Yachts & Voyages · Mediterranean · Caribbean · Northern Europe
Explora Journeys
A luxury hotel that sails · Explora I–III (III debuts Aug 2026)
Explora Journeys is MSC Group's luxury arm, the Aponte family's move upmarket, and it has been carrying guests since August 2023. The proposition is unusually consistent: every suite is ocean-front, every one has a private terrace, and there is no inside category anywhere in the fleet. Explora sells the accommodation as a Home at Sea rather than a stateroom, and the entry category, the Ocean Terrace Suite, sits in the published 35 to 39 sqm Ocean Suites band with a 7 sqm terrace.
These are not small ships. Explora I and Explora II carry 456 ocean-front suites each and Explora III carries 461, against five heated pools, six or seven restaurants and twelve bars and lounges apiece. That scale is the point. Anyone who wants the choice, the pool deck and the rhythm of a great resort hotel will read it as generous; anyone whose ideal is a small private yacht will find it too big.
The fare is where the line separates itself. Nine distinct culinary experiences, unlimited wines, champagne, premium spirits and specialty coffees, high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the ship, onboard gratuities and shuttles from port to city centre are included. Shore excursions are not: Explora calls them Destination Experiences and sells them separately, and flights come through a separate Sky & Sea fare. Regent Seven Seas, the nearest rival, folds shore excursions and air into its fare instead. Explora prices the shore programme a la carte, which rewards people who plan their own days ashore.
Three ships sail now. Explora IV is published for Summer 2027 and Explora V for December 2027, Explora VI for August 2028, and Explora I takes the line's first World Journey, 128 days from Dubai to Barcelona, in January 2029.
The ships
EXPLORA I
2023
Sailing now. Her maiden journey left Copenhagen for Reykjavik in August 2023. 456 ocean-front suites, five heated pools, six restaurants, twelve bars and lounges, and a published ratio of 1.25 guests per host. Explora does not publish a total guest capacity, so neither do we.
EXPLORA II
2024
Sailing now, and effectively identical to Explora I: 456 ocean-front suites, five heated pools, six restaurants, twelve bars and lounges, the same 1.25 guests per host. If you have sailed one, you know the other.
EXPLORA III
2026
Sailing now. Delivered by Fincantieri at Sestri Ponente in Genoa in July 2026, named in Barcelona on 1 August 2026, maiden journey to Lisbon on 3 August 2026. Explora publishes her as 19.2 metres longer than her sisters and the first LNG-powered ship in the fleet, and her ship page counts 461 ocean-front suites, seven restaurants, twelve bars and lounges and reimagined Ocean Wellness facilities. A second Owner's Residence is by Patricia Urquiola.
EXPLORA IV
2027
Announced, not sailing. Explora publishes Setting sail in Summer 2027, with 461 ocean-front suites, five heated pools, seven restaurants and twelve bars and lounges, and lists Shore Club on 11 at The Conservatory, The Chef's Table and The Cellar under Exclusive to EXPLORA IV.
EXPLORA V
2027
Announced, not sailing. Explora publishes Setting sail in December 2027 and 457 ocean-front suites, with the same five heated pools, seven restaurants and twelve bars and lounges as Explora III and IV.
EXPLORA VI
2028
Announced, not sailing. Explora publishes Setting sail August 2028 and 457 ocean-front suites, along with an EXPLORA VI Inaugural Journeys Collection, which at this distance is a placeholder rather than a plan.
The suites
Ocean Terrace Suites
Ocean Suites band 35 - 39 sqm; terrace 7 sqm
The entry category, and there is nothing below it. Floor-to-ceiling windows and a private sun terrace with room for a daybed.
Ocean Grand Terrace Suites
Ocean Suites band 35 - 39 sqm; terrace 11 sqm
Decks six and seven, with the terrace taken up to 11 sqm and given a dining table as well as a daybed. Four more square metres outside, and the outdoor four are the ones you feel.
Ocean Penthouses
43 - 69 sqm
Explora splits this band into Penthouses, Deluxe Penthouses, Premier Penthouses and Grand Penthouses. The category adds early access to dining reservations, priority check-in and embarkation, garment pressing and a bag of laundry, plus one additional in-suite bottle of wine or spirit, three in total.
Ocean Residences
65 - 149 sqm
Cove Residence, Cove Residence with Whirlpool, Retreat, Serenity and Cocoon Residences all sit in this band. Served by Residence Hosts, with an in-suite full bar setup, unlimited laundry and pressing, priority luggage drop-off and ground transfers.
Owner's Residences
280 sqm; 315 sqm (3,391 sq ft) on Explora III
The top of the ship. Explora III carries two, one of them designed by Patricia Urquiola. Adds a Dom Perignon welcome, a dedicated Residence Manager, priority access to the Ocean Wellness spa thermal area with a complimentary treatment, a private driver ashore and further ground transfers to everything the Residences already carry.
What the fare includes
The question every enquiry opens with. What follows is what the line itself publishes as included — we confirm it against your exact sailing before you commit.
- Nine distinct culinary experiences, including In-Suite Dining
- Unlimited beverages: fine wines, champagne, premium spirits, specialty coffees, teas and soft drinks, available anytime, including in-suite
- One in-suite welcome bottle of champagne on arrival, plus one bottle of wine and one bottle of spirit of your preference
- Complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the ship
- Onboard gratuities
- Access to Ocean Wellness - The Spa thermal area, and group wellness, fitness and mindfulness activities
- Shuttle services from port to city centre, where required and available
- Penthouses and Residences layer on more: early access to dining reservations, priority check-in, pressing and laundry, an in-suite bar setup, Residence Hosts and ground transfers; Owner's Residences add a dedicated Residence Manager, a spa treatment and a private driver ashore
- Not included, and worth knowing before you compare: Destination Experiences (the shore programme), Anthology, Chef's Kitchen, The Chef's Table, The Cellar, and flights, which are sold as a separate Sky & Sea fare covering international flights in Economy Class as standard, an overnight hotel stay and private transfers
On board
Anthology
Explora's signature fine-dining room, which the line describes as refined Italian cuisine. Note that Explora lists it outside the inclusive culinary experiences, along with Chef's Kitchen, The Chef's Table and The Cellar.
Sakura
Pan-Asian, and one of the nine inclusive culinary experiences rather than a supplement. Explora's nine are Emporium Marketplace, Sakura, Marble & Co. Grill, Med Yacht Club, Fil Rouge, Crema Cafe, Explora Lounge, In-Suite Dining and, on Explora I and Explora II, Gelateria & Creperie at The Conservatory.
Marble & Co. Grill
The steakhouse, which Explora files as a redefined European steakhouse experience. The one to book on the first night, while everyone else is still finding their way around the ship.
Shore Club on 11 at The Conservatory
New with Explora III, on deck eleven beside The Conservatory Pool & Bar, and listed by Explora as exclusive to Explora III and Explora IV. Beach-club style, and it takes the Gelateria & Creperie slot in the nine inclusive experiences on the newer ships.
The Cellar by Explora Journeys
A wine bar of Old World classics, New World bottles and a small selection of rarer vintages, introduced with Explora III. Explora lists it outside the inclusive experiences, which is the honest exception to unlimited drinks.
Ocean Wellness
The spa, split by Explora into The Spa, Fitness, Beauty and Wellbeing. Access to The Spa thermal area and the group wellness, fitness and mindfulness activities is inside the fare; treatments are not. Reimagined on Explora III.
Where it sails
Mediterranean & Western Europe
Summer, plus a November to March winter season
The core deployment. Explora also publishes A Serene Mediterranean, a Journeys Collection running November 2026 through March 2027, rather than sending the whole fleet to the Caribbean for the winter.
Caribbean & Central America
October to May
Explora's published Winter 2026-27 collection runs October 2026 to May 2027 across Explora I, Explora II and Explora III.
Northern Europe, Iceland & Greenland
Where the newest hull did her first work in 2026: Explora publishes an inaugural season for Explora III spanning Northern Europe, Iceland and Greenland before a transatlantic crossing to Canada and New England. Short season, and the good departures go early.
Alaska
Summer 2027
New ground for the line. Explora says Explora III sails to Alaska for the first time in Summer 2027, with Seward among the embarkation points.
What we add · Through 30 Sep 2027
Save up to 20% on Extended Journeys
Combine two or more consecutive journeys into one and save up to 20% versus booking separately — unpack once and linger longer, with an onboard journey credit added.
- Up to 20% on combined journeys
- Onboard journey credit
- All-inclusive, all-suite
Booking this line
Book a year out. The suites that matter, Ocean Grand Terrace on decks six and seven and anything in the Residences, go first on the popular summer weeks. Target Ocean Grand Terrace as the value pick: the eleven-square-metre terrace is the difference between a balcony and an outdoor room. We hold the suite, price the Sky & Sea air separately so you can weigh it against your own booking, and build the Destination Experiences before they sell out.
Questions, answered
What does the Explora Journeys fare include?
Nine distinct culinary experiences including In-Suite Dining, unlimited fine wines, champagne, premium spirits, specialty coffees, teas and soft drinks, a welcome bottle of champagne and a bottle each of wine and spirit in the suite, high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the ship, onboard gratuities, access to the Ocean Wellness spa thermal area and the group wellness, fitness and mindfulness activities, and port-to-city-centre shuttles where available. It does not include the shore programme, which Explora calls Destination Experiences, nor Anthology, Chef's Kitchen, The Chef's Table or The Cellar. Flights are a separate Sky & Sea fare.
Which Explora ship should I choose?
Explora I and Explora II are effectively the same ship: 456 ocean-front suites, six restaurants, five heated pools, twelve bars and lounges. Explora III is the newest and the largest, published as 19.2 metres longer and the first LNG-powered hull in the fleet, with 461 ocean-front suites and seven restaurants, plus Shore Club on 11 at The Conservatory, The Chef's Table and The Cellar, which Explora lists as exclusive to Explora III and Explora IV. Explora IV, Explora V and Explora VI are announced for Summer 2027, December 2027 and August 2028 and are not carrying guests yet.
Is Explora III sailing yet?
Yes. She was delivered by Fincantieri at Sestri Ponente in Genoa in July 2026, named in Barcelona on 1 August 2026 and left on her maiden journey to Lisbon on 3 August 2026. Explora IV, Explora V and Explora VI are announced only, for Summer 2027, December 2027 and August 2028, and should be treated as reservations rather than sailings.
When is the best time to sail with Explora?
It depends on the region rather than the line. The Mediterranean carries the summer, and Explora publishes A Serene Mediterranean there from November 2026 through March 2027 for anyone who prefers the coast without the crowds. The Caribbean and Central America collection runs October 2026 to May 2027 across all three ships. Alaska is new for Summer 2027 on Explora III, and a first season is usually the one to take.
Is there any advantage to booking Explora through an advisor?
Explora publishes that its Journey fares offer the same exceptional value whether you book through your preferred travel advisor, online or direct, so the advisor costs you nothing. What changes is everything around it: which suite category you are steered into, whether the Destination Experiences are reserved before they fill, how the Sky & Sea air compares with booking your own, and the hotel nights at either end. We quote live at the time of enquiry and never publish a rate.
Enquire
Sail Explora Journeys
Tell us roughly when and which region appeals. We check live availability, secure the suite category worth having, and add the amenities that come with booking through us — at the fare you would pay direct.
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