Explora Journeys Reveals River Cruise Plans & Adjusts Winter 2027-28
Explora Journeys is having a busy month, with two announcements focused on an adjustment to its 2028 schedule and getting into a whole new arm of the cruising business.
River Cruising
The luxury cruise line, which a sister brand to MSC Cruises as part of the MSC Group, has revealed that it plans to enter the river cruise market. Explora Journeys has signed a letter of intent with Dutch shipbuilder Den Breejen Shipyard for the construction of its first river ships.
The line says that it has “sought to change the way people experience ocean travel through its Ocean State of Mind philosophy” and “now intends to bring that same approach to Europe’s most iconic rivers.”
Bookings for Explora Journeys river cruises are scheduled to open next year. Details on ship design, onboard experiences, delivery schedules, and itineraries will be announced at a later date.
It’s interesting to see multiple large ship cruise lines getting into the river cruise business — or vice versa. This shows how popular and lucrative both ocean and river cruising is in the current travel market, and we love to see cruise lines trying new things.
Craig Pavlus, founder and CEO of travel agency Pavlus Travel & Cruise, weighed in on this foray for Explora Journeys too.
“River cruising in 2026 is on a fast-paced growth track, so we’re thrilled to learn that Explora Journeys has signed a letter of intent with a Dutch shipyard to build its first river ships,” he said. “This is truly a smart move by Explora Journeys to grow its brand and give luxury cruise guests another enticing vacation option. Overall, the cruise industry as a whole should also benefit through increased marketplace exposure for river cruising as a fabulous vacation choice.”
New 2028 Sailings
Explora Journeys has also revealed new winter 2027-2028 itineraries aboard its ships Explora I and Explora V, which are replacing the previously planned Middle East and Red Sea voyages aboard those ships.
From December 2027 to March 2028, Explora I will sail in South America, taking advantage of the Southern Hemisphere’s summer months. The ship will visit destinations across Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, the Falkland Islands, and Chile.
From December 2027 to April 2028, Explora V will explore the western and central Mediterranean, as well as the coastline of North Africa. There, destinations will include Italy, Spain, Montenegro, France, and Turkey. In January, the ship will sail into the Atlantic before returning to the Mediterranean in March, visiting places in the Canary Islands, Madeira, Portugal, and Morocco.
