Explora Journeys’ maiden vessel will visit 132 ports in 40 countries in its first year, including unusual destinations like Kastellorizo, Greece and Saint Pierre, Martinique.
The sailings, which get underway from May next year, range from six nights to 44 nights and span the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the UK, Iceland, Greenland, Canada, the US East Coast, Caribbean, South America and Hawaii.
‘Our ambition is to reflect the desire of today’s and tomorrow’s luxury traveller and their curiosity for remarkable exploration,’ explained Michael Ungerer, CEO, Explora Journeys, part of the MSC Group. ‘We have created a collection of journeys that offer the perfect blend of celebrated destinations and lesser travelled ports…’
He went on to add that Explora I, plus the three additional Explora Journeys vessels currently on order, ‘will allow guests to enjoy a more immersive, authentic experience and a slower pace of travel.’
The line’s new website enables passengers to make bookings directly; it was originally launched exclusively to travel advisors.
Mediterranean
Explora I will sail the Mediterranean from May-June, 2023, its maiden journey comprising Barcelona, St Tropez, Calvi (Corsica), Rome, Fiskardo (Kefalonia), Istanbul and Athens. Its 'Mediterranean Grand Journey’ itinerary includes the same port calls, plus Patmos, Bodrum, Kastellorizo, Santorini, Mykonos, Gozo and Ibiza. The Mediterranean and Western Europe destinations scheduled include all the above, as well as Malaga, Cadiz, Portimão, Lisbon, Porto, St. Jean-de-Luz, Bordeaux, Saint-Malo and Honfleur.
Northern Europe
From July-August, 2023 the ship will traverse the Nowegian Fjords and Arctic Circle calling Southampton, Kristiansand, Hellesylt/Geiranger, Ålesund, Molde, Trondheim, Svartisen Glacier and Arctic Circle, Narvik, Honningsvåg, Tromsø. Its ‘Northern Europe Grand Journey’ also includes Leknes - Lofoten Islands, Brønnøysund, Flåm, Bergen, Stavanger, Skagen, Copenhagen, Rønne, Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Stockholm, Visby, Riga, Klaipeda, Gdansk, Copenhagen, Göteborg, Oslo, Stavanger, Hamburg, Rotterdam and Bruges.
UK
In August 2023, Explora Journeys’ maiden ship will journey to the Scottish Lochs and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. It will call Southampton, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Invergordon, Stornoway, Oban, Liverpool and Glasgow. An extended UK-based journey sees Fort William, Portree, Kirkwall, Lerwick - Shetland Islands, Thorshavn - Faroe Islands and Reykjavik added.
Iceland & Greenland
The ship’s inaugural Iceland & Greenland itinerary – 'Arctic Geysers, Calving Glaciers and Fiery Lands of Ice’ – takes place in September 2023 calling Reykjavik, Akureyri, Isafjordur, Prins Christian Sund Waterway, Paamiut, Nuuk, Qaqortoq, Strait of Belle Island, Sydney, Saint John and New York City.
An extended journey taking passengers around North America to Newport, Boston, Saint John, Gulf of St. Lawrence and Quebec City.
USA East Coast and Canada
Between September-October, 2023 Explora I will sail New York City, Newport, Boston, Saint John, Gulf of St. Lawrence and Quebec City, with an extended journey available that includes calls in La Baie, Baie-Comeau, Havre-Saint-Pierre, Charlottetown and Halifax.
Caribbean
Miami, Key West, Spanish Town, Deshaies, Falmouth Harbour and San Juan are on the ship's ‘A Yachtsman’s Paradise’ programme, while the ‘British Isles, Creole Idylls & Miami Magig’ comprises San Juan, Gustavia, Basseterre, Samana, Ocean Cay and Miami.
The overall Caribbean destinations set to be visited are Miami, Key West, Spanish Town, Deshaies, Falmouth Harbour, San Juan, Gustavia, Basseterre, Samana, Ocean Cay, St. John`s (Antigua and Barbuda), Castries, Bridgetown, Roseau, Kralendijk, Willemstad, Saint-Pierre, Kingstown, Grand Turk (Turks and Caicos), Santa Marta, Cartagena, Colón, Soufriere, Bequia (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), Oranjestad.
The ‘Panama Canal Passage’ itinerary consists of Bridgetown, Kralendijk, Willemstad, Oranjestad, Cartagena, Puerto Limon, crossing of the Panama Canal and Panama City.
All Caribbean sailings by the vessel take place November 2023-March 2024.
South America, Pacific Coast and Hawaii
From January to February 2024, the ship will follow the ‘Celebrating Two Carnivals in Brazil itinerary’ calling Bridgetown, Devil`s Island, Fortaleza, Salvador De Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, Pôrto Belo and São Paulo. Pacific Coast destinations scheduled between March and April 2024 are: Quepos, San Juan del Sur, Puerto Quetzal, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Astoria, Victoria and Vancouver.
From April-May 2024 Explora I will visit Vancouver, Hilo, Honolulu as part of the ‘Hawaii’s Volcanoes and The Magic of Kai’ itinerary. The ‘“No Ka Oi” of Hawaii' sailing consisting of Honolulu, Lahaina, Nawiliwili, Victoria and Vancouver; an extended Hawaiian voyage adds Hilo to the mix.
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