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Explora II Cruise - Grand Journey from Golden Horizons to Timeless Tranquillity

Nov 29 - Dec 21, 2026

Your Advisor

Ivonka Knight

CIG Travel

info@cigtravel.com

6306704350

Full Itinerary Daily Overview

Overview

Sail from enchanting Athens to Crete’s sun-bleached palaces before crossing into the Red Sea, where pharaohs whisper in Port Said and minarets rise from Jeddah’s coral-built quarters. Drift along Oman’s incense trail to Salalah and the rugged bays and desert stillness of Muscat and Khasab. In glittering Dubai, bold architecture gives way to Abu Dhabi’s slower rhythm. The Gulf reveals pearl-rich Manama, Doha’s modern skyline and Dammam’s coastal hush before your return to Dubai across sunlit sea.

Trip Details

Important Information

Real ID is required for air travel starting on May 7, 2025 Passports must be valid for 6 months after international travel is completed Entry Visa to Europe may be required in the last quarter of 2026 You need to fill your the electronic travel au...

Travel Requirements

Here's a quick guide to help you navigate the travel requirements for Americans visiting Greece, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Qatar. Always check the latest updates from official sources before your trip. Passp...

Packing List for Your Grand Journey Sailing

Essential Documents & Money Passport & ID: Ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your return date. Cruise Tickets & Itinerary: Keep digital and printed copies handy. Travel Insurance: Comprehensive coverage for health, belongi...

Pre-Journey

Allow us to ease you into your travel experience by taking care of all the essentials before your Journey. Private Transfers: Allow us to arrange seamless private transfers to the ship from your hotel or the airport. Luxury Hotels: Through our hot...

About Your Cruise Line - Explora Journeys

Explora Journeys represents the ambition and long-held dream of the MSC Group and the Aponte-Vago family to create a transformative luxury ocean travel experience and brand that redefines the luxury cruise category. With two ships currently exploring the world, four more sister ships are scheduled to be launched by the year of 2028.

The concept: Vibrant, cosmopolitan, relaxed European luxury at sea. Instead of cruises, we create journeys – of the mind,...

About Your Ship - EXPLORA II

Discover EXPLORA II, a beautifully crafted haven, the epitome of vibrant, cosmopolitan European elegance – a floating home-away-from-home

Suites

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Ocean Terrace Suite
Designed to embrace space and light, our 35 sqm (377 sqft) Ocean Terrace Suites offer closeness to the ocean’s rhythm, providing an elevated Home at Sea. Each suite offers generous space with floor-to-ceiling windows and a spacious private sun ter...
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Ocean Grand Terrace Suite
Located on decks six and seven, Ocean Grand Terrace Suites offer a more expansive private terrace (11 sqm) complete with a dining table and daybed, ideal for long afternoons spent outdoors. All Journeys Include: Nine culinary experiences Unlimited...
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Ocean Penthouses
Spacious and elegantly designed, our Penthouses embody elevated living in every detail. Inside, a more spacious lounge and a dining area for four awaits, while outside, the sun terrace with dining table and daybed offers seamless connection to the...
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Ocean Residences
Positioned for prime ocean views, our Ocean Residences redefine life at sea. Each with its own unique character, these spacious, design-led sanctuaries feature expansive terraces and offer seamless butler service by our Residence Hosts. All Journe...
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Owner's Residence
One-of-a-kind, uncompromised and unforgettable. The Owner’s Residence is more than a suite. It is an architectural masterpiece and a private sanctuary commanding the full width of the ship’s aft and where your every request is anticipated by a ded...
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Day 1 · Sun, Nov 29 · Piraeus, Greece

Piraeus

Embarkation 12:00PM - 5:00PM Departure 8:00PM Athenians don’t live in the past. Ahead of its time, Athens exudes glamour and a sense of possibility - housing galleries, gelaterias, bijoux boutiques alongside a plethora of museums. And you can’t he...

Day 2 · Mon, Nov 30 · Heraklion (Iraklion), Crete, Greece

Heraklion (Iraklion), Crete

Immerse in a capital town that bustles with life, classical culture, steep landscapes and seductive beaches. Visit Rethymnon’s impressive past and visit Chania’s glorious Venetian architecture. Be guided around the Palace of Knossos - a must for m...

Day 3 · Tue, Dec 1 · At Sea

Day At Sea

With more time to reflect, rejuvenate, and embrace the Ocean State of Mind, days at sea with Explora Journeys invite moments of unhurried exploration. Against a backdrop of endless blue, indulge in a varied programme of wellness, dining and entert...

Day 4 · Wed, Dec 2 · Port Said, Egypt

Port Said

A place of myth and legend that simmers with heady mix of romance, action, adventure, pharaohs and Pyramids. Choose to crawl through chambers to discover ancient hieroglyphics, gaze at the Great Sphinx, visit Luxor, the Valley of Kings (and Queen)...

Day 5 · Thu, Dec 3 · Suez, Egypt

Suez Canal Transit

Egypt’s wondrous waterway, the Suez Canal, unfolds before you on a sensorial sailing. Glide gently through the liquid link as you ebb between auspicious antiquity and modern commerce. Swish beneath bridges and traverse locks as the canal leads you...

Suez

Egypt’s wondrous waterway, the Suez Canal, unfolds before you on a sensorial sailing. Glide gently through the liquid link as you ebb between auspicious antiquity and modern commerce. Swish beneath bridges and traverse locks as the canal leads you...

Day 6 · Fri, Dec 4 · At Sea

Day At Sea

With more time to reflect, rejuvenate, and embrace the Ocean State of Mind, days at sea with Explora Journeys invite moments of unhurried exploration. Against a backdrop of endless blue, indulge in a varied programme of wellness, dining and entert...

Day 7 · Sat, Dec 5 · Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Jeddah

Immerse yourself in the bustle and buzz of Saudi Arabia’s oldest city. Pilgrimage to Islamic holy towns, unearth secrets in the backstreets of UNESCO-celebrated Al-Balad, explore ruins and floating mosques, then unwind strolling amongst the charms...

Day 8 · Sun, Dec 6 · Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

No activities planned, yet.

Day 9 · Mon, Dec 7 · At Sea

Day At Sea

With more time to reflect, rejuvenate, and embrace the Ocean State of Mind, days at sea with Explora Journeys invite moments of unhurried exploration. Against a backdrop of endless blue, indulge in a varied programme of wellness, dining and entert...

Day 10 · Tue, Dec 8 · At Sea

Day At Sea

With more time to reflect, rejuvenate, and embrace the Ocean State of Mind, days at sea with Explora Journeys invite moments of unhurried exploration. Against a backdrop of endless blue, indulge in a varied programme of wellness, dining and entert...

Day 11 · Wed, Dec 9 · At Sea

Day At Sea

With more time to reflect, rejuvenate, and embrace the Ocean State of Mind, days at sea with Explora Journeys invite moments of unhurried exploration. Against a backdrop of endless blue, indulge in a varied programme of wellness, dining and entert...

Day 12 · Thu, Dec 10 · Salalah, Oman

Salalah

Frankincense-scented charms mingle with a sea and sun that swims in a bright blue Mediterranean feel. Here UNESCO-approved ruins, tombs, Arabian palaces with desert backdrops and jaw-dropping mosques await. Refresh in Wadi Darbat’s waterfalls, spo...

Day 13 · Fri, Dec 11 · At Sea

Day At Sea

With more time to reflect, rejuvenate, and embrace the Ocean State of Mind, days at sea with Explora Journeys invite moments of unhurried exploration. Against a backdrop of endless blue, indulge in a varied programme of wellness, dining and entert...