Explora Journeys has announced 2 new Journey Collections for the Northern Winter 2027–2028 season, with EXPLORA I scheduled to explore South America during the Southern Hemisphere summer while EXPLORA V will operate a winter programme covering the Mediterranean, North Africa and the Atlantic Islands.
The new programmes complement previously announced seasonal deployments for EXPLORA II and EXPLORA IV in the Caribbean and EXPLORA III in Asia.
From December 2027 through March 2028, EXPLORA I will sail through Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, the Falkland Islands and Chile, taking advantage of the Southern Hemisphere summer. The itinerary combines tropical coastal destinations and major cities with the landscapes and wildlife of Patagonia.
The programme includes Christmas at sea and New Year’s Eve on the Brazilian coast, together with 5 overnight stays in destinations including Buenos Aires, Puerto Madryn and Rio de Janeiro. 8 late departures will provide additional evening time in ports such as Balneário Camboriú, Port Stanley, Rio de Janeiro and Maceió.
The South American collection introduces 20 maiden destinations for the ship, including 12 in Brazil. Further south, the itinerary extends towards Patagonia, linking Montevideo with the Beagle Channel, Puerto Williams, Punta Arenas and Cape Horn. The route also incorporates glaciers, fjords and remote archipelagos in the southern regions of Chile and Argentina.
EXPLORA V will operate its inaugural Journey Collection between December 2027 and April 2028, divided into three stages. The season will initially focus on the Western and Central Mediterranean and the North African coastline before moving into the Atlantic Islands in January and returning to the Mediterranean in March.
The winter programme is designed around destinations outside the main summer season, when the Mediterranean and Atlantic regions offer different seasonal conditions and a quieter operating environment.
The itinerary includes a maiden call at Crotone in Calabria, while late departures at Salerno, Livorno, Palma de Mallorca, Kotor and Ibiza will provide additional time ashore. Istanbul will feature opportunities for evening exploration, while a call at Pauillac will provide access to Bordeaux and its surrounding wine estates.
The programme will also include Christmas at sea and a New Year’s Eve sailing off Naples, allowing guests to view the city’s fireworks from the ship.
As EXPLORA V moves towards the Atlantic Islands, the itinerary will feature destinations including Los Cristianos in Tenerife, the Canary Islands and Madeira. Overnight stays in Casablanca and Lisbon will provide additional time to explore the two cities before the ship returns to the Mediterranean.
Explora Journeys President Anna Nash said the two collections reflected the company’s approach of focusing on the way destinations are experienced rather than the number of places visited. She described EXPLORA I’s programme as a combination of Brazil’s coastal destinations and the landscapes of Patagonia, while EXPLORA V would offer a different perspective on the Mediterranean during winter before continuing towards the Atlantic Islands.
Across both programmes, the onboard experience will include oceanfront suites with private terraces, outdoor spaces, dining venues and wellness facilities. The two collections will provide contrasting seasonal itineraries across the Southern Hemisphere and the Mediterranean and Atlantic regions while maintaining Explora Journeys’ all-suite ocean travel concept.