The crossing
In December 2027, seventeen nights from Barcelona to Rio de Janeiro, calling at Málaga, Tangier, Recife and Maceió. The most beautiful way to arrive in Brazil by sea.
Length: 17 nights.
Route: Barcelona to Rio de Janeiro.
CruisesExplora Journeys
A ship that behaves like a hotel rather than a ship. Suites only, every one facing the sea, and an itinerary that changes city while you sleep.
Monaco2 to 7 June 2027
BrazilFrom December 2027
Six shipsFull fleet by 2028
Suites onlyEach with a private terrace
The house reading
Explora is the brand the MSC Group built for people who never pictured themselves on a cruise.
The ships are built by Fincantieri in Genoa and designed like hotels. Around nine hundred guests per voyage, suites only with terraces, six restaurants, twelve bars and lounges, a spa. The rhythm is a hotel’s, not a ship’s.
Explora is a long-standing commercial partner of WAYFARER. We have followed the brand since its first ship, and that is what lets us say with confidence which suite, which date and which route make sense for each trip.
The brand is growing fast. Two ships have sailed since 2023 and 2024, the third entered service in July 2026, and two more arrive in 2027. Next December, for the first time, one of them comes to Brazil.
Operator
Explora Journeys, MSC Group
Guests
Around 900 per ship
Rooms
Suites only, all facing the sea
Relationship
A long-standing WAYFARER partner
Monaco, from the harbour.
From 2 to 7 June 2027, EXPLORA I berths in Port Hercule around 150 metres from the circuit, for the third year running. She is the only ship of her kind in the harbour for the whole weekend. Bookings opened in September 2026.
Option oneSuite
- The stay alone
The suite as a base in the middle of town, with a terrace over the harbour, for those who already hold tickets or would rather watch from aboard.
Option twoGrandstand
- Suite and three days in the grandstand
Practice, qualifying and the race, with the ship to return to between sessions.
Option threePaddock
- Suite and three days of Paddock Club
Paddock Club hospitality, a pit lane walk and appearances by Formula 1 drivers and ambassadors. Released after the other two.
Before or afterSail
- Rome to Monaco, 24 May to 7 June
- Monaco to Barcelona, 2 to 14 June
- Rome to Barcelona, 24 May to 14 June
Race weekend can sit inside a longer Mediterranean crossing.
The race is on Sunday 6 June 2027. The onboard programme has not been announced.
In focus
Explora comes to Brazil.
In the 2027 and 2028 season, EXPLORA I spends her first winter in South America: ten journeys, thirty-seven destinations and twenty ports new to the brand, twelve of them in Brazil. There are overnights in Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires and Puerto Madryn.
Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires
Seven nights along the coast: Paraty, Ilhabela, Porto Belo and Punta del Este, ending in Buenos Aires. The first departure from Rio is 21 December 2027.
Length: 7 nights.
Reference: suites from US$ 4,391 per person.
Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro
The reverse route, by Montevideo, Búzios and Ilha Grande, arriving in Rio. Departures alternate with the southbound route through the season.
Length: 7 nights.
First departure: 28 December 2027.
Patagonia
In January 2028, eight nights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, by the Beagle Channel, Puerto Williams, Punta Arenas and Cape Horn. Glaciers, fjords and archipelagos few people ever see.
Length: 8 nights.
Route: Buenos Aires to Ushuaia.
What we say upfront
The cruises are operated and sold by Explora Journeys. Dates, routes and figures above come from the company’s announcements and sales channels; they are references and may change. Suite, flights, nights ashore and transfers are ours to arrange, and we confirm in writing what is secured before any payment.
The fleet.
Six ships from one family, built in sequence. The four newest run on liquefied natural gas, part of the brand’s goal of net-zero marine operations by 2050.
2023I
- EXPLORA I
In service since August 2023. The ship for Monaco and the Brazil season.
2024II
- EXPLORA II
Delivered in September 2024, a twin of the first.
2026III
- EXPLORA III
The first to run on liquefied natural gas, in service since July 2026.
2027IV and V
- EXPLORA IV
- EXPLORA V
Both arrive during 2027.
2028VI
- EXPLORA VI
Completes the planned fleet.
The best seat for the Monaco Grand Prix may be your suite.
Get in touchOr see the Monaco Grand Prix and yacht charter.