Explora Journeys is inviting guests to step aboard Explora III ahead of her official debut, offering a concentrated taste of the line’s design, service, and Riviera-flavoured itineraries. If you like being first to try new ships, this one-off July window puts you in the front row, with time ashore in French and Italian coastal classics and time onboard with the people who built the vision.
From 24-29 July 2026, Explora Journeys will run a one-time Explora III preview from Genoa to Civitavecchia, calling at Marseille, Saint-Tropez, Nice, Tuscany, and Florence. Guests can meet leadership and designers, tour venues, and sample dining and wellness experiences. Benefits include early insight for future bookings, compact travel time, and peak-season Mediterranean ambience.
Why This Preview Matters for Real Travellers
A ship preview only works if it adds value to your decision-making and your holiday. This one does both. You get a compact voyage through marquee ports, direct access to the team behind the ship, and a chance to test spaces before the inaugural week. Think of it as a dress rehearsal you are invited to enjoy.
An Intimate Format With Purpose
This sailing is intentionally limited and curated. Rather than a routine schedule, you can expect pop-up tastings, guided walkthroughs, and talks that explain how spaces were conceived and how service rituals will unfold. That context helps you understand why certain venues feel calm at midday, or how a lounge’s lighting sets the mood after dark. It is rare to be shown the blueprint behind a ship while you are standing in it, and that is exactly the point here.
A Practical Springboard to Longer Voyages
If you are considering a longer Western Mediterranean itinerary later in the season, this preview functions as a low-risk pilot. You can compare suites and stateroom categories, note your preferred dining times, and see where the traffic flows on sea days. By the time you book a week or more, you will do it with clarity about what fits your pace, especially if you travel as a couple or in a small group.
The Joy of Being First
There is a certain magic in stepping into venues before the wider world arrives. Menus feel fresh, teams are energised, and the small details are still top of mind for the designers and officers you will meet. For travellers who enjoy being early adopters, the memory of being first aboard becomes part of the story you bring home.
The Riviera Route, Explained
The preview draws a crisp line along the French and Italian Rivieras. It is photogenic, easy to navigate, and rich in food, art, and coastal scenery. Each call brings a distinct mood, so your days never blur together.
Marseille: Harbour Heritage and Limestone Drama
Marseille’s old port frames a lively morning of cafés and market browsing, while the nearby Calanques reveal white limestone cliffs and brilliant water. If you divide your day, start with the Vieux-Port and a climb to Notre-Dame de la Garde for a city-wide view. Then shift to a short coastal hike or a boat ride into the Calanques for an elemental contrast that feels a world away.
Saint-Tropez and Nice: Style, Sun and Belle ÉPoque
Saint-Tropez brings glamour, boutique lanes, and a pretty old harbour. Nice answers with the Promenade des Anglais, local markets, and galleries that showcase Belle Époque elegance. The pairing lets you toggle between yacht-scene chic and museum-rich urban wandering, and both reward slow lunches that stretch into the afternoon.
Tuscany and Florence: Renaissance Heartland
Calls positioned for Tuscany unlock Florence, Lucca, and Siena. If you love art, reserve timed Uffizi entry and give yourself a long window for the Duomo precinct. Prefer a countryside rhythm? A tasting in the hills, with time in a walled town like Lucca, keeps the day spacious. Either way, you will return to the ship with a satisfyingly full camera roll and a clear sense of what you want to revisit on a longer voyage.
What to Sample on Board
A preview is designed to show personality. Use these days to triangulate your ideal mix of dining, wellness, and quiet corners, and to check how suites and public spaces feel at different times of day.
Dining With a Riviera Lens
Expect menus that nod to local seafood, seasonal produce, and European techniques. Try a lunch venue and a signature dinner spot to compare pacing and service style. If wine is your thing, note which lists lean French versus Italian. Keep a short list of favourites for your future booking, so you can lock them in before prime times fill.
Suites, Staterooms, and Flow
Walk through multiple categories to test balcony depth, wardrobe design, and bathroom layout. Check how natural light falls in the afternoon and whether adjoining options suit a travelling duo or friends in separate cabins. Take a slow lap of the pool decks and lounges at off-peak times to find your future reading nooks and sunset haunts.
Wellness, Pools, and Quiet Spaces
Wellness goes beyond treatments. Explore thermal areas, fitness rooms, and outdoor relaxation zones. Notice the soundtrack, the towel service, and how shaded seating is arranged. Small touches make a big difference on sea days, and a preview is the perfect time to map your preferred routine.
Meet the Makers Behind the Ship
Explora Journeys is building a culture around design and service that it calls an Ocean State of Mind. Meeting the leadership, designers, and officers turns that phrase into something you can feel and question, which is both engaging and useful.
Design Conversations in Real Time
Hearing why a material was chosen or how a ceiling line directs the eye makes you notice craftsmanship. You begin to see how acoustics, texture, and light create a sense of calm, and why certain venues encourage conversations to flow naturally without being loud.
Operational Insight From Officers
Officer-led sessions can touch on route planning, onboard sustainability, and what it takes to run a premium guest experience at scale. These are the moments where the romance of travel meets the discipline of seamanship, and they add satisfying depth to your impressions.
Philosophy: You Can Test Yourself
The Ocean State of Mind idea shows up in pacing, wellness cues, and service rituals. During a preview, you can test how it lands for you, from breakfast cadence to the way the crew anticipates needs without hovering. It is a rare chance to evaluate a brand promise in the wild.
Who This Sailing Suits Best
Not every traveller needs a preview, but for some, it is the ideal way to choose with confidence and enjoy a compact dose of Riviera summer.
Early Adopters and Design Lovers
If you like being first or appreciate hospitality design, this is squarely in your lane. You will enjoy the process of seeing concepts come to life and asking the people behind them to explain the thinking.
Couples and Small Friend Groups
Five days is perfect for couples and close friends who want a stylish escape with minimal logistics. You will have enough time to settle into onboard rhythms and still collect a handful of great shore memories.
Med-Curious Planners
If you are Med-curious but wary of committing to a long itinerary in peak season, this gives you a taste without the pressure. You can then book a longer sailing in late August, September, or October with lessons learned.
Planning Tips for Australians and International Guests
Late July is high summer, which is part of the charm. Plan the basics early, build buffers around embarkation and disembarkation, and curate lightly so your days stay unhurried.
Flights, Transfers, and Timing
Arrive in Genoa at least a day ahead to shake off jet lag and wander the caruggi (old town lanes). On departure, allow generous time to travel from Civitavecchia to Rome’s airports or central rail, especially on a weekend. A pre-booked transfer removes friction at the end of a warm, sun-soaked week.
Packing for Cobblestones and Sun
Bring breathable fabrics, a hat, sunglasses, and walking shoes that handle uneven streets. If you plan a Calanques walk or a coastal boat ride, include a light layer for wind and a small daypack. For evening venues, smart-casual pieces cover most scenarios without overpacking.
Shore-Day Strategy
Pick one headline goal per port and leave space for serendipity. In Florence, that might be the Uffizi with a slow gelato stroll. In Nice, it could be the Cours Saleya markets, followed by a museum and a beach-edge wander. Keeping plans simple makes the ship feel like a genuine retreat when you come back aboard.
How to Use the Preview to Shape a Future Booking
The preview ends just days before the inaugural Barcelona-Lisbon itinerary in early August. Treat these five days as reconnaissance and put what you learn to work immediately.
Dial in Your Perfect Suite
After touring categories, decide whether you want more balcony depth, extra wardrobe space, or a different bathroom plan. Ask your adviser to place options on hold while you are still onboard, then confirm once you are home.
Lock Dining and Wellness Priorities
Note the venues you loved and reserve them for a future voyage, especially if you prefer specific times. If a particular thermal circuit or class stood out, plan those on sea days so your port days stay open.
Target Shoulder-Season Dates
If crowds are not your thing, shoulder months like September and October keep the warmth but soften the pace in port. Your preview notes will transfer cleanly to a quieter calendar.
We have curated Western Mediterranean sailings that pair neatly with late July. You can filter by month, suite type, and port mix, then save favourites for side-by-side comparison in a few clicks with our cruise finder. Start here to sketch your version of the perfect week at sea.
If you want help narrowing the field, we can match suites to your travel style, pencil preferred dining times, and align flights with pre- or post-cruise hotel stays. A short chat with a specialist adviser can turn a good plan into a great one without adding complexity.
Reserve Your Place on Explora III’s Mediterranean Prelude
The Explora III preview is a thoughtful way to meet a new ship, understand her personality, and choose future voyages with confidence. If you would like assistance requesting space on the July sailing, comparing suite categories, or pairing this with a longer Western Med itinerary, speak with an S.W. Black Travel adviser, and we will map a plan that suits your dates and style.
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