Explora
Journeys
the new one everybody keeps asking me about
Explora is the newest name on this page and the one I get asked about most, usually in the form of a question about if it is any good yet. It is the luxury arm of the family that owns MSC, built from scratch rather than converted, and the ambition is obvious the moment you walk on. It is for you or it is not, depending on how much you value newness against a line that has been doing this for forty years.
What they are trying to do
The pitch is European luxury without the stuffiness. No formal nights, no assigned dining, no dress code that requires a suitcase of its own, but with the service level and the inclusions of the traditional luxury lines.
In practice that means you can eat when you like, wear what you like within reason, and still have somebody who knows your name bringing you a drink you did not have to sign for.
It is aimed squarely at people who want luxury but find the ceremony of it tiring. A lot of my clients in their forties and fifties describe exactly that feeling without having a name for it.
The ships
All-suite, all with a terrace, and the suites are large with good storage. The design is calm and residential rather than glittery. No atrium, no chandeliers, no marble staircase to nowhere.
What stands out is outdoor space. Multiple pools, one with a retractable roof, and a lot of deck to spread out on. On a ship carrying a moderate number of guests that means you are never fighting for a lounger, which is a low bar that most ships still fail to clear.
The ships are new, which means everything works, the cabins are laid out to modern expectations, and the bathrooms are a proper size. After a week on an older vessel you notice all three.
What is included
Most drinks, wi-fi, gratuities and all restaurants are included. There are a number of dining venues and none of them carry a cover charge, which is becoming the standard at this end of the market but is still worth confirming.
Excursions are extra. This is the main difference against Regent and it is the number that decides the comparison on a port-heavy route.
The overall value sits between premium lines like Oceania and the fully inclusive luxury lines. Where exactly depends on the sailing, and it moves more than an established line’s pricing does.
Children on board
This is the part where I have to be careful, because the answer is changing. Explora does accept children and there is some provision for them, which sets it apart from most of the small luxury fleet.
But it is not a family line and the number of children on board is generally low. The programming, where it exists, is modest. Do not book this expecting a kids club in the mainstream sense.
It suits the same family profile as the rest of this end of the market. Older children, comfortable in adult spaces, interested in going places. Because the ships are new and the outdoor space is generous, a teenager probably does better here than on a traditional luxury ship.
Provision for children varies by ship and season on a young line still finding its shape. Ask me and I will confirm what is actually running on your specific sailing rather than what the website implies.
The honest caveat about newness
A new cruise line takes a few years to settle. Service standards on a brand-new operation are inconsistent in a way that established lines are not, because the crew have not worked together for a decade and the systems are still being written.
Most reports have been good and improving. But if you are spending significant money on a milestone trip and you want certainty, an established line is the lower-risk choice.
Conversely, new lines price competitively while they build a reputation. If you are comfortable with a small amount of unpredictability, this is the moment when the value is best.
Who I would book on it
Couples and families with older children who want luxury without formality and like the idea of a brand-new ship.
People who have done the traditional luxury lines and found them a bit old-fashioned. This is the answer to that complaint.
I would steer away anyone who needs children’s programming, and anyone booking a once-in-a-lifetime trip where certainty matters more than novelty.
Explora changes faster than the older lines do, so anything written about it goes stale quickly. If you are considering it, ask me and I will check what is actually true of your ship on your dates before you commit.
Questions people actually ask
The ones that come up before anyone books. If yours isn’t here, ask me.
Who owns Explora Journeys?
Explora Journeys is the luxury brand of the same family-owned group behind MSC Cruises. The ships were purpose-built for the brand rather than transferred from an existing fleet.
Are children allowed on Explora Journeys?
Yes, unlike much of the small luxury market. However it is not a family-focused line, children’s programming is modest and varies by ship and season, and the number of children on board is generally low.
What is included in an Explora Journeys fare?
Most drinks, wi-fi, gratuities and all dining venues are included with no cover charges. Shore excursions are charged separately.
Are Explora suites all balcony?
Yes. Accommodation is all-suite with a private terrace, and suites are generously sized with substantial storage compared with the cruise industry average.
Is it worth booking a new cruise line?
New lines typically price competitively while establishing a reputation, which can represent good value. The trade-off is that service consistency on a young operation takes time to settle compared with long-established lines.
Everything here is subject to change. Cruise lines rewrite their inclusions, kids club ages, ship deployments and fare structures constantly, and what is true this season may not be true next. Before you book anything, talk to me and I will confirm the current details for your specific ship and sailing date.
More in Ocean Cruising
- Royal CaribbeanThe big-ship benchmark.→
- CelebrityGrown-up ships that still take kids.→
- DisneyThe one that costs more and earns it.→
- NorwegianFreestyle, for better and worse.→
- Virgin VoyagesAdults only. Worth knowing why.→
- OceaniaFood first, everything else second.→
- MSCEuropean feel, sharp pricing.→
- PrincessThe comfortable middle.→
- Holland AmericaCalmer, older, lovely.→
- CunardAn ocean liner, not a cruise ship.→
- Viking OceanNo children, and that is the point.→
- SilverseaAll-inclusive, properly.→
- Regent Seven SeasEverything really is included.→
- AzamaraLonger in port, smaller ships.→
- SeabournSmall, quiet, very good.→
Keep reading
Nicole Damiano, ASTA Verified Travel Advisor with FG Luxury Travel
How much does an Explora Journeys cruise cost?
A 7 night Caribbean sailing on Explora II starts around $4,800 per person. Prices last checked October 2026 and they move fast, so ask me for today's fare.
What is new at Explora Journeys?
Explora III started sailing in August 2026, and Explora IV and V arrive in 2027.
Is Explora Journeys good for families?
Kids can sail with Explora, and it feels more relaxed with families than most luxury lines, but it is built for adults first.
Is there a dress code on Explora Journeys?
No formal nights. Elegant casual in the evening is the norm.
Written and kept current by Nicole Damiano, ASTA Verified Travel Advisor with FG Luxury Travel. If something here is out of date, tell me and I will fix it.
Tell me who is coming and how long you have.
That is usually enough to know if this is a ship, a train, or a car with the windows down.
