by Janice Tober
Last updated: 6:35 AM ET, Thu February 26, 2026
According to recent industry research, women aged 50+ are the fastest-growing travel demographic, and 61% of them expect to travel solo. But, while solo travel is on the rise, not all sectors of the tourism industry have caught up to the latest trend. Many travellers who cruised as couples now want to keep travelling after the loss of a partner or other life changes.
Cruise lines in particular have been slow to embrace this evolution. While most lines do offer clients a single supplement that discounts the fare, the reduced cost for one traveller versus two is generally minimal: singles still tend to pay between 125-175% of the double occupancy fare.
Enter Explora Journeys, the new luxury offshoot launched by MSC Cruises. I travelled solo on a recent sailing on Explora II and received a whopper of a discount during a promotion: I paid the same price for my suite as a couple would have each paid for theirs. Simply, if a couple paid $1.00 each for a cabin (totalling $2.00), I paid $1.00—a zero-solo supplement. This was for the exact same suite, without a reduction in cabin size or number of amenities.
I have my travel advisor to thank for recommending the cruise line.
Katie Palmer is a travel advisor at Cruise Connections in Vancouver. Already knowing my preference for luxury cruising, I asked which cruise lines offer the best solo value, and she immediately recommended Explora. Apart from zero-solo supplement promotions, Palmer said, “Explora Journeys offers daily solo traveller meet-ups, with staff being incredibly attentive — they remember your name, your coffee order, your favourite cocktail. The single experience from start to finish is impeccable.”
Chris Austin, president of North America for Explora Journeys, notes that the brand has intentionally embraced this growing segment. “We’ve designed our experience to warmly welcome solo travellers, and we’re seeing more of them than ever. These guests seek freedom and discovery on their own terms, while still valuing opportunities to connect with like-minded travellers.”
The sleek lobby bar on Explora II (Photo Credit: Explora Journeys)
Nothing beats experience
Explora II is a beautiful ship firmly positioned in the luxury space. With just 461 suites, the ship will appeal to refined travellers who appreciate sleek design, thoughtful amenities and caviar served at every meal.
“Our guests are sophisticated, curious global citizens who seek cultural enrichment, wellness and genuine personal connection,” commented Austin. “They include seasoned ocean lovers looking for something fresh and less traditional, as well as a growing number of new-to-cruise travellers who may never have considered an ocean journey before.”
After locating my muster station, Champagne in hand, I headed to my stateroom, a Grand Ocean Terrace Suite.
Suites reflect the cruise line’s “Ocean State of Mind” philosophy, which they adopted after listening to input from guests and travel advisors. Calming coastal blues and warm sand colours evoked the theme well and, at 35 sq m (377 sq ft) for an entry level stateroom—nearly double the size of many comparable luxury veranda staterooms — I already knew that this cruise line was different.
In my suite I found a comfy queen bed and linens; sitting area with a Nespresso machine and fridge; heated bathroom floors and full walk-in shower; plus, a walk-in closet with a fully-lit makeup mirror.
There was also lovely artwork that made the suite feel homey and a TV that broadcast live programs, wellness routines and pre-programmed music. My suite also had a balcony large enough to fit two chairs, a table and a full-length lounger—the veranda size being the only difference between the Terrace Suite and the Grand Terrace Suite.
Once I could tear myself from the room, I checked out the ship’s nine culinary offerings and multiple indoor and outdoor lounges, including a coffee café. There are five pools to suit every sort of pool goer, from the ‘more the merrier’ type to the quiet Bali-bed lover.
Standouts on the ship include Anthology, the only pay-out-of-pocket restaurant onboard, which served one of the finest Wagyu beef dishes I’ve had, and the Ocean Wellness Spa, home to a signature Ritual of Ocean Renewal treatment that was both soothing and enervating. The spa even had a salt room at sea.
The Atoll pool on Explora II (Photo Credit: Explora Journeys)
Solo, but not alone
Other than price, another true differentiator lies in the solo programming. Although solo, I didn’t feel alone. Daily hosted get-togethers—from cocktails to afternoon teatime and shared dinners—offered relaxed opportunities to connect. Guests aged 50-75 met to strike up conversations and meet new people, dropping in and out of activities as desired.
Dining flexibility offered another opportunity: solo travellers can choose to dine by themselves or with others, particularly helpful when making dining reservations online before travel begins.
The ship also offered plenty of in-person and app-based games to play with others while being on your own. Card games, sudoku and a ship wide murder mystery signalled that the game was afoot. Morning yoga, pickleball, sound baths, art history and culinary classes encouraged organic interaction and signalled that all were welcome. When I arrived a wee bit late for a flamenco class, for instance, fellow travellers spontaneously cheered. Who would have thought that showing up to move badly to music would get such a reaction? It was, however, a small but telling example of the welcoming onboard culture.
As Austin summarized, “Explora Journeys strikes the ideal balance–offering space for quiet independence alongside meaningful ways to socialize.”
Smooth sailing for travel advisors
The cruise company has made a deliberate effort to be a true partner to travel advisors.
“Explora Journeys was launched with a clear ambition: to be joyful for travel advisors to do business with,” Austin said. “Our travel partners are our strongest advocates and vital to our success, and our intention is to be the most advisor-friendly luxury ocean travel brand in the industry.”
Palmer confirmed working with the cruise line has been seamless. “I’ve been working with Explora Journeys since the inaugural sailing of Explora I in August 2023. From the first point of contact with its reservation agents to working through a guest issue if one arises, the team is quick and efficient and provides a clear and concise resolution.”
Palmer also finds the company’s online booking engine user-friendly and reservations team responsive and very knowledgeable about the product.
Know before you go
Here are a few details that advisors may want to pass on to clients before cruising on Explora.
Anthology is Explora Journeys' signature fine dining experience, available on both of its ships. (Photo Credit: Explora Journeys)
1. What time’s dinner? Specialty restaurant reservations can be made online in advance of the embarkation date, and this is a must do. But this is key: reservations for the other restaurants (except for the Emporium Marketplace) should be made as soon as clients arrive onboard, or they may find themselves getting the last dinner slot every night — a disappointment if they are “early to bed, early to rise” sort of people.
2. Is it hot in here? Temperature in the cabins only goes as low as 21°C and, as some of your clients are likely to be “women of a certain age,” a lower temperature may be desired. There are two helpful fixes if a client needs to cool down: the first is to change the temperature control fan from automatic to the highest it will go — an engineer may need to assist — and secondly, fans are usually available on request.
3. Don’t rock the boat. As all ships do, there are railings along the stateroom corridors for guests to hold onto. However, in the tastefully grand public areas and lobby of the ship, there aren’t. Clients with mobility issues may want to use a walker rather than a cane so that they are only tipsy because of that great Champagne cocktail on board.
4. Air your dirty laundry. Explora will not only press a whole bagful of clothes within the first 24 hours at no charge, it will also launder a bag of clothing up to two days before departure, ensuring a client will have clean undies when they arrive home.
Explora III will be launching in July 2026, adding another 461 suites to the Explora Journeys Portfolio.
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