Short answer: Explora Journeys does not publish a military or veteran rate of its own. Military Cruise Deals applies its own 5% discount off the cruise fare on every Explora Journeys sailing, in every suite category, and it stacks on top of whatever promotion Explora is running. On a typical Ocean Terrace Suite that is roughly $250 per guest; on an Ocean Residence it can exceed $1,200 per guest. The discount is applied to the fare itself — not handed back as onboard credit — and we never charge a booking, change, or cancellation fee.
Call 866-964-5482 and ask for Mitch, or email us the sailing you are looking at and we will price it with the discount applied.
Does Explora Journeys offer a military discount?
No. Explora Journeys does not offer a military, veteran, or first-responder rate directly, and there is no code to enter on their website. This is normal at the ultra-luxury end of the market — Silversea, Regent Seven Seas, and Seabourn do not publish military rates either.
The discount comes from us. Military Cruise Deals is a military-family-owned travel agency that has specialized in cruise discounts for active duty service members, veterans, and their families since 2001. We take a portion of our agency commission and apply it directly to your cruise fare as a 5% discount. Because it is our discount and not a cruise line promotion, it layers on top of Explora’s own offers rather than replacing them.
How much is the military and veteran discount on Explora Journeys?
The discount is 5% of the cruise fare, on every Explora Journeys sailing and every suite category. There are no blackout dates and no excluded ships. Here is what that looks like in practice:
| Suite category | Typical fare per guest | Your 5% discount | Savings for two |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean Terrace Suite | ~$5,000 | ~$250 | ~$500 |
| Ocean Grand Terrace Suite | ~$6,500 | ~$325 | ~$650 |
| Ocean Penthouse | ~$12,000 | ~$600 | ~$1,200 |
| Ocean Residence | ~$25,000 | ~$1,250 | ~$2,500 |
| Owner’s Residence | Quoted per sailing | 5% of fare | Often $3,000+ |
Fares shown are illustrative examples for a typical 7-night Explora Journeys voyage. Actual pricing varies by ship, season, and itinerary. Call for a live quote.
Important: our military and veteran discount is not reflected in the prices you see on our search tool or on Explora’s website. Those are the standard published fares. The discount is applied when we build the booking, so the price you are quoted by us will be lower than the price you see online.
What the discount applies to
- Applies to: the cruise fare only — the base price of the suite.
- Does not apply to: port charges, government taxes and fees, travel insurance, or air add-ons.
- Stacks with: Explora’s public promotions, early-booking benefits, and reduced-deposit offers.
- Form it takes: a lower cruise fare, not onboard credit. You pay less up front rather than being handed a credit you have to spend onboard.
Who qualifies for the military and veteran discount?
Our discount is available to anyone who has served, and it extends to the people traveling with them:
- Active duty — Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard
- National Guard and Reserves
- Veterans and retirees, regardless of when you served or length of service
- Spouses, dependents, and Gold Star families
- Allied and NATO military personnel
Only one person in the stateroom needs to qualify. The discount is applied to every suite in the booking, whether or not the occupants of the other suites are military. That matters on Explora, where multi-generational family groups and couples traveling together are common.
The Explora Journeys fleet
Explora Journeys is the luxury ocean brand of the MSC Group, launched in 2021 and headquartered in Geneva. It is a separate brand from MSC Cruises, with its own ships, crew, and standards. Every ship in the fleet is all-suite, every suite has a private terrace, and the ships are deliberately small — roughly 900 guests, against 4,000-plus on a mainstream ship.
| Ship | Entered service | Size | Guests | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXPLORA I | August 2023 | ~63,900 GT | ~900 | The original. Mediterranean, Caribbean, Northern Europe. |
| EXPLORA II | September 2024 | ~63,900 GT | ~900 | Sister to EXPLORA I. Adds Red Sea, Arabian Peninsula, and South America. |
| EXPLORA III | August 2026 | ~70,000 GT | ~922 | The brand’s first LNG-powered ship. Larger, with the new Shore Club on 11 and The Chef’s Table. |
| EXPLORA IV | 2027 (on order) | ~70,000 GT | ~922 | LNG-powered sister to EXPLORA III. |
| EXPLORA V | 2027 (on order) | ~70,000 GT | ~922 | LNG with hydrogen fuel-cell capability. |
| EXPLORA VI | 2028 (on order) | ~70,000 GT | ~922 | LNG with hydrogen fuel-cell capability. |
Which ship should you pick? EXPLORA I and II are the more intimate pair and have the longer track record. EXPLORA III is the newest and largest, with two dining venues the first two ships do not have. If you have sailed the brand before and want something different, EXPLORA III is the one to look at. If you want the smallest, quietest ship, choose EXPLORA I or II.
What is included in an Explora Journeys fare?
Explora Journeys is genuinely all-inclusive, which is the main reason its fares look high next to a mainstream cruise line and then turn out to be competitive once you add everything up. Here is exactly what is and is not in the fare.
| Included in every fare | Not included |
|---|---|
| All dining in nine culinary venues, including in-suite dining 24 hours | Anthology (the reservation-only fine dining restaurant) |
| Unlimited wines, champagne, premium spirits, cocktails, specialty coffees, teas, and soft drinks — anywhere onboard and in-suite | Rare and reserve wine list selections, and The Cellar wine bar pours |
| A welcome bottle of champagne, wine, and spirits in your suite | Shore excursions |
| High-speed Wi-Fi throughout the ship | Spa treatments and salon services |
| Onboard gratuities | Port charges, taxes, and government fees |
| Ocean Wellness thermal spa areas | Airfare and hotels |
| Fitness classes, group wellness, and mindfulness sessions | Travel insurance |
| Port shuttle service into town | Laundry and pressing beyond suite allowance |
Two things to note. First, the beverage inclusion is unusually generous — it is not a limited list of house pours, and it applies in your suite and on your terrace, not just in the bars. Second, shore excursions are not included, which is the one place Explora differs from Regent Seven Seas. If unlimited excursions matter more to you than anything else, we will tell you so and price Regent alongside it.
Explora Journeys suites: which one is right for you?
There are no inside cabins and no obstructed views on any Explora ship. Every one of the roughly 460 accommodations is a suite with a private, furnished terrace and floor-to-ceiling glass. The categories differ in size, position, and level of service.
- Ocean Terrace Suite — the entry category, around 376 sq ft including the terrace. King bed, walk-in wardrobe, heated bathroom floor, espresso machine, personalized minibar. Already larger than a suite on most luxury lines.
- Ocean Grand Terrace Suite — same interior footprint with a substantially larger terrace, sized for an outdoor dining table and a daybed. The best value upgrade in the fleet if you plan to spend time outside.
- Ocean Penthouse — a more generous interior layout, larger terrace, and better position on the ship.
- Ocean Residence — separate living and sleeping areas, an expansive terrace, and a dedicated Residence Host who functions as a butler.
- Owner’s Residence — full-width aft placement with a wraparound terrace and a dedicated Residence Manager. There are very few of these per ship and they sell first.
Our 5% discount applies to all of them, which means the higher the category, the more the discount is worth in dollars. A couple in an Ocean Residence saves roughly ten times what a couple in an Ocean Terrace Suite saves.
Dining on Explora Journeys
Nine venues are included in the fare, and none of them require a surcharge or a reservation fee:
- Emporium Marketplace — all-day global market dining, and far better than the word “buffet” suggests
- Sakura — Pan-Asian
- Marble & Co. Grill — a European take on the steakhouse
- Med Yacht Club — Mediterranean, relaxed, dolce vita
- Fil Rouge — French-inspired international cuisine
- Crema Café — coffee, pastries, light bites
- Explora Lounge — lounge dining and afternoon service
- In-Suite Dining — full menus in your suite or on your terrace, around the clock
- Shore Club on 11 (EXPLORA III and later) or the Gelateria & Crêperie (EXPLORA I and II)
The one paid restaurant is Anthology, a guest-chef fine dining room with a tasting menu and optional wine pairing. The Chef’s Kitchen runs hands-on cooking workshops for small groups, and EXPLORA III adds The Chef’s Table for private dining. None of these are necessary to eat extremely well onboard.
How does Explora Journeys compare to Silversea, Regent, Seabourn, and Oceania?
We book all of these lines and we have no reason to push one over another. Here is the honest comparison.
| Line | Typical guests | Drinks & gratuities | Excursions | Airfare | Onboard feel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explora Journeys | ~900 | Included, premium | Extra | Extra | Contemporary, no formal nights, European |
| Silversea | 300–730 | Included | Some included | Often included | Classic luxury, butler in every suite |
| Regent Seven Seas | 500–750 | Included | Unlimited, included | Business class included | Most inclusive, more traditional |
| Seabourn | ~450–600 | Included, caviar service | Extra | Extra | Smallest ships, clubby, high repeat rate |
| Oceania | 650–1,200 | Varies by fare | Extra | Often included | Food-focused, best value of the group |
Choose Explora Journeys if…
- You want luxury without formality. There are no formal nights and no dress code theater.
- You want a large suite with a real terrace as the baseline, not an upgrade.
- You care about the drinks package being genuinely unlimited and genuinely premium.
- You want the newest hardware at sea — the ships are two years old or less.
- You are a younger luxury traveler, or traveling with adult children, and want a crowd that skews below the traditional luxury-cruise average age.
Choose something else if…
- You want excursions and air included — Regent Seven Seas is the more complete package.
- You want the smallest possible ship — Seabourn goes down to around 450 guests.
- You want expedition and polar itineraries — Silversea has the purpose-built expedition fleet.
- You want the lowest entry price — Oceania delivers most of the food and service at a lower fare.
Call us and we will price two or three of them side by side on comparable dates, with our discount on each. That comparison is free and there is no obligation.
Browse Explora Journeys cruises by destination
These links open our live search tool filtered to Explora Journeys. Remember: the prices shown do not include our 5% military and veteran discount.
- Mediterranean & Western Europe
- Northern Europe, Iceland & Greenland
- Caribbean & Central America
- Alaska
- Asia
- Red Sea & Arabian Peninsula
- South America & the Amazon
- US & Canada East Coast & New England
- Transatlantic & Grand Journeys
Not sure where to start? Here is how to search for a cruise, or just call us and describe the trip you have in mind.
Already booked directly with Explora Journeys?
You can move the booking to us and keep your suite, your fare, and your deposit — and pick up the 5% discount you did not get when you booked direct. There is a window for this: the transfer generally has to happen within 30 to 60 days of the original booking date and before final payment. Send us the booking number and we will tell you within a few minutes whether it still qualifies.
Is it safe to book Explora Journeys through Military Cruise Deals?
Yes, and here is the mechanic that matters: your credit card is charged by Explora Journeys, not by us. We never hold your money. The booking lives in Explora’s own system under your name, you can log in and see it, and your deposit and payments go straight to the cruise line. We are the agency of record on the reservation, which is what lets us apply the discount and advocate for you if something goes wrong.
We also do not charge for anything we do. No booking fee, no change fee, no cancellation fee, ever.
Explora Journeys military discount: frequently asked questions
Does Explora Journeys have a military discount?
No. Explora Journeys does not offer a military or veteran rate directly. Military Cruise Deals applies its own 5% discount to the cruise fare on every Explora Journeys sailing, and it stacks on top of Explora’s public promotions.
How much can I save on an Explora Journeys cruise with a military discount?
5% of the cruise fare. In dollars that is roughly $250 per guest on an Ocean Terrace Suite, about $600 per guest on an Ocean Penthouse, and $1,250 or more per guest on an Ocean Residence. A couple booking a Penthouse typically saves around $1,200.
Do I have to be active duty to get the discount?
No. Active duty, National Guard, Reserves, veterans, retirees, spouses, dependents, Gold Star families, and allied military all qualify. Only one person in the suite needs to qualify, and the discount then applies to every suite in the booking.
Is the discount onboard credit or a lower price?
A lower price. We apply the discount to the cruise fare itself, so your invoice is smaller. You are not handed a credit you have to spend onboard before the cruise ends.
Does the military discount stack with Explora Journeys promotions?
Yes. Because the discount comes from our agency rather than from the cruise line, it applies on top of Explora’s early-booking benefits, reduced-deposit offers, and percentage-off promotions.
Which Explora Journeys ships does the discount apply to?
All of them — EXPLORA I, EXPLORA II, EXPLORA III, and the ships still to come. There are no excluded ships, sailings, or blackout dates.
Is Explora Journeys all-inclusive?
Largely, yes. The fare covers all dining in nine venues, unlimited premium wines, spirits and cocktails, high-speed Wi-Fi, onboard gratuities, thermal spa areas, fitness and wellness classes, and port shuttles. Shore excursions, spa treatments, the Anthology restaurant, and airfare are extra.
How much do Explora Journeys cruises cost?
Entry-level Ocean Terrace Suites on a 7-night voyage commonly start in the $5,000-per-guest range, with Penthouses around $12,000 and Residences $25,000 and up. Pricing moves considerably by season and itinerary, so call for a live quote rather than relying on a range.
Is Explora Journeys the same as MSC Cruises?
No. Both are owned by MSC Group, but Explora Journeys is a separate luxury brand with its own ships, crew, and service standards. An Explora ship carries around 900 guests in all-suite accommodation; a large MSC Cruises ship carries several thousand.
Is there a deposit on an Explora Journeys cruise, and is it refundable?
Yes. Deposits generally run about 10% of the cruise fare, though the exact amount depends on the sailing and any promotion in effect. Deposits are typically fully refundable up to the final payment date. We can also place a courtesy hold first, at no cost and with no commitment, so you can think it over.
Can I get a military discount on an Explora Journeys world cruise or grand voyage?
Yes, and this is where the discount is worth the most. On long grand voyages the 5% can run into several thousand dollars per guest. See our world cruise military discounts page.
Does Military Cruise Deals charge a booking fee?
No. Military Cruise Deals has never charged a booking fee, a change fee, or a cancellation fee.
Why book Explora Journeys with Military Cruise Deals
We are a military-family-owned agency, in business since 2001, and cruise discounts for the military community are the only thing we do.
- 25+ years in business — founded in 2001, specializing in military and veteran cruise discounts from day one
- 50,000+ clients booked
- 900+ five-star reviews — read them here
- A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau
- Luxury specialists who have sailed these ships — we can tell you what an Ocean Grand Terrace Suite actually feels like versus an Ocean Terrace, and whether it is worth the money on your particular sailing
- Real people, seven days a week — ask for Mitch, Kevin, or Hope. You get the same agent from quote through disembarkation, not a call center queue.
- No fees of any kind
We will also tell you when Explora is not the right answer. If your priorities point to Regent, Silversea, Seabourn, or Oceania, we book all of them with the same military discount, and we would rather put you on the right ship than the one you called about.
Ready to price your Explora Journeys cruise?
Send us the sailing and suite you are considering. We will come back with the fare, the discount, the deposit, and the final payment date — no obligation.
Call 866-964-5482 | International 001-256-485-6792 | WhatsApp 1-787-932-8059
info@militarycruisedeals.com
Related pages
- Luxury cruise discounts for military and veterans
- Silversea military and veteran discount
- Regent Seven Seas military discount
- Seabourn military and veteran discount
- Oceania military and veteran discount
- How to get a military discount on any cruise
- Transfer an existing booking to us
- Payment information
Written and reviewed by Mitchell Bank, owner of Military Cruise Deals (est. 2001). Fares, inclusions, and ship details are subject to change by Explora Journeys. Last reviewed August 2026.