The top suites on this super-swanky new cruise ship will cost $9,000 a night
Would you pay $9,000 a night for a cruise on a ship that hasn't even debuted yet? A new luxury line launching in 2023 is betting on it.
Explora Journeys, a new luxury cruise brand, has set the fares for its upcoming sailings, and they are sky-high in some cases. On some voyages, the largest and most lavish suites will set you back nearly $9,000 per night for two people.
Even basic cabins on early sailings will cost around $1,000 per night.
That'll put the ship among the most expensive at sea, with pricing that compares to Regent Seven Seas Cruises' newest vessels. (On Regent's newest ships, the top Regent Suite sells for $11,000 a night for two people.)
Explora Journeys' first ship, the 922-passenger Explora I, is set to embark on a 15-night maiden voyage on July 17, 2023, sailing from Southampton, England, to the Norwegian fjords on its way to the Arctic Circle before ending the sailing in Copenhagen. Fares start at a whopping $19,400 per room with some suites selling for $36,100.
So, what else can you expect in terms of itineraries and pricing? I checked both the highest and lowest fares for five random sailings in 2023 and 2024, and this is what I found.
- Canada/New England: Oct. 13, 2023, seven-night voyage; balcony from $7,200 ($1,029 per night for two people), Owner's Suite from $52,200 ($7,458 per night for two people).
- Caribbean: Nov. 3, 2023, seven-night voyage; balcony from $5,900 ($843 per night for two people), Owner's Suite from $42,600 ($6,086 per night for two people).
- South America: Jan. 31, 2024, 16-night voyage; balcony from $16,400 ($1,025 per night for two people), Owner's Suite from $118,700 ($7,419 per night for two people).
- Alaska: May 28, 2024, 10-night voyage; balcony from $12,100 ($1,210 per night for two people), Owner's Suite from $87,600 ($8,760 per night for two people).
- Pacific Coast: Aug. 20, 2024, seven-night voyage; balcony from $7,700 ($1,100 per night for two people), Owner's Suite from $55,700 ($7,958 per night for two people).
While the fares may seem high, this is one line where you'll be getting a lot for your money. The fares include crew gratuities, alcohol, Wi-Fi, a free bottle of Champagne and choice of spirits for in-cabin consumption, free dining at nine onboard venues, fitness classes and shuttle service to the city center in each port (where available).
Explora Journeys, which currently has six vessels on order (including Explora I), will offer cruises to a wide variety of locations in 2023 and 2024, including the United Kingdom and Ireland, Canada/New England, Iceland and Greenland, the Caribbean, South America, the Pacific Coast and Hawaii, and Alaska.
The first four ships on order for the line, set to begin sailing in 2023, 2024, 2026 and 2027, will have 461 all-suite cabins designed to feel like oceanfront penthouses.
Explora I will have 10 distinct culinary experiences, 10 indoor and outdoor bars and lounges, four swimming pools, outdoor deck areas with private cabanas, wellness facilities and entertainment.
Explora Journeys is operated by the MSC Group, which is also the parent company of MSC Cruises. The move into the luxury space is a natural evolution for most cruise line conglomerates. All of the other major cruise companies have their own luxury brands already, with Carnival Corp. running Seabourn, Royal Caribbean Group owning Silversea Cruises and owning a piece of German luxury line Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings operating Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
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