A cruise in 1985 was enough to put me off ships for decades. An hour out of Sydney Harbour aboard the Fairstar, I was seasick, and I stayed that way for much of the day. I finished that trip but skipped the second cruise I had planned. I had no intention of doing another.

Explora II was a very different proposition. This 7-night sailing travelled from Athens to Venice, calling at 3 Greek islands and 2 Croatian ports. The ship had around 960 passengers in roughly 480 suites, all with balconies and no inside rooms. Compared with the basic Fairstar and that rough Pacific crossing, it was a substantial change in both comfort and setting.

The 7-Night Route from Athens to Venice

After boarding in Athens, the itinerary called at Paros, Rhodes and Corfu in Greece, followed by Hvar and Rijeka in Croatia. It ended in Venice. Some ports offered easy walks from the ship, while Paros and Hvar required short tender rides.

The schedule left room for both exploring and relaxing aboard. Hvar, for example, had an afternoon and evening call, with the ship due to depart at 8:00 p.m. and passengers required back by 7:30 p.m.

What the Standard Suite Is Like

Boarding in Athens was quick. Suite 034 was on the starboard side of deck 10, with a balcony overlooking the port. On this ship, even-numbered suites are on the starboard side and odd-numbered suites are on the port side.

The standard suite felt well appointed without needing an upgrade. Champagne and glasses were waiting on arrival, along with wine, chocolates and 2 reusable drink bottles. There were books, binoculars, a minibar, a safe, tea and coffee facilities, and a large television with a selection of films.

The bathroom was particularly good for a cruise ship, with a heated floor. A walk-in wardrobe provided useful storage, although a little more space would have been welcome. Larger suites offer more room, but the standard accommodation was comfortable for the week.

Dining and Drinks on Explora II

There were 6 restaurants aboard, plus in-room dining. The Emporium Marketplace became an easy choice after a day ashore. Although it is the ship’s buffet, guests do not serve themselves. Crew staff the many food stations, and the range was more than sufficient across 7 days. It opens for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with seating indoors and outside at the stern on deck 11.

Just outside the Marketplace, an ice cream bar also serves waffles, crêpes, tea and coffee. Crema Café, above the lobby bar, has drinks along with sweet and savoury treats.

Three restaurants require advance bookings. Marble & Co. and the Japanese restaurant Sakura are included, while Anthology carried a €150 meal charge on this sailing. At Marble & Co., the Caesar salad was prepared at the table, the ribeye was excellent, and the roast chicken earned equally strong praise. Sakura served good food, including miso cod and other seafood choices, though the room felt noisy during our dinner. Med Yacht Club offered a warmer, livelier atmosphere and plenty of choice.

There are 11 bars on board. A broad selection of drinks is included without buying a separate drinks package, and tipping is not required. Some premium drinks cost extra, so it is worth checking the wine list. Wine is included with meals; anyone after a particularly expensive bottle can certainly find one, but it is not necessary for an enjoyable dinner.

Pools, Exercise and Evenings Aboard

Explora II has plenty to do without making every hour feel scheduled. There are 5 outdoor pool options. The largest, on deck 11, has a retractable roof. The smaller stern pool is better for cooling off and relaxing than swimming laps. Five jacuzzis are spread across decks 10, 11 and 12.

For exercise, there is an indoor gym, outdoor equipment with sea views, courts for basketball and pickleball, and a dedicated walking or jogging track around deck 12. A wellness spa offers another option for a slower day.

The lobby bar and its grand staircase made a natural meeting place. Elsewhere, the Malt Whisky Bar had a cosy feel, with a cigar lounge next door. The Journeys Lounge hosted shows during the week. A small casino had roulette, blackjack and poker tables, but opened only while the ship was at sea. An art gallery on deck 5 and boutiques on deck 4 rounded out the indoor spaces.

Paros: Blue-and-White Streets and Independent Shops

Explora II anchored about 1 km off Paros, and a short tender ride brought passengers into town. The most rewarding streets were a little way back from the waterfront restaurants. Narrow lanes, old buildings and familiar blue-and-white details gave the town its character.

There were clothes shops, souvenirs and small items that felt less generic than the offerings right on the main waterfront. Prices did not appear especially low, and the streets were busy with tourists. Still, Paros was pleasant to explore for a couple of hours, and English was widely spoken.

Rhodes: Medieval Walls and a Swim Near Town

Rhodes’ old town was roughly a 5-minute walk from the port. Its lanes were busy with restaurants and shops selling everything from leather goods to souvenir T-shirts. The closer streets were heavily touristed, but the setting had energy, and food prices appeared better farther from the port.

The great visual feature is the old town’s fortification: imposing medieval stone walls running around it. A walk beside the walls was free in the area explored, though access to another section appeared to require a ticket.

Rhodes also offered a break from sightseeing. After a walk back to the ship for towels and swimwear, a nearby sea platform made for an enjoyable hour or 2 in the water. Back aboard, the jacuzzis provided a view over Rhodes at sunset.

Corfu: An Easy Trip into a Busy Old Town

In Corfu, an included shuttle bus took passengers from the port into the heart of town after a short wait. The streets were busy, but the older architecture and lively lanes made for an enjoyable walk. Compared with the earlier Greek stops, there appeared to be a few more locals among the crowds.

A €10 chicken souvlaki lunch was perfectly fine, if rather bland. Corfu’s appeal on this visit was less about a particular meal and more about wandering its streets. The shuttle also made it simple to return to the ship whenever the heat or crowds became enough.

Hvar: Clear Water and a Quieter Pace

A 10-minute tender ride brought passengers into Hvar. On this Saturday visit, it felt noticeably calmer than the 3 Greek towns. There were still shops selling dresses, shoes and trinkets, along with plenty of places to eat, but the bay and its clear water were the standout features.

The stone streets offered welcome shade, and the town was easy to enjoy without a strict plan. A castle sits above Hvar for anyone keen on the climb. With several hours before the return time, there was no need to hurry through the waterfront and lanes.

Rijeka: City Streets Beyond the Working Port

Rijeka was the final Croatian stop. The walk along the jetty began beside a working port, with fishing boats and a strong fish smell. A few hundred metres farther on, the town offered a much more appealing set of streets, places to eat and buildings set back from the waterfront.

It was Sunday, so the centre was relatively quiet. A couple of hours ashore was enough for a look around before returning to the ship. Locals pointed out beaches not far from town, though the pools aboard were an equally convenient choice that afternoon.

Did Explora II Change the Cruise Experience?

The sailing was not entirely free of rough weather. One morning brought a swell of around 1.5 m, and a storm lasting roughly 90 minutes cut visibility to a few hundred metres. For most of the trip, though, conditions were fine, and even during the choppier spell the ship’s movement was barely noticeable.

That stability mattered after such a miserable first cruise. So did the balance of the holiday: interesting ports, a comfortable suite, varied food and enough space to spend an afternoon doing very little. Explora II made slowing down feel like part of the trip rather than time taken away from it.

A luxury ship cannot guarantee perfect seas, and these port calls were brief introductions rather than exhaustive visits. But this Athens-to-Venice route showed how enjoyable a cruise can be when the time on board is as worthwhile as the time ashore. After 1985, that was quite a change of mind.