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T+L's Review of Explora Journeys' Explora I

New luxury cruise line Explora Journeys just launched Explora I, a 461-suite ship. T+L's cruise editor was one of the first on board to report what you can expect.

Paul Brady is the news director at Travel + Leisure and the brand's expert on cruise travel. He has been covering the travel industry for more than 15 years for outlets including Condé Nast Traveler , Skift , and The Huffington Post .

Paul Brady/Travel + Leisure

In the old days, a really good worker in Stavanger, Norway, could pack a tin full of spratt in just four seconds. And then another. And another. By the end of her shift, she might’ve stuffed 8,000 cans full of the sardine-sized fish, topped each up with olive oil, and passed them over to the adjuster’s table where they’d get a critical eye before getting clamped shut and shipped off to the labeler.

Of course, she’d have help. Before the spratt reached her table — and it was almost always a woman doing the packing — the fish would be salted and threaded onto racks by children, some no older than eight. The kids would then pass the racks to burly furnacemen, who’d hoist them over the oak-wood coals in between nips of beer. Elsewhere in the packinghouse, printers would whirr and the steam-hiss of sanitizing equipment would drone for 10 hours a day, six days a week and only rest, like the workers, on Sundays.

The whole town, you might say, was wrapped up in the canning of fish, which flourished so mightily in the fjords that crease Norway’s North Sea coast. Back then, they’ll tell you, the fishermen could just scoop spratt right into the boat. Some 70 percent of the city of Stavanger was, at one time in the early 20th century, involved with the business. In a good year, a single worker could send close to 3 million tins out into the world, whether up the coast to Bergen or to the trenches along the Western Front.

Not that I’d expected to learn any of this.

Paul Brady/Travel + Leisure

In fact, I’d never even heard of Stavanger until a few weeks before I arrived. But there I was one gunmetal day in August, pulling into port aboard the Explora I, a just-launched cruise ship from the new brand Explora Journeys. We were sailing from Copenhagen to Hamburg, Germany, and along the way docked in the heart of Stavanger. Minutes after stepping off the ship, a small group of passengers and I were scampering through the Old Town’s cobbled streets, snapping photos of the whitewashed wooden buildings and chatting with an affable guide arranged by the cruise line. Soon enough, she was filling us in about the history of fish packing — not to mention the Norwegian oil-and-gas industry, municipal politics, and the pros and cons of living in Scandinavia. She also procured for us several tastes of local foods including pickled herring, the flatbread known as lefse , and fenalår , a salted-and-cured lamb leg that might best be described as Norwegian prosciutto.

It was, unexpectedly, a most delightful way to spend a morning, snacking our way around town and popping into shops like Chili Chocolate , discovering a new record store-slash-pub called Blåveis , and seeing the brutalist building that houses the Sølvberget Library and Culture Centre . (Incidentally, the library is also home to an outpost of Sirkus Renna , a konditori that makes outstanding cardamom buns.)

Not that the other stops along the way lacked for pleasure. In Oslo, the Nordic weather gods looked on us with favor, and visitors and locals alike took to the shoreline for sunbathing, sauna sessions, and, in my case, a two-hour paddling trip around the harbor with Mad Goats , a local outfitter. In Goteborg, Sweden, I wandered blissfully from neighborhood to neighborhood, window shopping in Haga and sniffing out bakeries in Landala. There, too, I took to the water by renting an electric canal cruiser — much like the ones in Amsterdam — from Let’s Boat for an hour-long, self-guided tour of the city’s waterways.

The most impressive vessel of the trip, though, was the Explora I . Built in Italy and officially launched only weeks before I came aboard, the 461-suite ship is the first of a planned six for Explora Journeys . Like many top-tier lines, Explora has countless moments of indulgence, like freely poured Moet & Chandon Imperial and the unlimited raw bar available in the Emporium Marketplace, a dining venue on Deck 11. The extravagance continues in the rooms, which are outfitted with Frette linens and robes and feature the kind of subdued color palette and rich materials you’d find at an Aman or One&Only resort. (They’ve also got heated marble floors in the bathrooms and Dyson hair dryers in the walk-in closets.) 

The onboard restaurants are also excellent. The tasting-menu venue Anthology is the most ambitious, with menus designed by culinary superstars who commit to three-month rotations aboard the ship. The first partnership is with Ristorante Uliassi , the Michelin three-starred destination outside Ancona, Italy, which has created an eight-course menu that highlights Adriatic seafood and wines from Le Marche. (The tuna carpaccio alla puttanesca was, for me, a particular highlight.) Other dining rooms, like the Japanese-inspired Sakura and the chops-and-steaks venue Marble & Co., served fantastic dishes that were both technically precise and satisfying.

Sourcing superlative luxury seems to be a specialty of Explora. For one, the line is the world’s first to partner with Rolex for an onboard boutique — and during my six-day trip, several of the timepieces were sold. Scarcity is also a theme on the ship’s premium wine list, which is stacked with trophy bottles so rare that it may not be a stretch to say that some future passenger will book simply to pop the cork on a €2,900 bottle of 2013 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Echezeaux. (Thankfully for the rest of us, many house wines are available at no cost, and numerous worthwhile finds, like bottles from R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia and Artemis Karamolegos, can be had for a more down-to-earth supplement.)

In between the extravagance, the onboard experience is as serene as you’d expect from a premium cruise line. A well-equipped spa has several treatment rooms, plus all sorts of amenities such as a sauna, hydrotherapy pool, Himalayan salt cave, and a salon. A fitness center — bustling at most hours throughout my trip — is stocked with the latest Technogym gear. Explora I is the first big ship with a dedicated outdoor fitness area, too, on deck 14, where one afternoon a group of go-getters were busting it through a boot camp — though they just as easily could’ve been playing pickleball on the outdoor court nearby.

Back inside, things were often tranquil against the backdrop of tunes from the Steinway piano, the crackle of ice, and bar spoons swirling in mixing glasses. The deferential service, often with a gracious-yet-reserved smile, reminded me of the sort you’d expect at a five-star Swiss hotel. Which would make sense: though Explora Journeys stands on its own as a brand, it’s part of MSC, the family-owned global shipping conglomerate based in Geneva.

“Now that everyone is on board, they understand what it means to be a boutique resort on the water: the European-ness in terms of design, the ambiance, and the atmosphere,” said Michael Ungerer, the CEO of Explora Journeys, when we met over espresso in the ship’s Explora Lounge as we cruised the North Sea. “It’s been totally exhilarating and extremely rewarding — and also humbling, in a way, when you think about every little tiny detail we have planned from day one and how it came together and how many people were involved,” Ungerer said, thinking back on the more than five-year odyssey of developing and launching the new brand.

Then, he surprised me with a question. “Did you go to the canning museum in Stavanger?” he asked, before I’d had the chance to fill him in on my memorable morning. “It’s amazing, isn’t it?”

Explora I will sail Northern Europe, as well as New England and Eastern Canada this summer and fall, before continuing south to the Caribbean. Seven-day trips aboard Explora I start from $3,650 per person, all inclusive, and you can book your cruise at explorajourneys.com .

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Review: Explora I

Reviewed by Scott Bay

What is the line? Explora Journeys

Name of ship? Explora I

Passenger occupancy? 922

Itinerary? Maiden journey; Northern Europe

Start out with the big picture—what is this cruise line known for?

The third-largest cruise brand in the world, European cruise line MSC, announced its plans to move into the ultra-luxury market in 2018 and in the years since brought Explora Journeys from ideation to realty. The new arm of the business brings a completely new identity to both the MSC family and the medium cruise category, harkening its design, ethos, and service style more akin to a superyacht or boutique resort, than what is expected for a cruise ship. Explora Journeys has plans to launch five other Explora ships in the next four years.

Tell us about the ship in general

Explora I , which launched in 2023, had years of thought put into the collaborative ship design by Martin Francis, SMC Design, AD Associates, De Jorio Luxury and Yacht Projects. The result offers smart compartmentalized interiors that bleed out into the intentional exterior spaces—creating intimate gathering spaces that never feel overly crowded, or disconnected from the sea. There are four heated salt water swimming pools and over 10,440 sq. ft. of wellness facilities spread across the indoor and outdoor areas of the ship. The wellness slant is noticeable everywhere on board from the spacious spa facilities and the fitness areas (one of which is the first dedicated outdoor fitness space at sea) with the latest Technogym equipment to the turndown amenities, like the Aromatherapy Associates shower essential oils, which I found particularly relaxing. The lobby bar, which is also the first impression of the ship, is a particular stand-out which is in company with The Fairmont Olympic’s The George Bar, The Campbell, and the London Edition lobby bar. The atmosphere is one of elegance. A place where you want to take your time sipping an ice-cold New York-style martini, watching the other guests go by.

Who is onboard?

And what people-watching it is. I was surprised to discover a large variety of passengers, from obviously wealthy middle-aged Europeans akin to those portrayed in Triangle of Sadness and Miu Miu-and-Zimmermann-clad ladies on a group trip to a healthy representation of young, same-sex couples and multi-generational families. With the diversity of passengers, the environment created a welcoming atmosphere in all areas of the boat, most obviously seen at the Astern Lounge during “C’est Chic,” the resident disco night, where—strangely most everyone dressed in white—was two-stepping in one joyous conflation.

Describe the cabins

The Explora I is unique in that it offers 461 ocean front suites, each with floor-to-ceiling windows and private terraces. There are no interior-facing or balcony-less rooms. I was in a “Premier Penthouse,” a mid-tier room that had a separated living and sleeping space with a walk-in closet with a seated vanity and balcony equipped with a table, two chairs, and a chaise. The almost-entirely marble bathroom had a large vanity, a rainfall shower, and—a perk I couldn’t get enough of—heated flooring. The living area had a table for four and a comfortable sectional. The shelves were filled with curated objects, books, and games, creating a home-like atmosphere. My room came with a Technogym bag with a yoga mat, foam roller, and exercise bands, along with exercise classes built-in to the television. Even more impressive is that there was enough room in my suite to comfortably do a yoga class. But I have to say my favorite amenity of the guest room, even though there was a customized bar and Dyson supersonic hairdryer, were the auto-focusing binoculars for viewing the many archipelagos and wind farms in the North Sea.

Tell us about the crew

The crew was extremely discreet and operated in a European service style. There were some standards that I, as an American, could have gone without, such as having the female-appearing members of the party order or being served before the male-appearing ones, but overall the ambition of traditional service was appreciated. The illustrious Captain Serena Melani was seen throughout the ship, speaking with guests and ensuring everything was running smoothly outside of the bridge. Overall, the service was extremely personalized with 640 team members and a 1.25 to 1 guest to room host ratio. My room attendant offered thoughtful touches based on my behaviors, like providing extra water, sparkling and natural, after noticing that I regularly left the provided glass bottles empty and inquired what my favorite spirit was to customize the minibar.

What food and drink options are available on board?

With 11 globally-inspired culinary options available, each focused on sourcing from sustainable and local-to-the-port vendors, it is impossible to go hungry. The most notable of which is Anthology, which brings in guest chefs to create a quarterly tasting menu. During my journey, Michelin three-starred Ristorante Uliassi, located in Ancona, Italy, created an 8-course menu focusing on Adriatic seafood—the pasta with an infusion of fig leaves was exceptional. Other standouts were the steakhouse Marble & Co. Grill and the Asian-inspired Sakura. However, each dining establishment I tried left me satisfied, including the surprisingly excellent all-day dining venue Emporium Marketplace, which had made-to-order wood-fired pizza and an indulgent raw bar. The beverage program is exceptional. The house champagne is Moet & Chandon Imperial, options like Nikka Whiskey and Johnnie Walker are included at the Malt Whiskey Bar, and the wine list offers hard-to-find bottles at a surprisingly fair price point.

Is there a spa on board and is it worth visiting?

The 7,500 sq. ft. spa has nine treatment rooms and a thermal area complete with saunas, steam rooms, a hydrotherapy pool, and even a Himalayan salt cave. I had a muscle release massage on a sea day which effectively relaxed my muscles after the 12 or more hour travels from Vancouver to Copenhagen. The treatment rooms were spacious and the massage included soft stretching and aromatherapy. The thermal area would get pretty crowded during sea days, but I popped in on one port morning and had the area to myself for over an hour.

Activities and entertainment

There was always something to do. Between lounging at the four see-and-be-seen pools there was live music, travel writing workshops, trivia, afternoon tea, pickleball lessons (on the open-air pickleball sports court), wine tastings, and what seemed to be spoken about with the most enthusiasm, the chef’s kitchen. The chef’s kitchen was a cooking class where guests are led in destination-specific recipes like Smørrebrød, where you went home with new skills on how to create a Danish open-face sandwich spread back at home.

How was the experience for families?

I saw many families during my time onboard—families with young children, skip-gen units of grandparents and teenagers, and adult children with their parents. Overall, the atmosphere is similar to one found at ultra-luxury resorts like the Four Seasons or One & Only, so if you are comfortable there with your family, Explora I will be more than suitable. There is the Nautilus Club catered to kids 6 - 17 and 82 suites are connecting for multi-generational families.

Where did it sail and how were the excursions? Did anything stand out?

We sailed from Copenhagen, Denmark; Göteborg, Sweden; Oslo and Stavanger, Norway; to Hamburg, Germany. The itinerary was a nice mix of small, lesser-known Scandinavian towns to popular hits like Oslo and Copenhagen. There were many excursions, group and private, available. The food-specific tours were a hit, along with the hike to the popular Pulpit Rock in Norway.

Are there any stand out sustainability or green initiatives about this cruise?

Explora Journeys does not use any single-use plastic on-board and ashore, and has implemented LNG marine fuel, which is currently the cleanest available at scale. The Explora I utilizes high-efficiency and energy-saving appliances, a Baltic Standard wastewater treatment system, and is certified for reduced underwater noise. They are committed to reach net-zero by 2050 and supports environmental causes through the MSC Foundation.

Finally, give a sentence or two on why the cruise is worth booking.

If you want an indulgent, elevated cruise, look no further.

All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

By CNT Editors

Don’t Like Cruising? This New Boutique Ship Could Be Just the Cruise for You

Newly launched cruise line explora journeys designed its vessels specifically with the cruise averse in mind. here’s a first look..

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Calling all non-cruisers: Explora Journeys wants you onboard.

Courtesy of Explora Journeys

You won’t find any buffets aboard Explora I , the first of four ships from Geneva-based cruise company MSC Group’s newly launched cruise line Explora Journeys . Nor will you find any single-use plastics or shows that you need to rush to finish dinner to see. Gone are many of the hallmarks of a typical cruise ship, in favor of a more boutique, tailored experience.

“We’re creating a brand for the future luxury traveler,” said Jason Gelineau, head of product for Explora Journeys, during a media round table discussion in the ship’s Malt Whiskey Lounge in August, as he explained how the cruise line aims to appeal to people who have never cruised before.

I am one of those people. Aside from a journey aboard a 40-passenger ship cruising the Amazon River and an even smaller boat sailing along the Nile, I’ve never cruised. The idea of being stuck aboard a massive, impersonal ship, and herded around by a flag-toting guide on the kind of group tours I routinely have to maneuver around in my hometown of Rome never appealed to me.

Essentially, I am Explora Journeys’ target audience.

And I was skeptical, to be sure. But all in all, I think that for a non-cruiser like me, Explora Journeys offers a nice introduction to cruising—or rather, what the company prefers to call an “ocean state of mind.” When creating the brand, Explora looked not to other cruise ships, but to yachts and luxury hotel brands like Belmond, Cheval Blanc, and Ritz-Carlton for inspiration. It was also consciously designed to feel like a European brand, from the subdued interiors to the entertainment programming and the choice of incorporating European brands like Frette linens, Illy (the well-known Italian espresso brand, which is served throughout the ship at all the restaurants and in the suites), and the first Rolex boutique at sea. Quite fitting, as MSC is a Geneva-based family-run company created by Neapolitan ferry captain Gianluigi Aponte.

Explora I’s maiden journey kicked off in Copenhagen in August 2023 and it’s currently in the midst of a grand world tour. I was able to get a first look at the ship on a sailing from Hamburg to Southampton in August—and these were my main takeaways.

The Explora I lobby makes a striking first impression.

First impressions of ’ Explora I ’

Seen from afar, the 922-passenger Explora I cuts a rather sleek silhouette. Upon boarding, I found myself in the lobby, which manages to feel grand and intimate at the same time with its soaring ceilings. The design is sophisticated and timeless, with a muted color scheme and artful touches like an installation by British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare of books from the British Library’s collection wrapped in African fabrics. An art gallery on deck five displays rotating exhibitions of paintings and photographs from the destinations throughout the world where the ship docks.

I was pleased to discover that the ship has plenty of outdoor spaces, including three outdoor pools. Of the total 178,680 square feet of public space, 67,275 square feet (more than a third) is outdoor space. I spent some time relaxing by the Atoll pool flanked by plush sunbeds on deck 10, and though it was a bit too chilly for me on the North Sea, there were plenty of people out there sunbathing. The pools will be a major asset when the ship is sailing in warmer destinations such as the Mediterranean and Caribbean.

As someone who spends a lot of time visiting boutique hotels throughout Europe, and especially loves road tripping, I struggled a bit with the idea of having only a few hours in each port. But I appreciated the similarities between this vessel and land-based resorts and the appeal of not having to unpack and repack my bags at every stop on a trip.

The pan-Asian restaurant Sakura was the writer’s favorite onboard dining venue.

Where to eat on ’ Explora I ’

Explora I has nine dining options, in addition to five bars and lounges. According to Gelineau, the idea was not to have one main restaurant but rather a collection of distinct dining outlets, each with its own concept.

Emporium Marketplace is the closest thing to a buffet. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it has a handful of stations where guests can choose from items like pastries, freshly made juices and smoothies, and eggs made to order. Then there are four sit-down restaurants where you order á la carte. Of these, my favorite was Sakura, the pan-Asian restaurant where I sampled sushi, lobster pad thai, and slow-cooked short rib beef Penang curry. At the Med Yacht Club, I enjoyed Middle Eastern-style mezze and the pasta of the day. Marble & Co. is a European-style steakhouse that serves German and Swedish beef, as well as seafood and caviar. The French restaurant, Fil Rouge, serves breakfast á la carte, unlike the other sit-down restaurants, which are not open for breakfast.

Passengers can grab a more casual meal at the Emporium Marketplace.

If guests are feeling hungry between meals, they can grab a snack and Illy espresso from Crema Café or head to the Gelateria & Creperie by the Conservatory pool to satisfy a sweet tooth.

In addition to these, there are two gourmet options that come with an extra charge: the Chef’s Kitchen and Anthology, the latter of which operates as a sort of pop-up concept with rotating chefs who sign on for a three-month stint. While we were onboard, the chef in residence was Mauro Uliassi of the Michelin three-starred Ristorante Uliassi on Italy’s Adriatic coast. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to try either of these options, but my companions who had the tasting menu at Anthology raved about it. A cooking course at the chef’s kitchen costs €150 per person (US$161, based on current conversion rates), while Anthology’s tasting menu costs €190 per person (or US$204) with an optional wine pairing for €75 per person (US$80). Reservations are recommended for lunch and dinner at all the sit-down restaurants to ensure that they can accommodate all the guests.

On Explora I , there really isn’t a bad room, er suite, in the house.

All-suite accommodations

There are 461 suites, penthouses, and residences across five categories on the Explora I . All are oceanfront, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a private terrace with a daybed and dining area. The entry-level suites are among the largest for ocean ships of this size, at 377 square feet. In addition to a comfortable bed, small sofa, bathroom with bespoke bath products, and a walk-in closet, the suites all have thoughtful amenities like a Dyson hair dryer and Illy espresso machine. The most opulent is the Owner’s Residence, which measures 3,014 square feet and has a living and dining area with a fireplace, a private terrace with a whirlpool, and butler service.

The writer enjoyed a chocolate-making workshop and private visit to the Adornes Domein estate during a shore excursion in Bruges, Belgium.

Dan V/Unsplash

Explora Journeys ’ take on shore excursions and sustainability

MSC Group has pledged to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Explora I is equipped with catalytic reduction technology that reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by 90 percent. Like MSC World Europa , future Explora Journeys ships ( Explora III , Explora IV , Explora V , and Explora VI ) will run on liquified natural gas (LNG), which is currently the cleanest marine fuel available at scale and has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by 25 percent. And those same forthcoming vessels will also be hydrogen-powered, according to the company. Explora Journeys’ ships are being designed with an eye toward a greener future. They have a dedicated space for battery storage to allow future hybrid power generation when that technology becomes more widely available.

In Explora I’s staterooms, large glass bottles of water are replenished daily and reusable Explora Journeys-branded bottles are provided so guests don’t need to buy plastic bottles of water onshore. Throughout the ship, LED lights and high-efficiency appliances have been put in place.

For Explora Journeys, sustainability is not only about reducing emissions and energy consumption but also about inclusivity and making sure that the ship doesn’t have a harmful impact on the ports it visits. Inclusivity is especially important to Captain Serena Melani, who told me that 50 percent of the staff working on the bridge with her are female.

According to Sacha Rougier, head of itinerary planning and shore experiences, the biggest challenge is creating itineraries that balance the famous destinations that entice people to book with under-the-radar ports that don’t get more than one ship per week. Though Explora Journeys will go to some ports that suffer from overtourism, like Venice and Dubrovnik, the company will try to avoid the busiest days or find other ways to escape the crowds, by arriving in the evening, bringing guests ashore for night tours, and departing early in the morning before other ships arrive. It is also asking the tour operators it works with to do Travelife’s sustainability courses , which helps tour operators manage and improve their social and environmental impact.

As to be expected with any new brand, there are still some kinks to work out. Though Rougier told us during a media round table that the company wants to avoid big bus tours with headsets, that’s exactly what we found on a shore excursion in Bruges. I did, however, enjoy the chocolate-making workshop and the private visit to Adornes Domein , where we were granted exclusive access to Count and Countess Maximilien de Limburg Stirum’s private mansion, which has been in the family for 17 generations.

A world tour

After crossing the Atlantic this month, Explora I will stop in New York and Canada before continuing south along the Atlantic coast toward the Caribbean for the winter. It will then cross the Panama Canal, head north along the Mexican coast, and spend spring 2024 sailing the Pacific coast and Hawaii. before traversing the Atlantic again to spend summer 2024 in the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Adriatic.

A “hop-on-hop-off” system is not currently in place, but guests can combine multiple journeys, creating extended itineraries. The average starting rate is €650 (US$698) per person per night.

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SHIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Ship Highlights

Immerse yourself in all of the detail behind the Explora Journeys ships, from design and architecture, to safety and technology features.

First of its kind.

Length: 248m (~813ft) • Beam: 32.60m (~107ft) • Highest hosts to guests ratio • Tonnage: 63,900 GT • Power: 38,400 kW • Service Speed: 18 knots

Your Home at Sea

You can view the ocean, from our 461 Ocean front Suites:

• 1 Owner’s Residence
• 22 Ocean Residences
• 67 Ocean Penthouses
• 371 Ocean Terrace and Ocean Grand Terrace Suites
• 82 of our suites are multi-generation-friendly connecting suites

Our Suites start at 35 sqm (377 sq ft) which makes them among the most spacious for the luxury cruise category.

Everything you need, on board

Spaces that offer you relaxed luxury, restoring life's essential balance with a combination of discovery and appreciation for wellbeing and nature.

Generous Outdoor Decks

A total of 6,250 sqm (67,275 sq ft) of outdoor public space which includes three outdoor and one indoor pools with retractable glass roof, 64 private cabanas along with poolside dining and lounging..

Lounge & Be Entertained

A choice of 12 indoor and outdoor bar and lounge experiences with curated entertainment and intimate performances alongside a casino, art gallery and curated shopping experiences..

Holistic Wellness

Ocean wellness provides 1,000 sqm (10,764 sq ft) of indoor and outdoor wellness and fitness facilities, 9 treatment rooms, 1 beauty salon..

Fine Dining

A choice of nine culinary experiences including six unique restaurants focused on healthy, delicious food from local, sustainable sources..

As part of the MSC Group, Explora Journeys is committed to building ships for tomorrow, utilising today's latest technologies and being ready to adapt to alternative energy solutions as they become available.

• Hybrid-ready energy solutions
• Waste-management and energy-saving solutions
• No single-plastic used on-board and ashore

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Universal studios’ halloween horror nights conjures ‘ghostbusters’-themed haunted houses in hollywood and orlando, sunny side of the doc responds to “moment of contraction” in doc field with new opportunities for co-production.

By Matthew Carey

Matthew Carey

Documentary Editor, Awards

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Think of it as the Marché du Film, except just for documentaries.

That’s one way to picture Sunny Side of the Doc , the annual gathering of some of the top buyers and sellers of nonfiction content around the world. The four-day event got underway Monday in La Rochelle, the historic port city on France’s Atlantic coast.

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Documentary Field In Need Of A Jolt Looks To Upcoming Sunny Side Of The Doc Event In France For Inspiration, Ideas

During a keynote address Tuesday, Diana El-Osta, senior director, multiplatform development and programming at PBS, noted the challenging environment for so many stakeholders in documentary.

“I think there’s pretty broad recognition that we’re in the middle of a moment of contraction across the industry,” El-Osta said. “We’re seeing that across broadcasters — we’re seeing layoffs. A lot of the media landscape is grappling with what the future will look like and grappling with our business models and how do we remain sustainable.”

Co-production has become an increasingly crucial model to finance and create documentary content. Sunny Side plays a key role bringing collaborators together in one space.

“Co-pros are so important to us and that’s one of the reasons we’re here at Sunnyside is to meet our various partners and to meet producers and to build those collaborations,” El-Osta said. “I do think you’re seeing that whereas a year or two ago, you only needed two or three broadcasters to come together to fund a production, now you’re seeing that you need four or five broadcasters to come together to fund a production.”

“With ‘Green Cities’ as the theme,” notes a synopsis, “ Neu Earth 2: Skyline highlights new technologies, materials, designs, and concepts adopted at China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, South Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, and other countries in promoting the green city construction, and describes the opportunities and challenges faced in urban green development.”

Elsewhere, Newen Studios, with bases of operation in Europe, the U.S. and Canada, is bringing its most diverse slate of content ever to Sunny Side. Among its films are Democracy Noir , a documentary directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Connie Field about Hungary’s strongman Victor Orbán, that premiered at CPH:DOX in Copenhagen, and the history-themed Forgotten Heroines of the French Revolution produced by Capa and directed by Émilie Valentin and Mathieu Schwartz, a film originally commissioned by France’s Arte.

“After a hugely successfully Sunny Side last year, the Newen Connect team is excited to be representing an impressive slate of films that cover a wide range of subjects that take in both fascinating historical topics as well as contemporary issues,” Chloé Persyn, head of factual distribution at Newen Connect, said in a statement. “Made with passion and integrity by some of the most highly regarded film makers in this discipline, I’m excited to introduce them to international buyers and bring them to global audiences.”

Numerous video and photos are agencies are represented in Sunny Side’s exhibition hall, including CNN Images, British Pathé, Associated Press, Getty Images, Alamy, and Shutterstock .

“Shutterstock in the industry is still known more for great imagery and great video. And recently there has been more acquisitions of historic and iconic collections to widen the portfolio,” Shutterstock’s Vanessa Rubino told Deadline. “Sunny Side is important to change the brand’s perception and say, ‘Oh, I didn’t know Shutterstock had the Life [magazine] collection, which is exclusive and used to be many years ago with Getty Images.”

Along with educating customers about Shutterstock’s collection of editorial images, which are of particular interest to documentary makers, Rubino says the company attends Sunny Side to scout for potential collaborations. “We are interested to know what our clients have in the pipeline, what topics are they covering. Is it historic? Is it wildlife? Is it nature?” she said. “What is the trend or what’s in the pipeline so that we can proactively come up with ideas and support [a project]. Anything that can’t be produced because of budget or resources and archive, it makes sense to bring Shutterstock into the conversation.”

Sunny Side’s pitch sessions, described as “the most highly anticipated and popular part of the event,” continued Tuesday with pitches in two categories: Global Issues and Arts & Culture. Winning pitches in each of seven categories earn a prize of €3,000.

Teams representing the projects got seven minutes total to present their proposals (music chimed over a p.a. system to signal when it was time to wrap). A distinguished panel including producers from PBS’s NOVA and the CBC evaluated the pitches. The full list of winners will be announced on Thursday, the closing day of the event.

Sunny Side is making space for discussions of new opportunities for distribution of XR/immersive content. At a keynote on Wednesday, award-winning Australian filmmaker Emma Roberts will discuss her work, including Gondwana , “an explorable, free-roaming representation of the Daintree Rainforest in Far North Queensland, Australia.” Later on Wednesday, Ubisoft’s Amy Jenkins, Philippe Rivière of Art Explora, Marianne Lévy-Leblond of Arte and filmmaker Darren Emerson will discuss new developments within XR and immersive. Arte is devoting more of its energy to gaming, exploring fiction, nonfiction and hybrid storytelling. Ubisoft is partnering with filmmakers to leverage historical content created for its enormously popular Assassin’s Creed game. And Emerson will discuss his VR film Letters from Drancy , a remarkable piece made for the Illinois Holocaust Museum in Chicago that focuses on the memories of Marion Deichmann. As a child in Paris during World War II, Marion saw her mother grabbed by French collaborators of the Nazis, who eventually dispatched Alice Deichmann to Auschwitz.

“Central to our narrative is the formidable Marion Deichmann, a Holocaust survivor whose story traces a harrowing journey through Nazi-occupied Paris,” a description of the film observes. “Far from being just another retelling, our film endeavors to provide audiences with an intimate understanding of her lived experiences and trials.”

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• CruiseMapper

MSC Explora 1 cabins and suites

Msc explora 1 staterooms review, floor plans, photos.

MSC Explora 1 cabins and suites review at CruiseMapper provides detailed information on cruise accommodations , including floor plans, photos, room types and categories, cabin sizes, furniture details and included by MSC Explora Journeys en-suite amenities and services.

The MSC Explora 1 cruise ship cabins page is conveniently interlinked with its deck plans showing deck layouts combined with a legend and review of all onboard venues.

OWNER'S Residence

Layout (floor plan).

The OWNER'S RESIDENCE has total size 280 m2 / 3015 ft2, including 155 m2 (indoor) and 125 m2 (outdoor).

The cabin's max capacity is 3 adults or 2 adults plus 1 child under 18 years old.

The suite is fitted with smart technology for controlling the lights, heating, air-conditioning and curtains.

The BEDROOM is with a King-sized bed (200x200 cm / 79x79 inches) and a dressing room.

The huge TERRACE covers the ship's full width and has an outdoor infinity pool, shower room, 3 daybeds, a dining area (6-seat table), lounge area (cushioned sofas and chairs).

In addition to the standard complimentary provided cabin amenities, the OWNER'S RESIDENCE receives private butler services from the ship's Residence Manager. The service includes packing/unpacking (to the passengers' preferences), pressing/laundering assistance, assistance for making shipboard and ashore reservations, in-cabin dining, itinerary/transport/celebrations planning.

Additional benefits (complimentary provided amenities and services) include unlimited priority dining reservations (all the ship's restaurants), one treatment per person (at the ship's Ocean Wellness Spa), roundtrip home-airport-home transfers, roundtrip hotel-port-hotel transfers (max distance 80 km / 50 mi each way), private car driver (ashore), pre- or post-cruise hotel stay (overnight).

Ocean COVE Residence

• Category CO-COVE Residence/RS1 cabins (10x total/decks 7-8-9-10, deck 6) are sized, respectively, 70-80 m2 (755-860 ft2) including 56 m2 (605 ft2) indoor plus balcony (14-24 m2 / 150-260 ft2).

The cabin's max capacity is 3 adults or 2 adults plus 2 children under 18 years old.

These suites are with a double sofabed (to accommodate 3rd/4th person), separate living/sleeping areas, and fitted with smart technology for controlling the lights, heating, air-conditioning and curtains.

The BATHROOM is with a bathtub and bidet.

The BEDROOM is with a King-sized bed (180x200 cm / 71x79 inches). Standard amenities include down duvets and pillows, Frette bed linens, pillow menu, walk-in wardrobe (with a seated vanity).

The TERRACE has an outdoor whirlpool, a 2-seat dining table, a daybed (or 2 sun loungers).

Passengers in COVE Residences receive complimentary private butler services from the ship's Residence Hosts.

All COVE RESIDENCES receive as a welcome gift a bottle of Dom Perignon Champagne (Vintage).

Additional amenities include Technogym Case Kit, Technogym Bench, 4-seat dining table, cocktail-making set.

Ocean RETREAT Residence

• Category RR-RETREAT Residence/RS2 cabins (6x total/decks 8-9, deck 7) are sized, respectively, 77-81 m2 (830-870 ft2) including 63 m2 (680 ft2) indoor plus balcony (14-18 m2 / 150-195 ft2).

These suites are with a double sofabed (to accommodate 3rd/4th person) and with separate living/sleeping areas.

The BEDROOM is with a King-sized bed (200x200 cm / 79x79 inches).

The TERRACE has an outdoor whirlpool and a 2-seat dining table.

Passengers in RETREAT Residences receive complimentary private butler services from the ship's Residence Hosts.

All RETREAT RESIDENCES receive as a welcome gift a bottle of Dom Perignon Champagne (Vintage).

Ocean SERENITY Residence

• Category SR-SERENITY Residence/RS3 cabins (4x total/deck 7, deck 9) are sized, respectively, 113-126 m2 (1215-1355 ft2) including 60 m2 (645 ft2) indoor plus balcony (55-65 m2 / 570-710 ft2).

The BEDROOM is with a King-sized bed (180x200 cm / 71x79 inches).

The TERRACE has an outdoor whirlpool, a 4-seat dining table, a daybed, two sun loungers.

Passengers in SERENITY Residences receive complimentary private butler services from the ship's Residence Hosts.

All SERENITY RESIDENCES receive as a welcome gift a bottle of Dom Perignon Champagne (Vintage).

Ocean CACOON Residence

• Category CR-CACOON Residence/RS4 cabins (2x total/deck 6) are sized 149 m2 (1605 ft2) including 74 m2 (795 ft2) indoor plus balcony (75 m2 / 805 ft2).

The TERRACE has an outdoor whirlpool, a 4-seat dining table, a 6-seat lounge area (2-seater sofa + 4 armchairs + 2 tables, padded and with cushions), sunbathing area (2 sun loungers).

Passengers in CACOON Residences receive complimentary private butler services from the ship's Residence Hosts.

All CACOON RESIDENCES receive as a welcome gift a bottle of Dom Perignon Champagne (Vintage).

GRAND Penthouse

• Category GPH-GRAND Penthouses (10x total cabins on decks 7-8-9-10, deck 6) are sized, respectively, 60-68 m2 (645-730 ft2) including 47 m2 (505 ft2) indoor plus balcony (13-21 m2 / 140-225 ft2).

The BATHROOM is with a walk-in shower, but some suites additionally have bathtubs.

The BALCONY has a low table with 2 chairs and a dining area (1 round table + 2 chairs).

All GRAND PENTHOUSES receive as a welcome gift a bottle of Moet & Chandon Champagne (Grand Vintage).

Additional amenities include Technogym Case Kit, a 4-seat dining table.

PREMIER Penthouse

• Category PPH-PREMIER Penthouses (42x total cabins on decks 8-9-10, deck 6, deck 7) are sized, respectively, 52-53-61 m2 (560-570-655 ft2) including 42-43-43 m2 (450-465-465 ft2) indoor plus balcony (10-10-18 m2 / 110-110-195 ft2).

Some suites have a double sofabed to accommodate a 4th person.

The BATHROOM is without a bathtub.

All PREMIER PENTHOUSES receive as a welcome gift a bottle of Moet & Chandon Champagne (Grand Vintage).

DELUXE Penthouse

• Category DP-DELUXE Penthouses/PH2 (8x total cabins on decks 9-10) are sized 48 m2 (515 ft2) including 38 m2 (410 ft2) indoor plus balcony (10 m2 / 110 ft2).

The BALCONY has a daybed with a low table and a dining area (1 round table + 2 chairs).

All DELUXE PENTHOUSES receive as a welcome gift a bottle of Moet & Chandon Champagne (Grand Vintage).

OCEAN Penthouse

Category PH1-STANDARD Penthouses (7x total cabins on decks 7-8-9) are sized 43 m2 (465 ft2) including 34 m2 (365 ft2) indoor plus balcony (9 m2 / 95 ft2).

Category PH1 cabins (deck 6) are sized 48 m2 (515 ft2) including 34 m2 (365 ft2) indoor plus larger balcony (14 m2 / 150 ft2).

The BALCONY has a daybed and a dining area (1 round table + 2 chairs).

All OCEAN PENTHOUSES receive as a welcome gift a bottle of Moet & Chandon Champagne (Grand Vintage).

Ocean GRAND TERRACE Suite

OCEAN GRAND TERRACE SUITES are sized 39 m2 (720 ft2) including 28 m2 (indoor) and 11 m2 (outdoor).

The cabin's max capacity is 2 adults plus 1 child under 18 years old.

The BATHROOM is sized 4 m2 (40 ft2). Some suites have bathtubs.

The BEDROOM is with a King-sized bed (180x200 cm / 71x79 inches), but some cabins are with two twin beds (90x200 cm / 35x79 inches).

All OCEAN GRAND TERRACE SUITES receive as a welcome gift a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne (Yellow Label).

Ocean TERRACE Suite

OCEAN TERRACE SUITES are standard balcony cabins sized 35 m2 (375 ft2) including 28 m2 (indoor) and 7 m2 (outdoor).

The BATHROOM is sized 4 m2 (40 ft2).

All OCEAN TERRACE SUITES receive as a welcome gift a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne (Yellow Label).

MSC Explora 1 cabins review

MSC Explora I staterooms (461 total) are all outside, balconied and in Suite categories (advertised as OCEAN FRONT SUITES). Each cabin is fitted with floor-ceiling windows slide-opening to a step-out balcony. Cabin sizes start at 35 m2 (375 ft2), making the accommodations some of the biggest in the luxury ship travel industry.

For Explora Journeys' cabin designs were contracted two architectural and interior design studios - De Jorio Design International (Genoa Italy) and Nenmar (London UK).

Cabin types include OWNER'S RESIDENCE (1), OCEAN RESIDENCES (22), OCEAN PENTHOUSES (67), and the majority are the OCEAN SUITES/RESIDENCES (371, including 70x GRAND). The ship has a total of 82 interconnecting cabins (family suites) designed for families and small-group travelers.

All suite terraces are private and with a dining area and comfortable seating (daybeds).

Explora 1's standard cabin amenities (provided complimentary in all staterooms regardless of cabin category) include a step-out balcony (accessed via floor-ceiling sliding glass doors), lounge area (2-seater sofa, glass-top coffee/dining table, armchairs), refrigerated mini-bar (daily replenished according to the passengers' preferences), Espresso machine (bio-degradable pods), coffee/tea-making facilities (kettle and teapot, complimentary selection of brand coffees and teas), electronic safe box (accommodates most tablets and laptops), mirrored vanity table/writing desk, smart UHDTV (satellite reception, infotainment system, Internet, on-demand movies), sleeping area (King-sized bed convertible to twin beds, down duvets, 4x pillows/premium pillow menu, bedside wireless chargers), walk-in closet (wardrobe with a seated vanity and plenty of storage space/hangers and drawers), two personal binoculars (for use during the voyage), refillable water bottles (keepsake/complimentary for each passenger).

All cabin bathrooms are with heated floors, wall-hung toilets, walk-in showers, Frette plush bathrobes and linens, slippers, custom/premium brand bath toiletries, Dyson Supersonic hairdryers, single-sink vanities, LED-lighted/illuminated make-up/shaving mirrors.

All staterooms receive as a welcome gift a bottle of premium French Champagne.

Wheelchair-accessible cabins (ADA-certified suites) are with larger doors and bathrooms with bathtubs.

24-hour room service is also provided complimentary.

Most staterooms are with double capacity (two adults), but some are triple (accommodating two adults and a child).

OCEAN PENTHOUSES and OCEAN RESIDENCES are with separate living and sleeping areas, 4-6-seat dining tables, plenty of lights, contemporary furniture, original artworks. OCEAN RESIDENCES' terraces are fitted with an outdoor Jacuzzi/whirlpool, 4-seat dining table and padded sun loungers.

"MSC Yacht Club" 24-hour butler services are provided complimentary to all OCEAN RESIDENCES and OCEAN PENTHOUSES. Butler services packing and unpacking, pressing and laundering assistance, room service, itinerary and land transportation planning, special event planning, reservations assistance (onboard and ashore).

The OWNER'S RESIDENCE features a Living Room (with a fireplace and a double sofabed), Dining Room (8-seat table), Guest Toilet, Powder Room, butler pantry, bar (stocked with preferred beverages), large bedroom ((King-sized bed, low table with 2x armchairs), Dressing Room, Steam Room, Calacatta marble bathroom (double-sink vanity, bathtub, separate shower room, Dyson Supersonic hairdryer). The suite's interior features ultra-luxury Italian furniture (by brands like Molteni and Florence Knoll) and Italian designer lamps (by Astep). As a welcome gift is provided a bottle of Dom Perignon (vintage Champagne).

OWNER RESIDENCE's aft-facing wraparound terrace covers the ship's full width and is fitted with an infinity whirlpool (rectangular, glass-walled), outdoor shower, 2x double daybeds, 4x padded sun loungers, dining area (4-seat table), lounge area (1x low table, 4x armchairs). The balcony is accessed via four doors. The terrace furniture is Manutti.

The OCEAN RESIDENCES (total 22x staterooms) are sized between 70-149 m2 (755-1605 ft2) including 56-74 m2 (indoor) and 14-75 m2 (outdoor).

The OCEAN PENTHOUSES (total 67x staterooms) are sized between 43-68 m2 (465-730 ft2) including 34-47 m2 (indoor) and 9-21 m2 (outdoor).

• Category PH1-STANDARD Penthouses (7x total cabins on decks 7-8-9) are sized 43 m2 (465 ft2) including 34 m2 (365 ft2) indoor plus balcony (9 m2 / 95 ft2). Category PH1 cabins (deck 6) are sized 48 m2 (515 ft2) including 34 m2 indoor plus larger balcony (14 m2 / 150 ft2).

MSC Explora Journeys deals are inclusive of accommodation, shipboard food (dining at 9 venues plus room service), unlimited beverages (including fine wines, premium liquors, brand coffees and teas, soft drinks), complimentary cabin mini-bar drinks and snacks, access to the wellness facilities (Spa, Fitness, training programs), tips/onboard gratuities, free unlimited Wi-Fi (throughout), Welcome Aboard Gifts (flowers, mini chocolates, bottle of champagne), premium shuttle bus services (port to downtown), 24-hour concierge services, twice-daily housekeeping services (including evening turndown service), shoeshine service.

MSC Explora 1 cabin and suite plans are property of MSC Explora Journeys . All floor plans are for informational purposes only and CruiseMapper is not responsible for their accuracy.