Italy
A house on the coast or in the hills, and a long table.
Explora Journeys · Explora I
Explora I: a Western Mediterranean week for three generations
Barcelona to Rome with connecting suites, a real kids' programme and nobody dressing for dinner.
- Duration
- 7 nights
- Region
- Mediterranean
- Ship
- Explora I
- Guide price
- From £4,200 pp
- Best for
- Three generations · Families · Grandparents · First-time cruisers
Planning figure per person for the cruise itself. Final price depends on sailing date, suite and availability; flights, hotels and transfers are added in your proposal.
A seven-night Western Mediterranean cruise on Explora I from Barcelona to Rome (Civitavecchia), the ship we shortlist first for families and grandparents travelling together in summer.
This is the itinerary we sketch most often for a family of eight to twelve: fly into Barcelona for two hotel nights, board a modern ship where the suites connect and the children have somewhere to go, and work along the coast to Rome with a day in Saint-Tropez, Monaco, Portofino and the Amalfi Coast on the way.
The ship is the reason it works. Explora I is large enough that a party can split up — grandparents to the quiet pool, teenagers to their own space, parents to a long lunch — and come back together for dinner at a table booked for the week. There are no formal nights and no fixed seatings, which removes most of the friction of cruising with children.
We would add two nights in Barcelona before and one in Rome after, private transfers throughout, and a handful of private excursions chosen for the mix of ages.
Why we like it
- Connecting Ocean Terrace suites and large Residences for the grandparents
- Children's and teen spaces that are genuinely used
- Nine or so dining venues, no fixed seatings, no formal nights
- Overnight or late calls that allow a proper dinner ashore
- Short flights and easy pre-cruise hotels at both ends
The ship
Explora I entered service in 2023 and carries around 900 guests in all-suite accommodation, every suite with a terrace. The design is contemporary hotel rather than cruise ship: a lot of light wood, several pools including an adults-calm one, a serious spa and a relaxed dress code. It is a resort at sea in the best sense, and it suits parties that want room to spread out.
Cabins we'd recommend
- Two connecting Ocean Terrace suites midship for parents and children
- An Ocean Grand Terrace or Ocean Residence for grandparents hosting the group
- Avoid suites directly below the pool deck if anyone is a light sleeper
What the fare includes with Explora Journeys
- Dining across most venues
- Drinks and minibar
- Wi-Fi
- Gratuities
- Wellness facilities
Everything else, flights, hotels before and after, transfers and private days ashore, we add around it. More on Explora Journeys →
Like the look of this?
We'll tell you whether it's actually right for your party, and build the flights, hotels, transfers and extras around it.
Ask us about this cruise →No obligation. A specialist replies personally.
Who it's for
- Three-generation groups of six to fourteen
- Families with children of mixed ages, including under-fives
- First-time cruisers who dread formality
- Grandparents who want to host without organising
Who it isn't for
- Couples who want an intimate small ship
- Travellers who enjoy gala nights and a captain's table
- Anyone who wants a very port-intensive, expedition-style programme
Sample itinerary
Day by day
A representative itinerary. Ports and order vary by sailing date; we confirm the exact itinerary in your proposal.
- Days 1–2
Barcelona
Two hotel nights in Barcelona before boarding, with a private guide for the family on one morning and the afternoons free.
- Day 3
Board Explora I
Private transfer to the ship after lunch. Suites are ready by mid-afternoon; we book the family's dinner table for the week in advance.
- Day 4
Saint-Tropez
A tender port. Beach clubs for the adults, a market morning for everyone, or a private boat along the coast.
- Day 5
Monaco
Docked in the heart of the principality. The Oceanographic Museum for children, Eze village for the grandparents, lunch together in the harbour.
- Day 6
Portofino
An anchorage with a small, pretty harbour. Walk to the lighthouse, or a boat to San Fruttuoso abbey.
- Day 7
At sea
A day for the pools, the spa and the kids' club. Dinner at the ship's best restaurant, booked for the group.
- Day 8
Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast
Anchored off Sorrento. A private driver along the Amalfi Coast for the adults; Pompeii for the older children.
- Day 9
Rome (Civitavecchia)
Disembark and transfer to Rome for a final hotel night, or straight to the airport.
- Day 10
Fly home
Private transfer to Fiumicino.
What we'd add
The voyage is only part of the trip.
- Flights from the UK to Barcelona and home from Rome, in the cabin class each family wants
- Two pre-cruise hotel nights in Barcelona and one post-cruise night in Rome
- Private transfers: airport, hotel, port, airport
- A private guide in Barcelona and a driver on the Amalfi Coast
- Dining reservations for the whole party for every evening
- A birthday or anniversary arranged quietly with the ship
Like the look of this?
We'll tell you whether it's actually right for your party, and build the flights, hotels, transfers and extras around it.
Good to know
Questions, answered
What does the guide price include?
The planning figure is per person for the cruise in an Ocean Terrace suite on a typical summer departure, with most dining, drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities included by the line. Flights, hotels, transfers and private excursions are added in your proposal.
Can grandparents and grandchildren share a suite?
Suites sleep two or three; connecting suites are the comfortable answer and the first thing to sell. We check the exact deck plan against your party before recommending a configuration.
Is there childcare for under-fives?
A dedicated space and programme exists for younger children on Explora; the specifics vary by sailing and season, and we confirm them for your dates rather than promise.
Land & sea
Before and after the ship
Embarkation and disembarkation nights are part of the same plan. These are the places we would build around this Mediterranean sailing.
Courchevel chalet
The Three Valleys from the front door.
Amalfi clifftop villa
A terrace over the sea and a boat below.
French Alps family ski week
Ski school, a nanny, and the Three Valleys from the door.
Also consider
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