EXPLORA IV

EXPLORA IV and the Explora Journeys Experience

EXPLORA IV sails for Explora Journeys, the luxury ocean cruise line that positions itself around the idea of unhurried, resort-at-sea travel. The ship belongs to the Explorer Class — the line's flagship hull design, shared with EXPLORA I, EXPLORA II and EXPLORA III. The result is a ship built around generous space, a wide range of dining venues, and a programme that covers some of Europe's most rewarding coastlines as well as the Caribbean's warm-water islands.

The cabin offer across EXPLORA IV runs to 16 grades, all within the balcony family — meaning every guest has their own private outdoor space. Suites within that range come with round-the-clock in-suite dining, served on your private terrace or in your suite whenever you choose. The full breakdown of grades, layouts and deck positions lives on the EXPLORA IV cabins and deck plans page.

Dining on EXPLORA IV

EXPLORA IV carries eight dining venues covering everything from casual poolside grazing to intimate chef-led experiences — several included in the cruise fare, others carrying a cover charge or à la carte pricing.

Fil Rouge is the ship's all-day restaurant, serving French-influenced international cuisine from breakfast through dinner and included in the fare. Shore Club takes a coastal-casual approach, bringing freshly prepared dishes and light bites to a poolside setting — also included. Med Yacht Club pairs sea views with a relaxed yacht-club mood, again at no extra charge. Emporium Marketplace rounds out the included options with a market-style format and live cooking stations running throughout the day.

For something more considered, Anthology brings rotating guest chefs and evolving culinary concepts to the table each voyage — an ever-changing fine-dining experience that carries a cover charge. Marble & Co. Grill is a contemporary steakhouse with open-kitchen theatre and à la carte pricing. Sakura blends Japanese, Chinese, Thai and Korean flavours in one pan-Asian restaurant, also à la carte. And the Chef Table offers a single-sitting, fully personalised meal crafted around the guest — advance reservation is essential and a cover charge applies.

Suite guests can also draw on In Suite Dining around the clock, with the same range of cuisines available whether dining indoors or on a private terrace.

Bars and Lounges on EXPLORA IV

The ship's social life is spread across a generous collection of bars and lounges, each with a distinct character. The Journeys Lounge is the largest, shifting through the day from mixology sessions and enrichment talks to cabaret entertainment in the evening. The Astern Lounge serves as the daily social hub for gatherings of every mood, while the Explora Lounge provides a naturally lit, calmer retreat with light meals, afternoon tea and ocean views. Tucked within it, the Malt Whiskey Bar holds a curated global whisky collection alongside a walk-in humidor and outdoor terrace — entry is complimentary, with drinks charged separately.

The Cellar is a dedicated wine bar exploring Old World and New World bottles. The Lobby Bar sits at the heart of the ship for aperitifs and live music. Outside, the Astern Pool Bar sits beside the infinity pool with live acoustic music and DJs arriving as the day turns to evening. The Atoll Pool Bar and the adults-only Helios Pool Bar on Deck 12 offer further poolside options, while the open-air Sky Bar On 14 rewards guests with panoramic horizon views from the top of the ship. The Conservatory Pool Bar doubles as an open-air cinema after dark. For lighter moments, the Gelateria Creperie At The Conservatory serves gelato and crêpes, and Crema Cafe provides quality coffee and refreshments throughout the day.

Where EXPLORA IV Sails

EXPLORA IV runs the Caribbean out of San Juan and Miami, Norway from Southampton, Copenhagen and Bruges, and British Isles itineraries from Southampton. Beyond those core programmes, her schedule also takes in Transatlantic crossings, the Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean and the East Coast USA.

Norway from Southampton and Copenhagen

The Norway programme is the ship's busiest, and she sails it from more than one port. From Southampton, she runs round-trip voyages of 11 to 14 nights through the summer months (June to August), typically calling at Flam, Bergen, Mandal, Hellesylt, Ålesund and Eidfjord among others — these are Norway cruises from Southampton that need no flight to board. Longer one-way sailings of 16 to 19 nights also depart Southampton from May to July, calling at Bergen, Flam, Ålesund and Stockholm before finishing in Copenhagen or Reykjavik. From Copenhagen, 12- and 14-night round-trips run July to September, visiting Hellesylt, Molde, Flam, Bergen and Haugesund. A smaller group of 6- and 7-night one-way sailings departs Bruges from May to July, ending in Copenhagen and calling at Flam, Bergen, Nordfjordeid and Stavanger. Browse the full selection of Norway cruises from the UK or the year-specific searches for Norway sailings from Southampton in 2027 and Norway in 2028.

For the Southampton departures, most of Britain can reach the port by road or rail — no flight is needed for these sailings. On the one-way voyages that end in Copenhagen or Reykjavik, a flight home will be needed; Cruise1st can put that alongside the cruise, the hotel either side and the transfers on a single booking.

Caribbean from San Juan and Miami

EXPLORA IV runs the Caribbean across the winter season, from November through to April. Seven-night one-way sailings depart San Juan and end in Miami, typically calling at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Saint Thomas, Cayo Levantado and Puerto Plata. From Miami, she also sails 7-night one-way voyages in the other direction — ending in San Juan and calling at St. John's, Saint Kitts, Providenciales and Gustavia (St. Barth) — as well as 9- and 10-night round-trips from Miami in December and January, visiting Cozumel, Costa Maya, Belize City and Key West among others. All Caribbean sailings depart from outside the UK; Cruise1st can book the flights, the hotel either side and the transfers as one complete holiday. See Caribbean cruises from Miami and the wider Caribbean destination page for the full picture.

British Isles from Southampton

From late May through August, EXPLORA IV runs extended British Isles voyages of 16 to 21 nights, all round-trip from Southampton. Calls vary by sailing but have included Greencastle in Northern Ireland, Killybegs, Cork, Dun Laoghaire (Dublin), Greenock, Flam and Hellesylt — combining the Irish coast with Norwegian fjord calls on a single itinerary. These sailings are bookable through the British Isles cruises from Southampton page, and no flight is needed to join them. Browse all British Isles cruises for more options alongside EXPLORA IV's programme.

Who EXPLORA IV Suits

Two kinds of traveller are especially well served by what EXPLORA IV actually offers. Guests who want suite-level comfort will find it properly supported here: the in-suite dining service runs round the clock, and the Med Yacht Club provides a relaxed dining alternative when stepping outside the suite appeals. The ship's programme also makes her a natural fit for anyone drawn to longer voyages — the British Isles and Norway itineraries regularly run to 16, 19, 20 and 21 nights, and some one-way Norway crossings extend to 18 or 19 nights, long enough to settle into the rhythm of the ship rather than simply counting ports.

The Explora Journeys Fleet

Explora Journeys currently has six ships on sale through Cruise1st. EXPLORA IV belongs to the Explorer Class, together with EXPLORA I, EXPLORA II and EXPLORA III — the line's own name for this group of ships sharing the same hull design. The fleet also includes two sister ships, EXPLORA V and EXPLORA VI, which share a hull with each other. Visit the Explora Journeys cruise line page to see the full fleet and what sailing with this line is like.

Why Book EXPLORA IV with Cruise1st

Cruise1st is one of the UK's leading cruise specialists, with real cruise experts available on the phone before you book — not a general travel agent, but a team with specialist knowledge of Explora Journeys and its ships. Whatever cabin grade and fare inclusions suit your plans, we help you pick them and put the whole holiday on one booking. For sailings that depart from Copenhagen, Miami, San Juan or Reykjavik, that means flights, the hotel either side and transfers arranged alongside the cruise as a single Cruise1st Package. For Southampton departures, no flight is needed — the ship is reachable by road or rail from most of Britain.

Useful starting points for browsing what is on sale: Transatlantic cruises from Southampton, Caribbean cruises from Southampton, Baltic Sea cruises from Southampton in 2027, and the broader cruises from Southampton search.

Common Questions About EXPLORA IV

Does EXPLORA IV sail from the UK?

Yes — a significant part of her programme departs from Southampton, including Norway round-trips, longer British Isles voyages and one-way sailings to Scandinavia. Most of Britain can reach Southampton by road or rail, so these sailings need no flight to board. One-way sailings that end abroad — in Copenhagen or Reykjavik, for example — will require a flight home, and Cruise1st can include that in one booking.

What is included in the cruise fare on EXPLORA IV?

Several dining venues are included in the fare: Fil Rouge (all-day international dining), Shore Club (casual poolside meals), Med Yacht Club (Mediterranean, with sea views) and Emporium Marketplace (global live-cooking stations). Suite guests also receive round-the-clock in-suite dining at no extra charge. Speciality venues — Anthology, Marble & Co. Grill, Sakura and Chef Table — carry à la carte charges or cover charges. Many bars are free to enter, with drinks charged separately unless covered by a beverage package.

How long are EXPLORA IV's cruises?

Sailings range from 5 nights up to 43 nights, with a median around 10 nights. The Norway and British Isles programmes tend to run longer — commonly 11 to 21 nights — while the Caribbean sailings from San Juan and Miami are typically 7 nights, with some 9- and 10-night round-trips also available.

Which ports does EXPLORA IV depart from?

Southampton is her busiest departure point, followed by Copenhagen, Miami, San Juan, Reykjavik, Hamburg, Bruges and Quebec City, among others. The mix shifts by season: Southampton dominates the summer Europe programme, while Miami and San Juan are the winter Caribbean bases. See the Copenhagen and Reykjavik port pages for sailings from those hubs, or Zeebrugge (Bruges) for the Belgium departures.

Which ships are EXPLORA IV's sister ships?

EXPLORA IV is part of the Explorer Class, the name Explora Journeys uses for the group of ships sharing this hull — alongside EXPLORA I, EXPLORA II and EXPLORA III. The line's fleet also includes EXPLORA V and EXPLORA VI, which are sister ships to each other. All six ships sail for Explora Journeys; the Explora Journeys page covers the full fleet.