Explora II to Spend 2026-27 Winter in the Mediterranean
Among the additions, Algiers will be Explora Journeys’ first call in Algeria, while overnight stays are planned in Casablanca, Lisbon, Madeira and Malaga.
Explora Journeys will keep Explora II in the Mediterranean for the full 2026-2027 winter season, the first time the MSC Group luxury cruise brand has dedicated a ship exclusively to the region during the winter months. The “A Mediterranean Winter” program will run from November 2026 through March 2027 and cover 46 destinations across 10 countries in Southern Europe and North Africa.
The deployment gives Explora Journeys a full off-season Mediterranean product built around longer port time, overnight calls and several first-time destinations for the brand. It also creates a split winter deployment, with Explora II in the Mediterranean while Explora I operates in the Caribbean, Central America and South America.
New ports and longer stays anchor the program
The itineraries include calls in Spain, Morocco, Portugal, France, Italy, Malta, Greece and Gibraltar, combining established Mediterranean cruise ports with destinations that have not previously appeared in Explora Journeys’ network. New additions include Ceuta, Algiers, San Sebastian de La Gomera, Fuerteventura and Palamos.
The Algiers call will be Explora Journeys’ first in Algeria. The program also gives added attention to smaller regional destinations, including Canary Islands calls at Puerto del Rosario in Fuerteventura and Santa Cruz de La Palma.
Several ports will have overnight stays, including Casablanca, Lisbon, Madeira and Malaga. Late departures are planned from Malaga, Cannes, Siracusa and Gibraltar.
The season also includes destination-led programming ashore. Planned experiences include a private Christmas concert in Gibraltar’s St Michael’s Cave, an after-hours visit to the Alhambra in Malaga, a private cultural event in Funchal and an overnight land program connecting Casablanca with Marrakech.
Explora II becomes the brand’s winter Mediterranean ship
Explora II entered service in 2024 and carries 922 passengers in 461 suites. The 63,900-gross-ton ship will continue to operate the brand’s wellness, dining and destination-focused onboard product during the winter season, with regional gastronomy and seasonal culinary programming tied to the areas visited.
Explora Journeys said the program was developed around the Mediterranean outside the peak summer period, with itineraries intended to give guests more time ashore and access to local culture, heritage and seasonal traditions. The announcement did not include an executive statement.
Other lines plan winter Mediterranean seasons
Explora Journeys is not the only line adding winter Mediterranean sailings. Oceania Cruises has announced its first full winter Mediterranean season for 2027-2028, with Oceania Allura scheduled to remain in the region from November through March.
Other published deployment plans point to additional winter activity in Europe. Viking plans to operate six ships in Europe during winter 2027-2028 across Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, while MSC World Asia is scheduled to launch in December 2026 with seven-night Mediterranean cruises calling at Barcelona, Naples and Civitavecchia for Rome.
