{"version":"1.9","identifier":"e6052fed-e04c-4d22-a192-4b5f087c2acd","language":"en-US","title":"Explora III makes its PortMiami debut to start a first Caribbean winter","layout":{"columns":7,"width":1024,"margin":32,"gutter":20},"componentLayouts":{"text":{"columnStart":0,"columnSpan":7,"maximumContentWidth":720,"margin":{"top":12,"bottom":12}},"photo":{"columnStart":0,"columnSpan":7,"margin":{"top":20,"bottom":20}}},"componentTextStyles":{"default":{"fontName":"HelveticaNeue","fontSize":18,"lineHeight":29,"textColor":"#171717"},"headline":{"fontName":"HelveticaNeue-Bold","fontSize":36,"lineHeight":42,"conditional":[{"conditions":{"maxViewportWidth":480},"fontSize":28,"lineHeight":34}]},"intro":{"fontName":"HelveticaNeue","fontSize":20,"lineHeight":28,"textColor":"#555555"},"caption":{"fontName":"HelveticaNeue","fontSize":13,"lineHeight":19,"textColor":"#666666"},"byline":{"fontName":"HelveticaNeue","fontSize":13,"lineHeight":20,"textColor":"#666666"},"body":{"fontName":"HelveticaNeue","fontSize":18,"lineHeight":29,"paragraphSpacingAfter":14,"linkStyle":{"textColor":"#00704a"}}},"metadata":{"canonicalURL":"https://cruisesfrog.com/news/explora-iii-portmiami-debut-caribbean-season","datePublished":"2026-10-27T12:57:11.147657Z","dateModified":"2026-10-27T12:57:47.605478Z","authors":["Patrick Karsh"],"excerpt":"Explora Journeys' newest ship arrived in Miami on Oct. 25 for a season of Caribbean sailings through early April, before heading to Alaska in 2027.","thumbnailURL":"https://pub-fac99da959e344fe99d810d309cef7df.r2.dev/photos/article/e6052fed-e04c-4d22-a192-4b5f087c2acd/1b4539327c257664cd4e46c4301e0ca6.jpg","keywords":["port"],"generatorName":"Frog News","generatorVersion":"1.0"},"components":[{"role":"title","text":"Explora III makes its PortMiami debut to start a first Caribbean winter","textStyle":"headline","layout":"text"},{"role":"intro","text":"Explora Journeys' newest ship arrived in Miami on Oct. 25 for a season of Caribbean sailings through early April, before heading to Alaska in 2027.","textStyle":"intro","layout":"text"},{"role":"byline","text":"By Patrick Karsh · Published October 27, 2026","textStyle":"byline","layout":"text"},{"role":"photo","URL":"https://pub-fac99da959e344fe99d810d309cef7df.r2.dev/photos/article/e6052fed-e04c-4d22-a192-4b5f087c2acd/1b4539327c257664cd4e46c4301e0ca6.jpg","caption":"Explora III in Bergen, Norway, in August 2026 · Dag Chr Halvorsen, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons","accessibilityCaption":"Explora III in Bergen, Norway, in August 2026","layout":"photo"},{"role":"caption","text":"Explora III in Bergen, Norway, in August 2026 · Dag Chr Halvorsen, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons","textStyle":"caption","layout":"text"},{"role":"body","format":"markdown","text":"Explora III has arrived in Miami. The newest ship from Explora Journeys made its first call at PortMiami on Oct. 25, 2026. The visit kicks off the ship's first winter in the Caribbean.\n\nExplora Journeys is the luxury brand of the MSC Group. Explora III is its third ship.\n\n## A welcome at PortMiami\n\nAs is tradition for a ship's first call, the port and the ship swapped plaques. Cruise Industry News reports that PortMiami Director and CEO Jonathan Daniels led the welcome.\n\nOthers on hand included MSC Cruises USA Chairman Rick Sasso and CLIA President and CEO Bud Darr. CLIA is the main trade group for the cruise industry. Swiss Consul General Rene Riedi and the ship's master, Captain Pietro Sinisi, also took part. Explora Journeys is based in Geneva, Switzerland.\n\n## The Caribbean season\n\nAccording to Cruise Industry News, Explora III will sail the Caribbean through early April 2027. Its trips depart from Florida, Puerto Rico and Barbados.\n\nExplora Journeys says the ship sails between Miami and San Juan, Puerto Rico, this season. The line's Caribbean trips feature islands such as Saint Barthélemy, Saint Lucia and the British Virgin Islands, along with quieter spots.\n\nThe holidays are a big part of the program. Explora says Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Eve will be celebrated onboard. Guests on Explora III at New Year's can ring in 2027 with fireworks over San Juan.\n\nExplora III will not be alone in the region. Sister ship Explora I is set to start Caribbean sailings from Miami on Nov. 17, 2026, after crossing the Atlantic from Barcelona.\n\n## Shore experiences on offer\n\nExplora's Caribbean shore program goes beyond the beach. The line lists trips such as:\n\n* Swimming through the giant granite boulders of The Baths on Virgin Gorda\n* Hiking a rainforest to hidden waterfalls in Dominica\n* Snorkeling Grenada's Underwater Sculpture Park\n* Whale watching in Samaná Bay in the Dominican Republic\n* Working with a chocolate maker in Saint Lucia\n\n\"There is no single Caribbean,\" said Anna Nash, President of Explora Journeys. \"It is a collection of different worlds, each with its own character, traditions and natural beauty.\"\n\n## About the ship\n\nExplora III carries 922 guests and measures 72,810 gross tons. Fincantieri built the ship in Italy. It entered service this summer and spent its first months in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.\n\nThe ship crossed to North America in late September. It then sailed Canada and New England before heading south.\n\nLike its sisters, Explora III has only suites with ocean views. The brand leans on space, many dining choices and an inclusive fare.\n\n## Next stop: Alaska\n\nAfter the Caribbean, Explora III heads to the West Coast. It will sail Explora Journeys' first Alaska season in summer 2027, with trips between Vancouver and Seward.\n\n## A fast-growing fleet\n\nExplora plans to have six ships by 2028. Explora IV is due in spring 2027, followed by Explora V later in 2027. Explora VI is set for summer 2028.\n\nThat pace means luxury cruisers will see a lot more of Explora in the Americas. If you have wanted to try the brand on a warm-weather trip, this winter's Caribbean season is the easiest way in.\n\nSee the specs on our [Explora III page](https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/explora-iii) and compare the fleet on our [Explora Journeys page](https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/explora-journeys).\n\nSources: [Cruise Industry News](https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2026/10/explora-iii-makes-miami-debut-to-kick-off-winter-caribbean-program/), [Explora Journeys Caribbean season release](https://explorajourneys.com/us/en/press-and-media/press/an-unforgettable-caribbean-season) and [Travel Trade Desk](https://traveltradedesk.com/articles/explora-iii-reaches-north-america-ahead-of-miami-alaska-deployments-04df23b6).","textStyle":"body","layout":"text"}]}