The Explora Journal

From fishing boats in Sorrento to the Bridge of EXPLORA I, Captain Francesco Russo’s life and career have been defined by his relationship with the ocean. Rising through the ranks from deck cadet with MSC Cargo to senior officer roles at MSC Cruises and now, an Explora Journeys Master, he has learned the values of leadership from those who left their mark on his journey. Speaking with Joe Mortimer, Captain Russo reflects on the importance of respect – for people, the sea and the environment – and the places that have made the greatest impact on his life.

The best South America itinerary is one that joins contrasting places without the flights, border queues and repacking that usually come with them, and a single Journey by sea does exactly that.

Athens beneath the Acropolis, Naples under the shadow of Vesuvius, Rome by way of Civitavecchia, Barcelona's Gothic lanes, and now San Sebastián de La Gomera, Fuerteventura and Palamós, three maiden calls that widen the story further still.

This guide follows the route a ship would take, port by port, with the food, music and natural landmarks that belong to each. It is also the logic of Explora Journeys' Winter 2027–2028 season in South America, when the coastline comes into view from the sea.

The best places in Alaska to visit sit on both sides of the shoreline. From the water, Alaska glaciers meet the sea, and forested slopes drop to the tide line. Inland, the scenery opens into tundra, braided rivers and a mountain that keeps its snow all summer.

This Puglia travel guide brings these places together, and a more considered way to travel and explore them: arriving by sea, with Bari and Brindisi as gateways to the wider region beyond the port.

This Amazon River travel guide sets out what makes the river remarkable, from its startling scale to the creatures gathered along its banks. Find the answers here to the questions most travellers ask before booking: what animals live here, when to sail, and how Explora Journeys makes it possible to experience the river itself rather than simply pass beside it.

Across Northern Europe, the ocean has never simply framed the landscape. For generations, it has stocked the pantry. From cod drying in Arctic winds and herring resting beneath vinegar and spice to kelp pulled from tidal waters and salmon slowly transformed by smoke, the flavours of the North tell a story of ingenuity, preservation and an enduring dependence on the sea.

This Tokyo food guide moves through the markets, dishes and neighbourhoods that define the city's table, from the pre-dawn auctions at Toyosu to the wagashi counters of old Asakusa. What makes Tokyo's food culture unique is less any single dish than the ease with which centuries-old market traditions sit beside a konbini on the corner.

From Greyhound buses and budget hotels on the tennis circuit to finding peace on the open sea, former British Number 1 Tennis champion and acclaimed broadcaster, Annabel Croft reflects on a life shaped by travel. As an Explora Journeys Luminary, joining a curated programme of renowned voices who share their expertise and stories with guests on board, she brings a unique perspective shaped by a lifetime of competition, exploration and reinvention. In conversation with Lindsey Waudby, she shares the destinations that broadened her horizons, why wellness begins with a daily walk, and how her definition of luxury has evolved.