Welcome Aboard the New Luxury Cruise Line: Explora Journeys

Dig out your tuxedo and rustle up that passport. Details about the world’s newest cruise line, Explora Journeys, were announced today, promising to take travelers to the far corners of the globe in luxurious style.

The new company aims to launch its first of four new ships in 2023, the Explora I, sending it to iconic destinations like the South of France and Iceland, as well as more off-the-beaten-path ports including Bozcaada, Turkey; Kastellorizo, Greece; and the Lofoten Islands of Norway.

“Explora Journeys will bring guests to lesser-traveled harbors to enjoy a more authentic experience and a slower pace of travel,” the company states regarding its itineraries, which start at seven nights.

While the Explora Journeys brand is new, it has significant maritime heritage. It is part of MSC, the family-owned cruise and shipping giant with a legacy dating back to 1675. Today, it’s probably best known among travelers for its larger ships such as the MSC Meraviglia.

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However, while Explora shares some seafaring DNA with its sister brand, its new ships will be entirely above and beyond the existing standards in the luxury cruise sector.

“Building a luxury brand that will redefine the cruise experience and create a category of its own has been a long-held vision of mine and my family,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Group.

A significant part of that vision starts with the construction of four similarly designed ships. Each will feature 461 guest suites, all with private terraces; nine restaurants; a massive indoor-outdoor spa and fitness facility; four pools, including an indoor pool with a retractable roof; and 64 private cabanas for day-long sunbathing sessions.

One notable feature of the ships will be the absence of any single-use plastics, which Explora emphasizes won’t be stocked on board or during shore excursions.

Furthermore, the ships will employ technologies aimed at minimizing their environmental impact. This includes provisions for battery storage enabling future hybrid power generation, alongside cutting-edge scrubbers to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions and shore power systems to lower CO2 output.

While further details about dining, destinations, and pricing are still undisclosed, Explora aims to make a significant impact not only among cruisers but the broader travel industry as well, according to Michael Ungerer, the cruise line’s CEO.

“Explora Journeys will bring a new perspective to the travel industry by reinventing the classic cruise experience for the next generation of luxury travelers,” Ungerer added.