Europe has always been well-positioned for travelers to visit more than one destination in a single trip, given the close proximity of its many countries and diversity of cultures. But today, there is a growing appreciation of exploring Europe from the home base of a luxury cruise ship rather than traipsing through multiple city breaks on a land-based package.
Many travelers, especially those in North America, may not know about the possibility of discovering Europe via a luxury voyage. And that is exactly where travel advisors come into play, by listening to their clients’ desires to journey across the pond and then suggesting a cruise whereby they will be immersed in the rich cultures of the continent, all from the comfort and convenience of pampered life onboard.
When selling luxury cruises in the Mediterranean, these are the aspects that travel advisors can describe to their clients as to what they can expect to experience …
Unpack once, visit multiple destinations
For many, the most appealing feature is the need to unpack only once, and then to enjoy venturing to several destinations.
“Sailing through the Mediterranean on a luxury cruise ship is the perfect way to experience that part of the world. Once you’re onboard, you can unpack and relax as you sail to multiple ports during your voyage,” says Bridgett Quinn Webber, cruise consultant with Cruise Specialists. “While dining al fresco for breakfast, you can watch the sail into beautiful ports such as Venice, Monte Carlo, and Dubrovnik. In the evenings, watch the sunset as you sail off to your next destination.”
Luxurious accommodations
Ocean-front suites or penthouses aboard a luxury vessel provide a spacious, serene, and elegant home at sea, with refined comfort and simplicity as the focus. They are the perfect place for seasoned travelers to relax, unwind, and entertain. Twenty-four-hour service is typically offered, and the upper categories provide butler services.
“Opting for a small ship, all-inclusive luxury Mediterranean cruise instead of a land-based trip is one of my top travel recommendations. Aboard a vessel that feels like a luxurious boutique hotel, you can reach the most coveted destinations in style, comfort, and with exceptional service,” relays Tesa Totengco, founder and CEO, of Travels with Tesa.
Superb culinary creations
The culinary and beverage experts aboard luxury vessels bring together an abundance of experience and artistry to the curation of immersive dining experiences – and guest chefs are often among the world’s most illustrious. The food and wine reflect the regions where the ships sail, resulting in authentic and scrumptious creations sourced from local markets.
Guests can choose from any of several enticing restaurants, from formal to casual venues or in-suite private dining, offering a variety of flavors and ambiance from around the globe. Totengco notes that these types of sea journeys deliver “incredible value, featuring gourmet dining, fine wines, premium spirits, and top-notch entertainment.”
As Webber explains, “You unpack once and dine in an Italian restaurant under the stars one night and then do a sushi night the next. After dinner, head to the show lounge for some entertainment before heading to bed in anticipation of waking up in a new and exciting port the next morning.”
Enriching entertainment
The entertainment program onboard often leans toward enriching and intimate experiences that are designed to connect the guests, host, and luminaries. Events might include seafaring storytelling under the stars, a photography or songwriting class, a destination-themed artisanal crafts experience, a Whisky mixology session, a local coffee tasting, a culinary class with a Master Chef, or an evening of classical music by candlelight on the deck or a Parisian jazz club experience.
Curated onboard shopping
Catering to guests who are accustomed to a certain level of worldly refinement, luxury cruises deliver a curated shopping experience at sea, featuring the most coveted brands that are renowned for their unrivalled craftmanship. Artisanal brands celebrating the destinations visited may also be showcased.
Totengco points out that on one leading luxury cruise line “the onboard duty-free shopping is a highlight, especially for acquiring a world-renowned watch brand that isn’t available on land!”
Esteemed personal service
As is the custom at the world’s finest hotels, the service style aboard a luxury voyage can best be described as respectful, intuitive, refined hospitality. The attentive and cultured hosts are well trained to meet the needs and wants of guests with a sense of effortless luxury.
As Scott Caddow, founder and luxury travel advisor, Legendary World, says: “There is nothing better than sailing the French and Italian Riviera on a luxury vessel. Every care is taken care of, no packing, fine dining, eclectic cocktails, and multiple destinations in one journey.”
FROM THE SPONSOR:
Explora Journeys is a luxury lifestyle brand that is redefining the ocean experience for a new generation of discerning luxury travelers, drawing on the Aponte family’s 300 years of maritime heritage. The brand’s aspiration is to create a unique ‘Ocean State of Mind’ by connecting guests with the sea, with themselves, and with like-minded people, while remarkable itineraries will blend renowned destinations with lesser-traveled ports, for a journey that inspires discovery in all its forms.
EXPLORA I is now sailing, EXPLORA II will launch in August 2024 and four more confirmed ships will be launching by 2028. Equipped with the latest environmental and marine technologies, Explora Journeys introduces a new style of transformative ocean travel. EXPLORA I & EXPLORA II offer 461 oceanfront suites, penthouses, and residences designed to be ‘Homes at Sea’ for our guests, all with sweeping ocean views and private terrace, a choice of nine distinct culinary experiences, across six vibrant restaurants plus in-suite dining, 12 bars and lounges, (eight indoor and four outdoor) Chef`s Kitchen, four swimming pools, extensive outdoor decks with private cabanas, wellness facilities, refined entertainment and respectful and intuitive hospitality. Inspired by the company’s European heritage, Explora Journeys provides guests with an immersive ocean experience, respectful and intuitive hospitality.
To learn more about Explora Journeys, visit the Explora Journeys website or follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.