The Sicilian Islands, where luxury cruise brand Explora Journeys will arrive this summer. Source: unsplash Explora Journeys opens sales for the summer 2028 season, projected to be one of the most significant in the brand's history.
In August 2028, EXPLORA VI is expected to join the fleet, completing the company's original expansion plan and bringing the fleet to a full complement of six ships operating simultaneously.
According to the company, the new fleet of ships will sail to 178 destinations around the world in 27 different countries, with itineraries that will include the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Iceland, Greenland, Alaska and the East Coast of North America.
Among the main destinations the ships will visit are well-known cities such as New York, Istanbul and Reykjavik, alongside less-touristy ports and islands, including the Faroe Islands and the Croatian island of Korčula. In some destinations, the company will also offer overnight stays and extended stays in port, in order to allow guests to deepen their visit experience.
Explora Journeys President Anna Nash, commented that 2028 will be a historic year for the company, adding that the completion of the fleet will enable them to offer a broader and more significant geographic spread in each region, while providing an unprecedented selection of cruises.
Bay of Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Source: unsplashThe EXPLORA I ship will operate in the Mediterranean between April and October and will sail between the Greek islands, the coasts of Turkey and the Adriatic Sea, including overnight stays in Istanbul and late departures from Mykonos.
EXPLORA II will focus on the Western Mediterranean, North Africa and the Rivieras of France and Italy, with itineraries that will pass between the Balearic Islands, Madeira, Lisbon, Ibiza and Casablanca.
EXPLORA III will sail to Alaska and offer itineraries through the Inside Passage and the Gulf of Alaska, including glacier views and stops in North American port towns.
EXPLORA IV will focus on Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea, with itineraries that will include Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Amsterdam and Stockholm.
EXPLORA V will sail to the fjords of Norway, Iceland and Greenland and later also reach the east coast of the United States and Canada during the casting season, including overnight stays in New York and Quebec City.
The new ship EXPLORA VI will set sail on its maiden voyage from Rome to Barcelona and will focus on the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas for the rest of the season, with stops in Dubrovnik, Trogir and the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro.
Explora Journeys, the luxury brand of the MSC Cruises Group based in Geneva, focuses on a luxury cruise experience in the style of a “floating boutique hotel,” with suites facing the sea only, modern European design, and itineraries that combine familiar destinations with less conventional ports.