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Explora I: ship guide

The first Explora ship: all-suite, ocean-front terraces, five pools and included dining.

Best for: Travelers who want a yacht-like luxury ship with every suite on the ocean, dining and drinks included, a strong Caribbean and South America program from Miami in winter 2026-2027 and the Mediterranean in summer. Sails from Miami, Barcelona in 2026 and 2027.

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Explora I
Explora I
63,621gross tons
14decks
2023entered service
814 ftlong
456staterooms

About Explora I

EXPLORA I launched Explora Journeys, the luxury brand of the MSC Group, with a maiden voyage from Copenhagen on August 1, 2023. Built by Fincantieri, she is about 814 feet long with 14 decks and 456 ocean-front suites, penthouses and residences, every one with floor-to-ceiling windows and a private terrace. Explora describes a 1.25 to 1 guest-to-host ratio, and oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle is her godmother. The ship is designed to feel like a private yacht rather than a cruise ship, with more than 2,500 square meters of outdoor deck.

The fare covers nine culinary experiences including in-suite dining, unlimited drinks from champagne to specialty coffee, Wi-Fi, gratuities, the Ocean Wellness thermal area and group fitness classes. Six restaurants span Emporium Marketplace, the French-inspired Fil Rouge, Marble & Co. Grill steakhouse, Pan-Asian Sakura and the Med Yacht Club, with the Italian tasting-menu restaurant Anthology and the hands-on Chef’s Kitchen as the only extras. Twelve bars and lounges run from the Lobby Bar and Journeys Lounge up to the adults-only Helios Pool and the open-air Sky Bar on 14.

EXPLORA I spends summer 2026 in the Mediterranean, then departs Miami on November 17, 2026, for a Caribbean, Central and South America season through March 2027 that includes an Amazon River journey in February 2027. Summer 2027 brings her back to the Mediterranean with maiden calls at Istanbul, Algiers, Amalfi and Olbia, and from December 2027 to March 2028 she sails Explora’s first South America season from Brazil to Cape Horn.

  • 456 ocean-front suites, penthouses and residences, all with floor-to-ceiling windows and a private terrace
  • Six restaurants plus Crema Café and Gelateria & Crêperie, with only Anthology and the Chef’s Kitchen as extras
  • Five heated pools including the Astern infinity pool, the covered Conservatory Pool and the adults-only Helios Pool
  • Twelve bars and lounges, from the Malt Whisky Bar with outdoor cigar terrace to Sky Bar on 14
  • Ocean Wellness spa with a thermal area included in the fare
  • Journeys Lounge performances with West End talent, In Concert headliners and Steinway recitals
  • Galleria d’Arte curated by Clarendon Fine Art, with works by Dalí and Chagall
  • Nautilus Club for ages 6 to 17 and 82 connecting suites for multigenerational groups

Staterooms and suites

Ocean Terrace Suite

The lead-in category at about 377 square feet (35 square meters) plus a 75 square foot (7 square meter) terrace with a daybed, with floor-to-ceiling windows, a walk-in wardrobe with seated vanity, heated bathroom floor, espresso machine and a mini-bar restocked daily; four OT grades differ by deck and position.

Ocean Grand Terrace Suite

About 420 square feet (39 square meters) on Decks 6 and 7 with a larger 118 square foot (11 square meter) terrace for outdoor dining; the same living area and amenities as the Ocean Terrace Suite with more room outside.

Ocean Penthouses

Penthouse, Deluxe, Premier and Grand Penthouses of 463 to 743 square feet (43 to 69 square meters) with separate living and sleeping spaces, dining for four and extra inclusions such as laundry service.

Ocean Residences

Cove, Retreat, Serenity and Cocoon Residences of 700 to 1,604 square feet (65 to 149 square meters), each with a private outdoor whirlpool on the terrace, a Residence Host and ground transfers.

Owner’s Residence

About 3,014 square feet (280 square meters) spanning the full beam of the stern with a private plunge pool, dining for eight, a dedicated Residence Manager and a private driver ashore where available.

Explora I deck plans

Deck by deck, straight from our booking engine: the plan, the stateroom categories on that deck and the public rooms. Pick a deck.

Deck 14 plan

Deck 14

Sports Court, Whirlpool, Panorama Lounge.

  • Sky Bar on 14Refreshing cocktails and infinite views in a sophisticated outdoor setting.

Plans are the cruise line’s current drawings as supplied to our booking engine. Layouts change with refurbishments; your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the exact stateroom when you book.

On board Explora I

Yoga
Yoga
Whisky Bar and Cigar Room
Whisky Bar and Cigar Room
Wellbeing
Wellbeing
Upper and Lower Pool
Upper and Lower Pool
The Journey
The Journey
The Conservatory Pool Bar
The Conservatory Pool Bar
Technogym
Technogym
Swimming Pool
Swimming Pool
Steam Room
Steam Room
Steakhouse
Steakhouse
Spa Treatment Room
Spa Treatment Room
Spa
Spa

Dining on Explora I

Emporium MarketplaceIncluded

Lively all-day dining with live cooking stations and flavors from around the world.

Fil RougeIncluded

A global tasting tour of French-inspired international cuisine.

Marble & Co. GrillIncluded

A reimagined European steakhouse with sustainably sourced cuts.

SakuraIncluded

Immersive Pan-Asian dining from sushi and dim sum to slow-cooked dishes.

Med Yacht ClubIncluded

Relaxed Mediterranean dining with a dolce vita feel and walk-in seating.

Crema Café and Gelateria & CrêperieIncluded

European-style café on Deck 5 for coffee, tea, pastries and gelato, plus French and Italian sweets poolside at The Conservatory.

In-Suite DiningIncluded

Served 24 hours in the suite or on the private terrace.

AnthologySpecialty

Signature fine-dining Italian tasting menu by Franck Garanger, with a surcharge and optional wine pairing.

Chef’s KitchenSpecialty

Hands-on cooking experience for 12 guests in an ocean-front private kitchen, at extra cost.

Entertainment and activities

  • Journeys Lounge performances with West End talent, the In Concert series with the house orchestra and Showcase variety acts
  • Steinway & Sons recitals and local cultural performers on select sailings
  • Luminary Enrichment talks and workshops on destinations, nature and the creative arts
  • Five heated pools: Astern infinity pool, Atoll Pool, Conservatory Pool with silent cinema nights, adults-only Helios Pool and Sky Bar on 14 DJ sets
  • Explora Lounge with afternoon tea, jazz and piano, and the Malt Whisky Bar with walk-in humidor and outdoor cigar terrace
  • Ocean Wellness spa with thermal area, treatment rooms, beauty salon and Technogym fitness center
  • Galleria d’Arte by Clarendon Fine Art and boutique shopping
  • Sports Court, Shining Star karaoke and clubs for solo travelers, Prism and Club Soda

Families and who it suits

The Nautilus Club hosts ages 6 to 17 daily from 9 a.m. to midnight with video games, VR, foosball, pool, arts and crafts and an MSC Foundation marine conservation program, while ages 3 to 5 join supervised sessions with a parent; the Helios Pool on Deck 12 is adults-only and 82 connecting suites suit multigenerational groups.

Best for: Travelers who want a yacht-like luxury ship with every suite on the ocean, dining and drinks included, a strong Caribbean and South America program from Miami in winter 2026-2027 and the Mediterranean in summer.

Sails from: Miami, Barcelona · Regions: Caribbean, Central & South America, Mediterranean

Explora I questions we answer every day

How big is Explora I?
EXPLORA I is about 814 feet (248 meters) long with 14 decks, roughly 63,600 gross tons and 456 ocean-front suites, penthouses and residences. Explora quotes a 1.25 to 1 guest-to-host ratio, which puts her in the ultra-luxury bracket of about 900 guests, with more than 2,500 square meters of outdoor deck space, five heated pools and six restaurants.
What is included in the fare on Explora I?
Nine culinary experiences including in-suite dining, unlimited beverages including fine wines, champagne, premium spirits, specialty coffees and soft drinks, a welcome bottle of champagne plus a bottle of wine and a bottle of spirits in the suite, high-speed Wi-Fi, gratuities, the Ocean Wellness thermal area, group fitness and mindfulness sessions and port shuttles where available. Anthology, the Chef’s Kitchen and spa treatments are extra. SmartCruiser adds bonus onboard credit on sailings where Explora Journeys allows it, not available booking direct.
Where does Explora I sail in 2026 and 2027?
After a Mediterranean summer in 2026 she departs Miami on November 17, 2026, for a Caribbean, Central and South America season through March 2027 that includes an Amazon River journey in February 2027. In summer 2027 she returns to the Mediterranean with maiden calls at Istanbul, Algiers, Amalfi and Olbia, and from December 2027 to March 2028 she sails Explora’s first South America season from Brazil to Buenos Aires, the Falklands and Cape Horn.
Which suite should I choose on Explora I?
Every suite is ocean-front with a terrace, so the Ocean Terrace Suite at about 377 square feet suits most couples; an Ocean Grand Terrace Suite on Decks 6 and 7 adds a larger terrace for outdoor dining. Ocean Penthouses bring a separate living area and laundry service, Ocean Residences add a private outdoor whirlpool and a Residence Host, and the Owner’s Residence spans the full stern with its own pool.
Is Explora I good for families?
It works for families who want a quiet luxury ship rather than a resort. The Nautilus Club takes ages 6 to 17 with gaming, VR, sports sessions and crafts, children 3 to 5 can join sessions with a parent, infants from six months are welcome with cribs and in-suite toys on request, and 82 connecting suites link for larger groups. The Helios Pool is adults-only, and there are no waterslides or shows aimed at children.
What makes Explora different from MSC Cruises?
Explora Journeys is a separate luxury brand within the MSC Group, built for a few hundred guests rather than thousands. EXPLORA I has no interior cabins, no main dining room with assigned seating and no theater productions; instead every suite faces the ocean, six restaurants are included with open seating, drinks and Wi-Fi are in the fare and entertainment runs through lounges, recitals and enrichment talks.

Facts checked against Explora Journeys: EXPLORA I, Explora Journeys: Dining, Explora Journeys: Inclusions, Explora Journeys press release: new 2027-2028 Journeys Collection on October 13, 2026. Ship details change with refurbishments; your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the current layout when you book.

Live from the cruise line

Every Explora I sailing, priced all-in

Every Explora I departure the cruise line is selling, priced live with taxes, fees and port expenses included. SmartCruiser picks at the top are sailings where booking with us gets you something extra. Stack the filters, then sort by lowest price, best value per night or sail date.

Every Explora I sailing

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Prices are per person, double occupancy, in US dollars, and include cruise fare, taxes, fees and port expenses as published by the cruise line at the moment you load this page. Fares are capacity controlled and change daily; the fare is confirmed when you book. Flights, hotels and transfers are extra unless the line’s offer says otherwise. Onboard credit shown on a sailing is per stateroom and applies to the lowest category offered unless stated otherwise.