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Explora Club marks its 1-year anniversary with expanded Hilton partnership
TPG's director of travel content Eric Rosen has used points and miles to visit some of the world's most remote corners, including swimming with whale sharks off Western Australia's Ningaloo Coast, exploring the wilds of Botswana's Okavango Delta and tasting the high-altitude wines of Argentina's Mendoza region.
July 9, 2026 • 10 min read
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Editorial note: The following interview was conducted over email and some of the quotes have been edited for brevity.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
Explora Journeys' loyalty program, Explora Club, marks its first anniversary with expanded benefits and a deepened partnership with a major hotel loyalty program.
Members can now earn and redeem hotel points for luxury cruises, with exclusive perks based on elite status, such as onboard credits and private transfers for top-tier members.
The program emphasizes personalized recognition and community, with guests valuing emotional connections and tailored experiences over traditional points or perks.
Most members are in entry-level tiers, but status matches and exclusive tiers encourage long-term engagement and repeat bookings.
What to consider
Hotel loyalty members booking cruises through the partnership receive a 5% discount and can earn base points for cruise fares, with award rates for redemptions yet to be announced.
Enhanced benefits, such as welcome events and onboard credits, are tiered by elite status and subject to availability.
Spending on suites and onboard purchases counts toward status, and exclusive member offers are available during special promotions like the first anniversary.
What you'll miss from the article
Insights into how Explora Club fosters guest loyalty, details on the evolving member experience and a breakdown of new partnership benefits for luxury travelers.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
"We wanted this loyalty program to celebrate our guests' journey with us and their loyalty ... where they feel seen," Explora Journeys president Anna Nash told TPG at the time.
Now, as the program celebrates its first anniversary, Explora Journeys has expanded its partnership with Hilton Honors, and TPG has the first details.
We checked back in with Nash to hear how the program has grown and changed, and we learned about a few new benefits members can expect as Explora Club hits its stride.
GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
Hilton Honors and Explora Journeys partnership
Hilton announced an expansion of its Hilton Honors program last December with the launch of Hilton Adventures — a collection of outdoor experiences, luxury cruises and special offerings designed to expand members' points-earning and redemption opportunities.
At the time, Hilton Honors members who booked a trip with Explora Journeys by June 7, 2026, received 100,000 Hilton Honors bonus points per Explora suite booked. They also received an in-suite welcome gift and either up to a $400 journey experience credit for a selection of 16 Explora itineraries or a $200 credit for all other Explora voyages.
And as of now, Hilton Honors members can earn and redeem points on cruises with Explora Journeys booked through Hilton. They can also expect exclusive benefits while sailing.
"This next phase of our partnership with Hilton Honors reflects a shared commitment to exceptional hospitality and recognizing each guest as an individual," Nash said in a release.
Hilton Honors members who book Explora Journeys sailings through Hilton will earn 10 base points for every U.S. dollar spent on cruise fares. They will also be able to redeem Hilton points for cruises and enjoy a 5% discount on cruise fares. Award rates haven't been released yet, but we bet they'll be pricey.
Travelers will also receive enhanced benefits based on their Hilton elite-status tier, such as a welcome cocktail party with ship leadership for Gold members and above. Diamond members will receive additional Journey Experience Credits toward things like spa treatments, a la carte wine tastings and bridge tours, subject to availability; Diamond Reserve members will receive private port transfers.
Eligible stays count toward Hilton Honors elite status, too. All this is exciting for the affluent travelers who spend a lot of money on high-end experiences on land, and it means even more opportunities to attain and enjoy their Hilton elite status.
"Our partnership with Explora Journeys is, first and foremost, about giving Hilton Honors members new ways to dream and new ways to stay — unlocking the ability to redeem and earn Hilton Honors Points and receive unique perks and access," Hilton chief marketing officer and head of luxury brands, Mark Weinstein, said in a release. " And it’s an invitation in both directions. We can’t wait to welcome Explora’s guests into our Hilton hotels and resorts around the world."
Explora Club celebrates one year of loyalty
TPG also had the opportunity to ask Nash some questions about the first year of Explora Club and the new Hilton partnership. Here's what she had to say.
TPG: It has been a year since the launch of Explora Club. Is it working as you expected in driving more loyalty to the brand?
Anna Nash: As our community of returning guests grew, one of the questions we were increasingly asked was, "When will Explora Journeys launch a loyalty program?" We already had a growing number of guests choosing to sail with us again, so Explora Club was created to recognize and reward that loyalty in a way that is distinctly Explora Journeys.
One year on, I can confidently say it has exceeded our expectations. Members are returning to sail with us, booking further in advance and exploring more of our growing collection of journeys. We are also seeing many returning guests choose higher suite categories as they become more familiar with the ships and discover new ways to experience the brand. More importantly, we are seeing a genuine community develop around Explora Journeys, with guests choosing us not just for a single holiday, but as their preferred way to experience the ocean.
TPG: What has been the overall reaction to the various perks and privileges at all levels of the program? Are there any specific benefits that guests tell you they love most?
AN:The reaction has been incredibly encouraging, but what has struck me most is that our guests don't talk about Explora Club in terms of points or perks. They talk about feeling recognized.
Having spent my career in luxury hospitality, I have learned that the strongest brands create genuine emotional connections with their guests. People return because of how a brand makes them feel. I am seeing that same connection develop with Explora Journeys, and that is incredibly rewarding.
Of course, some of the benefits have proved particularly popular. Journey Experience Credits give guests the freedom to personalize their time on board, and our referral program has been wonderful to watch grow. There is no greater compliment than a guest choosing to introduce Explora Journeys to their friends and family.
The Lobby Bar has the feel of one in a high-end hotel. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
TPG: It takes quite a few points to get to the higher tiers of the program. Given that it has only been a year, are most, if not all, customers still at the entry-level tiers, such as Classic and Silver, or are you starting to see some customers hitting the top Platinum or Diamond levels?
AN:As you would expect after just one year, many members are beginning their Explora Club journey within the Classic and Silver tiers.
At the same time, we have welcomed a significant number of Gold and Platinum members through our Explora Club status match program, which recognizes loyalty earned with selected luxury cruise brands and allows eligible guests to enjoy enhanced benefits from the very beginning of their relationship with us.
Diamond is intentionally different. It can only be achieved by earning points through sailing with Explora Journeys, making it our most exclusive tier. While only a small number of members have reached Diamond in this first year, that reflects exactly what we intended. It's a recognition of a genuine, long-term relationship built through repeated experiences with our brand.
BELINDA LUKSIC FOR THE POINTS GUY
TPG: Spending on suites and making onboard purchases count toward status. How are you seeing that spending break down — do you find the prospect of elite status and perks is pushing folks toward spending more onboard and toward destination and wellness expenses?
AN: What we are seeing is that, as guests become more familiar with Explora Journeys, they naturally begin to experience more of what we have to offer. Some choose a different suite category for a future journey, others extend their stay, spend more time enjoying Ocean Wellness or discover more of our Destination Experiences. Explora Club recognizes and rewards the choices our guests naturally make.
The behaviors we are seeing are very encouraging. Compared with nonmembers, Explora Club members book their journeys further in advance, stay with us for longer, and are significantly more likely to return and sail with us again. As members return to us, they know how they want to spend their time. We increasingly see them planning ahead, reserving Destination Experiences and Ocean Wellness treatments before they sail so they can make the very most of every day on board and ashore.
Our most engaged members ... return, they explore different itineraries, they experience different suite categories and they continue to discover more of what Explora Journeys has to offer.
Our exclusive member offers have also been well received, particularly during our first anniversary celebrations. Throughout July [2026], members can enjoy exclusive savings on selected future journeys, with Silver members and above receiving ... additional savings. It is our way of thanking the guests who have supported us from the very beginning.
We have also enjoyed bringing our members together during dedicated Explora Club gatherings on board. They provide a wonderful opportunity for our leadership team to spend time with returning guests, hear their feedback firsthand and thank them personally for the trust they continue to place in us.
The biggest accommodation on Explora I is its massive, 3,014-square-foot Owner's Residence. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
TPG: Now that you've had a year of feedback from guests, is there anything about the program you're thinking of changing?
AN: Over the past year, our guests have helped shape the evolution of the program, and that will continue. We make refinements where they genuinely enhance the member experience, not simply for the sake of change.
One initiative I am particularly looking forward to is hosting our first President's Cruise this December. It will be an opportunity for me to spend more time with our guests and Explora Club members, listen to their experiences firsthand and hold a series of informal roundtable discussions. There is no substitute for those conversations, and I expect they will play an important role in shaping the future evolution of Explora Club.
Ultimately, our ambition is simple: to ensure Explora Club continues to evolve alongside our guests, remaining meaningful, relevant and a true reflection of the relationship we are building together.
GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
TPG: How does your recent partnership with Hilton Honors change the game for loyalty lovers interested in booking a luxury cruise — and is it working in bringing in new customers?
AN: Our partnership with Hilton Honors is a very natural one because both brands share a commitment to delivering exceptional hospitality and creating lasting relationships with guests.
For us, it also represents an important opportunity to introduce Explora Journeys to a highly engaged global community of luxury travelers, many of whom may never have considered an ocean journey before.
The partnership has now entered an exciting new phase. Having introduced the ability for [Explora Club] members to earn Hilton Honors points when sailing with Explora Journeys, they can now also redeem their points toward an Explora Journeys experience while enjoying exclusive benefits. It creates a seamless connection between two premium hospitality brands and gives members far greater flexibility in how they choose to travel.
It is still early, but the initial response has been very encouraging. We know there is a significant audience of luxury hotel guests who have yet to discover ocean travel. If this partnership inspires even a small proportion of them to experience Explora Journeys for the first time, then it is already achieving exactly what we hoped.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
