Last Updated on February 25, 2025 by Mrunal & Jiten
Explora Journeys is a luxury lifestyle travel brand helping travelers achieve what it calls an “Ocean State of Mind,” where you relax, create memories, and reconnect with what matters most at sea. The brand’s vision is to offer an escape into elegant exclusivity, providing a world-class experience on the open waters. Boasting a line of brand-new ships ready to set sail, all that’s left is you.
A History of Explora Journeys
The story of Explora Journeys luxury cruises begins in Sorrento with the Neapolitan ferry captain Gianluigi Aponte. After meeting his wife, a Swiss passenger on one of his crossings, the two went on to create MSC Group, a global shipping operation and the world’s largest privately-owned cruise company. Explora Journeys is the shared dream of that family, a unique cruise experience.
The company website states that Explora Journeys “represents the ambition and long-held dream of the MSC Group and the Aponte family to create a transformative luxury ocean travel experience and brand that redefines the luxury cruise category.”
Brand-New Ships and More to Come
Of course, a central part of this new luxury lifestyle travel brand is the cruise ships themselves. Explora Journeys currently operates Explora I and Explora II but plans to build four additional luxury cruise ships by 2028. Built by Fincantieri in Italy and designed by renowned British architect and yacht designer Martin Francis, Explora Journeys’ ships are intended to be some of the most iconic on the water.
Each ship includes 461 oceanfront suites, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, walk-in wardrobes, seated vanity areas, and some of the largest private terraces in the category. In addition, there are 18 distinct food and beverage venues, all focused on providing healthy and delicious culinary experiences from local, sustainable sources. Along the way, Explora Journeys invites some of the best local talents to enhance their bar and lounge experiences.
Prioritizing Wellness
Even on the open sea, personal wellness is a priority for Explora Journeys. Each ship features ocean wellness and fitness areas consisting of over 7,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor facilities, including a beauty salon, a sports court, a thermal area, and much more. The generous outdoor decks accommodate four heated swimming pools, 64 private cabanas, and even whirlpools, as well as poolside dining and lounging.
“The ocean relaxes you and creates an energy in you that inspires inner and outer discovery,” the website states, “broadens horizons and triggers new connections.”
What to Expect from a Destination
Beyond the ships themselves, one must consider the destination. Explora Journeys offers itineraries with boundless discoveries and a wealth of experiences. The company ensures that each voyage creates several once-in-a-lifetime memories.
“Explora Journeys offers the perfect blend of celebrated destinations and lesser-known off-the-beaten-path locations, focusing on a slower pace, spending more time in each destination, to ensure guests can feel fully exhilarated and get under the skin of the local culture and environment, whilst not leaving their mark on the destination,” the company stated.
Explora Journeys’ Destination Regions
Travelers can choose from one of several destination regions, including the Mediterranean, Western Europe, the Caribbean, Central America, Northern Europe, Iceland and Greenland, and North America. Explora Journey prides itself on creating the perfect blend of well-known destinations and roads less traveled. The brand’s curated seven-night itineraries offer genuine immersion, enrichment, and discovery.
Explora Journeys’ website features numerous curated experiences, ranging from “A Grand Journey of Mayan Exploration & Atlantic Adventures” to “A Journey through Rugged Landscapes & Remote Coastal Scenery,” and all boasting creative itineraries. Currently, the website lists 170 itineraries and 217 departures, meaning that travelers truly have a wealth of possibilities.
A Journey Waiting for You
If you’re ready to achieve an “Ocean State of Mind,” Explora Journeys welcomes new passengers. Whether you come to see the sights, experience life on the open sea, or simply reconnect with what really matters, there is a journey and a destination waiting for you.
“[The Ocean State of Mind’s] influence sits at the heart of the Explora Journeys brand,” the company website explains. “It’s why all that we do is designed to offer refined yet effortless luxury, with the opportunity for exploration and transformation of the inner and outer self, resulting in a state that is uniquely rewarding—physically, intellectually and spiritually.”
