The fare
The Explora II sailings we would shortlist run from about $6,400 per person for 7 nights, depending on ship, suite, season and itinerary.
ResearchLines, ships and destinations, in detail
Explora Journeys
Explora II
Explora I's twin, a year newer, with the same room to spread out.
Overview
Explora II followed in 2024 and is to all intents the same ship as Explora I: all-suite, all-terrace, relaxed, with the same restaurants and pools. Choose between them on itinerary and date, not design.
Explora II entered service in 2024 as the second of the fleet. The layout, suite categories, restaurants and pools match Explora I closely, with the small refinements a line makes once it has run a ship for a year.
We treat the two as one ship in planning: whichever is on the itinerary and dates the family wants. Where both fit, the newer ship gets the nod for a party that cares about the freshest fit-out.
At a glance
- Line
- Explora Journeys
- Size
- Mid-size ship, around 920 guests
- Entered service
- 2024 (approximate)
- Our pick
- Connecting Ocean Terrace suites midship; an Ocean Penthouse for the grandparents
Thinking about Explora II?
We will say whether Explora II is right for your party, which suite we would book and which sailing, or name the ship we would choose instead.
Best for
- Families and multigenerational groups
- Grandparents hosting adult children and grandchildren
- Travelers who want a modern, relaxed ship
- Caribbean winters with teenagers
Not for
- Couples wanting a small ship
- Anyone who wants traditional cruise ritual
- Expedition-minded travelers
Price
What Explora II costs
The same fare position as Explora I: mid to upper luxury with dining, drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities included. Each sailing page carries a planning figure.
What it costs
Planning figures for Explora II
Planning figures from the sailings on this page, not a quote.
What that includes
Dining across most venues; Drinks and minibar; Wi-Fi; Gratuities; Wellness facilities. Anything not on that list, we price alongside the fare so there is no surprise on board.
Around the ship
Flights, hotel nights before and after, private transfers and any excursions outside the fare sit on top. Your proposal sets out the cruise fare and additional costs so you can compare the full trip.
Have a budget in mind?
Tell us what you are looking for and the figure you have in mind. We will say what it buys on each line, and where the same money goes further.
On board
Suites, cabins, dining and evenings on Explora II
In our words, from the questions we are asked most. Suite names are the line's; which one we would book is ours.
- Suites
- Ocean Terrace, Ocean Grand Terrace, Ocean Penthouse and Ocean Residence categories as on Explora I. Residences have a separate living room and the best terraces on the ship.
- Cabins we would book
- Connecting Ocean Terrace suites for families; an Ocean Penthouse for grandparents who want a living area without the Residence fare. Midship on a middle deck is the quiet choice.
- Dining
- The same nine or so venues as Explora I, all open seating, nearly all included. A family can eat together or apart every night without a reservation fight.
- Entertainment
- Lounges with live music, a small theater, films on deck, a casino. Not a ship for anyone who wants a big production show every night.
Want the right suite on Explora II?
Tell us who is traveling and we will name the deck and the suite numbers we would hold, and the ones we would avoid.
Children, grandparents, mobility
Explora II for the whole family
Three honest notes: what the ship does for children, what it does for grandparents, and what it asks of anyone with limited mobility.
- Children
- Children's and teenagers' spaces with a program on school-vacation sailings; children welcome everywhere on board.
- Grandparents
- Large suites, several pools, a spa with a thermal area and a pace that suits a long lunch. Easy to host from without carrying the week.
- Accessibility
- A limited number of accessible suites; we confirm suite numbers with the line. Most Mediterranean and Caribbean calls are alongside, a few by tender.
Planning for the whole family?
Connecting suites, different activity levels, dining that works for everyone, and transfers that suit grandparents and toddlers alike. The best family suites go first, so start early.
Where it sails
Where Explora II goes
The regions this ship sails as far as we know; the itinerary confirms the ports and the season.
Mediterranean
The easiest great cruise there is: short flights, famous ports, and a ship for every kind of family.
Caribbean
Winter sun for the whole family, on ships that make Christmas and half-term easy.
Greek Islands
Small ships, island overnights, and a late season that runs into October.
Baltic & Northern Capitals
Copenhagen, Stockholm, Tallinn and Helsinki in a week, with culture the whole way.
Sample itineraries
Sailings we would consider on Explora II
Planning figures per person; the final price depends on date, suite and availability.
Explora II: a Caribbean Christmas for the whole family
Barbados round trip over Christmas with the Grenadines, connecting suites and someone else cooking.
Not sure where to go?
Give us the month, who is traveling and how far you will fly. A specialist will name the two or three regions and ships we would choose.
Deck plans and photographs
Deck plans and pictures of Explora II
On Explora's official site; we send the marked-up plan with the suites we recommend in every proposal.
Explora I alongside in Monaco at dusk, with a terrace set for an evening reception in the foregroundPhoto: Matti Blume · CC BY-SA 4.0 
Explora I leaving the port of Rhodes on a clear summer afternoonPhoto: Pjotr Mahhonin · CC BY-SA 4.0
Our promise
We will say no.
We do not recommend a cruise because it is expensive, and we do not put people on the wrong ship. If Explora II is not right for your party, we will tell you and suggest the one that is, even if it costs less or is sold by someone else. We are an advisor, not a booking engine.
Speak to a specialistGood to know
Explora II FAQs
Explora I or Explora II?
They are near-identical. Pick the itinerary and date that suit the family; if both work, the newer ship. We will say which sailing we would take and why.
Same line
Other Explora Journeys ships we have written up
Explora I
The ship we shortlist first for three generations in the Mediterranean.
Compared
Explora Journeys against the alternatives
The best luxury Caribbean cruises
Luxury Caribbean cruises shortlisted by Blackbury for families at Christmas, couples in search of small islands and grandparents who want warm, easy weeks.
The best luxury cruise for a family of 10
Planning a luxury cruise for ten people: how many cabins, which ships have the connecting suites, where to go, when to book and how to split the cost. Blackbury's working method.
The best luxury cruises for first-time cruisers
Which ships change the mind of someone who thinks they would hate cruising: relaxed modern ships, yachts and one all-inclusive line, and the itinerary we suggest for a first week at sea.
Plan your Explora II cruise with Blackbury Travel.
Our pick: Connecting Ocean Terrace suites midship; an Ocean Penthouse for the grandparents. Tell us who is traveling and when, and we will say which sailing and which suite, or whether another ship would suit you better.