Why You Might Love Explora Journeys in Alaska (Even If You've Never Heard of Them)
There’s a ship that hasn’t sailed Alaska yet.
It won’t until 2027. And we’re already talking about it.
EXPLORA III is Explora Journeys’ newest ship - brand new, purpose-built, powered by liquified natural gas - and when it arrives in Alaskan waters next summer, it’s going to offer something genuinely different from what most travelers picture when they think about cruising the last frontier.
We put it on The Alaska Shortlist because we believe in what Explora has built. And we think Alaska is exactly the kind of destination that deserves this kind of ship.
What Explora Journeys Actually Is
If you haven’t heard of Explora Journeys, that’s part of the point.
This isn’t a line that plasters its name on billboards or runs TV commercials. It’s a relatively new brand - launched in 2022 - that set out to build something closer to a boutique hotel at sea than a traditional cruise ship. The design inspiration wasn’t other cruise lines. It was Belmond. Cheval Blanc. Ritz-Carlton.
Every suite is ocean-front. Every suite has a private terrace. Everything is included - nine distinct dining experiences, unlimited beverages including fine wines and premium spirits, the Ocean Wellness spa thermal area, high-speed Wi-Fi, fitness classes, gratuities. You board, and the math is done. There’s no mental tab running in the background. You’re just there.
The ship carries a fraction of the passengers that a mainstream cruise ship would - which means the ratio of space to guest, and staff to guest, is dramatically different from what most people picture when they hear the word “cruise.” The overall feel is residential. Unhurried. The kind of place where the staff learns your coffee order by day two.
Why Alaska Specifically
Most cruise lines bring their standard product to Alaska and add a few wildlife lectures. Explora built their Alaska itineraries from the ground up.
EXPLORA III’s Alaska sailings include ports that most ships never touch. Wrangell - where you can try to decipher 3,000-year-old Tlingit petroglyphs at Petroglyph Beach. Klawock, one of the newest large cruise ship ports in Alaska, opened in 2024 and operated by a Native corporation with all profits supporting the local Indigenous community. Haines, tucked into a fjord at the northern end of the Inside Passage, surrounded by peaks that drop straight into the water.
The Destination Experiences - up to 60 curated shore excursions bookable in advance using Explora Credit - are genuinely extraordinary. A helicopter flight and dog sledding on Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau. A floatplane into Tongass National Forest for black bear viewing in Ketchikan. A vintage rail journey through waterfalls and gorges to White Pass Summit in Skagway - retracing the Klondike Gold Rush route. A boat journey beneath mountains in Seward, toward tidewater glaciers and marine wildlife.
These aren’t generic shore excursions dressed up with better branding. They’re small-group, curated experiences that match the pace and philosophy of the ship itself.
And for travelers who want to extend the journey inland, Explora offers Overland Immersions - pre- and post-cruise land packages covering Fairbanks, Denali, Anchorage, and Talkeetna. The interior of Alaska is genuinely accessible here, which isn’t always the case with a cruise line’s routing.
What’s on The Alaska Shortlist
The sailing we’re featuring is a 7-night journey from Seward to Vancouver, departing July 9, 2027. Seven ports. Two countries. The Inside Passage, Hubbard Glacier, Sitka, Juneau, and Skagway - all done at the pace Explora is known for.
The itinerary threads the needle beautifully for a traveler who wants Alaska properly - not rushed, not packed with sea days, but with genuine time in each destination and a ship that becomes its own destination on the days between ports.
Who This Is - and Isn’t - For
Explora in Alaska is right for you if:
You want the highest level of luxury and service available in Alaskan waters. You want everything included with nothing to track. You’re drawn to smaller ships, less-visited ports, and the kind of experience that rewards slowing down. You’ve been looking at Explora and wondering if it lives up to the promise - Alaska is a genuinely extraordinary context to find out.
It might not be right for you if:
You’re looking for a “fun ship” atmosphere - the kind of energy you’d find on Virgin Voyages or a family-friendly line. Explora is elegant and social, but it’s not high-energy entertainment. If that’s what you’re after, it’s simply not the right fit.
Explora III also doesn’t currently sail into Glacier Bay National Park. Glacier Bay access requires a National Park permit, and not every cruise line has one. If Glacier Bay is a non-negotiable for your Alaska trip, look at Princess Cruises or Holland America, which have the largest number of permitted sailings.
And it’s worth being honest about price - Explora sits at the upper end of the luxury cruise market. The all-inclusive model means no surprises after you board, but the entry point is higher than most lines. If budget is a significant constraint, one of the other Shortlist options may be a better fit.
Why This Ended Up on The Alaska Shortlist
We vet everything we recommend. And Explora earns its place on this list for a specific reason: it’s the option for the traveler who wants Alaska to feel like a complete experience - not just the destination, but the ship itself.
The kind of traveler who has been running at full speed for too long. Who wants to come home genuinely changed by what they saw and did. Who wants the planning handled, the logistics removed, and the space to actually be present in one of the most extraordinary places on earth.
EXPLORA III hasn’t sailed Alaska yet. But what Explora has built on their existing ships - the service culture, the all-inclusive philosophy, the residential feel - travels with the brand. We’re confident in what this will be.
It’s on The Alaska Shortlist because we’d book it ourselves.
Curious about what an Explora Journey in Alaska actually looks like? We’ve got guide to everything that makes Explora Journeys extraordinary - from the ocean-front suites to the Destination Experiences to what's included in every sailing. Explore it here → And when something catches your eye, reach out. We'll take it from there.
