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A Journey from Barcelona to Athens

Aboard Explora I with Explora Journeys

Departure Date

18 April 2025

Duration

10 Nights

Cruise Only From

£5,320pp

Cruise Reference

ART-5A EX19

Cruise Overview

The infinite variety of street life, the nooks and crannies of the medieval Barri Gòtic, the ceramic tile and stained glass of Art Nouveau facades, the art and music, the throb of street life, the food (ah, the food!)—one way or another, Barcelona will find a way to get your full attention.

The capital of Catalonia is a banquet for the senses, with its beguiling mix of ancient and modern architecture, tempting cafés and markets, and sun-drenched Mediterranean beaches.

A stroll along La Rambla and through waterfront Barceloneta, as well as a tour of Gaudí's majestic Sagrada Famíliaand his other unique creations, are part of a visit to Spain's second-largest city.

Modern art museums and chic shops call for attention, too.

Barcelona's vibe stays lively well into the night, when you can linger over regional wine and cuisine at buzzing tapas bars.
If you look north of the cathedral (La Seu, or the seat of the bishopric, to Mallorcans) on a map of the city of Palma, you can see around the Plaça Santa Eulàlia a jumble of tiny streets that made up the earliest settlement.

Farther out, a ring of wide boulevards traces the fortifications built by the Moors to defend the larger city that emerged by the 12th century.

The zigzags mark the bastions that jutted out at regular intervals.

By the end of the 19th century, most of the walls had been demolished; the only place where you can still see the massive defenses is at Ses Voltes, along the seafront west of the cathedral.A torrent (streambed) used to run through the middle of the old city, dry for most of the year but often a raging flood in the rainy season.

In the 17th century it was diverted to the east, along the moat that ran outside the city walls.

Two of Palma's main arteries, La Rambla and the Passeig d'es Born, now follow the stream's natural course.

The traditional evening paseo (promenade) takes place on the Born.If you come to Palma by car, park in the garage beneath the Parc de la Mar (the ramp is just off the highway from the airport, as you reach the cathedral) and stroll along the park.

Beside it run the huge bastions guarding the Almudaina Palace; the cathedral, golden and massive, rises beyond.

Where you exit the garage, there's a ceramic mural by the late Catalan artist and Mallorca resident Joan Miró, facing the cathedral across the pool that runs the length of the park.If you begin early enough, a walk along the ramparts at Ses Voltes from the mirador beside the cathedral is spectacular.

The first rays of the sun turn the upper pinnacles of La Seu bright gold and then begin to work their way down the sandstone walls.

From the Parc de la Mar, follow Avinguda Antoni Maura past the steps to the palace.

Just below the Plaça de la Reina, where the Passeig d'es Born begins, turn left on Carrer de la Boteria into the Plaça de la Llotja (if the Llotja itself is open, don't miss a chance to visit—it's the Mediterranean's finest Gothic-style civic building).

From there stroll through the Plaça Drassana to the Museu d'Es Baluard, at the end of Carrer Sant Pere.

Retrace your steps to Avinguda Antoni Maura.

Walk up the Passeig d'es Born to Plaça Joan Carles I, then right on Avenida de La Unió.
Once the intellectual capital of southern Europe, Palermo has always been at the crossroads of civilization.

Favorably situated on a crescent-shaped bay at the foot of Monte Pellegrino, it has attracted almost every culture touching the Mediterranean world.

To Palermo's credit, it has absorbed these diverse cultures into a unique personality that is at once Arab and Christian, Byzantine and Roman, Norman and Italian.

The city's heritage encompasses all of Sicily's varied ages, but its distinctive aspect is its Arab-Norman identity, an improbable marriage that, mixed in with Byzantine and Jewish elements, created some resplendent works of art.

No less noteworthy than the architecture is Palermo's chaotic vitality, on display at some of Italy's most vibrant outdoor markets, public squares, street bazaars, and food vendors, and above all in its grand climax of Italy's most spectacular passeggiata (the leisurely social stroll along the principal thoroughfare).

Cruise Itinerary

Aboard Explora I

Launch Year: 2023 Length: 248 Width: 32 Currency: EUR Capacity: Crew Count: Deck Count: 11 Cabin Count: 461

EXPLORA I, the first of six luxury best-in-class ships, will set sail in 2023, with the remaining ships ready to set sail in 2024, 2026, 2027 and 2028.

Immerse yourself in all of the detail behind the Explora Journeys ships, from design and architecture, to safety and technology features.

Exquisitely designed with the guest and relaxed, home-like comfort in mind - and in partnership with the world’s foremost superyacht and luxury hospitality designers - the innovative ship will seamlessly blend elegant Swiss precision with modern European craftsmanship and vibrant design.

Water as a focal point

Fourteen decks will provide ample indoor public space, maximising guest choice and create areas of quiet seclusion and privacy. Generous outdoor decks will boast more than 2,500 sqm (26,909 sq ft) delivering stunning views of the sea, with 64 private cabanas across 3 outdoor pools.

A fourth pool, with a retractable glass roof, will allow swimming and poolside relaxation in any weather.

Combined with various indoor and outdoor whirlpool baths on the ship’s promenade deck, the ship has been designed with water as a real focal point of the onboard experience - helping our guests discover their ocean state of mind.

Homes at sea

With 461 oceanfront suites and residences, guests will enjoy feeling closer to the sea and in port thanks to their floor-to-ceiling windows and personal private terrace. Suites will start at 35 sqm (377 sq ft) which makes them among the most spacious for the luxury cruise category.

Explora I Facilities

Explora I Includes

Cabin Details

Each of our 461 ocean-front suites, penthouses and residences - all designed with a refined, European elegance - are created to get you closer to the ocean itself, with floor-to-ceiling windows and private sun terraces.

With unrivalled space and privacy, and service that means everything is taken care of, our guests can relax into their comfortable homes at sea with their luggage delivered and a chilled bottle of champagne waiting as they undertake their Ocean Journey. Our suites start at 35 sqm (377 sq ft), among the most spacious for the category.

HOMES AT SEA

Luxurious, serene, and spacious, each of our 461 ocean-front suites, penthouses and residences have been created with refined European elegance, comfort and simplicity as the focus to offer a real ‘Home at Sea’ to our guests.

Exquisitely designed to stimulate the senses and enhance the connection with the ocean, each of our suites comes with its own spacious terrace with daybeds and an alfresco dining area, boasts floor-to-ceiling windows to maximise natural light and the infinite ocean views.

Our suites range from 35 sqm (377 sq ft), in the Ocean Terrace Suites category, up to 280 sqm (3,014 sq ft) for the Owner's Residence, with an average size of 42 sqm (453 sq ft), making them among the most spacious in the industry.

With unrivalled space and privacy – and 24-hour service that means everything is taken care of – our guests can relax into their comfortable ‘Homes at Sea’ with their luggage delivered and a chilled bottle of champagne waiting as they undertake their Ocean Journey.

IN-SUITE TECHNOLOGY

  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Infotainment system with Smart TV and easy connectivity to personal devices
  • Smartphone app for access to all services
  • Telephones with voicemail
  • On-demand TV options
  • Wireless charging base on bedside tables
  • Individual climate control in each suite

SERVICES

  • 24-hour butler service*
  • 24-hour concierge service
  • 24-hour in-suite dining
  • 24-hour laundry, dry-cleaning and ironing services**
  • Twice-daily housekeeping services, including evening turndown service
  • Shoeshine service

BUTLERS SERVICES*

  • Packing and unpacking to personal preference
  • Laundering and pressing assistance
  • Private in-suite dining
  • Personal communication through our app and on messenger platforms
  • Itinerary and transport planning
  • Celebrations planning
  • Onboard and ashore reservations assistance

* Available for Ocean Residences

** Additional charges may apply

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