Explora Journeys, the luxury cruise line owned by the MSC Group, has signed a letter of intent with Dutch shipbuilder Den Breejen Shipyard to build its first river ships. It's the brand's first step beyond ocean cruising and onto Europe's inland waterways — though details are still thin, with no confirmed ship count, build value, routes or launch dates. Sales are pencilled in to open in 2027.
If you already cruise with Explora, the pitch will sound familiar. The line, headquartered in Geneva, built its reputation on an "Ocean State of Mind" — big-ship-at-sea freedom paired with European design and hospitality — and it plans to translate that approach to river sailing. Expect the usual later reveals on ship design, onboard experiences, delivery timelines and itineraries, none of which have been announced. Explora hasn't even said which rivers it will sail first.
The move puts Explora in increasingly crowded company. Celebrity Cruises made a similar splash with its own river fleet announcement last year, also targeting a 2027 launch. Viking built its empire in the opposite direction, growing from river cruising into ocean and expedition ships, while Scenic and Emerald already run twin river-and-ocean operations. With the Aponte-Vago family's 300-year maritime heritage behind it, Explora is betting there's room for one more luxury player on the Rhine, Danube or wherever its first routes end up.
Meanwhile, the ocean side of the business keeps expanding. Explora I debuted in 2023 and Explora II followed in 2024. Explora III joined in 2026 as the fleet's first LNG-powered ship, Explora IV arrives in early 2027, and Explora V and VI are slated for 2027 to 2028, each carrying newer environmental technology.
Why does this matter to travellers? If you like the idea of a relaxed, design-forward, adults-oriented style of cruising but prefer the intimacy of river ships — easy docking in city centres, smaller guest counts, scenery constantly sliding past the window — a new entrant from a well-funded luxury brand means more choice and likely sharper competition at the top end of the river market. The catch is patience: with a letter of intent rather than confirmed contracts, and sales not opening until 2027, first sailings are realistically years away. Anyone keen to be early should keep an eye on Explora's announcements or nudge a travel advisor, since brand-loyal ocean cruisers often get first access to new-launch bookings. Until routes and ships are confirmed, established river operators remain the practical pick for anyone wanting to cruise Europe's waterways this year or next.
Story via Porthole Cruise.
