Explora Journeys ‘overwhelmed’ by Australian trade support

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Explora Journeys’ team in Australia and New Zealand will continue to expand as the luxury cruise line continues to forge its own path down under. In Sydney this week from his home in the UK, Antonio Paradiso, VP International Sales at MSC Cruises & Explora Journeys + Managing Director UK, Ireland & Australia, tells LATTE that the three-year strategy for the brand will be to increase its footprint here, steadily.

“We did know in advance that Australia was a good luxury market and I have to say, we’ve been overwhelmed by the support from travel agents and the entire community, given that only two years ago we were the new kids on the block. A new brand,” Paradiso tells us at the headquarters of MSC Group in Asia Pacific.

“The love and the support we’ve received globally has been phenomenal.”

“There’s a lot of travel advisors who are just in love with the brand and what the brand stands for. We have something unique, something special, and I’m really optimistic for the future.

“I can already see more and more Australian or New Zealand guests joining Explora Journeys, and we’ve only had two ships so far, so just imagine when we’ve got up to six – we will definitely unlock more opportunities, more destinations, which can only make us richer in terms of offering.”

EXPLORA I and EXPLORA II debuted in 2023 and 2024 respectively, while the third vessel, EXPLORA III (which is slightly larger in size and guest capacity), will be delivered in August 2026.

Quizzed by LATTE if there’s a firm date for an Australian deployment of one of the ships, Paradiso was tight lipped. Voyages to Australia have been flagged by other existing and former executives at MSC Group’s ultra-luxury cruise brand, with inaugural CEO Michael Ungerer suggesting 2026, and Chris Austin, President, North America, previously hinting that Australia and Asia might appear on the route map around the time of EXPLORA III or IV‘s delivery.

With EXPLORA III being LNG compliant, it’s unlikely that newer vessel will sail to Australia which currently lacks LNG refuelling facilities.

Paradiso said next years’s deployment of EXPLORA III to Northern Europe

(after focusing primarily on the Mediterranean and Caribbean), will be “interesting to track”.

“Advanced bookings for 2026 and 2027 are looking very very good. Certain markets like to book far ahead, other markets tend to be more last minute.”Paradiso revealed that the average age for an Explora Journeys’ guest is around 51-52 year. For the Australian market, the average age is 58, says Nicole Costantin, Head of Sales, APAC for Explora Journeys.

However, the goal set by Anna Nash, President of Explora Journeys, is to lower the average to 45 years. That strategy, fuelled by a more youthful ad campaign and branding, has already taken effect.

Australian sales

Paradiso says the Australian market is excelling in terms of sales, and is now a top five source for Explora Journeys. “It’s our fourth largest market, currently. We can see the potential. We can see the trajectory. Year after year, these numbers are just increasing.”Ahead of Australia in terms of bookings is the United States and United Kingdom markets. Germany is the third largest market for Explora, and Canada (as fifth largest source) trails Australia.

Quizzed if the Australian team, which now numbers nine nationally, could be expanded as part of the three year strategy, Paradiso said: “In short, yes. We are always ready to invest if we see such an opportunity.

“Australia is a key market for us, just like the US, UK, but Australia, we really believe this is the one market that will contribute the most to the growth of Explora Journeys in the future. “

“So, yes, at the right time, we will definitely grow.”

“We’ve really only just started, and Australia is already up there,” he gestures with his hand raised above the desk. “That just shows how much appetite there is.”

“We’re enjoying this momentum that we’re seeing in Australia, and customers tend to book their first Explora Journeys in Europe, the second one in the Caribbean, and at a certain point, you need to start giving them more options. But you can only lock new options in if you have more ships.”

Explora Journeys will have six ships in its fleet by 2028.

“If you are building ships so quickly, there is a reason. Apart from the economy of scale, its because we really see that we have something special, something unique and the markets are responding really, really well,” Paradiso adds.

Costantin highlights that Explora Journeys has sailings aboard three ships to 2027. “We’ve got plenty of growth ahead of us.”

“Picking up two Virtuoso awards this month at Travel Week in Las Vegas was huge for us, having only been in market two years. That recognition is testament to the level of comfortability around the brand’s positioning and continuation, size and strength,” she remarked.

“For the advisors that aren’t selling us, they are missing out. The strength of the brand is significant. The size of the team here is significant, and growing. It’s time to get onboard.”

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