Anna Nash, President of Explora Journeys, and Antonio Paradiso, Vice President & Managing Director UK & Ireland, welcomed travel advisors and outlined the business opportunity to redefine luxury ocean travel and attract new-to-ocean guests.

The visit gave advisors first-hand insight into Explora Journeys' ultra-elegant ocean travel proposition. This included the ship's exceptional sense of space, with one of the highest ratios of total public space per guest in the industry, as well as its European design, intuitive hospitality and epicurean excellence.

The experience equipped advisors with a deeper understanding of the brand to help them introduce Explora Journeys to their clients.

A traditional Crest Exchange Ceremony marked the occasion with Captain Melani exchanging commemorative crests with Steve Masters, Harbour Master at Associated British Ports, Katherine Barbour, Sheriff of the City of Southampton, Sarah Bogle, Councillor and Leader of Southampton City Council, and Isla Haddow, Director, UK Cruise, Denholm Port Services Ltd. The advisors and dignitaries then enjoyed lunch at Fil Rouge, one of EXPLORA III's seven dining destinations, before disembarking.

Explora III's maiden Southampton call forms part of her inaugural Northern European programme. The ship, departing Southampton today, sails on an eight-night journey to Copenhagen, calling at Mandal, Sandnes (Stavanger), Olden, Bergen and Flåm.

Paradiso said: “Explora Journeys set out to create a new expression of ultra-elegant ocean travel, appealing to travellers who may never have considered an ocean journey before. EXPLORA III takes that vision further, giving our travel advisor partners an even stronger proposition for attracting new-to-ocean guests."