Explora Journeys Mediterranean cruises stop not just at famous continental gems from Rome to Istanbul but also at charming, lesser-known towns just waiting to be uncovered.
Explora Journeys Mediterranean cruises stop not just at famous continental gems from Rome to Istanbul but also at charming, lesser-known towns just waiting to be uncovered.
Explora Journeys Mediterranean cruises 2024 take in a wealth of delightful destinations, from the gorgeous Greek Islands and the fantastic French Riviera to exotic corners of Turkey and the wonders of coastal Croatia.
As you sail Europe in opulence onboard beautiful Explora Journeys ships you’ll embrace the effortless allure of Mediterranean living. Envelop yourself in the scents of sea breeze, aromatic herbs and citrus fragrances as you embark on a journey across a rich tapestry of cultural, historical and culinary wonders.
With Explora Journeys cruises it’s easy to surrender to the tranquillity of a rejuvenating escape where leisurely, sun-kissed days seamlessly transition into relaxing evenings or, should you so desire, lively nights, brimming over with possibility.
What’s more, these Explora Journeys Mediterranean cruises 2024 take place across both the luxury line’s current ship EXPLORA I and the hotly anticipated second vessel EXPLORA II, setting sail in August, so you have two incredible ships to choose from.
Tempted? We’ve rounded up seven amazing Explora Journeys cruises to choose from next year.
When: June 27, 2024
Duration: 8 nights
Where: Athens (Piraeus), Greece | Volos, Greece | Thessaloniki, Greece | Kavala, Greece | Istanbul, Turkey | Athens (Piraeus), Greece
Ship: EXPLORA I
Price: From £4,850 pp
When: July 26, 2024 | September 20, 2024
Duration: 7 nights
Where: Istanbul, Turkey | Bodrum, Turkey | Rhodes, Greece | Katapola (Amorgos), Greece | Paros, Greece | Athens (Piraeus), Greece
Ship: EXPLORA I
Price: From £4,250 pp
When: 23 August, 2024
Duration: 7 nights
Where: Istanbul, Turkey | Bozcaada, Turkey | Bodrum, Turkey | Rhodes, Greece | Katapola
(Amorgos), Greece | Paros, Greece | Athens (Piraeus), Greece
Ship: EXPLORA I
Price: From £4,250 pp
When: August 26, 2024
Duration: 7 nights
Where: Barcelona, Spain | Monte Carlo, France | Saint-Tropez, France | Ajaccio, Corsica | Porto Cervo, Sardinia | Florence (Livorno), Italy | Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy
Ship: EXPLORA II
Price: From £4,250 pp
When: September 6, 2024
Duration: 7 nights
Where: Venice (Marghera), Italy | Hvar, Croatia | Kotor, Montenegro | Lecce (Brindisi), Italy | Nydri (Lefkada), Greece | Athens (Piraeus), Greece
Ship: EXPLORA I
Price: From £4,250 pp
When: September 16, 2024
Duration: 7 nights
Where: Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy | Sorrento, Italy | Lipari, Italy | Trapani (Sicily), Italy | Siracusa (Sicily) | La Valletta, Malta | Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy
Ship: EXPLORA II
Price: From £4,250 pp
When: October 5, 2024
Duration: 9 nights
Where: Athens (Piraeus), Greece | Mykonos, Greece | Dubrovnik, Croatia | Zadar, Croatia | Venice (Fusina), Italy | Split, Croatia | Kotor, Montenegro | Athens (Piraeus), Greece
Ship: EXPLORA I
Price: From £5,100 pp
Explora Journeys is an all-inclusive luxury cruise line that includes:
Explora Journeys cruises do not include excursions. However, Explora Journeys may offer complimentary shuttle service in selected ports. Paid-for shore experiences can be booked in advance of your sailing or onboard.
EXPLORA I is the first (and at the time of writing, only) Explora Journeys ship sailing in the luxury cruise brand’s fleet.
Explora Journeys’s fleet of six ships will be launched from 2023 to 2028, beginning with EXPLORA I’s delivery that took place on July 24, 2023.
In early September 2023, the brand celebrated the float out of second Explora Journeys ship EXPLORA II and the steel cutting of third vessel EXPLORA III.
EXPLORA II is currently under construction and will enter service in August 2024, EXPLORA III will come into service in 2026 and EXPLORA IV will sail in 2027 with both Explora Journeys ships being LNG-powered.
Explora V and Explora VI will be built at Fincantieri shipyard in Trieste, Italy and come into service in 2027 and 2028, respectively. The vessels will use alternative fuels such as bio and synthetic gas and methanol, as well as liquefied natural gas (LNG) engines.
EXPLORA I has 461 oceanfront suites, penthouses and residences, all with vast ocean views and private balconies, designed to be ‘Homes at Sea’ for Explora Journeys ship guests.
EXPLORA I has a capacity for 922 passengers on Explora Journeys cruises.
Explora Journeys boasts eleven distinct culinary experiences, across six restaurants plus in-suite dining, twelve bars and lounges, (eight indoor and four outdoor) and the cookery school-style Chef`s Kitchen.
There is no strict dress code on Explora Journeys cruises, but the luxury line suggests an Elegant Resort Casual style as a guide to guests. There are no formal nights onboard Explora Journeys ships.
Explora Journeys is privately owned by the MSC Group. The MSC Group and the Aponte family revealed the luxury brand’s launch in June 2021, with the Swiss-Italian seafaring dynasty declaring it a life-long dream to create an exquisite, modern luxury cruise experience.
We tried Explora Journeys ship EXPLORA I for ourselves – read our review here.
Sailawaze Editor Harriet has been a travel writer for nine years and specialised in cruising for nearly four. She recently won Specialist Travel Writer of the Year at the Travel Media Awards 2024 for her coverage of the cruise industry. Globetrotting highlights include flyboarding in Malaga, exploring waterfalls in Belize, ziplining in Costa Rica, truffle-hunting in Tuscany and whale-watching in Iceland. Next on her cruise bucket list is Antarctica – or any opportunity to see the Northern Lights!
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