Explora Journeys: Luxury Made Easy (Even When It’s Not!)...

When it comes to luxury cruising, there’s a new name making waves: Explora Journeys. My sister Helen and her husband Paul are currently aboard Explora II (Oct 2025), enjoying a seven-night voyage from Barcelona to Rome – and I get to share a sneak peek of their experience! 🎥 Watch Helen tour their Premium Penthouse Suite here.

A Modern Take on Luxury

Explora Journeys is the boutique luxury arm of the MSC Group. Now, I’ll be honest – I’m personally not the biggest MSC fan. One client describes MSC as “all fur and no knickers,” and I instantly get what they mean: it looks glamorous, but sometimes the substance doesn’t match the shine. That said, MSC delivers incredible value, and their Yacht Club is something else – a luxury small-ship experience within a large one.

So when MSC rolled its luxury and service expertise into a brand-new, dedicated luxury line, I got excited. Explora Journeys delivers modern, yacht-inspired elegance with a relaxed, resort-like atmosphere making it a worthy rival to Silversea, Regent Seven Seas and Seabourn.

It wasn’t all plain sailing…

I still remember our first client on an Explora Journey sailing the Caribbean. We were tearing our hair out trying to book excursions, restaurants, and other details. I was nervous, the client was nervous, and we all wondered what to expect – but I needn’t have worried. The on-board experience was flawless, every detail perfectly managed, proving the brand’s promise of luxury and service is real.

For Helen and Paul, they would be oblivious to this as we handled the tricky bits – booking their restaurants, tours, and spa appointments, arranging their preferred pillows, and even stocking their in-room drinks. Explora’s systems aren’t always intuitive, but that’s exactly why having a Travel Agent (and cruise expert) is worth its weight in gold, and why not when you’re not paying any more?

Ship Overview: Explora II
  • Suites: 461 all-suite accommodations, all with private balconies and modern, stylish décor.

  • Crew: Approximately 670 crew members, offering a 1.25 guest to host ratio for highly personalised service.

  • Restaurants: 6 restaurants, ranging from fine dining to casual contemporary cuisine.

  • Bars & Lounges: 9 bars and lounges, including poolside venues, cocktail lounges, and specialty bars.

  • Facilities & Amenities: Spa and wellness centre, gym, multiple pools, retail boutiques, theatre, library, and outdoor terraces. Every public space is designed to feel relaxed yet refined.

This combination of facilities ensures guests enjoy a full resort experience while still feeling intimate and personal.

What's included?

Explora Journeys cruise fares include all-suite accommodation with private balconies, complimentary fine dining in all but one restaurant (supplement in Anthology), Champagne, premium wines, spirits, soft drinks and specialty coffees throughout the ship, plus an in-suite minibar stocked to your preferences.

Gratuities and service charges are covered, as are unlimited Wi-Fi, access to all lounges and bars, the fitness centre, group classes, thermal spa areas, entertainment, enrichment activities, and all port fees and taxes.

The only extras are spa treatments, shore excursions, rare wine upgrades and private dining experiences.

You can book your cruise only fare through us, or we can add flights and pre/post hotel stays and transfers to create a complete cruise package.

And the best part? Pricing is very competitive, with some excellent offers with up to 25% off cruise fares, destination credits (for your shore excursions) and some fantastic solo occupancy offers! See the latest offers here: Explora Journeys Special Offers.

Get in touch to start planning your luxury cruise…