Some birthdays call for a party. This one called for the Mediterranean, seven ports, a private cocktail celebration surrounded by the people I love, and a ship that felt more like an intimate boutique hotel than anything I’d experienced at sea before.
I had the delight of spending two weeks with my closest family and friends sailing with Explora Journeys aboard the EXPLORA I, from Athens to Barcelona, with three nights in Athens beforehand and two nights in Barcelona to close things out. It was my 50th birthday trip, my mother’s 80th birthday trip, and — as it turns out — the trip that changed how I think about luxury cruising altogether.
The Suite: Space, Stillness, and Sea Views
We stayed in an Ocean Grand Terrace Suite (an upgrade we bid on prior to boarding), and from the moment we stepped in, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a typical cruise cabin. The space was generous, clean-lined, and quietly luxurious — the kind of design that doesn’t need to shout to feel special. Our private terrace became our favorite ritual spot, as did nightly cocktails in one of the ship’s hot tubs, while watching the coastline disappear as we sailed into the evening. It’s a small thing, but it’s the kind of small thing that makes a trip unforgettable.
The ship itself never felt crowded, no matter which lounge we drifted toward. There was always room to settle in — a quiet corner, a spot at the bar, a seat with a view. That sense of space is rare on a ship, and it made all the difference.
Atrium Pool with retractable roof
Lobby Bar
Explora Lounge
Cozy in the lobby bar
Lounging in the Explora Lounge
Me joining in on the entertainment
The Food: A Genuine Range, Not Just Rotation
Dining on EXPLORA I is where the “luxury without pretension” idea really came through. Rather than one main dining room doing the heavy lifting, we had a genuine variety of specialty restaurants to choose between each night — different cuisines, different atmospheres, always thoughtfully executed. It never felt like we were working through a checklist; it felt like we were choosing our evening based on our mood, the way you would in a city with too many good restaurants and not enough nights.
Evening fare at Emporium Marketplace
Breakfast on our Ocean Terrace
Marble & Co
Dinner at Med Yacht Club
Celebrations Done Right
Explora Journeys clearly understands milestone travel. For my mother’s 80th birthday, the crew arranged a specialty table just for her — a small gesture that meant everything. For my own birthday, they helped us organize a private cocktail party for our guests, and from there, we were thoroughly spoiled. There’s a difference between a cruise line that offers a cake with candles and one that takes the time to make an occasion feel personal. Explora is the latter.
My 50th Birthday at Fils Rouge
Birthday Surprise
80th birthday girl
Captain’s Table for Birthday Celebration (with group photo)
In the evenings, we found ourselves drawn to the nightly lounge music, and we caught one of the magic shows onboard — simple, well-done entertainment that suited the mood of the ship rather than trying to compete with a Vegas stage. If you’re looking for high-volume entertainment options, this may not be your ship. If you’re looking for a refined, relaxed evening, it’s exactly right.
The Ports: History, Culture and Pleasant surprises
Our route took us through Milos, Crete, Taormina, Valletta, Tunis, and Ibiza — a genuinely varied stretch of the Mediterranean, each stop with its own personality.
Crete was my personal favorite, and honestly, the one place I’m already planning to return to properly. There’s a depth to the island — history, landscape, food — that a single day can only hint at.
Valletta, Malta, was my husband’s favorite, and it’s where I put my local partnerships to good use: I arranged a private, customized tour centered around the Knights of Malta, tailored specifically to his interests. It’s this kind of behind-the-scenes planning that I love building into a trip like this — the port days become just as memorable as the ship itself.
Milos
Venus di Milos (not the original)
Plaka in Milos
Milos View
Spring Flowers in Milos
Crete
Cretan landscape
Local Cretan Farm
Little Market
Feeding the goats
Nina’s shop
Happy hour with Nina
Taormina, Sicily
Taormina
Sicily Symbol
Atop Mt Etna
Mt Etna
Taormina Vista
Valletta, Malta
Valletta Port
Knights of Malta Order of St John main office
Italy house
Maltese treats
Maltese Coffee
Co-Cathedral of St. John
Our Private Guide in Valletta
Tunis, Tunisia
Carthage
Ruins of Carthage
Carthage
Carthage Ruins
Carthage Ruins
House in Sidi Bou Said
New Mosque in Tunis
Sidi Bou Said
Ibiza, Spain
Old town Ibiza
My Birthday Crew
Why Explora, Specifically
I’ve sailed other luxury lines, and what sets Explora apart for me isn’t just the design or the food, though both are exceptional. It’s the ocean conservation focus, woven genuinely into the guest experience — not as a marketing checkbox, but as a real, visible commitment. The crew talks openly about what the line is doing to protect the waters we were sailing through, and it changes how you experience the journey. You’re not just a passenger on a beautiful ship; you’re part of something that’s trying to care for the places it visits.
That combination — impeccable service, remarkable food and wine, thoughtful design, genuine celebration of milestones, and a real dedication to protecting our oceans — is rare. Usually you get a few of those things. Explora Journeys delivered all of them.
Some final thoughts
If you’re considering a luxury cruise and wondering whether it’s worth the investment, my answer is simple: it depends on what you’re looking for. If you want a ship that feels like an extension of a five-star boutique hotel, with the freedom of a Mediterranean itinerary and a crew that treats your milestones like they matter — Explora Journeys deserves a serious look.
This wasn’t just a birthday trip. It was a reminder of what travel can feel like when every detail — from the suite to the sea to the small gestures — is handled with real intention.
If you’re dreaming of celebrating your own milestone at sea, or want a Mediterranean itinerary crafted around what matters most to you and your travel companions, I’d love to help you plan it.
Let’s get you onboard.