Updated: Sep 24
Balcony OT3 Suites 8040 & 8099
We have now stayed in Ocean Terrace Suites several times across Explora Journeys, and on EXPLORA III we had an unusually good opportunity to look a little closer.
During our journey, we stayed in two Ocean Terrace 3 (OT3) Suites: 8040 and 8099.
At first glance, they were essentially the same suite. The same layout, the same living space, the same terrace and the same overall design.
But there was one important difference.
Suite 8040 had a bathtub with shower. Suite 8099 had a walk-in shower.
Having lived in both during the same journey gave us a chance to compare the two configurations properly — and it also reinforced something we have felt for quite some time.
Ocean Terrace may not be the most spectacular accommodation Explora offers.
But for the way we travel, it may still be the one that makes the most sense. Wanna read our full Explora III review - Click Here!
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Is an Ocean Terrace Really a Suite?
Explora Journeys calls all of its accommodation suites, including Ocean Terrace.
If you are expecting a traditional hotel-style suite with a separate bedroom and living room, though, Ocean Terrace might initially feel a little different.
It is essentially one large, beautifully designed space with a sleeping area, sitting area, dressing room, bathroom and private terrace.
We don't necessarily walk into an Ocean Terrace and think:
“Wow, what an enormous suite.”
But several days later, we usually walk out thinking:
“That was incredibly easy to live in.”
And that is probably the best way we can describe it.
The storage works. The lighting works. The dressing area works. The bed is comfortable. The minibar is properly integrated. The terrace is useful.
Nothing feels particularly complicated.
Suites 8040 and 8099 – Almost Identical, But Not Quite
Both of our suites were Ocean Terrace 3 suites and had the same basic interior configuration.
They were also both marked T on the deck plan.
That is worth understanding when choosing a suite.
The T does not refer to the bathroom and it does not mean that the sofa converts into a bed.
It refers to the bed configuration.
In both 8040 and 8099, the bed was made up of:
2 × 90 × 200 cm beds
During our stay they were positioned together as one large sleeping surface.
Neither 8040 nor 8099 was marked with a sofa-bed symbol on the deck plan.
The important difference between our two suites was instead in the bathroom:
8040 – bathtub with shower
8099 – walk-in shower
And after using both, we definitely had a preference.
8099 – The Walk-In Shower
Suite 8099 had the bathroom configuration we preferred.
The walk-in shower included both a large overhead rainfall shower and a hand shower.
Temperature could be adjusted separately, and we could also control the water flow.
Most importantly, the shower pressure was very good.
It was simple, spacious enough for everyday use and very easy to step into.
There is nothing particularly dramatic about that, but this is exactly the type of detail that becomes important after several days onboard.
For us, 8099's walk-in shower was easily the better configuration.
8040 – Bathtub With Shower
Suite 8040 was different.
Instead of the walk-in shower, it had a bathtub with a shower above it.
There are separate controls for the bath spout, hand shower and overhead shower, together with temperature control.
If you enjoy taking baths, this may actually be the configuration you prefer.
For us, however, it was less practical.
When showering, you need to stand inside the bathtub and step over the side to get in and out.
We also found the shower pressure noticeably weaker than in 8099, and we couldn't adjust the flow in quite the same way.
The bathtub edge is also worth considering for guests who have difficulty stepping in and out of a bath.
It isn't necessarily a major issue — but if you shower every day and rarely take a bath, the walk-in configuration is simply easier.
Which Would We Choose?
8099, without hesitation.
Not because there was anything fundamentally wrong with 8040, but because the walk-in shower was more practical for us every single day.
It also highlights something worth checking when choosing an Ocean Terrace Suite.
Two suites in the same category can look almost identical on paper yet still have details that affect how you experience them.
If bathtub versus walk-in shower matters to you, it is worth checking your specific suite before travelling.
The Bathroom – Small Details That Matter
Aside from the bathtub versus shower difference, the bathrooms were very similar.
One feature we continue to appreciate is the heated bathroom floor.
There is a separate control for the heating, and particularly in the morning it is one of those small luxuries that quickly becomes normal.
There is also plenty of space around the basin for toiletries, good lighting and integrated low-level night lighting.
But there is still one thing we would like Explora to improve.
The mirror fogs up very quickly after a shower.
It is a small complaint, but considering how well thought out so much of the suite is, an effective anti-fog section in the mirror would make sense.
The Dressing Room Is Better Than It Looks in Photos
Close to the entrance is a dedicated wardrobe and dressing area.
This is one of the parts of Ocean Terrace that doesn't necessarily photograph particularly dramatically, but becomes increasingly useful once you actually live in the suite.
There are two hanging areas, drawers, a very well-lit vanity area, an illuminated magnifying mirror and additional electrical outlets.
We travel with normal luggage plus quite a lot of camera equipment, and we have never felt that storage was a serious problem in an Ocean Terrace.
If you need additional hangers, you can also ask your Suite Host.
EXPLORA III also adds something we appreciated immediately:
a garment steamer.
We tested it and it worked extremely well.
For clothes that have been packed into a suitcase — particularly evening wear — it is a genuinely useful addition.
A Dyson hair dryer is also provided.
The Bed – Comfortable, But Know What You're Booking
As mentioned earlier, both 8040 and 8099 were T-designated suites.
The sleeping setup therefore consisted of:
2 × 90 × 200 cm beds
joined together during our stay.
We found the bed itself very comfortable.
During filming we actually removed the bedding to look more closely at the mattress system, which was from Italian manufacturer Dorelan and consisted of a main mattress together with a separate topper.
Explora also offers a pillow menu.
The standard pillows were a little too large and firm for Christopher, so he asked for a feather pillow instead.
That made a surprisingly big difference.
It is a simple tip, but worth remembering:
If the standard pillow isn't right for you, ask your Suite Host for another one.
You don't need to spend a week trying to convince yourself that you'll eventually get used to it.
One of Our Favourite Features Happens at Night
There are small motion-sensitive lights beneath the bedside area.
When you get out of bed during the night, they automatically illuminate the floor.
It means you can walk towards the bathroom without switching on the main cabin lights.
We loved this feature on the earlier Explora ships and still love it here.
EXPLORA III also has improved low-level lighting inside the bathroom itself, integrated more neatly than the solution we remember from Explora I and II.
Again, these are tiny details.
But good cabins are often defined by tiny details.
Bedside Power and Ship's Time
The two sides of the bed don't have exactly the same connections.
Across the bedside areas we found USB-A, USB-C, wireless charging and conventional power outlets, although the exact socket arrangement differs between the two sides.
There is also a bedside clock showing ship's time.
This may sound completely insignificant.
It isn't.
We have previously looked at our phones, forgotten that the ship and phone were showing different times and nearly missed onboard activities.
When onboard:
Trust the ship clock.
Living Area
An open shelving unit creates a visual separation between the sleeping and living areas without actually dividing the room.
That helps Ocean Terrace feel more spacious than it might if a solid wall or partition were used.
The shelves contain books, artwork and decorative objects, while the sofa sits opposite the television.
The sofa in our suites comfortably seated two people.
Neither 8040 nor 8099 was designated as having a sofa bed.
Above the sofa, there is also one of those little Explora design details that is easy to miss.
The artwork depicts book spines, and if you actually stop and read the titles, there is a small story hidden within them.
It is completely unnecessary.
Which is probably why we like it.
Television, HDMI and Connections
The television can swivel, allowing you to position it towards either the bed or the sitting area.
More importantly for people travelling with laptops, cameras or other equipment, Explora hasn't hidden all of the connections somewhere impossible to reach.
Behind the television we found:
2 × USB-A
LAN/Ethernet
3 × HDMI
There are also two European power outlets beneath the television area.
Again, not glamorous.
But very useful.
Storage and Safe
Storage continues beneath the main console, with several concealed drawers.
One contains the safe.
The overall storage design is one of the reasons Ocean Terrace works so well in practice.
There is storage almost everywhere, but the room never feels as though it is dominated by cupboards.
Coffee, Tea and Minibar
The refreshment area contains a coffee machine, kettle, proper cups and glassware, tea and a fully stocked minibar.
During our journey we had Palais des Thés tea available.
The minibar included water, soft drinks and beer, and preferences can be adjusted through your Suite Host.
Welcome drinks and small treats were also waiting for us when we arrived.
The exact brands and selections can change, so we would treat these as part of our experience rather than a guarantee of what will be onboard every sailing.
Your Suite Host
Your Suite Host is one of those elements that gradually becomes part of the experience rather than something you necessarily notice immediately.
Information about your host is waiting inside the suite, and our experience with requests has been consistently good.
Need another pillow?
More hangers?
A minibar preference changed?
It has generally been very easy to arrange.
There is also a telephone with direct access to services such as Guest Services and in-suite dining.
Binoculars in the Suite
Explora provides binoculars for use during the journey.
They are there to use onboard and while looking out from the terrace — not as a complimentary item to take home afterwards.
They are another good example of Explora putting something in the suite that makes sense once you are actually travelling.
The Ocean Terrace
And then there is the terrace itself.
The regular Ocean Terrace isn't enormous.
But for us, it is enough.
There is a table with two chairs plus a separate lounging/daybed-style seat.
We use the terrace for morning coffee, breakfast, reading, watching the ship arrive or depart and simply sitting outside looking at the ocean.
For us, the terrace complements the room.
It doesn't need to become the main destination.
And that distinction is important when deciding whether to pay more for a larger terrace.
Ocean Terrace vs Ocean Grand Terrace
We previously stayed in an Ocean Grand Terrace on Explora I.
Inside, the experience was very similar for our purposes.
The major difference was outside.
The Grand Terrace gave us significantly more private outdoor space.
Was it nice?
Absolutely.
Would we personally pay extra for it again?
Probably not.
We simply didn't use the additional terrace space enough to justify it for the way we travel.
There was also something about our particular Grand Terrace location that we liked less: parts of the terrace could be overlooked from above.
That will depend on the specific suite and location, so we wouldn't suggest every Grand Terrace has exactly the same issue.
But for us, it reinforced the feeling that the regular Ocean Terrace already gives us what we need.
If you spend a large amount of time on your private terrace, you could reach a completely different conclusion.
Why Don't We Normally Upgrade to a Penthouse?
This is perhaps the more interesting question.
We have seen several of Explora's Penthouses and Residences.
Some are spectacular.
There is no question that moving up through the categories gives you more space, more separation and, at the very top, something closer to a private apartment at sea.
We would obviously be very happy to stay in one.
But when we are spending our own money, we struggle to justify the additional cost for the way we travel.
And the reason is actually quite simple.
We don't travel to recreate home.
At home, we already appreciate having space, large windows and private amenities.
When we travel, we want something different.
We want the ocean.
The destinations.
The restaurants.
The pools.
The ship.
The people.
The atmosphere.
The experience of being somewhere else.
So if the choice is between spending significantly more on a larger suite or putting that money towards another journey, something ashore or simply travelling more often, we usually choose the journey.
That doesn't mean a Penthouse or Residence isn't worth it.
Someone who spends much more time in their suite, values maximum privacy, entertains other guests or simply loves having a private-residence experience onboard may find the upgrade completely worthwhile.
It simply isn't how we normally travel.
What's New in the Suite on EXPLORA III?
Much of Ocean Terrace feels immediately familiar if you have sailed on Explora I or II, but there are a few small changes.
One is incredibly simple:
there is now a doorbell.
On Explora I and II, someone outside would knock.
That sounds perfectly adequate until you realise how surprisingly easy it can be to miss a knock from inside the suite.
The doorbell is a tiny improvement, but a sensible one.
The garment steamer is another addition we really liked, and the bathroom night lighting feels more neatly integrated than on the earlier ships.
None of these changes transform the suite.
They simply make something that was already very functional a little better.
Room Temperature
During our Mediterranean sailing, when outside temperatures were extremely high, we generally managed to get the suite down to around 19–20°C.
Christopher still found it slightly warm during some nights.
We wouldn't take that as proof that every Ocean Terrace on EXPLORA III has the same temperature range — this was simply our experience during an exceptionally hot journey.
But if you are someone who likes sleeping in a very cold room, it is something worth being aware of.
What We Liked
After living in both 8040 and 8099, the things that stood out most were not necessarily the most spectacular features.
They were the things that made the room easy to use.
Excellent storage.
A very practical dressing area.
Comfortable beds.
Pillow alternatives.
Good lighting.
Motion-sensitive night lights.
A genuinely useful private terrace.
A well-stocked refreshment area.
Accessible HDMI and power connections.
Heated bathroom floors.
The garment steamer.
And, in 8099, a very good walk-in shower.
What Could Be Better
There aren't many major complaints.
But we would still like to see a better anti-fog solution for the bathroom mirror.
We much preferred the shower configuration to the bathtub configuration.
Shower pressure in 8040 also felt weaker than in 8099.
And because the bathroom configuration made a meaningful difference to us, we would appreciate it being particularly easy for guests to identify exactly which configuration they are booking.
Our Verdict
Ocean Terrace isn't necessarily the suite that creates the biggest first impression on EXPLORA III.
There are bigger suites.
More dramatic suites.
And some genuinely spectacular Residences.
But Ocean Terrace remains extremely well thought out.
After staying in both bathroom configurations, previously trying the larger Ocean Grand Terrace and seeing many of Explora's higher categories, we still come back to the same conclusion.
If we were booking another Explora journey tomorrow, we would most likely choose a regular Ocean Terrace again.
Our priorities would be:
a good location and our preferred bathroom configuration.
And given the choice, we would take the walk-in shower.
Then we would put the difference in price towards the journey itself.
For the way we travel, that gives us more value than simply having more square metres behind our suite door.
FAQ
What is an Ocean Terrace Suite on EXPLORA III?
Ocean Terrace is Explora Journeys' core suite category, combining a sleeping area, sitting area, dressing space, bathroom and private ocean terrace in one open-plan layout.
What was the difference between suites 8040 and 8099?
Both were OT3 Ocean Terrace Suites with essentially the same interior layout. The key difference during our stay was the bathroom: 8040 had a bathtub with shower, while 8099 had a walk-in shower.
What does T mean on an Explora deck plan?
For our suites, the T designation referred to the twin-bed configuration. Our bed was made up of two 90 × 200 cm beds, positioned together during our stay.
Did 8040 or 8099 have a sofa bed?
Neither suite was marked with a sofa-bed designation on the deck plan.
Which did we prefer: bathtub or walk-in shower?
Definitely the walk-in shower in 8099. We found it more practical and also experienced better water pressure.
Does an Ocean Terrace Suite have a Dyson hair dryer?
A Dyson hair dryer was provided in both of our OT3 suites during our EXPLORA III journey.
Does EXPLORA III have heated bathroom floors?
Yes. Both of the Ocean Terrace Suites we stayed in had adjustable heated bathroom floors.
Is there enough storage in an Ocean Terrace Suite?
For us, yes. Even travelling with normal luggage plus significant camera equipment, we found the combination of wardrobe space, drawers and concealed storage very practical.
Is Ocean Grand Terrace worth the upgrade?
For us, probably not. We appreciated the extra outside space when we stayed in an Ocean Grand Terrace on Explora I, but we didn't use it enough to justify prioritising it again.
For someone who spends a lot of time on their private terrace, the answer may be very different.
Is an Explora Penthouse worth upgrading to?
That depends heavily on how you travel. Explora's Penthouses offer more space and separation, but for our travel style we would normally rather allocate the price difference to other parts of the journey — or another journey entirely.
More Explora assets for planning
Explora bars and drink finder - interactive search!
Explora III daily planners - Plan your day onboard
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