When broken down, we spent about $480 a person per night for an ocean-view suite.
The ports were great to explore, and we had delicious meals and fun experiences on board.
Having previously visited Greece and enjoyed it, I wanted to explore more of the Adriatic with some friends and family for my 40th birthday.
Since we'd be traveling during peak season, flights and hotel rates were quite high. So, I decided to look into a luxury cruise instead — it seemed like an especially good value if we wanted to see multiple places.
I ended up booking a two-week itinerary throughout Greece and the Adriatic Riviera with Explora Journeys, a luxury line from the MSC Group. Our ship stopped in places like Italy, Montenegro, and Croatia.
Unfortunately, this exact itinerary no longer seems to be available, though similar ones can be found on the Explora Journeys website.
I shared an ocean-terrace suite with one other person, and we each paid about $480 a night. Our fare included all of our food and drinks (except for one meal at a specialty restaurant), gratuities, and port charges.
Here's what our experience was like on a luxury sailing with Explora Journeys.
The ship felt impressively big.
We boarded our cruise in Greece.
David Morris
We began our cruise in Piraeus, Greece, and the process was quick and easy.
Within minutes of arriving at our ship, we were brought on board and given Champagne.
Every cabin on this ship is a suite.
We stayed in an ocean-view suite on our Explora Journeys cruise.
David Morris
When booking our spots on the 813-foot-long ship, we could choose from three tiers of cabins: suites, penthouses, and residences. Residencies are the highest tiers and can come with butlers and private jacuzzis.
My roommate and I were happy with our 377-square-foot, entry-level ocean-terrace suite, which had two twin beds, a balcony, a walk-in closet with a dressing room, and a lounge area.
My favorite feature was the heated floor in the bathroom.
Our bathroom felt pretty spacious.
David Morris
The heated floors were a nice touch in our fairly spacious bathroom.
I also loved the sizable walk-in shower, strong water pressure, and ample counter space.
The room featured a Dyson hairdryer and other solid amenities.
The light-up mirror in our dressing room was also a hit.
David Morris
The dressing room was spacious, with ample storage and a vanity area complete with a light-up mirror.
My friends were particularly excited that cabins come with a quality Dyson hair dryer, as some cruise lines restrict the wattage you can use for these devices.
There were also nice touches throughout the room, like wireless charging pads for cellphones built into the nightstands.
Our cabin host also ensured our complimentary minibar was fully stocked with coconut water, ginger beer, Belvedere, and other items throughout our trip.
I loved that our terrace had a daybed.
The terrace felt pretty cozy.
David Morris
All cabins come with private outdoor spaces. Ours had a comfortable daybed and a table with two chairs.
The ship has multiple restaurants, but Fil Rouge was my favorite.
I enjoyed the lobster thermidor at Fil Rouge.
David Morris
The ship had numerous dining options, from a pan-Asian eatery to a steakhouse. Fortunately, meals atmost were included in the cost of our cruise fare.
My favorite was Fil Rouge, as I thought its French-inspired menu was very well executed. Standout dishes included crab cakes, escargot, lobster thermidor, veal Wellington, and daily soufflés.
My second-favorite eatery was the ship's only added-cost dining room.
I took part in the tasting experience at Anthology.
David Morris
Meals at the onboard Italian-inspired eatery Anthology were not included in our cruise fare, but we headed there for my birthday.
We participated in its seven-course tasting experience for 140 euros a person, plus an extra 60 euros each for wine pairings. It wasn't cheap, but we paid for it with onboard credits that came with our booking.
Our food was excellent, with bites featuring Oscietra Royal caviar, lobster, truffle, and A5 Japanese wagyu.
There were also bars and lounges on board.
Lobby Bar had plenty of seating.
David Morris
We had plenty of spots to hang out in on the ship, from a whisky bar to a mixology lounge.
My favorite was Lobby Bar, which was centrally located on the ship. Some of my friends preferred the Explora Lounge, which served afternoon tea and offered sweeping views of the ocean.
I also liked the onboard spa, high-end retailers, and pools.
I made sure to spend some time at the spa.
David Morris
I had two incredible massages at the onboard spa, which was fantastic. Much to my surprise, going there didn't cost me extra — on most cruises, travelers must pay for spa access.
There were also numerous pools and jacuzzis on board and some seriously high-end retailers. We looked through luxurious pieces from brands like Cartier and Piaget, and my friend was even able to purchase a Rolex.
Still, the ports really made this cruise.
I enjoyed our stop in Greece.
David Morris
Our cruise stopped in numerous places throughout Greece, Italy, Croatia, and Montenegro.
The Greek island of Paros was a highlight for me. Its beaches were truly stunning, and I loved how authentically Greek the towns felt.
We also particularly loved Dubrovnik in Croatia. As my friends enjoyed shopping for leather goods, I relished walking through the walled city made even more famous by HBO's "Game of Thrones."
My favorite experience, though, was visiting the walled city of Kotor, Montenegro, and spending the afternoon at nearby Nikki Beach.
Overall, my Explora Journeys cruise gets high marks from me.
Nikki Beach was one of my favorite places we visited.
David Morris
I was really impressed by the service, amenities, and rooms on this cruise.
Plus, we stopped in so many places and our small ship spent a decent amount of time docked in each. I really felt like I could take my time experiencing every city because we'd typically arrive at port very early in the morning and sometimes leave as late as 11 p.m.
As the MSC Group continues to grow Explora Journeys by adding new itineraries and ships, I think it will become a really prominent player in the luxury-cruise space.
