Explora Journeys Review: Is This the World's Best Small-Ship Cruise?

Explora Journeys is a genuine surprise — not because it's perfect, but because it's so clearly designed by people who understood what was missing from luxury cruising and went about fixing it methodically. The ships feel like hotels. Not "hotel-inspired" cruise ships with hotel-ish touches. Actually like hotels: warm, restrained, unhurried.

That design decision cascades into almost everything else about the experience — from the way the public spaces are laid out to the way the restaurants are staffed to the way the staff interact with guests. It's a coherent product, and coherence in luxury travel is rarer than it should be.

The ships

Explora I and II are the current fleet, with III through VI scheduled through 2028. Each ship carries around 900 guests in 461 suites — a passenger-to-space ratio that puts them firmly in the small-ship category despite the number. At 100% occupancy, the ship never feels full. In practice, Explora regularly sails at 70–80% capacity, which means the pool decks and lounges have genuine breathing room.

The architecture deliberately avoids the visual logic of most cruise ships — no atrium casino, no Broadway-style theatre, no duty-free shopping corridor. Instead there are multiple pools (including a rooftop infinity pool), a genuine spa complex, a well-stocked library, and about a dozen lounge and bar spaces of different sizes and moods. You can always find a quiet corner. That's not always true on cruise ships, and it matters more than most reviews admit.

Photo Courtesy of Explora Journeys

The suites

All 461 staterooms are suites, all ocean-facing, most with private terraces. The entry-level Ocean Suite runs around 35 square meters — generous by cruise standards, though not vast by hotel standards. What compensates is the quality of materials and the layout: a proper seating area, bathroom with separate soaking tub and shower, and a terrace wide enough to actually use.

Higher categories add more space, butler service, and in the top penthouse tiers, multiple bedrooms and private outdoor decks. The butler program is worth mentioning: Explora's butlers are genuinely good at anticipating rather than just executing. They're the kind of staff who remember how you take your coffee without being asked twice.

Dining

Nine restaurants, all included. This is the part most people underestimate going in — they assume "included dining" means the same three menus in rotation. On Explora it means a Japanese restaurant, a Mediterranean seafood place, a French bistro, an outdoor grill, a casual all-day café, and several others, each with a distinct kitchen and menu, each genuinely good.

The quality benchmark is higher than most comparable cruise lines and holds up well against mid-range land restaurants. The wine list is extensive and, crucially, also included — not just house wine, but a proper selection by the glass and bottle. It's one of those things that sounds like a small detail until you're four days in and realize you've never once thought about the bill.

Photo Courtesy of Explora Journeys

"Nine restaurants, all included — and each one genuinely worth going back to."

Service

Service is where Explora most clearly telegraphs its hotel DNA. The staff-to-guest ratio is high, the training clearly emphasizes restraint over performance, and there's a marked absence of the forced cheerfulness that characterizes many cruise lines. Staff are friendly without being theatrical about it — which, for a certain type of traveler, is the single most important thing a luxury product can get right.

The one area where consistency varies is between the different nationality cohorts of staff — some departments are notably more polished than others. But at the senior level, the execution is reliably good, and the overall atmosphere of the ship reflects well on the training program.

Itineraries

Explora focuses primarily on the Mediterranean, Atlantic coast, and Caribbean. The itineraries are thoughtfully constructed — longer port stays than typical cruise lines, and a good mix of well-known destinations and less-visited stops. The ship is intentionally designed to be a destination in itself rather than just transport between ports, which means sea days are genuinely pleasant rather than something to endure.

Who it's for — and who it's not

Explora works best for travelers who stay at boutique and luxury hotels and want that energy translated to sea. It also works exceptionally well for people who've never cruised but are open to the format — because it doesn't feel like "a cruise" in the way most people fear.

It's less right for travelers who want a destination-dense itinerary with many short port stops, or for those who want the full entertainment program (shows, casino, organized activities). Explora's entertainment is understated — good live music, a cinema, guest speakers — but if you need a packed schedule, there are other lines better suited.