MSC Cruises is known for its low prices and budget-friendly offerings, but that is changing with its new luxury brand, Explora Journeys.
As a fan of MSC Cruises and, in particular, its incredible Yacht Club suite-only area, I was excited to try this new offshoot of the brand, hailed as an upscale spinoff with top-notch service and food.
Great reviews and an enticing itinerary made the decision a no-brainer, and I booked my first Explora Journeys cruise sailing to the Eastern Caribbean.
Was this new adventure in cruising worth the steep price? Here are my thoughts after spending a week onboard Explora Journeys’ first ship.
Explora Journeys is making waves as MSC’s new luxury brand
As a frequent MSC cruiser, I have been keeping an eye on Explora Journeys since the launch of its first ship in 2023. This new brand quickly gained favor with critics, and I became more excited about trying this line, especially with its unique itineraries and promises of unparalleled service.
One of the things that immediately got my attention was how affordable Explora Journeys was, with comparable suite experiences on other cruise lines costing thousands more. When shopping, I was stunned to see an itinerary that was slightly cheaper than a 7-night cruise on MSC Seashore in Yacht Club.
The decision was easy, and I booked Explora I, the smallest ship I had ever been on with a mere 900 passengers. To provide some context, Explora I is around one-third of the size of MSC Seascape, one of my favorite ships with a capacity of 5,800 passengers. I wondered if the ship would be too small and worth the price tag, though.
Our Ocean Terrace Suite was comfortable with lots of great perks
For our journey, we chose an Ocean Terrace Suite, the entry-level option. The ship features 461 suites onboard, all ocean-facing, with no interior or ocean-view cabins. Some suites, referred to as Residences, run up to 3,000 square feet, with more space than many people’s homes. While I enjoy spending time on our balcony, we did not need more than 300 square feet!
Looking at the layout of the suite, it is quite similar to MSC Yacht Club staterooms in both size and design. Walking into my Explora cabin, my first impression was that it felt a tiny bit smaller due to the walk-in closet, but this turned out to be a fantastic addition to the cabin design with so much storage.
Unlike MSC’s Yacht Club, you do not get a butler assigned to you in an Ocean Terrace Suite. Honestly, I don’t find one necessary anyway. Our cabin steward was great, and should you need anything Guest Services answers the phone right away. My toothbrush never made it onto the ship, and when I called for assistance, I had a new one in 15 minutes. Now that’s service!
Beyond a spacious cabin, our suite came with plenty of nice perks
Even before boarding, we were sent a questionnaire asking about our drink and pillow preferences, setting the stage for our week in luxury.
We also had our choice of wine and spirits for our cabin, which were waiting when we arrived, along with a chilled bottle of champagne. A fully stocked mini-bar, binoculars, water bottles, a beach bag, robes, and slippers were also in our suite.
A day bed on our balcony was a welcome addition and the ideal place to relax on one of the two sea days we had. Something unexpected was the nice selection of books in our cabin, our own personal library.
The walk-in closet had plenty of storage and a comfortable vanity with light. Connecting to this is a decent-sized bathroom (enormous by MSC standards) with a spacious shower, luxurious bath products, a rainfall shower head, and a super fancy Dyson hair dryer.
Part of our suite also included premium Wi-Fi which was the fastest I have ever had on a cruise ship. This was another nice benefit, especially as I had to check in with work occasionally.
The perks of the suite extend far beyond the cabin itself
While the suite itself is full of wonderful things, there are several other benefits such as a premium unlimited drink package, access to almost all the dining venues for free, premium Wi-Fi for 3 devices, and gratuities.
For a regular cruise on MSC, the premium drink package is over $1,200 for two people. This is on top of gratuities of $20 per day per person ($280 for a week), plus Wi-Fi at $140 for one device. The value of inclusions on Explora Journeys adds up quickly!
High-end food is another major benefit of sailing on Explora Journeys. There is a beautifully decorated buffet with indoor and outdoor seating, full bar service, and an extensive array of food.
Beyond that, there are 4 included restaurants with large menus filled with mouth-watering options. As someone who loves food and trying new things, the addition of so many high-end dining venues was a major plus.
Among the most popular are Sakura (Asian cuisine) and Marble & Co steakhouse. These options are so in demand that you can only dine at each once during the week and should be reserved ahead of time. Although I really enjoyed the private dining experience in the MSC Yacht Club, having a variety of options, with no limits, was much better.
Explora Journeys truly offers the “suite” life and is worth the splurge
Between the well-appointed suites stocked with treats, drinks, and world-class dining, the price of the cabin is well worth the all-inclusive experience you get on MSC’s newest venture.
A lot of cruise lines talk about an all-inclusive experience, but pretty much everything is included on Explora Journeys: food, drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities, mini-bar, snacks like gelato, access to the spa, entertainment, and some nice goodies in your stateroom. This is the first cruise that I did not spend any extra money on, except for added tips for our cabin attendant.
This all-inclusive experience added to the relaxing vibe of the cruise, and the size of the ship wasn’t an issue. In fact, it was an advantage as it allowed us to visit some amazing smaller ports that larger ships couldn’t. All in all, the cruise was worth the premium price tag and I can’t wait to sail with Explora Journeys again.
Chantal McPhee
Chantal McPhee has a great passion for travel since first venturing to the Bahamas as a child with her grandparents. Today, she loves cruising with her husband and two daughters to new places and aspires one day to do a world cruise. Living on the east coast of Canada, she shares cruising tips and information with fellow Canucks seeking a reprieve from the great white north. She also teaches business studies at a university, with a focus on strategy
