and the removal of Non-Commissionable Fares. It’s also known for having a robust training programme, which offers advisors the opportunity to experience Explora firsthand through its Sail to Sell initiative.
“We really want to give all the information to help agents, especially those not so confident in selling ocean travel, so they can widen their distribution,” Nash said.
She particularly credits advisors for helping to sell Explora’s inaugural World Journey, which departs from Dubai in January 2029.
The 128-day voyage will cover 63 destinations across four continents, stopping everywhere from Komodo Island in Indonesia to the South Pacific’s Pitcairn. There’s also the option to book one of the shorter ‘Passage’ itineraries, which range in duration from 14 to 23 days.
“We’re feeling really ahead of the curve with the World Journey – it’s not for another two and a half years, but we’re already nearing 50% occupancy,” said Nash. “The bookings are a real mix of current Explora clients and those who’ve never sailed with us before, and that’s where our advisors come in.”
As for the future of Explora’s internal team, Nash confirmed there will “certainly be growth in every market” as the brand prepares to debut its fourth ship in 2027.
“We're very happy with the team that we've got too, and the relationship that we as a brand have built with our trade partners,” she said. “We’ve realised the importance of giving our markets space to tell us what they need in order to successfully sell.
“People like Priti Mehta [Senior Head of Sales] have their finger on the pulse to give them greater powers in terms of decision making.”
In 2028, Explora Journeys will reach the final stage in a “considered and planned” growth trajectory for its fleet with the launch of its sixth ship.
“We’re not scaling for the sake of scaling,” Nash said. “We see there is demand. We know the Explora experience is well desired, and we know we are absolutely on the right path moving forward.”