Built by the Italian shipyard Fincantieri, Expora I’s striking central lounge just inside the entrance sets the scene for what is to come.

Designed to mimic the lobby bar of a fine hotel, the lounge’s soft neutral beige tones and designer furniture exude contemporary European elegance. It’s an inviting location for an evening cocktail or a morning tea conversation on one of the sofas.

The Aponte family wanted to create the vibe of a boutique hotel that was vibrant, yet intimate, and the ship can carry up to 1000 guests and 640 crew, yet still feel spacious.

British designer and architect Martin Francis, De Jorio Design International and several other design firms were tasked with giving the vessel’s interior a superyacht feel.

In a nod to sustainability, the ship features energy-saving heating and ventilation systems, advanced wastewater treatment and reduced underwater noise systems, while MSC claims that Explora I’s Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology reduces the ship’s nitrogen emissions by 90 per cent.

“I am in love with this ship,” says Captain Serena Melani, one of the world’s few female cruise ship captains. “The ship looks fabulous, like a superyacht, and there’s a lot of the [Aponte] family here in the soft colours of the interior, and in the detail. ”

Melani, an Italian from the port city of Livorno, began working on cargo ships more than 30 years ago, moving up the ranks at a time when women were still rare at sea. Her current gig is the pinnacle of her career: “To work with a family-owned shipping company is a different experience,” she says. “In a corporation you are like a number. Here you feel like a human being.”

Certainly, Explora I feels like the luxury design real deal – from the 35-square-metre Ocean Terrace suites (in which I am ensconced on deck eight) to the Owner’s Residence, which covers 280 square metres.

The vessel has 461 suites (all ocean-front, all with verandahs), including 67 penthouses with private terraces, floor-to-ceiling windows and walk-in wardrobes.

Bathrooms are fitted out in black and white Italian Carrara marble, and have heated floors. Dyson hairdryers, espresso machines with biodegradable pods, and portable binoculars are provided in all suites.

Explora I might fly the flag of Malta, but Italy is at the heart of this ship, as demonstrated in the furnishings, and look and feel – including made-in-Italy Molteni&C and Manutti outdoor loungers, chairs and sofas. Astep lighting, founded by Venice-born industrial designer Gino Sarfatti, and Frette bed linen – created in 1860 in Grenoble, France, but relocated to Italy in 1865 – ensure the onboard vibe is well and truly Italianate.

The food is also strictly continental on my sailing. French chef Franck Garanger heads the culinary team, which is committed to sourcing sustainable produce for the ship’s six restaurants and 12 bars and lounges.

Garanger’s dedication to quality is apparent everywhere, noticeably at Marble & Co. Grill, where I dine first, and where the restaurant’s signature dish of crushed fingerling potatoes and caviar is followed by a succulent French beef filet aged for 20 days.

The Fil Rouge restaurant does a solid à la carte breakfast, and, as you’d expect from a French chef, there’s an abundance of croissants and baguettes. Fil Rouge’s evening menu includes French and Italian dishes ranging from langouste thermidor to Acquerello risotto. A raspberry souffle from executive pastry chef Christophe Sapy is one of the highlights.

Wine selections reflect the regional areas where the vessel sails, while all-time favourite grape varietals such as French chenin blanc, pinot grigio and Australian shiraz are always on the list.

Mauro Uliassi of the three-star Michelin restaurant Uliassi, in Senigallia on Italy’s Adriatic Coast, has curated the menu of the ship’s Anthology restaurant. His eight-course tasting menu includes grilled squid and citronette pearls, and sea bass with roasted mango, morel mushrooms and butter sauce, as well as his take on traditional tiramisu. Anthology is the only restaurant outside Explora I’s inclusive culinary package, and is priced from €190 ($320) without beverages.

On a rainy afternoon during my three days onboard, I join a dozen guests in the state-of-the-art Chef’s Kitchen for a hands-on cooking class. We are each given a blue cap and matching apron, and have small plates of ingredients laid out in front of our individual stations and stoves.

The wine flows freely as French master chef Jean-Louis Dumonet puts us through our paces – gently pan frying a veal scaloppine with a choice of marsala or Sorrentino lemon sauce.

“It’s like coming to my kitchen at home and cooking together,” says Dumonet. “We want guests to have fun. It’s not a competition. The main thing is to have an experience with a chef.”

Recreation and rejuvenation are essential for enhancing an ocean state of mind. The ship’s 14 decks provide ample space for relaxation, and the Outdoor Decks Span more than 2500 square metres.

I’m not certain that I’ve ever seen quite so many pools on a ship: There are three heated outdoor pools and an indoor pool with a retractable glass roof, as well as indoor and outdoor whirlpools. (Guests understandably gravitate to the indoor pool on the cooler North Sea route). The fitness centre features Technogym machines and offers yoga and Pilates classes.

On my final day aboard – before the ship docks in Edinburgh for an electrifying performance of the Military Tattoo – I make time to shop.

In addition to the exclusive brand name boutiques, Explora I features more than 32 brands in the form of selected artisanal designers from Italy, France and the United States, all corralled in a boutique aptly named The Journey. As I peruse fragrances and sunglasses, I reflect that retail therapy is integral to achieving an “ocean state of mind”, as is an expensive facial.

Explora I |At a Glance

The ship carries up to 1000 guests in 461 suites, cared for by 640 crew members.

Restaurants & bars There are 18 food and beverage venues, including six restaurants. The focus is on healthy food from local, sustainable sources. Excellent options for vegetarian and gluten-conscious guests. Complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks are included with meals, except at the Anthology restaurant. Hot drinks and snacks are available 24/7 from the in-house menu.

Wellness offering The Spa has 11 treatment rooms for massages and facials, as well as sauna and steam room. Well-equipped fitness centre; four large swimming pools, as well as indoor and outdoor whirlpools. Products include Dr. Levy Switzerland, and British brand Aromatherapy Associates.

Future sailings Explora I will conduct a number of voyages in North America, the Caribbean and Hawaii from October 2023 to May 2024. It will then travel along the Pacific Coast to Vancouver before returning to Europe.