Explora Journeys: A New Luxury Cruise Line…And “An Ocean State of Mind”!

There is a truly new and unique luxury cruise line announced today: Explora Journeys, which is set to start sailing in the Spring of 2023.

I have been acting as a consultant (along with some other chosen luxury travel professionals) as this cruise line has been developed. To be sure, I have also been chafing at the bit to tell you more about it, but until now I was not permitted to (and I still can’t tell you all I know…but it is a pretty amazing cruise line!). Since the curtain has been drawn back let me expand – just a bit – upon my article two months ago: MSC Cruises Enters the Luxury (Premium?) Cruise Market – Headed by Chris Austin, former SVP for Seabourn.

This new cruise line will be the new home of four 63,900 ton sister ships each with 461 suites with either a balcony or a terrace – 64,000-ton ships (813 feet long/104 feet wide) at a cost of $2 billion dollars.  Suites, all with floor to ceiling glass, start at 377 square feet, including deep and wide balconies. (To put this in perspective, the Oceania Marina is approximately the same tonnage, but slightly shorter and carries 1,250 passengers – 38% more than Explora I). The ships have a definite superyacht-inspired design. In other words, they are sexy.

The philosophy of Explora Journeys will be not only “The Ocean State of Mind”, but to provide “Cosmopolitan European Luxury” with European design. If you look at the video you will see as part of the onboard experience, a retractable domed interior pool (well it is more than an indoor pool!), an aft Infiniti pool (again much more than merely a pool), and a third outdoor pool (oh, and a fourth as well), many hot tubs, large cabanas with daybeds (64 in all), huge suites with enormous balconies located aft, very large suites even at the entry-level, a huge focus on the culinary experience with nine dining venues (plus room service) and plenty of open deck space.

Crew to guest ratio will be 1.25:1; certainly in the top tier!

Explora Journeys is, obviously, not simply about the ships, but the – well – Journey! Itineraries will be focused on slower and deeper itineraries, visiting lesser traveled to ports that its parent company, MSC, has years of developing relationships with.  With a clear demographic target of, well, pretty much the traveler of any age, Explora I will start with seven day sailing that can, obviously, be combined to take advantage of as little or as much time as one has.

Oh, there is so much more to tell!

Explora I will set sail Spring 2023.