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EXPLORA Journeys expects to increase its passenger capacity by 57% in 2027 as it moves towards a six-ship fleet and expands into new destinations, including Alaska and Asia. The growth plans were outlined during presentations aboard Explora III, the third ship in the MSC Group’s luxury ocean travel fleet. Travel advisers and media joined a preview journey from Civitavecchia, the port of Rome, to Barcelona ahead of the ship’s naming ceremony on August 1. Explora III marks the halfway point in the development of the planned six-ship fleet. Two more ships are scheduled to enter service in 2027, followed by Explora VI in 2028. Explora Journeys President Anna Nash said the three ships currently in operation were sailing at near-full capacity. “We still have more to build and we still have more room to grow,” she said. “Looking ahead to our fleet by 2028, we will be increasing our capacity next year by 57%. It’s a huge amount of growth in such a short period of time.” The company was taking a long-term approach to the expansion, Nash said. “We are building a brand for generations to come. We don’t think in the short term.” New destinations The additional ships will allow Explora Journeys to expand its geographical footprint and offer a broader range of itineraries. “As we grow our fleet, our footprint also grows,” Nash said. “First time for us to Alaska, for example. First time to Asia.” Explora III will begin the brand’s inaugural Alaska season in mid-May 2027. The ship is also scheduled to travel to Japan as Explora Journeys moves into Asia. The addition of Explora VI would give the brand scope to expand further into South America and Asia. The South American programme could move beyond Explora Journeys’ existing Amazon itineraries to include Brazil and Patagonia, with a focus on glaciers, scenic cruising, wildlife and cultural experiences. The brand also plans to extend its Asian programme deeper into Indonesia and the Far East. “We don’t push into new geographies without thought and intention,” said Explora Journeys’ Head of Itinerary Planning, Destination Experiences and Ground Handling, Justin Poulsen. “We still keep the same favourites that our guests are really gravitating towards, but we push deeper into Indonesia, deeper into the Far East.” Rethinking seasons Explora Journeys is also expanding outside traditional peak travel periods. Explora II will remain in the Mediterranean for the 2026/27 winter season, while the company is considering winter Northern European itineraries built around the Northern Lights and Christmas markets. “The traditional shoulder seasons are starting to become kind of the peak seasons,” Poulsen said. “In the Med, it’s a little bit cooler in the spring and in the fall. You have fewer people, but you can still enjoy some of those summer activities. You can also do all the cultural things as well.” The winter Mediterranean programme covers 46 destinations across ten countries. It introduces maiden calls including Ceuta, Algiers, La Gomera, Fuerteventura and Palamós, as well as overnight stays in Casablanca, Lisbon, Madeira and Málaga. Itineraries highlighted during the travel- adviser presentation included a five-night journey from Tenerife to Lisbon, a seven- night Venice-to-Athens sailing and a 14-night festive journey from Lisbon to Rome. A wellness-focused journey, A Path to Inner Discovery, will depart aboard Explora II on February 11, 2027. The company has also placed a 128-night world journey aboard Explora I on sale for 2029. Poulsen said the expanding fleet would create more scope for non-traditional deployments. “As more ships are added to our fleet, it allows us more options and more creativity. It allows us to offer something like Northern Europe to guests in the summer as well as in the winter, which are two very different but equally compelling experiences.” More space Explora III is 19,2 metres longer than Explora I and Explora II, but its guest capacity remains broadly similar. Only two additional suites have been added: a second Owner’s Residence and one other suite. The remaining space has been allocated to larger public areas and new onboard facilities. “Many brands would have decided to put in lots of extra suites. We did not,” Nash said. “We decided to give that space back to our guests, back to the public areas.” The ship has a larger collection of Ocean Penthouses and Ocean Residences, two Owner’s Residences, redesigned public spaces and an expanded running track. New food and beverage venues include Shore Club on 11, a relaxed Mediterranean beach club-style restaurant designed to provide flexible all-day dining, and The Cellar, a wine venue adjoining the lobby. The ship also has a redesigned lobby and an adults-only Helios Pool. Ocean Wellness has been reconfigured as an integrated spa and fitness facility on Deck 5. Additions include Technogym equipment, Technogym Reform Pilates equipment, a Sava Sound Pod and an expanded outdoor sports court. Nash described the vessel as an evolution of the existing product, shaped by guest feedback. “Just little tweaks, but all of this is truly done around the guests’ expectations, the guests’ feedback,” she said. Explora III is also the brand’s first LNG-powered ship, with subsequent vessels expected to use the same propulsion technology.
