Every Explora Journeys Ship Ranked Best to Worst for 2026
Choosing between Explora Journeys ships sounds like it should be easy. There are only three currently carrying passengers, and the ships share far more similarities than differences. But when you’re spending Explora money, “they’re basically the same” isn’t a particularly satisfying way to make a booking decision.
The good news is that passengers generally like what Explora is doing. These are spacious, quiet ships built around large suites, multiple restaurants and a more relaxed onboard atmosphere than you’ll find on the big mainstream lines. The less-good news is that the same things one passenger considers wonderfully peaceful can leave another wondering when something is actually going to happen.
For this ranking, I looked at the current passenger scores on Cruise Critic and Cruiseline.com and, more importantly, read passenger reviews published from August 2025 through August 2026. I wasn’t looking for which ship could win a mathematical contest by a tenth of a point. I wanted to know which one I’d actually tell someone to book.
That’s particularly important with Explora because newer doesn’t automatically mean better. EXPLORA III has barely started sailing, while EXPLORA I now has enough reviews to show how the product performs across different itineraries and groups of passengers. Sometimes having a track record beats having that new-ship smell.
Every Explora Journeys Ship Ranked Best to Worst
Cruise Critic and Cruiseline.com don't produce exactly the same scores, which isn't unusual. Cruise Critic tends to have a lot of experienced cruisers who have sailed Regent, Silversea, Seabourn, Crystal and other luxury lines, so their definition of “excellent” can be pretty unforgiving when a cruise costs this much.
Cruiseline.com reviews tend to be somewhat more generous about the overall vacation. Neither approach is wrong. In fact, with Explora the disagreement can be useful because it highlights the difference between “I had a wonderful cruise” and “did this truly deliver what an ultra-luxury line should deliver for the price?”
All Ships Ranked: Quick Reference
| # | Ship | Class | CC Score | CL Score | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Explora I | Explora Class | 4.2 / 5.0 | 4.4 / 5.0 | 4.24 |
| 2 | Explora II | Explora Class | 4.2 / 5.0 | 4.3 / 5.0 | 4.23 |
Scores weighted by number of reviews on each platform. CC = Cruise Critic member score; CL = Cruiseline.com score. Review window: August 2025 thru August 2026. Data collected August 31, 2026.
The Rankings, Ship by Ship
There isn't a bad ship at the bottom of this particular ranking. The differences are fairly small, and EXPLORA III is currently impossible to judge fairly because it has almost no review history. Think of this less as first place versus last place and more as which Explora ship currently presents the safest booking choice.
#1 Explora I
Explora Class · Worldwide
CC: 4.2 (98 reviews) | CL: 4.4 (25 reviews)
Best for: First-time Explora cruisers and adults who want the safest all-around choice
Explora I gets the top spot because it has the deepest review history in this very young fleet and the recent feedback is unusually consistent. Passengers repeatedly praise the spacious feel, large suites, polished service and dining, while experienced luxury cruisers often say the ship manages to feel intimate without becoming dull. It is also the ship with the strongest evidence that Explora's basic formula works over time rather than simply benefiting from new-ship excitement.
The catches are worth knowing. Entertainment and daytime activity levels can feel light if you expect a conventional big-ship schedule, a few reviewers say restaurant capacity or service can miss the mark, and value becomes a much tougher question when fares climb into true luxury-line territory. Still, if you are trying Explora for the first time and want the least speculative choice, Explora I is the one I would book.
#2 Explora II
Explora Class · Worldwide
CC: 4.2 (55 reviews) | CL: 4.3 (23 reviews)
Best for: Couples and experienced cruisers who prioritize space, food and a quiet ship
Explora II is barely behind its older sister and, for some cruisers, it may actually be the better fit. Recent passengers consistently praise the suites, uncrowded public spaces, attentive crew and generally strong dining, with several reviewers specifically noting how relaxed the ship feels even on sea days. It is a very good choice for couples who want a refined cruise without the constant announcements, games and production-show schedule found on larger mainstream ships.
The reason it lands second is that the criticism is a little less uniform. Some experienced luxury cruisers thought the food and service did not always match the price, and entertainment is still a weak point for anyone who wants a busy evening. Families can absolutely sail here, and recent reviews include happy parents, but this is not a ship I would choose because of children's programming. Book it because you want space, quiet and food, not because you are hoping Explora suddenly became Royal Caribbean with nicer wine glasses.
Not Yet Ranked
Explora III has too few reviews to be ranked at this time.
What the Scores Are Telling You
The biggest lesson from Explora's reviews is that you shouldn't spend much time worrying about the age difference between EXPLORA I and EXPLORA II. Both are still very new ships, both receive strong comments about their accommodations and physical condition, and neither has anything resembling the “older ship versus newer ship” problem you encounter when comparing fleets that span 20 or 25 years.
The more important question is whether Explora's style fits you in the first place. Passengers who love the ships repeatedly mention space, relaxed service, good food, comfortable suites and the lack of crowds. The same reviews also make it clear that passengers looking for elaborate production shows, packed activity schedules, giant pool decks or nonstop nightlife should probably be shopping elsewhere.
For a first Explora cruise, I'd start with EXPLORA I unless the itinerary or price makes II more attractive. I wouldn't pay a large premium simply to sail EXPLORA III because it's newer, at least not yet. If III has the itinerary you want and the fare is competitive, there's nothing in the early feedback that would scare me away. Just understand that you're booking before the passenger-review jury has really arrived.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Explora Journeys ship?
Right now, I'd give EXPLORA I the edge. It has strong passenger scores on both major review sites, significantly more reviews than its sister ships and a long enough track record to show that positive feedback isn't simply launch-month enthusiasm.
What is the best Explora ship for a first-time Explora passenger?
EXPLORA I. There are enough recent reviews from both new and highly experienced cruisers to know what you're getting, which makes it the least risky introduction to the brand.
Is EXPLORA II worse than EXPLORA I?
Not in any meaningful way. They're extremely close. EXPLORA II has excellent reviews for space, cabins, service and dining. I ranked it slightly lower because its recent feedback contains a few more complaints from experienced luxury cruisers about inconsistent food, service polish and value.
Is EXPLORA III the best ship because it is the newest?
There's nowhere near enough evidence to say that yet. Its first verified Cruiseline.com review is excellent, but Cruise Critic still shows zero passenger reviews. Give the ship some time before treating its newness as proof that it's better.
Which Explora ship is best for adults and couples?
Both EXPLORA I and II are very good choices. Explora's quiet atmosphere, generous public spaces and emphasis on dining and service naturally suit couples who don't need constant organized entertainment.
Is Explora Journeys good for families?
Families are allowed and there are positive family reviews, including a recent Cruise Critic review of EXPLORA II from parents traveling with children ages four and six. That doesn't make Explora a family-focused cruise line, though. If children's clubs, water parks and a huge selection of family activities drive your decision, there are much better fits elsewhere.
Which Explora ship feels least crowded?
Passenger reviews of both EXPLORA I and II frequently describe them as spacious and uncrowded. One of the advantages of the Explora concept is that you're not fighting thousands of passengers for loungers or seats. I wouldn't choose between I and II based on crowding alone.
Which Explora ship has the best cabins?
There isn't a clear loser. Suites are one of the strongest parts of the Explora product across the fleet. Recent EXPLORA II reviews are particularly enthusiastic, including one Cruise Critic passenger who called an Ocean Grand Terrace the nicest cabin they'd ever had.
How good is the food on Explora Journeys?
Generally very good, and sometimes passengers describe it as exceptional. It's also one of the areas where expectations matter. Several seasoned luxury cruisers loved it, while others complained about inconsistent preparation, temperature or particular restaurants. At Explora's price level, diners understandably become much less forgiving of an overcooked dinner.
What about entertainment?
This is probably the easiest reason not to book Explora. Entertainment generally receives respectable reviews, but there simply isn't as much of it as you'll find on a mainstream ship. If your perfect evening involves a Broadway-style production followed by comedy, a game show and then a nightclub until 2 a.m., Explora isn't hiding the fact that it has a different idea of a good night.
Which Explora ship offers the best value?
That depends heavily on the fare. I would compare I and II by itinerary and price rather than automatically paying more for one over the other. Both have reviews questioning value when fares become particularly high, because passengers naturally compare Explora with Regent, Crystal, Silversea and Seabourn once prices overlap.
Should I choose an Explora ship based on the ship or the itinerary?
With EXPLORA I and II, I'd choose the itinerary and fare. The onboard experience is similar enough that the ports, length of the sailing and price should matter more. EXPLORA III is a little different because some passengers will understandably want to try the newest member of the fleet.
Why is Cruise Critic somewhat tougher on Explora?
Many Cruise Critic reviewers have extensive experience with other luxury lines and openly compare Explora with Regent, Crystal, Silversea, Seabourn and Oceania. Someone who has taken 30, 40 or 60 cruises tends to notice details a first-time luxury cruiser might happily overlook.
Are there any Explora ships I would avoid?
No. The third-place ranking for EXPLORA III isn't a warning to avoid it. It's simply an acknowledgment that there isn't enough passenger feedback yet to rank it above two sister ships that already have established track records. If anything, the first verified passenger feedback from III is encouraging.