Life on the Water: Inside Afra Rahman’s Journey Aboard Explora I

At the end of a very good holiday, there’s a moment where the sadness hits. Bags reluctantly packed, taxi booked and one last look at the view. For Afra Rahman, CEO of CRUISELECT, MAHA Group and a man who has spent his career immersed in luxury cruise travel, that feeling hit harder than it ever had before.

“My friends and I were literally crying while packing to leave,” he says. “It felt like we were leaving our home.”

That’s not a sentence you expect from someone who has seen the inside of a few hundred cabins. But Explora Journeys’ flagship vessel, the Explora I, has a habit of doing that to people.

Space, freedom and not having to queue

The first thing most guests notice stepping aboard Explora I is the quiet. It’s not silence, but the absence of what people think of as “cruise ship energy” — the shoulder-to-shoulder corridors, the scramble for sunbeds or the crawling wait at the buffet. With 461 suites and a maximum of around 900 guests, the ship carries a fraction of the passengers that other vessels of comparable tonnage routinely accommodate. The difference feels immediate.

“It was great to just walk through the ship and have that space,” Rahman explains. “Not only do you feel that sense of freedom, but there are also no queues for any of the facilities. Whether the gym, the restaurants or anything else, I almost never had to wait.”

The suites themselves have the same generous space allowance. Rahman was puzzled for much of his voyage by how large his suite felt. Somehow, it felt even larger than the square footage should allow. The answer came on his final morning, when staff revealed the trick: his luggage had been stored beneath the bed in a purpose-built compartment, leaving the room completely uncluttered. A small detail, but one that had a real impact in defining the cruise as a luxury experience.

Mediterranean itinerary designed to actually show you the Mediterranean

Rahman’s voyage departed from the port of Piraeus near Athens, threading through a sequence of Greek islands before arriving in Istanbul. The itinerary includes the names you’d expect such as Mykonos and Thessaloniki, but it’s the ports in between that he remembers most vividly: Volos, Kavala and the island of Patmos, where the tourism infrastructure is less developed and the culture far less diluted.

“While Mykonos is an international destination, a lot of the smaller ports give you a real feel for Greek culture and heritage,” he says. “You can visit older temples and buildings, eat traditional meals, and get an authentically Greek experience.”

This is partly cruise philosophy and partly a practical advantage of the ship’s size. Many of the smaller ports along the Greek coastline cannot accommodate standard-sized liners. Explora I, more intimate by design, can dock where larger vessels cannot, which means the islands it calls at are quieter, less trampled and more traditional an experience.

Some of these itineraries are personally selected by Explora Journeys’ Italian ownership, who make deliberate choices to avoid the overcrowding that has come to define some of the Mediterranean’s most famous spots. Santorini, for instance, is bypassed in favor of Milos — similar beauty, without the crowds.

Departures are timed thoughtfully, too. The ship leaves each port at 9 p.m. and arrives at the next by 7 a.m., which means full days on land and full use of the ship in between: no half-days lost to transit, no sunrise arrivals that catch you still asleep.

On board: Where the ship becomes the destination

One thing Rahman adored about the Explora I is that for all the care given to its ports of call, the ship itself never felt like a hotel he was sleeping in between excursions. It was, to him, a destination in its own right.

The restaurants are his go-to example. One of the standout spots serves an Asian fusion menu — Chinese, Japanese and Korean influences blending across dishes that feel inspired without being generically “international.” Beyond just the food, though, is the option to cook alongside a chef in a class format: hands-on, social and the kind of experience that gives you something to talk about long after you’ve forgotten the meal.

Elsewhere, the all-day dining space reminded Rahman of a Japanese depachika — one of the food hall floors you find in Tokyo department stores that amaze visitors with multiple counters preparing dishes to order. Meals here are made fresh on request rather than held in warming trays, for an upscale twist that makes sure your eyes aren’t the only thing eating.

Staff have a particular gift for paying attention. Rahman’s preferred tea was noted on his first day and communicated between attendants throughout the voyage, so he almost never had to ask for it by name. It was a small, efficient detail that compounded the premium feel of the cruise.

Evenings brought their own rhythm. Quiz nights and karaoke sessions run near the Asian restaurant were a refreshing and natural way to meet fellow guests, Rahman noted. But for guests who preferred their own space and company, the ship was also full of open space free of people to catch their breath. “Whether you’re an introvert or extrovert,” Rahman noted, “there’s somewhere on the ship for you.”

Already looking forward: The Explora III

Rahman returned home with a full passport and the faint sadness of someone who had just enjoyed a truly relaxing experience. He is already watching for what comes next.

This summer, Explora Journeys launched the Explora III — a new vessel crossing the Atlantic to the United States and Canada before heading to Japan in autumn 2027. At 72,810 gross tons, it surpasses the Explora I in scale but adds just two additional suites. The extra space goes instead toward an elevated onboard experience: a Chef’s Table for private haute cuisine dining, and the Shore Club on Deck 11, where the energy of a beach club meets the moving coastline. For those seeking the ultimate luxury at sea, there’s also the option to delve into The Cellar, a unique culinary offering with the most extensive collection of wine on the ocean, or stop by the imperious watch boutique, with models available for sale from Rolex, Audemars Piaget and for the first time, Chopard.

Perhaps the most stunning upgrade the Explora III offers, however, will be the rare moments guests will have a chance to witness aboard. On August 12, for instance, the ship will be in the perfect position to view a solar eclipse, the first visible from Europe in 27 years. In the days leading up to the eclipse, science presenter Huw James and British astronaut Helen Sharman will deliver presentations on the beauty and grandeur of the cosmos, for a truly one-of-a-kind experience. 

It is the same distinct care and luxury, applied to a larger canvas. If the Explora I is anything to go by, it will be worth the wait.

To book your suite aboard an Explora Journeys cruise, head to cruiselect.com/explora-journeys and take advantage of their exclusive offer for GoConnect readers. Book before June 12, and receive up to 300 onboard Journey Experience credits per suite, depending on cruise length.