Explora I: The First Ship of MSC Group's New Luxury Brand, in Photos and Data
Explora I is the first ship of Explora Journeys, a luxury brand launched by the Geneva-based MSC Group. She debuted in August 2023.
At about 63,900 gross tons she is large for a luxury ship, yet she carries 922 guests, and all 461 cabins are suites with terraces. This article sets out what could be confirmed, with photographs.
Key facts
| Operator | Explora Journeys (MSC Group) |
|---|---|
| Gross tonnage | about 63,900 GT (sources range from 63,713 to 64,000) |
| Length / beam | approx. 248 m / 32 m |
| Passenger capacity | 922 |
| Crew | approx. 640 to 680 (varies by source) |
| Cabins | 461 (all suites with terraces) |
| Decks | 14 (11 open to guests) |
| Restaurants, bars and lounges | 18 in total |
| Debut | August 2023 |
| Builder | Fincantieri, Italy |
Cabins and suites
All cabins are suites with terraces. Even the entry-level Ocean Terrace Suite has about 35 sq m (377 sq ft) inside and about 7 sq m (75 sq ft) outside, which is among the largest at sea. Suites sit on decks 6 to 10.
Some suites can be connected in pairs, which works for families and groups. Above them are larger cabins called penthouses and residences.
Sample fares
These are examples of per-person "from" fares seen on third-party price listings in November 2026 (in US dollars). Fares vary greatly with date, route and cabin class, and how taxes and port charges are treated could not be confirmed where the source did not state it.
| Nov 12, 2026 / from Antigua (Caribbean islands) | 2,730 USD |
|---|---|
| Dec 13, 2026 / from Miami (Caribbean) | 3,510 USD |
| Dec 5, 2026 / from Miami (islands and Mayan sites) | 4,320 USD |
| Jan 29, 2027 / from Miami (Suite) | 4,600 USD |
* The source did not list the number of nights for this ship, so it could not be confirmed. Each figure is a "from" fare for that departure date.
On board
Dining includes the Mediterranean Med Yacht Club, the Asian Sakura and the French Fil Rouge. Bars are plentiful too, from a malt whiskey bar to the Sky Bar on deck 14.
There are three outdoor pools and one indoor pool, with the Atoll Pool & Bar on deck 10. Wellness facilities include the Ocean Wellness spa and a fitness centre.
In numbers
Dividing gross tonnage by passenger capacity gives a rough "ship size per guest" of about 69 GT (Japan's Asuka II is about 58 GT). The larger the figure, the more room per guest. These are simple divisions of the figures given in this article; they do not measure how busy a ship feels or the quality of service.
Who she suits
She suits travelers who want a new ship with spacious suites and a refined atmosphere. As a larger ship she also offers plenty of choice in facilities.
Photo credits
・Explora I: JanDragon, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Ship data: Cruise Critic, Travel Weekly, Luxury Cruise Connections, Cruise Ship Tracking. Fares: Cruise Ship Tracking, Travel Weekly Asia (checked November 2026).