When maximizing points and miles for your family, there’s no reason to leave the furriest family members out of the fun.

Whether you have a points pup or a first-class feline, there are plenty of ways to turn those monthly orders for food, toys, pet supplies and more into your next vacation (we’re just not responsible for what your pets may do when they see your suitcase come out — again).

Maximize points and miles on pet food purchases

One of the best shopping revolutions of the 21st century is having 40-pound bags of pet food delivered right to our doors thanks to online shopping (and strong delivery people). Luckily, when you order pet food and other supplies online, you can easily rack up the rewards just as you do with most other online purchases.

Shop through an online portal

The quickest way to spot how many points or miles per dollar you can earn for your online pet food order is to head to cashbackmonitor.com and look for the online shopping portal awarding the most points, miles or cash back per dollar where you want to shop. These rates can and do vary, so check each time, but a few current examples include:

• Petco: 1 mile per dollar spent via American Airlines AAdvantage and United Airlines MileagePlus
• Walmart: Up to 3.5 miles per dollar spent with American AAdvantage
• Chewy: 1 mile per dollar spent through United MileagePlus, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, Delta Air Lines SkyMiles, American AAdvantage and Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards

Related: Guide to maximizing online shopping portals

Maximize cash back and 0% APR on pet purchases

Daisy Hernandez, TPG’s credit cards editor, makes monthly purchases for her two pups, Sonny, a Shiba-cattle dog mix, and Heidi, a Chihuahua mix. She also has a Chewy subscription that delivers food, flea and tick meds, and treats to her door every six or so weeks. Since she has two fur babies, she often buys doubles of certain items, which can add up quickly.

To maximize her pet-related purchases, she’s made it a habit to check current offers on her Blue Cash Preferred? Card from American Express?and Chase Sapphire Reserve? to earn cash back and points every time she buys something.

On top of this, she also buys through Rakuten, a cash-back shopping portal that offers solid reward rates. Over Christmas 2023, Rakuten featured a whopping 20% cash back on all purchases made with PetSmart. Therefore, she bought $80 worth of goodies for her pups and earned $16 in cash back.

Unfortunately, emergencies can happen with your pets, and if you don’t have pet insurance, these can create massive vet bills. However, credit cards can play an important role here, as many offer an introductory 0% annual percentage rate on purchases for a period of time after opening.

Nick Ewen, TPG’s director of content, utilized this exact strategy with his dog, Winston, who underwent emergency surgery to remove a mass on his spleen:

Winston is a part of our family, so there was no question that we would do everything we could to help him. However, rather than dipping into our savings to cover the expense of the procedure and his recovery (which is expected to be close to $5,000), I utilized my new Chase Freedom Unlimited?, which offers 0% APR on purchases for the first 15 months (then a variable APR of 19.99%-28.74% applies). This allows me to fit a manageable monthly payment into my budget, and I’ll still earn valuable rewards in the process.

Check the United MileagePlus X app

You can earn United miles by purchasing immediate electronic gift cards within the United MileagePlus X app. For example, if you are shopping at Petco and your total is $85.84, you can open up your app and immediately purchase a Petco gift card for that exact amount and earn bonus miles by paying at the register with your new gift card. This also works when paying for an order online.

In addition to Petco, you will often find opportunities to earn bonus miles at pet-friendly shopping destinations such as Walmart, Sam’s Club and more within the app. Those with a United Airlines credit card, such as the United? Explorer Card, get a 25% bonus on miles earned via the app.

Stack and save on Amazon

If you order your pet supplies via Amazon, there are lots of ways to stack earnings and save money. First, set up an Amazon subscription for discounts on items like dog or cat food, treats, and more.

Next, you’ll want to stock up on Amazon gift cards to truly maximize your earnings. You can buy Amazon gift cards at a U.S. supermarket with an American Express? Gold Card to earn 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on those purchases (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar thereafter).

Alternatively, you could use the Ink Business Cash? Credit Card to purchase Amazon gift cards at an office supply store to earn 5% cash back (on the first $25,000 in combined purchases each account anniversary year). The Prime Visa card is also an option that offers 5% back on Amazon purchases.

Related: The best credit cards to use for Amazon purchases

Save money on pet supplies

In addition to earning points or miles, your rewards credit cards can help you save money on pet costs. Two main ways to save money thanks to your cards are via Amex Offers and Chase Offers. To check what offers are available on your cards, log in to your account and search the offers sections. Some offers are targeted.

Once you have added an offer to your card, you can then use your cards to automatically save money or earn bonus points. The exact pet-related offers come and go; previous offers TPG staffers have seen include:

• BarkBox: 10% cash back (through Chase Offers)
• Kriser’s Natural Pet: 10% cash back (through Chase Offers)

Best credit cards for pet costs

Owning a pet can easily cost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars each year, for everything from vet visits and boarding to supplies and medication. It pays to use the right credit cards for pet costs. For charges like vet checkups and grooming appointments that fall outside routine credit card bonus categories, a solid everyday credit card is probably your best choice for pet expenses. A few of our suggestions include:

• Chase Freedom Flex?: Earn 5% back at pet shops and on veterinarian services through Dec. 31 after activating this bonus category.
• Chase Freedom Unlimited: Earn 1.5% back on nonbonus spending.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 2 miles for every dollar spent.
• The Blue Business?? Plus Credit Card from American Express: Earn 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on the first $50,000 in purchases each calendar year (then 1 point per dollar thereafter).
• Citi Double Cash? Card (see rates and fees): Earn 2% cash back on everything (broken down as 1% back when you make a purchase and 1% back when you pay it off).

For online purchases, a great choice might be the Bank of America? Customized Cash Rewards credit card, which awards 3% back on your choice of rotating categories, one of which is online shopping (on up to $2,500 per quarter, then 1%).

Bottom line

The TPG Points Pups (or, at least, their “pawrents”) stack many of these opportunities to turn dog treats into beach retreats. Once your pups help earn all these points and miles, it’s only fair to explore how to take them along on your next vacation.

The rule is not new, but enforcement — along with public outrage — has been on the rise. Travelers have taken to social media (and the TPG Tips inbox) to bring attention to the situation, leading to coverage by several news outlets.

One TPG reader, Karen Bishop, was forced to pay about $100 before she could clear customs at Cancun International Airport (CUN) during a recent visit because she and her husband had each packed a laptop and an iPad for their trip.

On Oct. 11, Quintana Roo Gov. Mara Lezama announced that Cancun International Airport is eliminating what she described as a “very old regulation” that “no longer fits the times in which we live.”

The announcement was made via a Facebook video. In the video, Lezama said the regulation “has harmed the destination’s reputation and caused discomfort and inconvenience to our visitors.” After meeting with the National Customs Agency of Mexico, Quintana Roo (the state where Cancun is located) made the decision to “eliminate this charge for both national and international travelers.”

Lezama went on to say that “tourism is vital for Quintana Roo” and efforts to continuously improve how tourists are served are ongoing.

This change is effective immediately. Before the change, passengers traveling through Cancun International Airport could be charged 19% of the value of prohibited items, as determined by the customs officer.

Personal electronics are not the only items subject to fines under Mexican customs regulations. There are several items — including cameras, cellphones and GPS devices — that have per-traveler quantity limits when traveling to Mexico. You can view the full list here.

Remember that travelers to Mexico must also complete an Official Entry Immigration Form, also known as a Tourist Card. This card is free, and you can apply online before your trip to save time upon arrival. Some regions, including Quintana Roo, require tourists to pay a visitor tax. You can save time at the airport by paying your tax online before you leave for your trip.

The change to Mexico’s personal baggage rules currently only applies to Quintana Roo. Travelers flying to other airports in Mexico may still be subject to a fine if they bring more than one personal computing device through customs.

If you are traveling to Cancun, however, you can now clear customs with multiple personal computing devices.

Related reading:

• Which major destinations charge a tourist tax (or are planning to soon)?
• These are the best times to visit Mexico
• TPG’s favorite points hotels on the beach in Mexico
• The best all-inclusive resorts in Mexico

Cruise lines employ some of the same approaches to inventory management as their airline counterparts, resulting in the ever-dreaded bumps. Plus, ship upgrade initiatives or mechanical repairs can cause changes to itineraries departing within weeks, months or even years.

But wait, some of us don’t dread airline bumps — we seek them out. Could the same apply to cruising?

Not really. You’ll rarely be able to volunteer to be bumped from a cruise, though that can happen in some situations. For example, Royal Caribbean overbooked Allure of the Seas in 2023 and asked passengers if they would voluntarily swap ships or sailing dates to free up rooms.

Whether you get a rare volunteer option or are involuntarily bumped from a canceled or oversold cruise, you might come out ahead. First, let’s look at the reasons cruise lines bump passengers, then at the compensation you might expect if you get bumped from a cruise.

Reasons cruise lines bump passengers

Because cruise lines and their passengers have far less flexibility than airlines and flyers, every effort is made to avoid bumping guests with confirmed cruise bookings — but there are several reasons it can happen.

Probably the most common reason for a cruise bump is maintenance and/or safety. Storms sometimes cause cancellations, and even though cruise lines schedule routine maintenance and upgrades in advance, unexpected problems do crop up between those scheduled dry docks. Think damage from collisions, fires, rogue waves or engine failures — all of which have happened on cruise ships, sending them to the repair dock and resulting in last-minute canceled cruises.

Nobody wants to have their cruise canceled that way, but neither should you want to board a ship that might be less than seaworthy. The events that cause this type of bump often make the news, possibly alerting you to your potential bump before it happens. That’s small consolation for a canceled cruise, but it might allow you to begin rearranging your travel plans a bit sooner.

Related: Are cruises safe? Here’s what you need to know about cruise ship security and safety

Behind-the-scenes cruise line maneuvers can cause bumps that rarely make the mainstream news. Fleet changes and charter sales are two of those issues. Luckily, both types of cancellations usually provide months of lead time for cruise passengers to make changes to their travel plans.

You’d think dry docks are planned well before a ship’s future itineraries are announced, but don’t be surprised if dry docks for upgrades or maintenance are scheduled after cruises start booking. That happened in 2023 with Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas, causing cancellations of cruises in December 2024 and January 2025. Early planners were bumped from their trips, including holiday sailings.

Fleet changes happen when a cruise line either feels it can make more money from moving a ship to a different destination or occasionally when a destination becomes impossible to cruise to. Recently, the slow resumption of cruising in Asia (especially China) has caused strings of cancellations and bumps.

Fleet changes can also result from ship sales or even transfers between sister companies (like Carnival Cruise Line taking some of sister brand Costa Cruises‘ ships). Occasionally these can be short-notice situations, but not usually.

Charter sales are when the cruise line sells a large block or the entire capacity of a ship to a charter company. These sales are worth millions to the cruise line. They generally avoid charters of ships that are already heavily booked, but it does sometimes happen, triggering a number of cancellation emails.

Then there is the oversell. It’s easy to assume that cruise lines could manage their cabin inventory through their complicated multistaged cancellation policies without the need to oversell. After all, guests who cancel their cruise at the last minute are not given refunds. Why can’t the ship sail with a few empty cabins?

Cruise ships often sail with empty rooms, and most lines use upgrade options to eke out a few extra dollars from unsold rooms at the last minute. But the important factor is that cruisers spend hundreds (if not thousands) on things like drink packages, spa services, port excursions and specialty dining. Empty cabins don’t generate that additional money, so cruise lines oversell popular sailings as airlines do with flights. They hedge their bets, and sometimes the gamble fails.

Related: How to get a free or cheap cruise ship cabin upgrade

What passengers can expect from the cruise line if they are canceled or bumped

In the case of storm cancellations or emergency maintenance needs that occur precruise, you will likely get a refund of your cruise fare or credit toward a future cruise. In general, cruise lines would rather not give out refunds, so they use bonuses of additional future cruise credits if you choose credit rather than a refund. You will get little assistance for your non-cruise travel arrangements unless those were booked through the cruise line.

For example, when Carnival Freedom’s funnel caught fire in March 2024, the line had to cancel its next two sailings for emergency repairs. The line not only refunded passengers on the canceled sailings their original cruise fares but also gave each guest a future cruise credit in the same amount as the original fare to encourage a future Carnival cruise booking.

Fleet changes generally involve offers to move your reservation to a different ship sailing a similar itinerary, the ship you booked on different dates, or a different ship and itinerary altogether. Again, refunds are the cruise line’s least favorite choice, so you should expect bonus credit if you opt to either move your reservation or accept credit for an alternative cruise. Because this kind of bump usually comes with advance notice, the offer you get might not include huge bonuses.

In 2023, Celebrity Cruises had a fleet-change situation roughly six months out and offered affected guests alternative cruises and as much as $500 toward ancillary travel cancellation or change fees, which might not be enough to cover nonrefundable airline tickets for many destinations.

Related: 6 tips for booking your first cruise

Oversold cruises, though still quite rare, can result in enticing options for those who either accept a voluntary bump or anyone subject to an involuntary one. Possibilities include upgraded cabins on the alternative cruises offered, price freezes so your new booking doesn’t cost more, and a longer cruise than the canceled one at the same rate.

The options you are offered could go the other way, though. During one of its recent oversell situations, Royal Caribbean offered those bumped from its largest class of ships a replacement cruise on a midsize ship. Sure, it was a similar itinerary, but a cruise on an Oasis Class ship is an entirely different experience than a sailing on a Voyager Class vessel.

Related: The 7 classes of Royal Caribbean cruise ships, explained

The good news is that the closer it gets to the oversold cruise, the better the offers will likely be. The caveat, though, is that you might already have paid for airfare, hotel stays and other pre- and postcruise bookings that cannot be canceled without paying a penalty.

Does travel insurance help with cruise cancellations or bumps?

Having travel insurance that covers cancellation of the full amount of your travel, including airline tickets and hotel reservations, is always the safest choice on any cruise. Insurance coverage can be tricky, so read all policy details carefully before you choose.

The first thing to know is you cannot be reimbursed for your cruise fare from travel insurance if you accept a refund, alternative cruise or future cruise credit from the cruise line. Where it can come in handy is if you had already paid for nonrefundable flights, hotel stays or tours before your cruise was canceled or changed.

I checked the fine print on several policies designed specifically for cruises, and none of the policies I looked at would cover your extra costs like nonrefundable airline tickets or change fees if you take a voluntary bump. Even involuntary bumps due to cruise line fleet changes don’t appear to be covered, and forced cancellations due to an oversell by the cruise line are not listed as covered reasons on any insurance policy I checked.

Related: Cruise travel insurance: What it covers and why you need it

If you were really concerned about cancellations, you could purchase a “cancel for any reason” add-on to your insurance plan. These can be pricey and possibly not worth the cost to protect against an unexpected bump.

Cruise line cancellations due to mechanical failures would likely be covered under the common carrier clause, but only the amounts for which the cruise line doesn’t reimburse you. If your cruise line offers you $500 toward flight and hotel changes, and you are out $1,000, you can file for the extra $500 with insurance. If the cancellation happens before you leave, you’ll use trip cancellation coverage. If it happens after you have left home, you will file under trip interruption coverage.

Insurance payouts for cancellations due to weather have specific conditions regarding when you paid for the insurance coverage (often it must be 14 days before the cancellation) and whether the storm was named or not when you purchased coverage.

Related: The 5 best cruise travel insurance plans

Having a ‘Plan B’ might help you come out ahead on cruise bumps

Just knowing that your cruise could be canceled is a good starting point. Consider that situation when deciding on the rest of your travel plans. Perhaps you want to choose the hotel rate that lets you cancel up until 24 hours before your stay, no matter how tempting the lower, prepaid nonrefundable rate looks. The same goes for airfare.

Also, consider what you might do if your cruise gets canceled or changed. If you do book nonrefundable flights or hotel rooms, are you willing to use them even if you don’t take the cruise you planned? Can you change the dates or destinations? Would you consider booking a trip on another cruise line from the same port on the same dates to salvage your vacation — or would you enjoy a land-based holiday in Florida, Seattle or the area around your intended departure port?

Planning for the unexpected is especially important if your cruise is a one-way trip where you fly into one port and home from another (like some Alaska cruises). A Plan B is also crucial if your cruise involves a group or an event like a wedding.

What to do if you are notified of a bump or cancellation

When you are notified of a change in cruise plans, the first step is to read the notice carefully to understand your options. If you booked through a travel agency, call your adviser if they do not reach out first. Have them explain the reason for the bump and any options the cruise line offers. A valued agent might even check cabin availability on other sailings for you before they call.

The cruise line will often offer complimentary replacements on smaller ships or slightly different itineraries. If you don’t have an agent, your next step should be researching your options (including cabin availability) before committing to any of the cruise line’s choices. If you are picky about ship size, where the ship stops or cabin type or placement, you wouldn’t want to swap to the proposed alternative sailing if it wouldn’t make you happy.

Once you get a representative (or your travel adviser) on the line, clarify whether your reimbursement options include bonus future cruise credit or a refund. If you’re not offered the compensation you prefer, it never hurts to ask for it. The cruise line wants to keep you as a valued customer and knows it has inconvenienced you. The greater the inconvenience, the more the line might be willing to give.

Related: Is it better to book a cruise through a travel agent? We say yes

Finally, don’t wait too long to decide. You won’t necessarily know how many passengers are being bumped, but it could be hundreds, all scrambling to rebook something. Even if you’re inclined to wait a full year for a replacement cruise, the dates or cabins you want might fill up.

One of the worst situations I’ve heard of was a group of friends traveling together in six cabins. Half were canceled due to an oversell of the cruise. Handling that kind of bump takes coordination among the travelers, as well as with the cruise line. In theory, the reservations should have been linked, which might have avoided the split, but because the cruise lines don’t share their algorithms for who gets bumped, it’s impossible to know how any situation can play out.

Bottom line

If you cruise often, you might eventually be subject to a cancellation or bump. Being prepared with insurance coverage, refundable travel arrangements and a plan for what to do with your vacation time if it happens to you can make a cruise cancellation far less difficult to deal with.

My family once had a cruise trip canceled by a hurricane. Once we got our refunds squared away, we hit the road for what turned out to be an epic road trip. What’s your backup plan?

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

While Singapore Airlines has a reputation for offering an exceptional product, booking long-haul, premium-cabin awards with the airline isn’t easy. You can sometimes find award availability using Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan or Air Canada Aeroplan, but you’ll usually find more availability through Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.

KrisFlyer generally charges more miles than other loyalty programs, even on dates with Saver award availability. However, the program offers discounts on select award flights each month through its KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes promotion.

Currently, you can book select promo award flights with a 30% discount if you reserve by Oct. 31 and travel between Nov. 1 and Nov. 30. This month, you’ll find discounts on Saver award tickets to select destinations in the Singapore Airlines network.

Here’s how you can maximize this iteration of Singapore KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes.

Deal basics

Airline: Singapore Airlines

Routes: Between Frankfurt and New York City, Singapore and Los Angeles, Seattle and Singapore, and San Francisco and Singapore

Cost: Starts at 17,500 miles in economy, 52,500 miles in premium economy and 56,700 miles in business class from Frankfurt to New York City

Travel dates: Between Nov. 1 and 30 (with some blackout dates)

Book by: Oct. 30

Related: Is Singapore Airlines premium economy worth it on the Airbus A350?

Sample KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes itineraries

Singapore KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes offers discounted award flights on select routes Singapore Airlines operates. However, only select flight numbers are discounted each month, so you’ll often only get the discount for travel in one direction.

Discounted flights are from Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), between Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO), from Singapore to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), and from Singapore to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Here’s a look at the Spontaneous Escapes pricing this month on U.S. routes:

*Award redemption is only available on the specific flight(s) noted.

Remember, you must still find award availability on the KrisFlyer website. Promo awards may not be available on select dates — even ones not listed as blackout dates. When you search, you’ll see the discounted awards listed as “promo” if available.

Additionally, all the flights on your itinerary must qualify for the promotion to access the discounted pricing. So, if there’s a promo reward available for just one direction of your flight, it might be best to book two one-way flights.

Be aware that flights departing Europe are subject to higher taxes and fees than flights leaving the U.S. Plan to spend about 125 euros (about $136) per person in one-way taxes and fees on westbound transatlantic flights.

Check the Spontaneous Escapes homepage for more details.

Earning miles to book this award

It’s easy to earn Singapore KrisFlyer miles. The program is a 1:1 transfer partner with American Express Membership Rewards,?Capital One miles,?Citi ThankYou Rewards?and?Chase Ultimate Rewards. KrisFlyer is also a 3:1 transfer partner with Marriott Bonvoy, with 5,000 bonus miles offered for every 60,000 points you transfer.

Note that it may take up to 24 hours for the transferred rewards to hit your KrisFlyer account. If they don’t immediately appear, consider calling KrisFlyer to hold award seats until the miles post. Doing so will lock in your award seats, so you won’t have to worry about the availability disappearing. KrisFlyer generally charges a service fee of $25 or 2,500 miles to hold award seats.

Related: How to book Singapore Airlines first-class Suites with points and miles

How to pay taxes and fees

Use The Platinum Card? from American Express to earn 5 points per dollar spent on airfare booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 spent per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar); the Chase Sapphire Reserve? for 3 points per dollar spent on travel; the American Express? Gold Card for 3 points per dollar spent on airfare booked directly with the airline or on amextravel.com; or the Chase Sapphire Preferred? Card for 2 points per dollar spent on travel.

Bottom line

Singapore Airlines is offering premium economy flights to Singapore from just 52,500 miles. Alternatively, you can book flights between Frankfurt and New York City in business class for as few as 56,700 miles.

These flights can be a great use of transferable credit card points.

Capital One Spark Cash Plus card overview

With a $150 annual fee, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus (see rates and fees) card offers 2% cash back on all purchases, with no cap on how many cash-back rewards you earn. In essence, the more you spend, the more you’ll earn, whether you’re buying office supplies or business dinners. Card rating*: ????

* Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

The Spark Cash Plus is an improved version of the discontinued Spark Cash for Business, although it features a higher $150 annual fee (see rates and fees). To compensate, the Spark Cash Plus features a much higher sign-up bonus and the opportunity to get your annual fee refunded.

The Spark Cash Plus is slightly different from a traditional credit card in that you have to pay the balance off in full every month. The main difference is that there’s no preset spending limit, so this is a good thing for business owners with many expenses who need to go above their credit limit.

TPG recommends a credit score of 740 or higher, but you may be able to get approved with a lower score.

Let’s dive in to see if this card is for you.

Spark Cash Plus pros and cons

Spark Cash Plus Welcome offer

The Spark Cash Plus is currently offering new applicants a best-ever welcome bonus of $2,000 cash back after they spend $30,000 in the first three months. Plus, you can earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500,000 spent during the first year.

If your business has high annual spending and you can meet the minimum spending requirement, this welcome offer can be very lucrative. It gives you the flexibility of earning cash back and the ability to earn essentially unlimited cash bonuses in the first year.

Related: Best business cash back cards

Spark Cash Plus benefits

The Spark Cash Plus?is a card with no preset spending limit, so it’s flexible and can adapt to your needs based on your spending behavior, payment history, and credit history. Another aspect to note about charge cards is that there’s no annual percentage rate since your balance is due in full every month (see rates and fees).

If your business has many operating expenses, the Spark Cash Plus rewards you with a refund of your $150 annual fee every year you spend $150,000 or more. Still, that’s a huge amount of money to spend just for a $150 benefit.

As with all Capital One credit cards, you’ll enjoy no foreign transaction fees when you purchase abroad (see rates and fees).

Finally, you can request employee cards at no additional cost (see rates and fees) that funnel into your account as the primary cardholder.

Related:?How to apply for a Capital One business credit card

Earning cash back on the Spark Cash Plus

The biggest draw of the Capital One Spark Cash Plus?is its flat earning rate. You’ll earn an unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere — with no limits or category restrictions.

Depending on the type of card user you are, you may see this as a positive or a negative. But this is definitely a positive for those who want to maximize their business expenses without worrying if a purchase falls under a bonus category, as seen with many other business credit cards.

Related: How to convert Capital One cash back into miles

Which cards compete with the Spark Cash Plus?

Below are a few of the cards that compete with this unique Capital One offering:

• If you prefer Chase: The Ink Business Cash? Credit Card has no annual fee and earns 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases each account anniversary at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services, and on Lyft rides through March 2025, 2% on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases on gas and restaurants, and 1% on all other purchases. If you pair this card with an Ultimate Rewards earning card, you have the ability to convert the cash back to points and utilize Chase’s impressive roster of transfer partners. For more information, read our full review of the Ink Business Cash.
• If you don’t want an annual fee: Along with the Ink Business Cash, there’s also The American Express Blue Business Cash? Card, a no-annual-fee card (see rates and fees) that offers a similar 2% rewards rate on up to the first $50,000 in eligible purchases each calendar year, then 1% cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement. This card is a strong contender if your business is small and doesn’t spend enough to justify the $150 annual fee on the Capital One Spark Plus. For more information, read our full review of the Blue Business Cash.
• If you want to earn a transferable currency: The Capital One Venture X Business has no preset spending limit, comes with lounge lounge access, a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel and a plethora of travel protections and insurance with a $395 annual fee (see rates and fees). It earns 2 miles per dollar on all purchases, 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 10 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel.

For additional options, check out our full list of the best business cards.

Related: Your guide to the Chase Ink Business credit cards

Is the Spark Cash Plus worth it?

Whether the Spark Cash Plus is worth it depends on several factors, including the type of rewards you want to earn and your monthly business expenses. If you’re focused on earning cash rewards and value a simple earning structure, the Spark Cash Plus is an excellent option. Still, there are more valuable business credit cards out there if you want to maximize your earnings and continually build up your stash of rewards — whether it’s cash back, points or miles.

Related: Considerations for your small-business credit card strategy

Bottom line

With a simplified 2% earnings rate on all purchases, the Spark Cash Plus is a solid contender if you’re a business owner looking for an easy return. If your business has high annual spending, you can really receive outsize value with the ability to earn unlimited cash bonuses. However, if you want to get into the frequent flyer rewards game, then there are other business cards that could be a better fit.

Apply here: Capital One Spark Cash Plus

For rates and fees of the Amex Blue Business Cash, click here.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa? or Mastercard? and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

Per a press release, prices for award seats will “vary in line with demand;” therefore, frequent flyers can expect to pay more points for more in-demand flights. While Virgin Atlantic has not yet revealed the increased prices, it has promised that flights from the U.S. to Europe will start at just 6,000 Virgin points, the lowest number of points any program charges for transatlantic flights to Europe.

So, this is surely all good news, right? Well, not necessarily.

Delta Air Lines owns a 49% share of Virgin Atlantic, so it’s hard not to assume Delta has at least approved all of the changes, if not created them. So, why does this matter? Delta was one of the first airlines to introduce dynamic pricing, which has created poor consumer redemption rates, such as a Delta One award seat now costing upward of 375,000 Delta SkyMiles.

Realistically, with Delta owning a sizable stake in Virgin Atlantic, what is the best we can hope for to make the program profitable yet competitive?

As a loyal Virgin Atlantic passenger for many years, having flown every aircraft type the carrier operates,?I’ve earned and redeemed Virgin points for as long as I can remember. While Flying Blue has recently become my SkyTeam loyalty program of choice, Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club program has always held some value, despite my grumbles with its high surcharge fees.

With the program undergoing a major shift Oct. 30, here are the changes I hope to see from the Flying Club reinvention.

Related: Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: How to earn and redeem points for maximum value

A reasonable cap on dynamic pricing

Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club program has retained a very reasonable award chart, starting at just 10,000 Virgin points for off-peak economy-class flights between the eastern U.S. and the U.K. While the program imposes very high carrier surcharges, that rate is lower than the rates of competing programs, and availability is usually decent.

With a shift to dynamic pricing, my biggest worry is how high these award prices might rise for peak-season flights. Since the Flying Club program promises that low-demand economy-class flights will start at just 6,000 Virgin points, I hope that when these flights operate using dynamic pricing, there is a reasonable cap on the number of points it will cost to book the flight, regardless of how high cash prices rise.

While a one-way 155,000-point business-class seat to London would be much higher than current rates, it would still be competitive with other programs over the busy summer period.

Related: Is Virgin Atlantic premium economy worth it on the A330-900neo?

The ability to pay surcharges with points

Virgin Atlantic charges some of the highest carrier-imposed surcharges of any airline in the world, adding about $2,000 to the cost of a round-trip business-class redemption across the Atlantic. If I had one wish for the Flying Club program, it would be for a sharp reduction in these surcharges. However, I’m also a realist.

Allowing members to pay these surcharges with Virgin points at a rate of 1 cent per point would improve the program’s attractiveness while keeping it competitive. For example, members could redeem an additional 200,000 Virgin points to save the $2,000 in surcharges. However, per our October 2024 valuations, Flying Club points are worth 1.4 cents per point, so you wouldn’t necessarily be maximizing your points with this redemption.

But more choice is never a bad thing in my opinion.

Related: 10 things to know about flying Virgin Atlantic’s super business class, the Retreat Suite

Discounts on surcharges during off-peak periods

There have been reports that Flying Club will also dynamically price its surcharges under the new model.

I can’t think of any other airline program that does this (they either charge the full surcharge or none at all), and this would be an unusual direction to take.

In theory, this could mean that on peak periods, in addition to charging more points, Flying Club could also choose to potentially double its surcharges. I doubt anyone would be willing to pay $4,000 in surcharges for a return flight to London (as well as up to 310,000 points if they double the current Virgin points needed as well), so I’m very skeptical the surcharges will increase.

It should be fairly easy to find a business-class cash fare for less than $4,000, especially if you are willing to connect, which would make these redemptions absurd.

The program could be innovative by reducing surcharges on off-peak dates. For example, a round-trip economy-class flight from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) in the heart of the winter season can be found for as little as $400.

Therefore, it’s unlikely anyone will part with the current 20,000 points and pay an additional $508 in taxes, fees and surcharges when a cash fare requires less cash and no points.

But if the cash payment were reduced by half, maybe they would.

With cash rates this low, it’s unlikely Virgin’s planes are full, so tempting members with reduced surcharges could be a win-win for filling the planes and reducing Flying Club points balances.

Related: How much can you pack into an hour at Virgin Atlantic’s London Clubhouse?

Points-only upgrades

I recall checking in to a Virgin Atlantic flight at St. Lucia’s Hewanorra International Airport (UVF). The passengers at the desk beside me asked if they could use their Virgin points to upgrade from premium economy to business class. They appeared excited to be told that seats were available in the Upper Class cabin and that the number of Virgin points required was not unreasonable.

The passengers were about to pull the trigger and treat themselves to the overnight flight back to London when they were told they would also need to pay hundreds of dollars each in surcharges for the upgrade on top of the tens of thousands of points.

Despondent and frustrated, they refused the upgrade offer and stormed off to security, chastising the loyalty program as a “scam full of hidden fees.”

If you have already paid all the airport fees and taxes of a premium economy seat and want to upgrade one class, would you expect to be forking over hundreds of dollars on top of the points? Sure, if the flight is departing London and a higher Air Passenger Duty is payable, then it’s understandable that you would need to pay the additional government tax. However, an additional surcharge goes straight into the airline’s pocket on top of what might have already been a pricey cash ticket.

Instead, Virgin could consider offering points-only upgrades. Given that Virgin has promised members that every seat will be available to upgrade to, offering members the option to upgrade with no cash required would be a genuine improvement to the program.

Related: Stuck in coach with no elite status? That upgrade might be cheaper than you think

Continued network-wide discounts on award seats

Over the past few years, Flying Club has offered redemption sales from time to time, reducing the points cost of seats across its entire network by as much as 50%. This has been a terrific way to tempt members with a large balance of Virgin points, like me, to redeem them for lower rates.

Though the program will reportedly reduce the price of select seats during low-demand periods per its new dynamic pricing model, I hope Virgin will go one step further and continue to offer network-wide discounts from time to time.

For example, I flew in economy class from New York City back to my home in London for just 5,000 Virgin points, which saved me more than $650 on my flight.

Bottom line

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about the upcoming changes to the Flying Club program, as I can’t help but fear the worst. While flights will reportedly start at 6,000 Virgin points, the program hasn’t disclosed what the maximum award price will rise to.

Despite the marketing spin, I’m not naive enough to think all the changes will be positive.

With Delta pioneering the dynamic pricing model and SkyMiles now worth less than Virgin points in our October 2024 valuations, I do hope the value of Virgin points doesn’t significantly decrease.

Flying Club has always been a unique program for award travelers. Its massive surcharges make its pricing model different from that of SkyMiles, which only charges taxes and fees. So, I don’t see massive increases to both the Virgin points and the surcharges required to be competitive in the current loyalty market, where credit card customers have a wide range of choices in which program to transfer their hard-earned points and miles to.

Hopefully, the program can remain innovative while still being competitive within the market.

Japanese low-cost carrier Zipair announced last week that it would add flights from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT) beginning March 4, 2025. The new four-times-weekly flights will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Zipair will deploy a 290-seat Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that features 18 lie-flat business-class pods and 272 standard economy seats on this route.

While you might not have heard about Zipair before, the carrier’s inaugural fare sale will definitely catch your attention. The airline is offering round-trip flights from Houston to Tokyo for as low as $666, or $333 each way. Travelers must book flights by Nov. 30 to take advantage of the sale.

Note that as a low-cost carrier, Zipair charges additional fees for inflight meals, checked baggage, seat selection and more. But even after adding in all the ancillaries, it could be cheaper to fly to Japan with Zipair versus a major network carrier like All Nippon Airways or United Airlines.

Related: Zipair economy vs. business class to Japan: Is the budget carrier worth it?

Better yet, those looking for fancy lie-flat seats also will likely find Zipair’s offering to be attractive. Introductory fares start at just under $1,500 each way — a fraction of what a lie-flat bed can cost on a competitor. Zipair’s business-class product is comfortable — you get a lie-flat bed in a reverse herringbone configuration — but you need to pay for ancillaries, much in the same way that you would if flying in economy. True to its low-cost roots, you won’t even find TVs at each seat (but there is free Wi-Fi).

Zipair’s new Houston service will become the carrier’s fifth transpacific route, joining service to Los Angeles; San Francisco; San Jose, California; and Vancouver, British Columbia. (Los Angeles was the carrier’s first transpacific destination, and it launched back in late 2021.)

The new flight will depart Houston at 8:45 a.m. and land in Tokyo at 1:50 p.m. the following day, all times local. The return flight will depart Tokyo at 10 a.m. and land in Houston at 6:45 a.m. the same day.

Zipair is the low-cost subsidiary of Japan Airlines. ANA and United already fly from Houston to Tokyo, so this new route will allow Oneworld-affiliated Japan Airlines to compete on this 6,643-mile route. (In fact, this route will be the longest in the Zipair network.)

If you can stomach paying for all the ancillaries, this new route will certainly make it more affordable to get to Japan. And who knows, if ANA or United match these sale fares, then perhaps you could even fly one of the more established network carriers for the price of the low-cost alternative.

Related reading:

• The best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare
• Best airline credit cards
• What exactly are airline miles, anyway?
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
• The best credit cards to reach elite status

United Quest Card overview

The United Quest? Card is an excellent choice for folks who fly United frequently and can take advantage of benefits like a first and second checked bag free on flights, priority boarding and a 25% discount on inflight food, drink and Wi-Fi purchases.

The card’s annual $125 United purchase credit makes up for half its annual fee, and you can save on award flight redemptions, too, thanks to two 5,000-mile anniversary award flight credits when you redeem for flights on United or United Express. Card Rating*:?????

*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by?the card issuer.

The United Quest Card is the perfect “in-between” card for frequent United travelers. It offers more perks than the United? Explorer Card and a much lower annual fee than the premium United Club? Infinite Card.

The recommended credit score for the United Quest Card is at least 670. However, it may be possible to get approved with a lower score.

Here’s what you need to know about the United Quest Card to decide if it’s the right fit for you.

United Quest Card pros and cons

United Quest Card welcome offer

Currently, new United Quest Card cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

According to TPG’s October 2024 valuations, United miles are worth 1.3 cents each, making this offer worth $780. This is a fairly standard offer on the card, and if you’re not in a rush to open a cobranded United card, you could wait until a better offer comes along.

Note that this offer is not available to current or previous cardmembers who received a new bonus within the past 24 months, and Chase’s 5/24 rule applies.

Related: The ultimate guide to earning elite status with United cards

United Quest Card benefits

The United Quest Card has some useful perks for regular United flyers who don’t necessarily want or need the United Club access that comes with the top-tier United Club Infinite Card.

First, you’ll get a $125 annual purchase credit that you can use toward United flights. This credit is automatically applied as a statement credit when United purchases are charged to your card.

Additionally, the card comes with two 5,000-mile flight credits per year as a reward for redeeming miles, starting with your first cardmember anniversary. These 5,000-mile credits will be put into your MileagePlus account after you take a United or United Express-operated award flight booked with your miles up to twice per anniversary year.

As of October 2024, TPG values these 5,000-mile reward flight credits at roughly $65 each.

On top of those perks, United Quest cardholders enjoy:

• Two free checked bags for the cardholder and two free checked bags for a companion on the reservation
• $100 credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application
• 25% back on United inflight purchases (includes Wi-Fi, food and beverages)
• Priority boarding
• Travel and purchase protection
• Up to 6,000 Premier qualifying points per calendar year (25 for every $500 you spend on purchases can be applied toward your Premier status qualification, up to the Premier 1K level)
• One year complimentary DashPass membership (activate by Dec. 31, 2024)

Just note that you must use your Quest card to pay for your ticket in order to check your bags for free — and this includes the award tickets booked with miles when you pay for the taxes and fees with your card.

If you fly United regularly, you’ll especially appreciate the credits and free checked bags this card offers. And if you’re chasing United status, the extra PQPs this card earns will fast-track your progress.

Related: How to avoid checked baggage fees on major domestic airlines

Earning miles on the United Quest Card

On top of United purchases, the United Quest Card earns bonus miles in several categories. With this card, you’ll earn:

• 8 miles on United flights (5 miles as a MileagePlus member, plus 3 miles with the United Quest card)
• 4 miles on hotel stays booked through United Hotels (2 miles earned as a MileagePlus member, plus 2 miles earned from United Quest card)
• 3 miles per dollar on all other United purchases (after earning your $125 annual United purchase credit, terms apply)
• 2 miles per dollar on other travel purchases
• 2 miles per dollar on dining and select streaming purchases
• 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases

It’s nice that the United Quest card earns bonus miles on general travel and dining purchases as well as on United spending. Still, you’ll find similar or better earnings for these categories on other travel cards.

Related: The best credit cards to use for United flights

Redeeming miles on the United Quest Card

You can use your United MileagePlus miles to book flights on United or its partners like Air Canada, Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines. Among your options are booking domestic routes on United for as little as 5,000 miles or using a larger chunk of miles to fly business class to Asia on ANA.

And if you can utilize United’s unique Excursionist Perk, you’ll get even more value from your MileagePlus miles.

You can also redeem your miles for non-flight items, including United Club memberships, inflight Wi-Fi purchases, TSA PreCheck, car rentals and hotel stays.

Additionally, you can transfer your miles to Marriott Bonvoy, but you’ll get a lower value from your miles with any of these options than you would if you used them to book flights.

Director of content operations Andrea Rotondo recently redeemed 6,000 United miles for a one-way economy flight between Frankfurt and Vienna. Low-cost mile redemptions aren’t just limited to domestic flights; you can secure fantastic deals on international trips as well.

Related: How to redeem miles with the United MileagePlus program

Which cards compete with the United Quest Card?

If you want more United perks or can’t justify the annual fee on the United Quest Card, one of these cards may be a better fit:

• If you want United Club access: The United Club Infinite Card offers even more United benefits. It has a higher annual fee of $525, but the United Club membership is worth up to $650, so this one perk easily justifies the card’s annual fee. To learn more, check out our full review of the United Club Infinite Card.
• If you want more flexible rewards: The Chase Sapphire Preferred? Card has similar bonus categories and allows you to transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards to United or any of Chase’s other transfer partners. Plus, it comes with a lower annual fee of $95. To learn more, check out our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
• If you want United benefits for a lower annual fee: The United Explorer Card earns bonus miles on United purchases. It includes a free checked bag for you and a companion but has a much lower annual fee of $95 that’s waived the first year. To learn more, check out our full review of the United Explorer Card.

For additional options, check out our full list of best airline credit cards and best travel credit cards.

Related: United Quest vs. United Club Infinite

Is the United Quest Card worth it?

The $250 annual fee might feel steep, but if you can maximize the $125 United credit, complimentary checked baggage and other benefits, you’ll have an easy time justifying the annual fee. However, if you don’t fly United regularly enough to take advantage of these perks, you’ll unlikely get enough value from this card to make the annual fee worth paying.

Bottom line

The United Quest Card has a significant list of United benefits and a reasonable annual fee, making it a great option for frequent United flyers. However, anyone wanting complimentary airport lounge access or more flexible rewards might choose a different route.

Apply here: United Quest Card

Related: United debuts new international service to Caribbean destination

Currently part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, the 36-story resort is now undergoing a transformation that will see the popular points property evolve into the Signia by Hilton Diplomat Beach Resort.

If you’re not yet familiar with Signia, don’t fret; Signia by Hilton Diplomat Beach Resort will only be the fourth hotel from the brand that has a big focus on major gateway cities, offering top-tier event and meeting spaces. In simple terms, it will be a modern convention hotel that’s trendy, fresh and approachable. (And any of us who have ever been to an older convention-style hotel know exactly why that’s important.)

Across the hotel, guests will see big changes across public spaces and communal areas, especially in and around the more than 200,000 square feet of event and meeting spaces.

Highlights of the upgrades include a new oceanfront meeting terrace that can be used all year long, a VIP pool deck that doubles as a space for events, a reimagined patio at the Point Royal restaurant and a new terrace connecting the hotel and its convention center.

New design elements, including lush greenery and new art, are being ushered in across the entire hotel as part of the Signia brand’s arrival. The main lobby area will blur the lines between indoors and outdoors, while the central bar will focus on a seasonal cocktail menu and Mediterranean-inspired small bites.

A new infinity pool terrace will also feature verdant landscaping, adults-only cabana rentals, daybeds and extra lounge spaces with fire pits and bar access.

Many business folks might be excited to hear, too, that the conference-forward hotel will also have an all-new club lounge called Club Signia, available for an additional fee. Located on the 33rd floor, Club Signia will offer 6,600 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, gorgeous ocean views and all the goodies you can expect from a club lounge, like food and drinks.

Other big changes coming to the property will be on the menus of the resort’s six restaurants and bars and for in-room dining. For example, the oceanfront bar and grill Playa will dig deep into the area’s Latin culture and cuisine, and Diplomat Prime will offer a new menu that reflects the tropical vibes reinforced by the Signia brand.

“We can’t wait to share our transformation with both new and longtime guests,” general manager Dean Lane said in a statement shared with TPG.?“It really is incredible how all the changes balance the history and beauty of this special place with all of these luxurious touches. The founders of the property called it a ‘one-stop paradise’ decades ago — and I think we’re definitely living into that vision.”

The resort will continue to stay open during the transformation.

Related reading:?

• The best resorts in Florida for a relaxing vacation in the Sunshine State
• A massive Signia by Hilton is now open in Atlanta close to Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• Best Hilton credit cards
• Hilton’s new partnership will help visually impaired travelers better experience hotels

Are you looking to explore the Mediterranean or Caribbean in style? Explora I could be the answer.

The first vessel from startup line Explora Journeys is setting a new bar for luxury travel by ship in the two regions — even as it remains almost unknown to most luxury-loving cruisers.

As I saw during a recent weeklong sailing to Turkey and Greece, the 922-passenger vessel offers a sophisticated luxury experience that has more in common with what you’ll find at a swanky hotel or resort on land than on a traditional luxury cruise ship. (Think Four Seasons, not Seabourn.)

The biggest caveat to picking this ship: It’s not inexpensive. Suites on the vessel — and every cabin is a suite — often start at around $1,000 per day. The biggest accommodations on the ship can cost as much as $3,000 to $10,000 a night.

Overview of Explora I

Explora I and an almost identical sister ship, Explora II, are the new kids on the block in the world of luxury cruising. Unveiled in 2023 and 2024, respectively, they’re the first vessels from Explora Journeys, a new luxury line from the company that built MSC Cruises into one of the world’s biggest mass-market cruise brands.

Explora Journeys is, notably, aiming to reinvent the luxury cruising experience with vessels that feel more like the most sophisticated luxury hotels and resorts on land than traditional luxury ships.

As I saw during my recent sailing, Explora I has spacious, upscale accommodations that look more like those you’d find at an ultraluxury One&Only property, a Six Senses resort or a Four Seasons hotel than on a luxury cruise ship. They don’t read as cruise ship cabins.

Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line

For dining, the ship offers lots of intimate, elegant restaurants of the sort you find at a high-end resort — another differentiator to many luxury ships. There is no main dining room, nor is there a big central pool area on the top deck with lots of lounge chairs, a grill and a stage for live music, as is common on luxury ships. Instead, there are four intimate, stylish pool areas that look like they belong at a classy boutique hotel in St. Tropez or St. Barts.

Like at a luxury hotel or resort on land, you’re also not bombarded with announcements throughout the day on Explora I. And you won’t find a lot of traditional cruise ship entertainment. Even the signage is hotellike (and minimalist).

In all this, Explora Journeys is targeting the (very large) subset of wealthy travelers who are used to jetting around the world to the finest resorts on land but until now have never considered a cruise — in fact, they may have been disdainful of the very idea of one.

To the extent they are willing to explore the world by ship, they want it to be an experience similar to what they get on land.

It’s a subset of travelers that, notably, are younger on average than the typical customers of luxury cruise brands such as Seabourn and Silversea Cruises — brands that are the almost-exclusive domain of wealthy retirees.

In many cases, they are people who are still in their prime working years — the “working affluent,” Explora executives like to call them. As a result, they’re also looking for a cruise vessel that sails shorter itineraries than what is typical in the luxury cruise space. To that end, many of Explora’s sailings are just six or seven days long — short enough to do with just a week off from work.

Like MSC Cruises, Explora Journeys is a brand growing fast, even as it remains relatively unknown for now. Just 13 months after debuting, it’s already bigger than luxury line Crystal when measured by passenger capacity. Thanks to ambitious plans to quickly add four more ships, it will surpass luxury leaders Seabourn, Silversea and Regent Seven Seas Cruises in size over the next four years.

What I loved about Explora I

The spacious and sophisticated rooms

Explora I has some of the biggest and most sophisticated rooms of any cruise ship. Walking into my entry-level Ocean Terrace accommodations for the first time, I was truly wowed by its size. At 377 square feet, it was bigger than any other entry-level room in the cruise business. But it was its many luxury hotel touches that really set it apart from what I’ve experienced on most other ships — everything from wireless phone chargers built into the nightstands to heated floors in the bathroom. Even the balcony furnishings are next level, with $1,600 Manutti chairs, large stone-topped tables and luscious daybeds that can fit two people.

The elegant dining

The dining scene on Explora I has more in common with what you’ll find at a luxury resort than a cruise ship. There is, for instance, no main dining room where passengers eat most of their meals, nor are there “specialty restaurants.” There are just … restaurants. Lots of them, serving all sorts of menus — and all upscale with wonderful service.

The service

From the moment I stepped on board and in every venue, I experienced friendly, intuitive and doting service. Explora Journeys has hired extremely well, bringing in staff with work experience at the very best luxury hotels in places like Dubai and on luxury ships operated by such luxury lines as Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Seabourn.

What I didn’t love about Explora I

The launderettes

You know a ship is pretty great when one of the only things you can find to gripe about is the launderettes. But when this ship next goes into dry dock for an overhaul, this is one area where a change is sorely needed. There are just two tiny laundry rooms on the ship, not nearly enough for 900-plus passengers, and both are poorly designed. Not only do they each offer just two washers and two dryers. They feature fold-out ironing boards that block the opening of their doors when in use (prompting some passengers using the boards to lock themselves into the rooms so they don’t get whacked by a swinging door).

The glass walls on top decks

Again, this is relatively a minor thing. But the top decks of Explora I are almost completely ringed by 6-foot-high walls of glass, as compared to the lower, chest-high railings found on some other ships. It looks beautiful, and it no doubt cuts down on the wind across the top decks. It’s also safe. There’s no chance of a passenger plunging overboard after leaning too far over a railing. But there’s something wonderful about standing along a chest-high railing with an unobstructed (even by glass) view of the sea — something you only can do in a small number of places on this ship.

Explora I cabins and suites

For a relatively small ship, Explora I has a wide range of accommodations, and they’re all pretty spectacular.

For starters, every cabin on the ship is a suite, and even the smallest among them are huge by cruise ship standards. They’re also beautifully designed, with high-end furnishings.

My cabin was an Ocean Terrace Suite, the smallest type of room on the ship, and it measured 377 square feet. While standard for hotel rooms on land, that’s an enormous amount of space for an entry-level room on a cruise ship. Indeed, Explora Journeys claims it’s the largest entry-level cabin in cruising, and I don’t doubt that.

By way of comparison, entry-level cabins on upscale line Viking‘s ocean vessels measure 270 square feet — more than 100 square feet smaller in size. Entry-level cabins on luxury line Seabourn’s ships start at around 295 square feet.

Thanks to its unusually large footprint, my entry-level Ocean Terrace Suite had room for a king-size bed (on some luxury ships, entry-level rooms only have queen-size beds), a generously sized adjacent seating area with a sofa and coffee table, a walk-in closet and a large bathroom — all without feeling cramped.

Still, where the extra space was most noticeable was on the room’s balcony. At 75 square feet, it was significantly larger than entry-level cabin balconies on some luxury ships — big enough to accommodate two (very high-end) Manutti chairs, a table that could be used for outdoor dining and a luscious Manutti daybed for lounging.

Decor-wise, the look of the bedroom area was sleek, contemporary and expensive, with streamlined faux-walnut cabinetry lining one wall, light gray carpeting and walls, and a minimalist gray sofa by Molteni&C — the high-end Italian furniture company where even the smallest sofas cost around $10,000. The only splash of color came from contemporary art on the walls.

The bathroom was equally sleek, modern and high-end. Its expensive white Vitra sink was inset into a black granite counter that topped glossy white cabinets. The floors were white marble tile, which carried into the large walk-in shower. The fixtures were pricey Grohe.

In short, it was a stylish space in which to live for a week at sea — as stylish as anything you’ll find at the high end of cruising.

Still, it was the little touches that really set the room apart from those on some other luxury ships. Unlike in the entry-level rooms on the new Seabourn vessel that I recently tested, there was a high-end espresso maker (an illy E.S.E.) tucked away in a cabinet, allowing me access to a perfect espresso in the morning without heading to the ship’s cafe. The floor of the bathroom was heated, keeping my toes warm during middle-of-the-night bathroom runs (I loved that there was a dial to tweak the temperature).

And, perhaps most significantly for an addicted-to-his-phone traveler like me, the nightstands next to the bed had built-in wireless chargers, such that I could keep my phone charged through the night just by placing it down on one of them. No need for cords. This?was something I’d never seen before on a cruise vessel, and I’ve sailed on more than 200 of them.

Other technological touches in the room included fast-charging USB-C outlets next to the bed and along the built-in cabinets and a button to turn on a “do not disturb” light outside the door. Both U.S.-style 110-volt outlets and European-style 220-volt outlets were also abundant, as were traditional USB-A outlets.

Another nice touch was the top-of-the-line Dyson Supersonic hair dryer, presented like a work of art in a custom-made drawer. Even if you don’t normally use a hair dryer, give it a try, if only to see the magic of what a $430 hair-styling machine can do.

The most important thing in any cabin, the bed, was luscious, with high-quality white Frette linens topping a custom-made Italian mattress that was as comfy as could be. The pillows, like the duvet atop the bed, were filled with fine down but could be swapped for memory foam pillows or special neck support pillows on request (as explained on a pillow menu).

As for flaws to the room, there really weren’t any of note. There was plenty of storage space in the walk-in closet for a week at sea, plus more storage in the built-in cabinets and nightstands in the main bedroom area. If I had to quibble about anything, it would be the large number of glued-down decorative objects on the small room divider between the bed and the sitting area. For a modern space like this, to quote the great modernist Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, “less is more.”

Other little quibbles include the water pressure in the shower, which could be a tad stronger, and the lack of a proper desk area for computer work in the main part of the room (to be fair, there is a desk area in the walk-in closet, and the table and chairs on the balcony offer a great place to work if the weather outside is pleasant).

The best suites on Explora I

Ocean Terrace Suites such as mine account for about two-thirds of accommodations on Explora 1 (301 of 461 cabins).

For those who want something even more spacious (and are willing to pay more for the privilege), Explora I has 10 more categories of even larger suites — some truly stunning in their size.

These include a variation of the Ocean Terrace Suite called the Ocean Grand Terrace Suite, which is essentially the same, except it has a noticeably bigger balcony (118 square feet versus 75 square feet). There are 70 of these.

Additionally, there are 67 bigger suites known as Ocean Penthouses that range from 463 to 732 square feet.

There are four types of Ocean Penthouses in all, each of which comes with a bigger living area than the Ocean Suites. This larger living area allows for a work desk that you won’t find in the smaller cabins, as well as a separate dining area that can seat up to four people. Balconies attached to rooms in these categories can be as big as 226 square feet — considerably large for a balcony on a cruise ship.

Even bigger than Ocean Penthouses are 22 Ocean Residences that are truly grand. At the front and back of the ship, they are like floating one-bedroom apartments — hence the name. Split into four categories, they all have bedrooms that are separated completely from large living rooms and dining areas, and they measure 753 to 1,604 square feet.

Many of these Ocean Residences have sprawling balcony spaces so big they can accommodate an outdoor hot tub, a dining area and plush lounge chairs. Several of the bigger Ocean Residences wrap around a corner of the ship, offering views in two directions.

In addition to the above, the ship has a single Owner’s Residence that is among the most spectacular accommodations at sea. Measuring 3,014 square feet, it’s bigger in size than the average American home and has a massive dining room with a dining table that seats eight people, a giant living room and a palatial primary bedroom complex.

The Owner’s Residence extends across the entire back of Deck 8 and has a balcony that stretches clear across the back of the ship, too, offering views in three directions. Among its most notable features is an improbably large infinity pool from which you look out over the ship’s wake.

Explora restaurants and bars

Explora I has six restaurants and nearly twice that many bars — an impressive array given the ship’s size. If you’re on board for a week, you’ll be hard-pressed to try them all.

Restaurants

The first dining experience you’ll likely have on Explora I will be in the Emporium Marketplace — the ship’s casual buffet restaurant. It’s the one restaurant open in the afternoon on embarkation days. If you’re like me, you’ll be wowed by it.

Open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the Emporium Marketplace is about as refined and upscale as you can imagine a buffet being. It features more than a dozen beautifully designed stations where chefs will prepare elegantly plated dishes of various appetizers, mains and desserts right in front of you.?

There is a pasta station, for instance, where you can pick from an array of handmade pastas so lovely that you almost don’t want to eat them (and have the chef cook it to order with a homemade sauce of your choosing). Just steps away, another chef is whipping up mussels in a wine sauce to serve to you hot off the stove.

The cheese, charcuterie and bread stations in the Emporium Marketplace are works of art. There’s also a sushi bar in one corner with its own sushi chef. At night, one station turns into an oyster bar, where you can order oysters with a range of sauces, crab claws and other seafood delicacies with a glass of wine before heading off to a more formal dinner elsewhere on the ship.

To that end, the five other restaurants on Explora I offer a well-thought-out range of cuisines, with each of the eateries resembling the sort of sophisticated, high-end restaurants you find in a big city. All are relatively intimate, with even the biggest among them (French cuisine-serving Fil Rouge) designed for just 222 people when completely full.

Nothing on the ship resembles a main dining room of the sort you still find on many luxury vessels.

In addition to Fil Rouge, there is a pan-Asian restaurant (Sakura), a steakhouse (Marble & Co. Grill), a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant (Med Yacht Club) and an Italian-focused fine dining venue (Anthology).

Dining at all but the last venue is included in the fare. Anthology serves an elegant seven-course tasting menu in an intimate setting (there are just 48 seats) and comes with a 140-euro (about $157) per person extra charge, plus an additional 60-euro (about $67) charge for an optional wine pairing.

I tried all the restaurants at least once, and I was impressed with them all. Explora I is a ship where the food really stands out — as does the service in the venues.

Regular readers know that I have been disappointed in some of the culinary experiences that I have had on ships of late, whether it be in the high-end eateries on luxury vessels such as Seabourn Pursuit or the pricier restaurants on mass-market vessels such as Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas. Cruise lines across the fare spectrum have been cutting back on quality and service in eateries, from what I’ve been seeing — no doubt as part of money-saving cutbacks.

Not so on Explora I. I loved my sirloin steak at Marble & Co. Grill, which was an expensive cut of Swami beef from Sweden aged for 45 days, and a Dover sole expertly boned tableside at Fil Rouge (the latter eatery, which served mostly French cuisine, also had a scrumptious handmade calamarata pasta with carbonara sauce that I could eat every day for the rest of my life).

Sakura’s dishes also were lovely, if not as Asian-inspired as I was expecting. The only real hint of Asia in a showy main course of rack of lamb that arrived in a smoke-filled dome was a yaki sauce on the side.

My waiter recommended the lamb and a sirloin steak topped with teriyaki sauce, which also gave a relatively light nod to Asian cuisine.

If you want something more traditionally Asian, sit at the sushi bar, which serves gorgeously presented sushi and sashimi (and only sushi and sashimi — you can’t order off the regular Sakura menu here).

The sushi bar has 10 seats available on a first-come, first-served basis (unlike the main part of the restaurant, where you’ll need a reservation) and, oddly to me, never seemed to be occupied. Passengers either did not know it was open for dining or were put off by its limited-to-sushi menu. Either way, it’s the perfect place for an impromptu bite if you don’t have a reservation somewhere else.

Sakura also had its own bar that, in two visits to the eatery, I never saw visited by a single passenger.

The included-in-the-fare eateries are so good that I don’t see the need to book extra-charge Anthology. While the dishes that were part of its seven-course, Italian-themed tasting menu were artfully presented and tasty, the experience wasn’t enough of a greater wow to justify its 200-euro (about $224) extra cost with the optional wine pairing.

The original concept for Anthology involved Explora rotating star chefs to create the tasting menu. (Anthology initially launched with a menu created by chef Mauro Uliassi, owner of Italy’s three-Michelin-starred Uliassi restaurant.)

For that, I would gladly pay the upcharge. But Explora ditched that idea relatively early in favor of a tasting menu created by its in-house head chef Franck Garanger.

Garanger, who for years was the head chef for food-focused Oceania Cruises, knows what he’s doing. But if you want to sample his creativity, you can do it for free in Fils Rouge or the Med Yacht Club.

Whichever restaurant you pick on Explora I, you’ll find the experience intimate and the service outstanding. One thing Explora did really well with the design of the eateries is to break them up into cozy seating areas that, in some cases, make it feel like you’re in a small New York bistro with just a few tables. When I dined in Marble & Co. Grill, which has 92 seats, I was in a room with just half a dozen or so tables.

All of the main eateries are open for dinner, and some are open for breakfast or lunch, too. Fil Rouge, for instance, is the place for a classy sit-down breakfast. Some, such as Sakura, have outdoor and indoor seating.

Other venues where you can grab a light bite include Crema Cafe, a European-style cafe, and the Gelateria & Creperie at The Conservatory.

The former serves croissants and other pastries in the morning along with espresso drinks, while the latter offers lovely handmade gelati and made-to-order crepes.

Additionally, healthy food bowls, club sandwiches and other light fare are available in the top-of-the-ship Explora Lounge during the day. Room service is also offered around the clock.

Bars

If you’re heading out for a drink in the evening on Explora I, you’re probably venturing to one of three places: the Explora Lounge, the Astern Lounge or the Lobby Bar.

At the front of the ship overlooking the bow, the Explora Lounge is by far the biggest of the three venues by size, with seating for 149 people in its interior area, plus an outdoor seating area that fits dozens more. But it’s not necessarily the busiest.

In the early evening, I found it almost empty at times, perhaps because it lacked live music. The only music in this venue in the early evening came from a mechanical piano at its center — no human in sight. It wasn’t until 9 p.m. that live music got going (typically a pianist or a strings player), and even then, the room didn’t draw all that much of a crowd.

Indeed, the venue only really seemed to be occupied in the late afternoon when the Explora Lounge hosted the ship’s afternoon tea — a classy event with servers wheeling around a trolley with finger sandwiches, tarts, cupcakes and cookies, and a pianist playing Frank Sinatra and Billy Joel tunes in the background.

Designed with a residential feel, with comfortable seating areas, the Explora Lounge is a classic observation lounge featuring stunning views of the ocean available in three directions through floor-to-ceiling windows that wrap around its front. The front part of the lounge is not only all glass from floor to ceiling but has a glass roof, too — a design that allows for truly spectacular views but, unfortunately, creates a greenhouse effect that can make it stifling hot on a sunny day.

The Explora Lounge has a traditional bar counter at its center but also a smaller secondary bar dedicated specifically to whisky. Dubbed the Malt Whisky Bar, it’s tucked away in a corner and only open for limited hours (typically from 5 p.m. onward). It is, notably, the only bar on Explora I with its own signature drinks menu (and a modest one at that) — something that surprised me. Signature drink menus with ever-more creative concoctions are a mainstay of higher-end cocktail bars on land.

Just behind the Malt Whisky Bar is the Cigar Lounge, another affiliated venue that is the only place in the interior of the ship where you can smoke (and only if you’re smoking a cigar). It has its own walk-in humidor with cigars for sale.

About half the size of the Explora Lounge, with seating for 70 people, the Astern Lounge is part-lounge, part-miniature showroom — about half of its space is devoted to a stage and dance floor ringed with chairs facing the stage. During the day into the early evening, it’s the site of dance classes, trivia sessions and other activities that, on my sailing, didn’t draw much of a crowd.

The Astern Lounge then morphs into the ship’s nightclub in the evening. A DJ spins dance tunes starting around midnight, sometimes earlier, and presides over silent disco parties on some nights. Again, these weren’t well attended.

The smallest but most visually stunning of Explora I’s bars is the Lobby Bar. At the base of the ship’s soaring lobby, its long marble-topped bar backed by a wall of liquor bottles is a design triumph — the sort of architectural wow that you’ll find in the finest New York hotels. Indeed, when you’re in the lobby area, you feel like you’re in a high-end city hotel, not a cruise ship — and that’s the point.

In addition to the above, Explora I offers four outdoor bars — one each around the ship’s three outdoor pools (more on those in a moment) and a fourth at the highest point of the ship.

The latter, called the Sky Bar, stays open late and is a great place to watch the sun set.

There’s also a bar at the ship’s semi-indoor Conservancy Pool (more on this in a moment, too) and at the Journeys Lounge, which is the ship’s showroom.

Explora I activities

Like a lot of luxury ships, Explora I is a vessel where the big daytime activity for passengers — when they’re not out exploring on land — is to lounge in the sun, generally around a pool.

For that, Explora I has been designed better than just about any luxury ship at sea.

Explora I’s exterior decks are home to four distinct pool areas — a large number for a vessel of its size. All are elegant and inviting, with lovely pools as focal points, plush lounge chairs and daybeds and lots of seating areas, and an always-present army of attendants standing by to cater to your every whim.

All four pool areas also have their own bars, each a stylish venue that can be a destination in its own right (sitting at one of these bars at sunset can be particularly alluring).

Perhaps the most alluring of the four pool areas is the Astern Pool and Bar at the very back of the ship. On a low deck near the waterline, its focal point is a lovely half-circle infinity pool facing the ship’s wake. Soak in the pool facing away from the ship, and all you’ll see is the light blue water of the pool merging into the darker blue water of the ocean.

For lounging around the Astern Pool, you can pick from one of the 16 two-person sunbeds that arc around its curving edge — all facing the water. Should you get peckish, you can order a bento box to your sunbed from the adjacent Sakura eatery.

Just be warned that the sunbeds are in hot demand. Get there early on sea days.

Also overlooking the ship’s wake, five decks higher, is the bigger Atoll Pool and Bar. Here, a centrally located, rectangular pool is enveloped by 13 two-person sunbeds (all facing the pool), with additional one-person loungers facing out to the ocean. The sunbeds fill up first, then the loungers, but you can usually find a spot here any time of day.

The Atoll Pool also has a shaded area with daybeds, and there are seating areas (in both sun and shade) near its bar.

Should the weather turn iffy, the best bet for a pool day is The Conservatory Pool and Bar, toward the middle of the ship. Featuring a long rectangular pool in its center surrounded by sunbeds and lounge chairs, it’s topped with a magrodome — a sliding glass roof that can be opened or closed at the push of a button, depending on the weather.

The Conservatory Pool also is home to two long, infinity pool-style hot tubs on each side that offer views of the ocean.

At night, The Conservancy Pool turns into a cinema under the stars, with movies projected onto the large screen at its forward end.

The fourth pool area, the Helios Pool and Bar, is at the very front of the vessel and is adults-only. It offers an abundance of sunbeds, lounge chairs and seating areas surrounding a curving pool that looks out over the ship’s bow.

During my sailing, the Helios Pool often was nearly empty — the place to go if you’re looking to avoid other people.

More lounge chairs and a couple more infinity pool-style hot tubs line the sides of the ship’s top deck. There are so many lounge chairs, in fact, that you never will have trouble finding a place to lounge in the sun.

Other than pool areas, Explora I’s only deck-top amusements are a small sports court where you can play pickleball or basketball and a small outdoor gym area with free weights and a few cardio machines. Both are at the very top of the ship behind the Sky Bar.

There’s also a running track that circles the top deck above The Conservancy Pool.

This isn’t a ship where you’ll find family-friendly deck-top amusements such as waterslides and kiddie splash zones. That’s in keeping with the ship’s positioning in the luxury market, where customers typically crave a relatively quiet, relaxing deck-top experience.

Additional activity areas in the interior of the ship include a small casino called, simply enough, The Casino. It has just three tables for poker, blackjack and baccarat and 18 slot machines.

Much bigger is the ship’s spa, called — you guessed it — The Spa. It has 12 treatment rooms for massages, facials and other spa treatments and is attached to the Beauty Studio, which offers a full array of hair and nail services.

The Spa is also home to a thermal area that’s open to all passengers on most days at no extra charge (on sea days, access is limited to passengers getting treatments). While relatively small, the thermal area packs in a lot, including a hydrotherapy pool, a steam room, a Finnish sauna, a salt cave, an experience shower, an ice fall and heated marble loungers.

Other interior activity areas include a well-equipped fitness center (I love the high-end Technogym equipment); a wellness room for yoga, Pilates and other classes; and a cooking classroom.

The latter venue, called The Chef’s Kitchen, can accommodate up to 12 passengers at a time for immersive, extra-charge classes in things like pasta-making.?

Explora I shows

Explora I doesn’t have a lot of cruise ship-style entertainment, and that’s on purpose. But it does have one relatively large lounge with a stage and a dance floor — the Journeys Lounge — that serves as a venue for a single show nightly at 10 p.m.

The show is typically a musical performance by one or two performers, in some cases more.

With plush stand-alone chairs and coffee tables spread out in a semicircle facing the stage and a stylish bar along one of its side walls, the Journeys Lounge feels more like a cabaret lounge than a traditional cruise ship showroom.

Explora’s intent was that it wouldn’t have the feel of a traditional showroom, with passengers able to walk in and out and have a drink at the bar while performances were underway.

Seating up to 210 passengers at once, the Journeys Lounge is also used for lectures by guest speakers on some days and other events.

Explora I itineraries and pricing

Explora I currently spends about seven months of the year — from mid-April to mid-November — sailing in the Mediterranean. The rest of the year it sails the Caribbean.

The ship’s Mediterranean voyages range from seven to 10 nights and can be combined to create longer trips of up to 19 nights that feature few repeating ports.

For 2025, most of these Mediterranean sailings will focus on the Eastern half of the region, typically beginning in Istanbul; Piraeus, Greece (the port for Athens); or Fusina, Italy (one of the ports for Venice). But Explora I sometimes will sail in the Western Mediterranean, too.

Explora I’s Caribbean sailings range from six to nine nights and also can be combined to create longer trips of up to 17 nights.

The ship offers a wide mix of itineraries in the Caribbean with an ever-changing array of ports. Many of these sailings begin and end in Miami, but there are also one-way trips between Miami and Barbados or Miami and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Prices for Mediterranean sailings start around $3,760 per person, based on double occupancy, for a seven-night sailing between Piraeus and Istanbul. That works out to just over $500 per person, per day.

Prices for Caribbean sailings start at slightly lower rates — around $3,160 per person, based on double occupancy, for a seven-night trip out of Miami. That works out to about $450 per person, per day.

Given that pricing is based on two people per room, the above rates mean that you’ll pay around $900 to $1,000 a day or more for an entry-level room on the ship.

The above rates include all taxes and fees.

Note that you’ll pay a significant premium to stay in the ship’s bigger suites. A seven-night voyage where an entry-level Ocean Terrace Suite starts around $4,000 per person might cost closer to $6,000 per person if you upgrade to a bigger Ocean Penthouse suite.

On the same voyage, the much-bigger Ocean Residences might start around $12,000 per person with the sprawling Owner’s Residence starting around an astounding $42,000.

What to know before you go

Required documents

Explora I sails global itineraries for which passengers always need a valid passport. For some itineraries, passengers also need visas to enter countries on the schedule. Be sure to research visa requirements far in advance of your sailing so you have time to get everything in order before you go. Visa processing can be a time-consuming process. Note that you will very likely be denied boarding if you arrive for your cruise without the proper travel documentation. In such cases, you are not eligible for a refund.

When assembling your documents, be sure your passport will be valid for six months beyond the end of your cruise, as that’s a requirement to enter many countries.

You will also need to fill out preboarding documents online before your cruise.

Gratuities

Explora Journeys’ all-inclusive fares cover all crew gratuities, and passengers thus aren’t expected to tip when on board Explora Journeys ships. The only time you might be expected to tip while on an Explora Journeys cruise is during an off-the-ship excursion, as gratuities for tour guides and drivers on shore tours are not included in fares.

Related: Tipping on a cruise: What to know about cruise ship gratuities

Wi-Fi

Explora Journeys offers complimentary Wi-Fi service on its ships, and it’s one of the best free Wi-Fi offerings at sea. Every passenger can have up to three devices logged onto the Wi-Fi system at a time, which is an unusually large number. The Wi-Fi is provided via a relatively fast (for a cruise ship) connection through Starlink satellites.

Carry-on drinks policy

All drinks are complimentary on Explora I, with the exception of premium wines and the most expensive liquors. However, if you are particular to certain brands, you can bring on board your own wine and liquor, both on embarkation day and in ports of call, and you do not have to pay a corkage fee.

Smoking policy

Cigarette smoking (including e-cigarette smoking) is allowed only in designated outdoor areas. This includes the outdoor seating area of the Crema Cafe on Deck 5 and a section of the Sky Bar area on Deck 14.

Smoking of any kind is forbidden in cabins, including on cabin balconies, and in all other indoor areas of the ship, with one exception: You can smoke cigars only in the Cigar Lounge on Deck 11. There’s also a cigar-smoking section at the outdoor Helios Bar on Deck 12.

Unlike on some cruise ships, smoking is not allowed in Explora I’s casino.

Laundry

Explora I has two very small self-serve launderettes that each have just two washers, two dryers and a fold-out ironing board for use at no extra charge. There’s free detergent, too. Alas, the number of machines is far too small for the number of passengers on board seeking to use them, and that can make it difficult to find an open machine.

The ship also offers extra-charge laundry, pressing and eco-friendly dry cleaning services at what some cruisers will consider exorbitantly high prices. Sending out a button-down men’s shirt or women’s blouse for cleaning will cost you 12 euros (about $13.40). Cleaning a single T-shirt, polo shirt, shorts or skirt costs 10 euros (about $11.17).

Related: Everything you need to know about cruise ship laundry services

Electrical outlets

You’ll find North American-style 110-volt outlets and European-style 220-volt outlets in cabins, along with USB ports.

Currency

The onboard currency is the euro, but you won’t need cash while on board. Explora I operates on a “cashless system,” with any onboard purchases you make posting automatically to your onboard account. You’ll receive a keycard that you can use to make charges, and Explora Journeys will charge your credit card at the end of the sailing to settle the balance.

While on board, you can check your balance at the guest services desk or via your in-cabin TV.

Drinking age

You must be 18 to consume alcohol on Explora I in most parts of the world. When the ship sails from North American ports, Explora Journeys enforces the U.S. drinking age limit of 21.

Dress code

There is no official dress code on Explora I, but the line suggests passengers dress in an “elegant resort casual” style, and it does have a few minimum standards:

• Swimwear and bathrobes are not allowed in restaurants, indoor bars and lounges.
• Shorts and sleeveless T-shirts are not allowed in the evening at the Anthology and Fil Rouge restaurants but are allowed at other venues.
• Baseball caps and sportswear are not allowed in the evening at the following restaurants: Anthology, Fil Rouge, Sakura, Marble & Co. Grill and Med Yacht Club.

On my sailing, most passengers were dressed casually but elegantly, just like the line suggested.

Related: Cruise packing list: The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise

Bottom line

Explora I is an elegant and upscale vessel that sets a new bar for luxury cruising. Designed for luxury travelers who aren’t necessarily cruisers, it feels more like a resort on land than a traditional cruise ship, with unusually large rooms, lots of intimate and upscale restaurants and boutique hotellike pool areas.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin