New luxury line Explora Journeys to homeport in Dubai for 2025/26 season

Explora Journeys has unveiled upcoming cruises aboard Explora I and Explora II through April 2026, with Explora I now spending an entire season homeporting in the Arabian Gulf for 2025/26. 

Explora Journeys full program of cruises through 2026 includes a range of seven-, 14- and 21-night voyages across the world, with Explora II joining the fleet in August 2024, giving the new cruise line more flexibility with itineraries.

Explora Journeys is the luxury cruise arm of the MSC Cruises Group, with its first ship, Explora I, having entered service in July this year.

Explora Journeys has now revised the 2024/25 winter season for Explora I, which now includes itineraries in the Caribbean to support the North American market.

“We have received incredibly high levels of satisfaction from the guests that have sailed with us so far. As the brand continues to grow and expand it is important that we listen to feedback and respond,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman Cruise Division, MSC Group.

“As such, we have decided to refine our journey planning,” he added. “We now have regular, shorter seven-night journeys that are convenient for those who have limited time and we have ensured that we feature easily accessible homeports such as Barcelona, Civitavecchia, Miami or Bridgetown.”

Explora I in the Middle East

The Explora I’s journeys from October 2024 to April 2025 have been revised so that the ship will sail in the Caribbean Sea to support the growth of the brand in North America. She will spend the upcoming summer in Europe before repositioning to North America for the winter.

Explora I will then sail in the Mediterranean between April and November 2025 before repositioning to the Red Sea and the Arabian Peninsula for the 2025/26 winter. The cruise line describes the Arabian Gulf as “a region steeped in history and culture, with fragrant foods, bustling souks and tranquil desert oasis”, and will be spending the full season in Dubai.

Explora I will arrive in the Middle East in December, homeporting in Dubai and offering 7-night roundtrip cruises that alternate between the western and eastern regions of the Arabian Gulf. 

Eastern itineraries will visit Khorfakkan in the UAE, and Khasab, Muscat and Sur in Oman, while Western itineraries will call in Abu Dhabi and Sir Bani Yas Island in the UAE, and Doha, Qatar and Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

These itineraries are similar to the 7-night roundtrip itineraries offered aboard Explora I for the 2024/25 cruise season out of Dubai, which have now been replaced with the newly announced North American program.

Explora II inaugural itineraries

After entering service in August, 2024 Explora II will continue to sail across the Western Mediterranean until November 2024. The newbuild will then cross the Atlantic to offer Caribbean journeys during the 2024/25 winter months.

The ship will be deployed in the Mediterranean again for summer 2025, with embarkation in Barcelona or Civitavecchia.

During the 2025/26 winter, Explora II is scheduled to operate itineraries in the Eastern Caribbean with a range of calls including Pointe-a-Pitre in Guadeloupe; Roseau, Dominica; Little Bay, Montserrat and Marigot, St. Martin.