Explora Journeys will have six ships by 2028, and they split into two families. Explora I and II are near twins, launched in 2023 and 2024. Explora III arrived in summer 2026 about 63 feet longer, running on liquefied natural gas, carrying the same 922 guests across more space and a lot more Penthouses and Residences. Explora IV, V and VI follow her design through 2028. On every ship, every accommodation is an oceanfront suite with a private terrace, and nearly everything is included in the fare.
Explora Journeys is the luxury ocean brand from MSC Group, and it sails more like a boutique hotel than a cruise ship. No formal nights, no fixed seating, no inside cabins. Every accommodation faces the ocean and has a private terrace, and each ship carries fewer than a thousand guests.
The easiest way to understand the fleet is to split it in two. Explora I and II are sister ships, close to identical. Explora III, which debuted in summer 2026, is a longer, updated design, and Explora IV, V and VI are being built along the same lines. Below is what actually changed, what stayed the same, and how to tell which one fits the trip you have in mind.
922
Guests per ship
100%
Oceanfront suites
6
Ships by 2028
9
Included dining experiences
4
Suite categories
63 ft
Longer on Explora III
Explora III from astern. The terraced decks are where the extra 63 feet went.
Explora I or II
The service, the food and the feel that built the brand, strong Mediterranean and South America itineraries, and often the better value.
Explora III or IV
More space per guest, a much bigger selection of Penthouses and Residences, better setups for families, and the newest venues.
Six Ships by 2028
Three are sailing or about to be. Three are still being built. Here is the whole fleet in order, with what each one brings.
Explora I
The ship that launched the brand. Boutique scale, 922 guests, one Owner’s Residence.
Explora II
Explora I’s near twin. Same size, same layout, same dining, same feel.
Explora III
Longer, LNG powered, with more top tier suites and two Owner’s Residences.
Explora IV
Built on the Explora III design and also LNG powered.
Explora V
Launches December 2027 with a winter Mediterranean season.
Explora VI
Completes the six ship fleet. Itineraries not yet announced.
What Changed on Explora III
Explora III is about 63 feet longer than her sisters, mostly to fit the tanks and engines that let her run on liquefied natural gas. The interesting part is what Explora did with the extra room. Instead of adding guests, they kept the count the same and put the space into bigger suites and more open deck.
Explora I and II compared with Explora III
| Explora I and II | Explora III (and IV to VI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Guests | About 922 | About 922 |
| Suites | 461 | 463 |
| Space per guest | About 201 sq ft of public space | About 210 sq ft, among the highest at sea |
| Penthouses and Residences | Roughly 65 to 70 Penthouses and 22 to 27 Residences | 109 Penthouses and 39 Residences |
| Owner’s Residence | One | Two, including one designed by Patricia Urquiola |
| Dining | Nine included culinary experiences, plus Anthology | Returning favorites plus new venues, including Shore Club on 11, a casual poolside spot |
| Pool and lobby | Conservatory pool and bar | Expanded conservatory pool and a new double height lobby |
| Families | One Nautilus Club kids’ space | Separate Nautilus Club spaces by age, plus 104 connecting suites |
| Fuel | Conventional marine fuel | LNG, with shore power capability |
The Conservatory Pool
Glass roof, retractable, warm enough for a Baltic morning and open to the sky in the Mediterranean.
The Lobby
A double height space with a sculptural stair, where the earlier ships have a single deck atrium.
Explora IV, V and VI are expected to follow the Explora III design. Final details can still shift as each ship is finished, so treat the right hand column as the plan rather than the promise.
What Is Included
This part does not change from ship to ship, and it is a big reason Explora’s fares compare well once you add up everything you would pay for separately somewhere else.
In your fare
- Your suiteOceanfront with a private terrace, in every category on every ship
- DiningNearly all of it, with no reservation fees and no fixed seating
- DrinksWine, Champagne, cocktails and premium spirits, unlimited
- Waiting in your suiteWelcome Champagne, a bottle of wine and a spirit of your choice
- WiFi, gratuities and port chargesAll three, already in the fare
- WellnessThermal spa access, fitness classes and wellness sessions
- Getting ashoreShuttle from port into town wherever it is offered
Extra
- AnthologyThe tasting menu restaurant
- Chef’s Kitchen and Chef’s TableHands on cooking classes and long wine dinners
- Spa and salonTreatments, hair and nails
- Destination ExperiencesExplora’s name for shore excursions
- Rare vintagesTop shelf labels beyond the included list
- Flights and hotelsAir, and any nights on land before or after the sailing
Sakura
Sushi, robata and a counter worth sitting at. No cover, no reservation fee.
Med Yacht Club
The all day spot on deck. Lunch off the grill, a bar that stays open, and shade when you want it.
Ocean Wellness
The thermal suite comes with your fare. Treatments are extra and book up fast on sea days.
Sky Lounge
Floor to ceiling glass over the bow. The best seat on the ship for an arrival into port.
The Suite Categories
The categories are the same across the fleet. What changes on Explora III and the ships after her is how many of the larger ones there are, which is what makes it easier to land a Penthouse or a Residence on a popular date.
An Ocean Residence. The separate living room is the line between a big suite and an apartment.
Ocean Suites
The entry level, and still roomier than most luxury lines. Terrace with a daybed, and a walk in wardrobe.
Ocean Penthouses
A real sitting area, a deeper terrace and added perks. This is the one that earns its keep on longer sailings and slow mornings.
Ocean Residences
Apartment style living with a separate living and dining space, and the highest level of service on board.
Owner’s Residence
The top of the ship: a huge private terrace, a whirlpool, a full bar and a butler. Explora III has two of them.
Which Ship Is Right for You
Six ships sounds like a lot of choosing. In practice it comes down to who is traveling and where you want to be.
Explora III or IV
With so many more Penthouses, it is easier to land the suite that makes a honeymoon feel like one. For a Mediterranean summer, Explora I and II are lovely too, and an Ocean Suite is plenty for couples who spend their days by the pool and ashore.
Explora III or IV
Kids’ spaces split by age and more than a hundred connecting suites make the newer design a far easier fit when grandparents, parents and kids are all traveling together.
Explora I or II
You get the same service, the same food and the same inclusions that built the brand’s reputation, often at a better price than the newest ships.
Explora III
Two Owner’s Residences means a better shot at booking one, and it is the best room on the ship to host a birthday or an anniversary dinner at sea.
Match the ship to the region
Explora III takes you to Alaska in 2027 and Asia in 2027 to 2028. Explora I heads to Patagonia and Cape Horn. Here the itinerary picks the ship, not the other way around.
Explora II or V
Winter Mediterranean sailings mean the famous ports without the crowds, softer light, and museums and restaurants you can actually get into.
Where the Fleet Sails
Explora’s itineraries lean slow, with plenty of overnights and late departures, so you get evenings in a place and not just a morning. Here is where each ship is headed over the next two seasons.
Mediterranean
Summers for Explora I and II, winters for Explora II and V.
South America
Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, the Falklands and Chile, with Cape Horn at the far end.
Atlantic Islands
The Canaries and Madeira in January, on Explora V’s inaugural season.
Winter 2026 to 2027
October 2026 to spring 2027
Caribbean, Central and South America
Island hopping and longer voyages south, with extended stays in places like Gustavia in St. Barts, Cartagena and Panama City.
Mediterranean in winter
A slower, quieter Mediterranean season from November through March.
Caribbean and Pacific Coast
Based out of Miami from late October for the Caribbean and Central America, plus Panama Canal crossings and Pacific Coast sailings.
Summer 2027
March to November 2027
Explora III opens the brand’s first Alaska season in 2027.
Mediterranean
Eastern and Western routes mixing the Amalfi Coast, Greece and Istanbul with smaller ports and new Adriatic calls.
Alaska
The brand’s very first Alaska season, with glaciers and whale watching.
Northern Europe, Iceland, Greenland, New England
Her inaugural season covers the Baltic and Northern Europe, then Iceland and Greenland, then the East Coast and New England.
Winter 2027 to 2028
September 2027 to May 2028
Asia in 2027 to 2028 is timed for fall foliage on the way out and cherry blossom at the end.
South America and Patagonia
Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, the Falkland Islands and Chile, including Cape Horn and the Beagle Channel, with overnights in Rio, Buenos Aires and Puerto Madryn.
Caribbean, Central and South America
New calls like Port Antonio in Jamaica, smaller islands like Jost Van Dyke, Amazon sailings with an overnight in Manaus, and New Year’s Eve in San Juan.
Asia
The brand’s first Asia season across Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, with overnights in Tokyo, Osaka, Hong Kong and Bali.
Mediterranean and Atlantic Islands
Her inaugural season starts in the winter Mediterranean with New Year’s Eve in Naples, heads to the Canary Islands and Madeira in January, then returns to the Mediterranean in March.
Itineraries change often, and inaugural seasons change most of all. Reach out and I will pull current sailings, pricing and availability for the dates you have in mind.
Five Tips for Booking Explora
Pick the itinerary first
The ships share the same service and the same inclusions, so where you want to go usually narrows the choice for you. Weigh the ship differences after that, not before.
Book early for the top suites
Residences and Owner’s Residences are limited on every ship and they go first, especially on holiday sailings and inaugural seasons.
Look for the overnights
Sailings with an overnight or a late departure give you evenings ashore, which is where a lot of the good stuff happens in Tokyo, Buenos Aires or Istanbul.
Consider a Penthouse on longer trips
On a week or less, an Ocean Suite is plenty. At 10 nights or more, the extra sitting space and the deeper terrace start to matter.
Plan flights and hotels together
Arriving a day or two early protects you from a delay and gives you the port city before you sail. I book the air and the hotel alongside the cruise so it all lines up.
Why Book Explora Through Me
Explora Journeys is part of my luxury cruise partner programs, so booking through Journeys with JB can add extras you will not get booking on your own. There is no planning fee on a cruise booking.
Added perks
Extras layered on top of Explora’s own inclusions, such as onboard credit or a special experience. They vary by sailing, and I will tell you exactly what yours includes before you commit.
The right ship and suite
Help choosing between ships, itineraries and suite categories, plus a watch on promotions and upgrade offers as they come up.
Someone in your corner
Flights, hotels either side of the sailing, and shore plans handled together, with one person to call if anything changes.
Frequently Asked
Is Explora III worth paying more for?
If you want a Penthouse or a Residence, you are traveling with kids, or you simply like being on the newest ship, yes. If you are happy in an Ocean Suite and you care most about the itinerary, Explora I and II deliver the same service and the same inclusions.
How much does an Explora Journeys cruise cost?
Explora sits in the ultra luxury tier, generally starting somewhere around $750 to $1,000 per person per night depending on the ship, the suite and the itinerary. Because drinks, WiFi and gratuities are included, the fare is much closer to your true total than it is on many other lines.
Is Explora Journeys good for kids?
It leans adult in atmosphere, but families are welcome and the Nautilus Club keeps younger travelers busy. Explora III and the ships that follow it are the better choice for families.
Are there perks for booking with a travel advisor?
Yes. Explora is part of my luxury cruise partner programs, so many sailings come with added perks like onboard credit or a special experience when you book through me. There is no planning fee on a cruise booking.
Is there a dress code?
No formal nights. The feel is relaxed and elegant, closer to a good resort than a black tie cruise.
Let’s Find Your Explora Sailing
Tell me who is traveling and roughly when, and I will come back with the ships and sailings that fit, the suite categories worth the money on that itinerary, and the perks that apply. Prefer email? hello@journeyswithjb.com.
Photos courtesy of Explora Journeys.