By NewsdeskNov 30, 2022 11:41am

Explora Journeys Explora I Luxury Cruises Cruise Information

Explora Journeys has unveiled its program of onboard entertainment and activities. Guests can explore seven onboard venues offering a range of entertainment options. Instead of a single main event, they can freely enjoy any experience they wish whenever they choose.

Guests can enjoy pre-and post-dinner poolside chill-outs in the Astern Lounge or contemporary pop inspired by Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox in the Explora Lounge. They can head to the Journeys Lounge for a laidback, candlelit evening of music inspired by the route the ship is sailing. There is also always music to accompany a coffee or a drink in the Lobby Bar.

Here’s what to expect:

Activities

Ombré Sunsets: Guests can hone their photography skills in the Explora Lounge.
The Spirit of Whiskey: A tutorial from mixologists in the Malt Whiskey Bar, where guests try their hand at making signature drinks.
Melodic Master Class: Resident artists will share their talents and discuss songwriting, improvisation, and composition.

Events

Captain’s Log… Secrets of the Sail: Guests join the captain or bridge officers on a walk around the deck.
Bal Mythos: At the stroke of midnight, guests can don handcrafted masks of local deities and dance to the resident Bacchus Band and singers.
Midnight Wayfinder: With guitar music and storytelling under the stars or around the Conservatory Pool, guests learn how sailors have long relied on the sea, wind, and stars to bring them safely to shore.
Inferno: A nod to the glamour of Manhattan’s Studio 54, Soul Train and Europe’s 1970s discos, where guests can enjoy cocktails and dance the night away.

Experiences

An Evening by Candlelight: Guest musicians and vocalists perform in the main lounges, creating a range of experiences from classical music to movie soundtracks.
Decadence: The themes of this experience switch from lounge to lounge, with live music and immersive performances.
Le Jazz: Guests on journeys that include France can enjoy a Parisian jazz club experience, accompanied by French martinis and canapés.
Let the Good Times Roll: Jiving to New Orleans jazz cabaret is an essential part of the Caribbean itinerary, with a French Creole menu, absinthe cocktails, and music.

Rituals

Ocean State of Mind: Every morning, guests can participate in guided meditations against a backdrop of sky and ocean.
Sundial Salutation: This twice-daily, movement-based wellness ritual is held in the morning and at sunset.
Midday Melodies: Every day onboard Explora I, the Atrium comes alive with acoustic music.
Sunset Aperitivo: Signature drinks and canapés associated with the ports of call are served in the bars and lounges, each with its own sonic vibe.
Moonrise: Every 28 days, guests clad in shades of silver and ivory gather to honor the full moon, sipping signature cocktails and dancing to live music.

Enrichment

The Book Club: Occasional journeys will have a particular book relating to the region in which the ship is sailing, culminating in a reading with the author.
Single Origin: Led by a barista, guests get familiar with local coffee cultures through tastings relevant to the countries they visit.
Artisanal: Courses on destination-themed crafts representative of local heritage, from textiles and tapestries to baskets and chocolate making, are taught by a local expert.
Dance the Day Away: On select journeys, guests can enjoy an afternoon of learning some of the region’s movement culture, accompanied by local dance music. Sessions are led by local experts, resident artists, and the international host.
The Creative’s Journey: Behind-the-scenes stories and iconic moments in stage and cinema are discovered through talks by resident and guest artists, together with other prolific talents. Among them are writers, directors, producers, actors, musicians, choreographers, costumiers, and set and lighting designers.

For more information, visit explorajourneys.com.

Money-Saving Travel Tips with a Bonus: Getting to Know Your Destination Like a Local

By Jessica Rigg

A few simple tricks can help save your wallet. (Illustration: Yeji Kim)

There’s no doubt about it: Traveling on a budget can be tough. It requires diligent planning and research, flexibility, and a fair amount of creative thinking. But the good news is that the most budget-conscious options (from food to transportation) are usually the ones that allow you to best absorb the local culture.

If your goal is to truly experience a place and its culture, all while saving money, here are some need-to-know tips.

As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.

Get Outside the City Center

Cities certainly have their charms, offering the culture, diversity and energy that many travelers crave. But by venturing outside city centers (especially major capital cities), you’ll save money and likely get a more up-close-and-personal look at the way locals live.

Restaurants, bars and cafés in further-flung neighborhoods and beyond into smaller towns generally charge much less than what you’d pay for a similar experience in a city. And because of the relative lack of tourists, you’ll have a better chance of interacting with people who actually live in your destination.

Shop at Grocery Stores

Going to the grocery store in a foreign country is one of the most interesting experiences you could hope to have as a traveler — it’s every bit as enriching as checking out an art museum or attending a local festival. Grocery stores can tell you a lot about the way people live. After all, these are the places that stock items that people seek out on a daily basis, not places that cater to tourists.

You’ll also get an in-depth look at new-to-you products and produce. For example, Ecuadorean grocery stores and markets have a wide array of fruits that aren’t available in the U.S.

Plus, if you have access to a kitchen during your trip (for example, if you’re staying at an extended-stay hotel), buying fresh, local ingredients and making your own meals can be a real money-saver.

Eat Street Food

Not only is street food affordable and widely available, but it’s also a fantastic way to gain access into a local culture since you’ll get to experience the way that the majority of people prepare and eat food.

You may even find that a vendor uses recipes and cooking techniques passed down from generation to generation that help tell the story of a place. Stop at street carts where you see long lines of locals waiting, which is usually a reliable sign that the food is good.

Check Out Lesser-Known Museums and Galleries

While there’s certainly nothing wrong with visiting big-name museums when you travel (especially if you can take advantage of free days and nights), it’s often the lesser-known museums and galleries that offer cheaper admission prices and provide a more specific look at a place or culture.

Smaller and less-popular museums tend to collect local history as opposed to housing global collections and exhibits — think the Musée Carnavalet in Paris, which is dedicated to the history of the city, as an alternative to visiting the Louvre.

Spend Time in Public Parks

People-watching in public parks is free, totally enjoyable, and a great way to observe parts of a community that you might not otherwise see — especially if you visit small neighborhood parks and green spaces, which are often the beating hearts of communities.

You’ll likely have ample opportunities to strike up conversations with locals, and you’ll also get to experience the local flora and fauna.

Volunteer

Volunteering is a good way to travel cheaply while interacting with and giving back to a community. Just don’t fall for expensive, ineffective voluntourism programs; be sure to go through a reputable organization. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and Volunteers for Peace are all solid options.

Take Local Transportation Instead

Make it a point to use whatever form of public transportation locals use to get around. Ride the bus, take the metro or subway, or take a train. Not only is public transportation cheaper than renting a car, but it offers a rich, immersive look into everyday life.

Walk Everywhere, as Much as Possible

And of course, there’s no better way to soak up the sights and sounds of a new place than to walk the streets. Explore on foot as much as possible and you’ll feel your destination open up to you with every step.