With all onboard Explora Journeys’ Explora I humming along…including complimentary caviar delivered to my suite in exquisite fashion…the second seven days of this journey focused on not only Late Nights and Overnights but legitimately Off-the-Beaten-Path ports which few cruise ships visit.

After departing Athens, Greece, it was time to have some fun in Mykonos, Greece. With Explora Journeys keeping us in port overnight, it opened up lots of options! And when Explora Journeys says it will run tenders continuously, it means “continuously” (at least until midnight and then it would be hourly until the last tender at 4:00 a.m.)
But, alas, we first had to anchor. The advanced design and extraordinary power of Explora I (things most folks don’t think about) allowed us to anchor in 40 kt winds, something Oceania’s Vista couldn’t manage. As a result, we were pretty much cruise ship-free in town while Oceania Vista was forced into a disappointing day at sea; missing one of the highlights of Greece.
Even with the winds and a bit of a sea state, Explora I’s tenders are also state-of-the-art, so sliding doors and plenty of ventilation, along with better-than-average propulsion and hull design made the ride over dry and quite comfortable. This avoided the second reason one might miss a port: Tender operations. (Clearly, the attention to maritime details on Explora I is showing off!)

After a bit of work, it was off to play! As we had so much time in Mykonos and literally no pressure to hurry back to the ship, I wandered, first over to the famous windmills and then into town for a bite to eat. (The food was OK, but the wine was a solid choice. People watching was an A+!)
It was then time for some shopping; mostly the window kind. (Did you know that in Mykonos you can purchase an 80 Euro dress right in a shop next to Louis Vuitton, selling 3,500 euro dress…and you can do it at 2:00 a.m.) Well, as it was early in the afternoon, on the recommendation of a friend, I booked day resort time at Mykonos Riviera Hotel where I enjoyed a nice cabana, a good bottle of wine and a bite to eat with a view of Mykonos and Explora I. (I originally was going to head to Paradise Beach, but not only because of the wind, this was a far better alternative.)

It was then back to Explora I for a shower and a nap before heading back to enjoy the nightlife of Mykonos. With all of the times I have visited Mykonos by ship, this was the first time I could see why Mykonos has the reputation of being “The” party island. And, well, I did…right after another enjoyable dinner of ouzo, wine, seafood risotto, grilled squid, and more at Pasta Fresca Barkia. (I recommend it…if you can find it wandering through the maze of streets without using Google Maps.)
After dinner, I did eventually, I wind up back at Louis Vuitton drinking complimentary champagne on its terrace while the party was raging on next door. Amazing people watching! (I leave it to you to figure out how I pulled that off!)

I “responsibly” returned to Explora I on the 1:00 a.m. tender; though I know many of the crew were on the 4:00 a.m. tender; thus, putting to shame my efforts to party into the night. (I did see them as bright and energetic the next morning, just as if they had a full night’s sleep. Youth!)

After an early morning departure from Mykonos, it was time to organize things for our afternoon third, and final, Goldring Travel Private Special Event. I bought out the Chef’s Kitchen for an expanded Greek cooking class run by Chef Hugues, who offered up six different dishes ranging from Grilled Homemade Halloumi Cheese Salad to Tomato Kefte to Shrimp Saganaki and more.

It was a bit frenetic since we were undertaking more than the usual three dishes, but it was incredibly fun. And Chef Hugues had everyone working just a bit above their comfort level on skills, so everyone learned some new techniques too. I said it before, Explora Journeys offers true cooking classes – with knives, heat, and creativity. Truly the best in the business!
I made things even more special by adding a Greek Wine Tasting with six wines I had picked up on the Explora Journeys’ Destination Experience in Lefkada, Greece. The wines – available only on Lefkada (and curiously in Holland because an investor loves them) – were surprisingly good across all varieties.
After another amazing dinner at Anthology, it was time to finally relax a bit…and the off-the-beaten-path Greek Islands are just the places to do it!
Next up: Volos, Skopelos, and Thessaloniki.