Explora Journeys Unveils Shore Trips for First Alaska Season
Explora III, the brand's first liquefied natural gas-powered ship, recently completed sea trials in the Mediterranean ahead of its scheduled July 24 launch.
Explora Journeys has outlined its shore experience program for its first Alaska season, with 14 departures planned from May through September 2027 aboard Explora III. The program groups Alaska and British Columbia excursions around glaciers, wildlife, coastal landscapes and Indigenous and local community experiences.
The season takes the MSC Group brand into Alaska for the first time and gives Explora III, the brand’s first LNG-powered ship, a defined summer deployment after her scheduled July 24 launch. The ship recently completed sea trials in the Mediterranean and is expected to enter service before operating the 2027 Alaska program.
Anna Nash, president of Explora Journeys, said the Alaskan Journeys Collection will give guests “a genuine sense of connection and discovery” in the region. She said the program is designed to bring passengers closer to “the glaciers, wildlife and cultures that define the region,” including helicopter flights, whale watching and local heritage experiences.
Glaciers and wildlife anchor the program
Glacier-focused options include a helicopter flight over the Juneau Icefield with time at Mendenhall Glacier, a catamaran experience near Hubbard Glacier, and jet boat trips positioned around LeConte Glacier Bay or Shakes Glacier.
Wildlife excursions include bear-viewing in Ketchikan, where guests may see black bears fishing for salmon, and late-season whale-watching from Prince Rupert. In Juneau, the program also includes marine wildlife viewing paired with a guided rainforest hike through Tongass National Forest.
Other excursions focus on fjords, rivers and coastal landscapes. Guests can travel by boat along the Stikine River in Wrangell or explore coastal scenery by water from Seward.
Community visits include Kaien Island and Skagway rail
The cultural program includes a visit to Kaien Island near Prince Rupert, where guests are welcomed by the Kitsumkalum community in the Great Bear Rainforest. In Skagway, a vintage rail journey retraces the route to White Pass Summit.
The company did not disclose pricing for the individual shore experiences.
