Explora Journeys
Explora Journeys is the luxury brand of MSC Group's cruise division, founded in 2021 and based in Geneva, Switzerland, as a sister line to MSC Cruises. It sails three Fincantieri-built ships: Explora I (2023), Explora II (2024) and the LNG-powered Explora III, which entered service in July 2026. Three more are due between 2027 and 2028, and in September 2026 the line signed a letter of intent with the Dutch yard Den Breejen for its first river ships.
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About Explora Journeys
Every room is an ocean-front suite with a terrace, and each ship carries fewer than 1,000 guests with a guest-to-host ratio the line puts at 1.25 to 1. Fares include most dining (nine of eleven culinary venues, including in-suite dining), unlimited drinks with fine wines, champagne and premium spirits, Wi-Fi, gratuities and access to the spa's thermal area; shore excursions, flights and a few premium venues cost extra.
Itineraries, which the line calls Journeys, range from a few nights to multi-week Grand Journeys, are often one-way, and move with the seasons: the Mediterranean in summer, the Caribbean in winter, and newer routes to Northern Europe, Iceland and Greenland, North America's East Coast, Alaska, South America and Asia, with a 128-day world voyage announced for 2029. The ships put dining, wellness and enrichment ahead of big-ship attractions, and a Nautilus Club serves children and teens.
What Explora Journeys is known for
Explora is praised for spacious suites, uncrowded public areas, understated contemporary design and a fare that bundles drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities. Reviewers often single out the calm atmosphere, friendly and unstuffy service and consistent dining. The common criticisms are teething problems for a young line, such as slow or disorganized embarkation on some sailings, extra charges for the premium restaurant and shore excursions, low-key entertainment and quiet late evenings, and limited activities for young children. Fares sit firmly in the luxury bracket, several times the cost of a comparable mainstream cruise.
Who it's for
Luxury · small ships, a high crew-to-guest ratio, most extras included
- Couples
- Food lovers
- History and culture
- Multigenerational groups
Explora suits couples and solo travelers who want a calm, design-led luxury ship with drinks and tips included, travelers who plan trips around food, wellness and destinations, and multigenerational groups with older children or teens, who can use the Nautilus Club. It is less suited to families with young, high-energy children, and to anyone who wants big production shows, late-night venues, water slides or budget fares; those travelers will find more on large-ship lines, including sister brand MSC Cruises.
Cruising solo on Explora Journeys
Explora Journeys sells solo occupancy of a full Ocean Terrace Suite or penthouse from a 0% supplement on selected journeys, which is rare at this level. Ships carry under 1,000 guests with a near one-to-one host ratio, drinks and tips are included, and dining is open seating. No single cabins and no solo host, but a very easy ship to be alone on.
- Single supplement
- A Journey of One offer: solo occupancy from 0% over the current per-person fare on select journeys, in Ocean Terrace, Ocean Grand Terrace and all Ocean Penthouse categories; Ocean Residences excluded. Taxes and port charges are charged for one guest. Otherwise a single supplement applies and varies by journey and suite.
- Meeting other solo guests
- No hosted solo program. Open-seating restaurants (Fil Rouge, Med Yacht Club, Emporium Marketplace), 14 bars and lounges, and included group wellness, fitness and mindfulness classes are where solo guests meet.
How it rates
- Cabins
- 5/5
- Dining
- 5/5
- Entertainment
- 3/5
- Service
- 5/5
- Pools & decks
- 5/5
- Value
- 3/5
The fleet's average on each metric, across 3 rated ships in service. Each ship is scored 1 to 5 by Cruise Frog's editors; these are not reader reviews.
Rankings and comparisons
Where Explora Journeys sails
Ships
Best rated
#14.3 ★Explora I2023 · 63,621 GT · 996 guests · Mediterranean · CaribbeanExplora I is the first ship of Explora Journeys, MSC Group's luxury brand, built by Fincantieri at Monfalcone and delivered in July 2023 after a delay over fire-safety…
#24.3 ★Explora II2024 · 63,900 GT · 996 guests · Mediterranean · CaribbeanExplora II is the second Explora-class ship, built by Fincantieri at Sestri Ponente near Genoa and delivered on 12 September 2024. Marine environmentalist Rosalba Giugni named…#34.3 ★Explora III2026 · 72,810 GT · Caribbean · Northern EuropeExplora III is the third Explora-class ship and the line's first LNG-powered vessel, delivered by Fincantieri in Genoa in July 2026. At 72,810 gross tons she is 19.2 metres…Every ship, by class
Explora class
3 ships · 2023–2026 · 63,621–72,810 GT · avg 4.3 ★
Coming soon
Quick answers
What is Explora Journeys known for?
Explora is praised for spacious suites, uncrowded public areas, understated contemporary design and a fare that bundles drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities. Reviewers often single out the calm atmosphere, friendly and unstuffy service and consistent dining. The common criticisms are teething problems for a young line, such as slow or disorganized embarkation on some sailings, extra charges for the premium restaurant and shore excursions, low-key entertainment and quiet late evenings, and limited activities for young children. Fares sit firmly in the luxury bracket, several times the cost of a comparable mainstream cruise.
Who is Explora Journeys best for?
Explora suits couples and solo travelers who want a calm, design-led luxury ship with drinks and tips included, travelers who plan trips around food, wellness and destinations, and multigenerational groups with older children or teens, who can use the Nautilus Club. It is less suited to families with young, high-energy children, and to anyone who wants big production shows, late-night venues, water slides or budget fares; those travelers will find more on large-ship lines, including sister brand MSC Cruises.
Is Explora Journeys good for solo travellers?
Explora Journeys sells solo occupancy of a full Ocean Terrace Suite or penthouse from a 0% supplement on selected journeys, which is rare at this level. Ships carry under 1,000 guests with a near one-to-one host ratio, drinks and tips are included, and dining is open seating. No single cabins and no solo host, but a very easy ship to be alone on.
Where does Explora Journeys sail?
Explora Journeys's ships in service sail Caribbean (3 ships), Mediterranean (2 ships), Alaska (1 ship), Northern Europe (1 ship), Canada and New England (1 ship), Transatlantic (1 ship), South America (1 ship) and Asia (1 ship).
How is Explora Journeys rated?
Explora Journeys's fleet averages 4.3 out of 5 on Cruise Frog, across 3 rated ships. Its best-rated ship is Explora I at 4.3.
Does Explora Journeys have new ships coming?
Yes: Explora Journeys has 3 new ships on the way: Explora V (debuts December 2027), Explora IV (due 2027) and Explora VI (debuts August 2028).
How many ships does Explora Journeys have?
Explora Journeys has 3 ships in service on Cruise Frog: Explora I, Explora II and Explora III.
What ship classes does Explora Journeys sail?
Explora Journeys sails 1 class of ship in service: Explora class (3 ships).
Who owns Explora Journeys?
Explora Journeys is part of MSC Group.
Where is Explora Journeys based?
Explora Journeys is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. It has operated since 2021.
What is Explora Journeys's loyalty program called?
Explora Journeys's past-guest loyalty program is Explora Club.
What is the largest Explora Journeys ship?
Explora III is Explora Journeys's largest ship at 72,810 gross tons.
Cruising with children
Explora’s multigenerational offer can work for families who want a luxury voyage together. Start by matching the children’s ages to the current Nautilus Club program.
Read the Explora Journeys family guide →Is a drinks package worth it?
House wine is included in Explora Journeys' fares, so you may not need a drinks package. If you'd want cocktails or premium wines, enter what they cost.
House wine is included in Explora Journeys' fares, so you may not need a drinks package at all. Explora Journeys ↗
Per person, a day, as the line quotes it.
A typical drink you'd buy on board.
Optional. Count coffees and sodas if the package covers them.
The days the package is charged for.
To make the drinks package pay for itself
6drinks a day
A $75-a-day package costs the same as 5.8 drinks at $13. Over 7 days that's $525, or 41 drinks for the cruise.
Pay as you go
At 5 drinks a day, buying drinks one at a time costs about $70 less than the package.
- Drinks package, 7 days
- $525
- Drink by drink, 5 drinks a day
- $455
Break-even is a target for your wallet, not a dare for your liver.
Traveller reviews
What people who've been say. One review each; you can update yours.
Related news about Explora Journeys and its ships
- What a glass of house wine costs on cruise lines, and which ones pour it free
From $9 on Royal Caribbean to $14 on MSC, and free on 25 lines. The prices behind Cruise Frog's drinks package calculator.
Cruise lines
- Solo cruising with Explora Journeys: a suite to yourself from a 0 percent supplement
Explora's "A Journey of One" offer puts solo guests in an Ocean Terrace Suite or penthouse for little or nothing over the per-person fare. Here is how it works.
Cruise lines
- Sisley Paris brings its first spa at sea to Explora III, with Explora I and II to follow in 2027
The French skincare brand gets a dedicated treatment suite and two signature facials in Explora III's Ocean Wellness spa.
Ships
- PortMiami names 16 new ships for its 2026-27 season, from Explora III to Hero of the Seas
Miami regained the title of world's busiest cruise port. Five Silversea ships arrive this winter, with Norwegian Aura and Hero of the Seas in 2027.
Ports
- 5 things MSC Cruises does well—and 1 it doesn’t
Five strengths of MSC Cruises, one clear drawback, and the travelers most likely to enjoy its cruise style.
Cruise lines
- 5 things Explora Journeys does well—and 1 it doesn’t
Five strengths of Explora Journeys, one clear drawback, and the travelers most likely to enjoy its cruise style.
Cruise lines
- MSC breaks ground on Sandy Cay, targeting a 2028 opening
The Bahamas destination is being developed for MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys beside Ocean Cay.
Ports