Head to head
Explora and Silversea are both luxury, both largely inclusive, and suit quite different parties. We compare ship size, formality, children, food, destinations and price, then say which we would choose for whom.
Explora Journeys and Silversea sit near each other on price and far apart in feel. Explora is new, large for luxury, relaxed and openly family-friendly. Silversea is established, mostly small, a little more formal and built around destinations rather than resort life.
Clients often arrive torn between them. The quickest way to decide is to ask who is travelling and whether the ship or the ports matter more.
| Criterion | Explora Journeys | Silversea |
|---|---|---|
| Ship size | Around 900 guests | 270 to 730 guests |
| Formality | Relaxed, no gala nights | Elegant; relaxed on Nova and Ray |
| Children | Dedicated spaces and programme | Welcome; no kids' club on most sailings |
| Connecting suites | Yes, in reasonable numbers | Few |
| Food | Many venues, very good | Excellent, with butlers to arrange it |
| Destinations | Mediterranean, Caribbean, Northern Europe, Alaska | Worldwide, including expedition fleet |
| Inclusions | Dining, drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities | Same, plus butler; door-to-door option with flights |
| Guide price, 7 nights Med | From about £4,200 pp | From about £5,000 pp |
Stars are Blackbury's editorial opinion, not independent ratings or customer reviews.
Choose Explora if children or teenagers are travelling, if the party is large, or if anyone in it dislikes dressing for dinner. The connecting suites, the children's spaces and the sheer room on board make a three-generation week work in a way few luxury ships manage.
Choose Silversea if the destinations lead: a one-way voyage through the Adriatic, Japan in blossom season, an expedition to Antarctica. Choose it, too, for a couple or for grandparents travelling alone who want a smaller ship, a butler and a crew who learn their names.
Where we would hesitate: Silversea for a family with young children, because the days can feel long for them; Explora for a couple who want intimacy, because around 900 guests is not intimate however well designed. In both cases we would say so and suggest something else.
In pictures
Licensed photographs of the lines compared above, credited; not brochure renders.
Tell us who's travelling and what matters most. We'll say which of these we'd book for you, and why.
The lines
Modern, relaxed, generous with space, and genuinely happy to see children.
Butler-served suites, serious destinations, and one of the strongest expedition fleets afloat.
Good to know
Usually a little less per person for a comparable suite in the Mediterranean, though it varies by date and ship. Silversea's door-to-door fare includes flights and transfers, so compare the full trip, which we do in every proposal.
Both are very good. Silversea's butler service and smaller ships give an edge for couples who want things arranged; Explora offers more variety across its venues, which suits a family over a week.
Keep reading
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Which luxury cruise lines actually work when grandparents take the grandchildren: the ships with children's programmes and connecting suites, the ones to avoid, and how we would plan it.
Tell us who's travelling, where you'd like to go and what matters most. We'll recommend the ships we'd actually consider.