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A Journey from Venice to Athens

Aboard Explora I with Explora Journeys

Departure Date

14 June 2025

Duration

7 Nights

Cruise Only From

£3,510pp

Cruise Reference

ART-5A EX12

Cruise Overview


A small, quiet, well-heeled city, Ravenna has brick palaces, cobblestone streets, magnificent monuments, and spectacular Byzantine mosaics.

The high point in its civic history occurred in the 5th century, when Pope Honorious moved his court here from Rome.

Gothic kings Odoacer and Theodoric ruled the city until it was conquered by the Byzantines in AD 540.

Ravenna later fell under the sway of Venice, and then, inevitably, the Papal States.Because Ravenna spent much of its past looking east, its greatest art treasures show that Byzantine influence.

Churches and tombs with the most unassuming exteriors contain within them walls covered with sumptuous mosaics.

These beautifully preserved Byzantine mosaics put great emphasis on nature, which you can see in the delicate rendering of sky, earth, and animals.

Outside Ravenna, the town of Classe hides even more mosaic gems.
Nothing can prepare you for your first sight of Dubrovnik.

Lying 216 km (135 miles) southeast of Split and commanding a jaw-dropping coastal location, it is one of the world's most beautiful fortified cities.

Its massive stone ramparts and fortress towers curve around a tiny harbor, enclosing graduated ridges of sun-bleached orange-tiled roofs, copper domes, and elegant bell towers.

Your imagination will run wild picturing what it looked like seven centuries ago when the walls were built, without any suburbs or highways around it, just this magnificent stone city rising out of the sea.In the 7th century AD, residents of the Roman city Epidaurum (now Cavtat) fled the Avars and Slavs of the north and founded a new settlement on a small rocky island, which they named Laus, and later Ragusa.

On the mainland hillside opposite the island, the Slav settlement called Dubrovnik grew up.

In the 12th century the narrow channel separating the two settlements was filled in (now the main street through the Old Town, called Stradun), and Ragusa and Dubrovnik became one.

The city was surrounded by defensive walls during the 13th century, and these were reinforced with towers and bastions in the late 15th century.From 1358 to 1808 the city thrived as a powerful and remarkably sophisticated independent republic, reaching its golden age during the 16th century.

In 1667 many of its splendid Gothic and Renaissance buildings were destroyed by an earthquake.

The defensive walls survived the disaster, and the city was rebuilt in baroque style.Dubrovnik lost its independence to Napoléon in 1808, and in 1815 passed to Austria-Hungary.

During the 20th century, as part of Yugoslavia, the city became a popular tourist destination, and in 1979 it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

During the war for independence, it came under heavy siege.

Thanks to careful restoration, few traces of damage remain; however, there are maps inside the Pile and Ploče Gates illustrating the points around the city where damage was done.

It’s only when you experience Dubrovnik yourself that you can understand what a treasure the world nearly lost

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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