Explora Journeys

Memories of Barcelona’s youthful energy, Catalan traditions, squid-ink paellas, and Gaudi, Picasso, and Miró masterpieces fade as we thread the Strait of Gibraltar, sights set on Cadiz.

Overnight in this sun-drenched Spanish siren to wander the sinuous streets and climb to the cathedral for views of Europe’s oldest city before journeying the short distance to Seville, with its staggeringly pretty Plaza de España and Venetian-style bridges, and Jerez, for flamboyant flamenco, fine sherry and fried-fish tapas from the freidurías.

We sail past the Algarve’s soaring ochre cliffs to Portugal’s wilder west coast and Lisbon, the mighty Targus, our waterway leading to the city’s seven hilltops and storied wine country. Hugging the Costa del Sol, Malaga rises like a vision.

On our springboard to Andalusia, we might explore Granada and the Moorish Alhambra palace, Cordoba’s Mosque-Cathedral and Roman Bridge, or Marbella’s starry marina in the shadow of Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly.

EXPLORA II, the second ship of the Explora Journeys fleet, sets sail in 2024, opening possibilities of new discoveries, and offering you the opportunity to immerse yourself in exciting, inspiring destinations on your journey to the Ocean State of Mind.

On board, you can expect vibrant, cosmopolitan relaxed European luxury at sea. EXPLORA II offers 461 ocean-front suites, penthouses, and residences designed to be ‘Homes at Sea’ with private terraces and sweeping ocean views; an unparalleled choice of 18 restaurants, bars, and lounges, each its own celebration of global talents and cultures; four swimming pools, extensive outdoor decks with private cabanas, and refined onboard entertainment and enrichment.

For a true sense of rejuvenation, Ocean Wellness offers the gift of physical and spiritual renewal, from a profoundly calming spa inspired by the ocean’s natural forces to a modern fitness space full of cutting-edge equipment.

Resplendent Rome, the exalted wonder of ancient empires, holds us in her embrace for an enchanting overnight in port.

Watch the world go by with a creamy gelato while sunlight dances through the waters of Trevi Fountain and gaze in awe at the mighty Corinthian columns of the Pantheon.

Mythological beasts and ageless deities prance in Palermo’s Piazza Pretoria, surrounded by chapels and palazzos adorned with frescoes and mosaics of indescribable beauty.

Lose yourself in the labyrinthine streets of Corfu under fragrant blooms that spill from shuttered facades and pause to ponder in shaded colonnade cafés.

Wander among the pretty whitewashed buildings and creaking windmills of Mykonos, belle of the Cyclades, before surrendering to her nocturnal charms.

The next morning, mooch around art galleries or UNESCO-listed Delos Island, the birthplace of gods. Close your eyes as we arrive in Athens and picture 200 trireme warships, the greatest fleet in Ancient Greece, ready to set sail.

EXPLORA II, the second ship of the Explora Journeys fleet, sets sail in 2024, opening possibilities of new discoveries, and offering you the opportunity to immerse yourself in exciting, inspiring destinations on your journey to the Ocean State of Mind.

On board, you can expect vibrant, cosmopolitan relaxed European luxury at sea. EXPLORA II offers 461 ocean-front suites, penthouses, and residences designed to be ‘Homes at Sea’ with private terraces and sweeping ocean views; an unparalleled choice of 18 restaurants, bars, and lounges, each its own celebration of global talents and cultures; four swimming pools, extensive outdoor decks with private cabanas, and refined onboard entertainment and enrichment.

For a true sense of rejuvenation, Ocean Wellness offers the gift of physical and spiritual renewal, from a profoundly calming spa inspired by the ocean’s natural forces to a modern fitness space full of cutting-edge equipment.

Cape Town is South Africa’s beating heart of cultural cool and your beguiling basecamp. From here, you wind across wine country to Stellenbosch and Franschhoek or the Cape of Good Hope, described by sea captain Sir Francis Drake as the fairest cape he saw in the whole circumference of the earth.

Tracing the famed Garden Route along the coast between Mossel Bay and Port Elizabeth we alight to explore forested trails alive with birdsong, golden beaches, and the hidden network of Precambrian Cango Caves.

Durban’s Garden Province holds promise for the majestic Big Five, Karen Blixen’s words echoing in our ears – “There is something about safari life that makes you bubble over with heartfelt gratitude for being alive” – the Kruger is one of Africa’s best places to see wildlife.

Onwards to Mozambique’s white-sand beaches and walls of coral, Zanzibar’s Spice Island, and Mombasa, our gateway to Kenya’s majestic Masai Mara.

EXPLORA II, the second ship of the Explora Journeys fleet, sets sail in 2024, opening possibilities of new discoveries, and offering you the opportunity to immerse yourself in exciting, inspiring destinations on your journey to the Ocean State of Mind.

On board, you can expect vibrant, cosmopolitan relaxed European luxury at sea. EXPLORA II offers 461 ocean-front suites, penthouses, and residences designed to be ‘Homes at Sea’ with private terraces and sweeping ocean views; an unparalleled choice of 18 restaurants, bars, and lounges, each its own celebration of global talents and cultures; four swimming pools, extensive outdoor decks with private cabanas, and refined onboard entertainment and enrichment.

For a true sense of rejuvenation, Ocean Wellness offers the gift of physical and spiritual renewal, from a profoundly calming spa inspired by the ocean’s natural forces to a modern fitness space full of cutting-edge equipment.

For those who seek the rare and uncompromising, the champagne-studded Maiden Journey will put you in a rare state of bliss. Southampton sets us sailing to the cozy canal-lined hamlet of Bruges before you chart a course beyond the ephemeral boundary of the Arctic Circle.

The spirit yearns when the sea beckons you to Hellesylt and Geiranger where inlets, cliffs, and waterfalls tumble in shards of silver to dissolve into a rainbow mist. You see craggy cliffs jutting like dragons out of tranquil fjords and legendary landscapes allegedly created by mischievous trolls.

Find some of the world’s best scenery in the pocket-sized paradise of Lofoten then follow the wake of Vikings into the Sognefjord to Flåm, Bergen then Stavanger which spoils with Lysefjord and epic hiking trails.

The uniqueness of light draws you to Skagen then onward to the cool Scandinavian mist of Copenhagen to stroll amongst the castles of North Zealand, a fittingly royal ending to a historic Maiden Journey.

+ New Maiden Journey Options – shorter journeys

For those of you who are unable to take our full 15-night journey, there is now the opportunity to join this maiden journey for between 3 and 12 nights – embarking in either Southampton, Trondheim, or Bergen. Learn more about shorter Maiden journey options

Explora Journeys is the new luxury lifestyle travel brand launched by the MSC Group in Geneva, Switzerland with the ambition to redefine the luxury cruise category.

A uniquely different, new style of transformative ocean travel will inspire exploration in all its forms, all with a spirit and style of vibrant, cosmopolitan, and relaxed European luxury.

With the first of four luxury ships scheduled to set sail in May 2023, remarkable itineraries will blend renowned destinations with lesser-traveled ports for a journey that celebrates discovery.

With unrivaled space and privacy, and service that means everything is taken care of, you can relax into your comfortable homes at sea with your luggage delivered and a chilled bottle of champagne waiting as you undertake your Ocean Journey.