If you’re more of a “watcher/listener” than a reader, check out this video of my “Explora Journeys” overview instead of reading my below article.
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If you’ve followed my cruising adventures for a while, you’ll know I’ve been lucky enough to sail on almost 100 cruises across the world, including on many of the world’s top luxury lines.
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So, when I stepped onboard “Explora I”… an “Explora Journeys” ship… almost 2 years ago, I was curious to see whether the newest luxury cruise line could truly compete with the established luxury brands.
After experiencing that ship firsthand, I can honestly say it left a very strong, beyond positive impression!!
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If you’d like the full deep-dive of my thoughts from my first ever “Explora Journeys” sailing, you can read my detailed review here:
👉 https://www.shawnpower.com/explora-journeys-review-explora-1/
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Since then, I’ve also had the chance to sail on “Explora II”, and that second experience only reinforced my first impression!
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In fact, it made me appreciate even more just how well Explora Journeys has executed their vision of a modern luxury cruise line — from the elegant design and spacious suites to the relaxed atmosphere onboard. You can see lots of in-depth videos (Including all the rooms & food!) about that experience on “Explora II” here:
👉 https://www.shawnpower.com/explora-journeys-explora-ii/
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One of the biggest standouts for me across both sailings has been the service!
Instead of calling their staff “crew,” Explora refers to them as Hosts, and it genuinely changes the feel onboard. The level of friendliness and attentiveness is exceptional, helped by an excellent staff-to-guest ratio that allows for a far more personal experience.
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The suites are another major highlight — even the entry-level rooms are spacious ocean-terrace suites with walk-in closets, beautiful bathrooms, and large private balconies. They truly feel more like a luxury boutique hotel room than a typical cruise cabin.
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You can see all of Explora’s Suite choices in the videos here.
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Another thing that really stands out about Explora Journeys is the “Modern Cosmopolitan” energy onboard. There is zero pretension here!
On many luxury cruise lines, the average age is pushing 70. On Explora, the crowd is noticeably younger — averaging around 57, with plenty of travelers in their 30s and 40s as well on the cruises I’ve sailed with them.
That younger, more international crowd creates a far more relaxed and social atmosphere.
It also translates into the most relaxed dress code in the high-end cruise market. You can leave the tuxedo at home. In the evenings, I see plenty of guys wearing a nice pair of dress shorts, deck shoes, and a collared shirt. No one is looking down their nose at you — the vibe onboard is strictly “elegant casual.”
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The overall onboard experience is extremely impressive!
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Explora Journeys has created some of the most beautiful public spaces at sea, with multiple relaxing pool areas, elegant lounges, and thoughtfully designed restaurants.
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The food is consistently excellent across their ships!
One of my favorite spots is the Emporium Marketplace — and don’t call it a buffet. It’s really more like an elevated food hall with chef-served action stations. Think Alaskan crab legs, fresh carved meats, fresh ceviche, oysters, hand made pasta, etc. all beautifully presented behind glass and served by chefs. There’s also a wood-fired pizza oven here that produces some of the best pizza crust I’ve ever had at sea.
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This video gives you a Great overview of some of the fabulous dishes you’ll experience onboard an “Explora Journeys” Cruise.
And I Love the “All-Inclusive” nature of an “Explora Journeys” Cruise!
Good wines, premium spirits, gratuities, Wi-Fi, and just about all dining is included, which means you can truly relax without constantly worrying about your onboard bill.
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Something about “Explora Journeys” that has really stood out to me… over 80% of my clients who sail on Explora end up rebooking their next Explora cruise while still onboard… I’ve never seen #s like this on any other line over the past 20 years I’ve been doing this!
And honestly, that’s a great idea because Explora typically offers significant discounts if you book your next voyage before leaving the ship. I explain how that works in this short video:
👉 https://youtu.be/tR0JWQChKJU?si=FqHPW9oJ_GNA0duX
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To be fair and impartial, there is one area where Explora Journeys still has room for improvement: shore excursions.
While the ship experience itself is fantastic, many of the excursions can feel quite overpriced compared with similar experiences you could arrange independently in port.
For some travelers that won’t matter much — especially since the ship itself is such a wonderful place to spend time and since they don’t mind booking 3rd party excursions on “ShoreExcursionsGroup”, “Venture Ashore”, “Viator”, “GetYourGuide”, etc. — but it’s definitely something I think my clients should be aware of.
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Who is “Explora Journeys” For?
I often see Explora mis-categorized as “Upper Premium” (like Viking or Oceania).
In my expert opinion, they 150% belongs in “Small Ship Luxury” alongside Regent and Silversea, perfect for:
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The Casual Luxury Traveler: You want the best food and service but would rather not wear a sport coat in the heat of the Caribbean or the Mediterranean.
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The Tech-Savvy Traveler: Explora offers industry-leading streaming Wi-Fi with three logins per person included. I can Netflix, FaceTime family, and work on my laptop simultaneously without paying a dime extra.
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The Space-Seeker: If you are tired of cramped 200-square-foot rooms, the 377-square-foot minimum here will feel like a palace.
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The Independent Traveler’s Dream: This ship is built for the traveler who hates being “hand-held.” If you prefer booking private tours, taking a taxi to a hidden beach, or just walking around town without a 40-person bus group, this model is for you. To support this, Explora provides free shuttle services to the town centers whenever the ship is docked far away.
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Final Verdict: The Pro-Tip
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Overall, I feel “Explora Journeys” are a game-changer who offer the “no-pretension” elegance of a private yacht.
They have quickly become one of the most exciting new options in luxury cruising.
Between the spacious suites, excellent food, beautiful design, generous inclusions, and genuinely warm Hosts…
…”Explora Journeys” delivers a refreshingly modern luxury cruise experience — and it’s easy to see why so many guests are already planning their next voyage before their first one even ends. 🌊
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Pro-Tip: For the many reasons listed here, always book your Cruises & Tauck Tours through a specialist!
Because of my relationship with Explora for example, on every sailing I can either secure hundreds of dollars in onboard credits for my clients… while self-service laundry is free, you can use that credit for the valet laundry service or to cover your 7-course dinner at Anthology or towards a spa treatment, etc.
Or, I can get them a FREE shore excursion during one of their port stops.
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For additional questions about “Explora Journeys” or any other Ocean Cruise, River Cruise or Tauck Land Tour or Africa Safari… simply contact me here where I’ll be ready to help you experience your next Great Adventure!! 🙂
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I appreciate you!
Shawn Power
Your Trusted Cruise and Tauck Tour & Africa Safari Expert
Some videos that may interest you:
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Shawn’s “Explora Journeys” overview:
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Here’s what an “Explora Journeys” ship looks like:
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“Explora Journeys” included “Wellness Area” is another example of their all-inclusive nature:
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Here’s Shawn’s thoughts on “Explora Journeys” vs “Regent” & “Silversea”:
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Here’s Shawn’s thoughts on “Explora Journeys” vs “Viking” & “Oceania”: