A Grand Journey of Lively Culture & Stunning Beaches

Breathe in the cultural heart of Catalan; an elegant blend of high energy and undisturbed tradition. Muse over the origins of captivating Gaudi architecture within the enchanting labyrinth that is the Gothic Quarter. Savour the flavours of fresh tapas and crisp cava in breezy plazas, tranquil terraces and coveted cafés, or glide down to a shimmering beach club to unwind. Imagine a visit to peaceful Passeig de Gracia, where modernist buildings merge to showcase iconic global labels. And, as dusk falls, prepare for urban action and swing by the lively bohemian bars to fiesta on the leafy stretch of La Rambla. If you’re serious about style, this colourful city provides plenty to celebrate.

Funchal’s web of ancient streets spills down from lofty heights. Ride the cable car up to the exotic gardens of Monte Palace at its peak, where peacocks prowl high above the Atlantic. Descend at speed in a wicker sleigh piloted by ‘Carreriros’ elegantly dressed in crisp whites and straw boater hats since the mid-1800s. Swirl a glass of amber-coloured Madeira at a café overlooking chequerboard-tiled Praça do Município and prepare to explore lush could forests crisscrossed by hiking trails and black sand beaches below jungle-covered cliffs.

In the spirit of you-never-regret-an-indulgence, we call seductive islands adorned with alluring landscapes. Bathed in sun from day one with ten glorious nights aboard EXPLORA I, where everything sizzles a bit more. The pageantry of beach and city play out for us in Miami. Wholly glamorous, rakishly aplomb, and mythically fabled in literature and film, this seaside city lives more like a small global country with residents and guests from around the world. No passports are required in the last bolt hole of America as we glide into Key West where local characters are as colourful as the scenery. We depart while the setting sun is pitching slanted rays across Sunset Key and focus on the sumptuous offerings of our ship. For two languid days, time loses its tug and we learn that slow is not a speed but a tempo best marked according to massages at the Spa and well-crafted cocktails. Pristine Virgin Gorda greets us with a riot of dreamlike landscapes too vivid for words. See for yourself the marvel of cathedral-like grottos created by sky-high boulders and the offshore schools of silvery bonefish. Saint Barthélemy, named for the brother of Christopher Columbus, is now the pin-up poster boy of French swagger and yacht-set good looks. Temptations of joie de vivre continue in Deshaies where boulangeries dish-out coconut sorbet, waterfalls tumble into vast canyons and a jade mountain peers magnificently over an aquamarine bay. In style and en-vogue, Castries is the most haute with her gob smacking Pitons, hot mineral mud baths, banana plantations and a volcano we can actually drive into! We end our reverie in Bridgetown which has the high-tea reputation of being more British than the British! Cheers to a jolly good Journey.

Restore in blissfully quiet yet sophisticated laid-back island life. Roam amongst wildlife, learn fascinating insights into Anguilla’s quirky history and gently wander to the limestone cavern of Katouche cave. Embark on a guided quad bike tour for a glimpse of island life and sail over electric blue seas to reach remote paradise at private Little Bay, where jagged cliffs flank pristine sands. Casually kayak or paddle board through warm breezes and calm waters to secluded coves and indulge in refreshing cocktails with butter-soaked grilled lobster at enticing beach bars, with toes submerged in the softest, whitest and finest sand.

We call on islands that are the bywords for high-society escapism. Our first elixir of ease,
St. Barths, is one part Swedish, two parts French and three shots of sunset-to-sunrise glamour. Yachts gleam in the harbour, boutiques sell Parisian fancies, and bonafide barefoot bars serve off-the-charts tranquillity. This is our playground until we bid adieu just before the clock strikes midnight so find a spot on the pink-sand Shell Beach to watch the splendid setting sun then crack open a ruby red lobster and a bottle of bubbly. With our head full of dreams, we call on St. Kitts, an island of wonders graciously preserved for all. Visit beautiful Brimstone Hill Fortress, a UNESCO park, or ascend through virgin rain forest to summit Mount Liamuiga’s and gaze down upon her dormant crater. More emerald peaks and placid shores continue on the Dominican Republic. An island floating in a realm of superlatives, she boasts four of the five highest peaks in the Caribbean, lush jungles carved by rivers and waterfalls, fertile lowlands that give way to the island’s 6,000 species of flora and 7,000 species of fauna. Shades of aquamarine, amethyst turning translucent opal, the colours of the sky, sea and sandy cays all are seemingly inseparable. This is the wonder of Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, our private island paradise that is ecologically and geographically achieves the impossible dream of being gloriously secluded on a paradisiacal island. Two miles of pristine sand stretch across eight idyllic beaches. Brilliant coral reefs and shell-crusted shipwrecks for endless snorkelling. The pop of champagne bottles signals that start of a special fireworks show with the lighthouse in LED glow. From the languid to the active, we call on Miami Beach, where the stunning scenery of white Art Deco buildings stand as sentinels to the city’s decades-long love affair with glamour. Blindingly white beaches. A blazing hot nightlife. Mi amor, my love, my heart forever sings for this journey.