Explora Journeys, together with its exclusive partner for Cyprus, Century Travel Group, marked the launch of operations in Cyprus in the presence of government, municipality and public-sector leaders, as well as MPs, innovation leaders and organisations from the private and academic sectors, and media representatives.
To celebrate the start of their Cyprus operations, Explora Journeys threw an exclusive launch party on June 20, 2023 at Pralina Experience in Nicosia, inviting guests to explore the 2023-25 Voyage Collection aboard Explora Journeys.
Explora Journeys is the personification of a dream come true. The brand represents the ambition and long-held dream of the MSC Group and Aponte family to create a transformative luxury ocean travel experience and brand that redefines the luxury cruise category.
Based on over 300 years of maritime history, Explora Journeys will redefine everything you think you know about luxury cruising. Launching in Summer 2023, this truly unique brand seamlessly combines immersive, destination-led discovery with an onboard experience that takes its cues from the world’s finest hotels.
Explora Journeys’ flagship, EXPLORA I, is the first of six ships, with new vessels set to follow in 2024, 2025, and 2026. The ships will be identical and offer 461 ocean-facing suites, nine restaurants, and best-in-class wellness facilities for no more than 922 guests, cruising the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Greenland, Iceland, Canada and the Caribbean.
“We would like to congratulate Explora Journeys for its entry into the cruising market,” said Shipping Deputy Minister to the President Marina Hadjimanolis.
“The Cyprus government places considerable emphasis on this part of the travel market,” she continued, adding: “We are seeing an increase in the size of the cruising market in Cyprus with more cruise ships visiting Limassol port, as well as other ports in Cyprus. As the Shipping Deputy Ministry, we stand by this sector as we continue to see it evolve over the next few years considerably.”
Opening the event, Century Travel Group CEO Daniel Essex noted that: “with the launch of Explora Journeys we celebrate life; after a three-year, unprecedented pandemic, it is time to remind ourselves that it is in our human nature to actively seek out experiences that bring us happiness”.
“The ultra-luxury cruise market is growing significantly,” he went on. “Customers want to travel further and for longer, but in luxurious surroundings. It’s clear the post-pandemic world has left people eager to explore the places they have been longing to visit.”
Furthermore, added CEO Essex: “Century Travel Group marks 15 years of successful operations in the provision of cruises and holidays worldwide from Cyprus, and is proud to be the preferred partner for Cyprus for all the leading cruise lines, including the exceptional new partnership with Explora Journeys as exclusive partner for Cyprus.”
For her part, Explora Journeys Head of Sales Suzanne Kochen pointed out that: “Explora Journeys is a brand new European lifestyle brand, the ambition and long-held dream of the MSC Group and the Aponte family”.
“We are bringing a new kind of travelling to the cruising industry together with Century Travel, our exclusive partner in Cyprus,” she continued, adding: “we are very excited to be bringing Explora Journeys to visit Cyprus next year.”
“In the meantime, we will be promoting different journeys all around the world, where we put cruising into a different way of travelling; an exclusive way of travelling in an exclusive resort, bringing you to new destinations,” she said.
Explora Journeys’ Inaugural Journeys Collection is now open for bookings through Century Travel by calling 80004242, emailing [email protected] or by visiting www.cruise.com.cy
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