EXPLORA III’s cool climate luxury summer in the north

A different kind of luxury summer at sea

If the idea of sweating through another Mediterranean summer leaves you cold (in the best way), EXPLORA III is about to redefine what a luxury “summer opening” can look like. Launching in August 2026, Explora Journeys’ newest ship will spend her first season sailing a northern arc through Northern Europe, Iceland, Greenland, Canada and New England, with no repeated itineraries across the entire summer.

Instead of chasing heat and crowds, EXPLORA III leans into cooler climates, luminous northern light and culturally rich coastal cities, pairing long days ashore with an unhurried onboard rhythm. You can explore the full Summer 2026 programme and current offers at explorajourneys.com.

Northern Europe, Iceland, Greenland and a scenic crossing

EXPLORA III begins her season in Europe, sailing from Barcelona to Lisbon, then working her way north through the Norwegian fjords, Baltic capitals and Scandinavia’s storied cities before turning west towards Iceland, Greenland and North America.

Across Summer 2026 you can expect:

• No repeated itineraries, so each Journey segments a different stretch of coastline or ocean
• Maiden calls for the brand in ports like Bergen, Flåm, Riga and Tallinn, alongside favourites such as Stockholm and Copenhagen
• A scenic transatlantic crossing that routes via Iceland and Greenland before reaching Canada and New England, turning the ocean segment into a highlight rather than a hurdle

Longer stays and overnights in cities such as Stockholm, Reykjavik and Quebec City allow you to see each destination in a more relaxed way, from slow museum days and late dinners ashore to early‑morning walks when the streets are still quiet.

Immersive destination experiences in the north

Explora Journeys talks a lot about its “Ocean State of Mind”, and on EXPLORA III that translates into shore experiences designed to feel immersive, local and unhurried. In the Norwegian fjords, sample experiences include:

• Gliding through quiet inlets by silent electric boat
• Visiting family‑run orchards overlooking fjords such as Fisterfjord
• Riding the Loen Skylift to look out across shimmering glacial landscapes near Briksdal Glacier

As the ship heads west, the focus shifts to Canada’s Atlantic coastline, with options like kayaking and hiking along the Cabot Trail, exploring the Magdalen Islands and venturing into the wild limestone formations of the Mingan Archipelago. Further south, the season tracks the autumn colours of New England, giving you forested shores, river canyons and big‑ticket city moments in New York, before EXPLORA III makes a grand arrival into Miami under a tropical skyline.

A solar eclipse, ocean luminaries and rare moments

One of the most talked‑about itineraries in EXPLORA III’s Inaugural Journeys Collection is the solar eclipse sailing on 12 August 2026. The ship will be positioned in the path of optimal viewing for a rare eclipse – the first of its kind visible from parts of Europe in nearly three decades – turning a single morning or afternoon at sea into a once‑in‑a‑lifetime event.

To deepen the experience, Explora Journeys is curating a line‑up of onboard luminaries:

• Science presenter and adventurer Huw James, sharing accessible insight into the eclipse and the wider cosmos
• Helen Sharman, the first British astronaut, offering a personal perspective on space travel and our place in the universe
• Lewis Pugh, UN Patron of the Oceans, joining a segment between Bergen and Copenhagen to talk about endurance swimming and marine conservation in the very waters where his story began

These voices are folded into talks, informal conversations and hosted moments, giving the season a layer of context and meaning that goes beyond the usual enrichment lecture.

LNG power, Rolex at sea and new culinary concepts

EXPLORA III is also Explora Journeys’ first LNG‑powered ship, marking an important step in the brand’s long‑term sustainability roadmap. The ship incorporates advanced environmental technologies, shore‑power capability and a range of efficiency measures designed to reduce emissions while preserving the brand’s signature sense of calm, contemporary luxury.

On board, a few new highlights stand out:

• The return of the Rolex boutique‑at‑sea, building on the concept launched on EXPLORA I and offering a curated selection of iconic timepieces exclusively for guests
• A broader mix of luxury maisons in the retail area, including Cartier, Piaget and, for the first time, Chopard
• The Cellar by Explora Journeys, promising one of the most extensive wine collections at sea, with a strong focus on food‑pairing and discovery
• The Chef’s Table by Explora Journeys, where guests collaborate with the culinary team on bespoke menus for a highly personalised dining experience

These additions sit alongside the brand’s existing strengths: resort‑style suites with private terraces, multiple pools, indoor‑outdoor lounges and a refined, residential design language that feels more like a high‑end boutique hotel than a traditional cruise ship.

Limited‑time savings on Summer 2026 journeys

For its debut season, Explora Journeys is framing EXPLORA III as a kind of “spontaneous summer invitation” – albeit one you’ll want to act on quickly. Guests who reserve selected Summer 2026 Journeys by 26 May 2026 can access savings of up to 2,000 EUR per suite (or up to around $3,000 AUD equivalent) and enjoy a reduced 10% deposit, subject to terms and conditions.

To explore itineraries, dates and current offers, visit explorajourneys.com or speak with your preferred travel advisor about EXPLORA III’s Northern Europe, Iceland, Greenland, Canada & New England collection for Summer 2026.