Explora Journeys is reshaping its winter 2027-28 schedule with two new collections that send EXPLORA I to South America and EXPLORA V to the Mediterranean, North Africa and Atlantic Islands.
The new itineraries replace previously planned Middle East and Red Sea sailings. EXPLORA I will operate 10 Journeys visiting 37 destinations, including 20 maiden ports, while EXPLORA V will begin its inaugural winter season with 21 Journeys across three distinct phases.
For travelers, the revised schedule creates two dramatically different choices during the same season: Southern Hemisphere summer along the coast of South America or a quieter winter exploration of Mediterranean cities and Atlantic islands.
EXPLORA I Will Spend Summer in South America
From December 2027 through March 2028, EXPLORA I will explore Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, the Falkland Islands and Chile.
The ship will visit 37 destinations during 10 Journeys, with 20 maiden calls for Explora Journeys. Twelve of those new destinations will be in Brazil.
The collection is designed around the Southern Hemisphere summer, beginning with tropical shores and coastal cities before eventually reaching the more remote landscapes of Patagonia.
Holiday travelers will also find special timing built into the schedule, including Christmas at sea and New Year’s Eve along the Brazilian seafront.
Overnights and Late Departures Add More Time Ashore
Explora Journeys is giving guests additional time in several South American destinations rather than limiting visits to traditional daytime port calls.
The EXPLORA I collection includes five overnight stays, with Buenos Aires, Puerto Madryn and Rio de Janeiro among the ports highlighted for extended visits.
Eight late departures will provide additional evening time in destinations including Balneário Camboriú, Port Stanley, Rio de Janeiro and Maceió.
Those longer stays fit Explora Journeys’ emphasis on spending more time experiencing destinations rather than simply increasing the number of ports on an itinerary.
EXPLORA I Heads South to Patagonia and Cape Horn
The character of the voyage changes considerably as EXPLORA I moves farther south.
The ship’s route connects Montevideo with the Beagle Channel before continuing toward Puerto Williams, Punta Arenas and Cape Horn.
Along the way, guests will travel through regions characterized by glaciers, fjords and isolated archipelagos, creating a contrast with the Brazilian cities and warmer coastal destinations encountered earlier in the season.
The result is a South America program that combines major cultural destinations with the remote landscapes at the continent’s southern edge.
EXPLORA V Begins Its Inaugural Winter Season
EXPLORA V will make its debut with a very different collection of voyages between December 2027 and April 2028.
The ship’s inaugural winter program includes 21 Journeys divided into three stages. EXPLORA V will initially explore the Western and Central Mediterranean and North Africa before heading toward the Atlantic Islands in January. The ship will return to the Mediterranean in March.
The winter timing is intended to provide a quieter alternative to visiting the Mediterranean during its busiest summer months.
One of the new destinations will be Crotone in Calabria, which will receive a maiden call from Explora Journeys.
Late Nights Extend Mediterranean Port Visits
Several Mediterranean calls will continue into the evening, giving guests additional time ashore.
Late departures are planned in Salerno, Livorno, Palma de Mallorca, Kotor and Ibiza.
In Istanbul, guests will also have time to experience historic neighborhoods and bazaars after sunset. A call at Pauillac in France provides access to the wine estates around Bordeaux.
EXPLORA V’s holiday schedule includes Christmas at sea and New Year’s Eve off the coast of Naples, where guests will be able to view the city’s fireworks from the ship’s open decks.
Canary Islands and Madeira Add Winter Sun
EXPLORA V will leave the Mediterranean in January for a collection of Atlantic Island voyages.
Destinations include the Canary Islands and Madeira, where the itineraries will focus on volcanic landscapes, coastlines and island culture.
Los Cristianos in Tenerife is highlighted for its volcanic hiking trails and rugged coastal scenery, while Madeira adds its distinctive natural formations and terrace-carved hillsides.
Casablanca and Lisbon will receive overnight stays, providing guests with more time to explore two major cities along the Atlantic-facing portion of the season.
What Happens to the Middle East and Red Sea Cruises?
The South America and Mediterranean-Atlantic collections replace EXPLORA I and EXPLORA V itineraries that had previously been planned for the Middle East and Red Sea.
Explora Journeys did not provide a reason for the change in the announcement.
The rest of the company’s previously announced seasonal deployment continues alongside the revised itineraries. EXPLORA II and EXPLORA IV are scheduled for the Caribbean, while EXPLORA III will operate in Asia.
Two Different Ways to Spend Winter 2027-28
The revised schedule creates a dual-hemisphere season for Explora Journeys.
Travelers choosing EXPLORA I can follow summer south through Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina before reaching Patagonia, the Beagle Channel and Cape Horn. Those choosing EXPLORA V can experience the Mediterranean outside peak season before continuing toward North Africa, the Canary Islands and Madeira.
Both ships will maintain Explora Journeys’ onboard experience, including oceanfront suites with private terraces, expansive outdoor spaces, dining and ocean wellness experiences.
For travelers planning winter 2027-28, the most important change is the destination map. Instead of the previously scheduled Middle East and Red Sea voyages, Explora Journeys is offering two substantially different alternatives built around South America’s summer and a quieter Mediterranean and Atlantic winter.
Source: Explora Journeys
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