When Explora I departs Dubai on January 6, 2029, the 924-passenger vessel will embark on something increasingly rare in modern travel – a genuine voyage of discovery that unfolds across nearly four months and four continents. “Endless Worlds,” the luxury brand’s inaugural world journey, represents more than an itinerary; it’s a philosophical statement about time, immersion, and the art of traveling slowly in an accelerated age.
The luxury of uninterrupted passage
Where conventional world cruises often feel like orchestrated port collections, Explora Journeys has conceived Endless Worlds as what President Anna Nash calls “one uninterrupted story.” The 128-day sailing traces a flowing narrative from the Arabian Peninsula through Southeast Asia, down Australia’s eastern seaboard, across the Pacific’s most remote islands, up South America’s spine, and finally across the Atlantic to the Mediterranean.
The journey’s design reveals a sophisticated understanding of discerning travelers’ desires. Rather than maximizing port calls, Explora I will overnight in 12 destinations – Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, Benoa, Sydney, Auckland, Papeete, Valparaíso, Callao, Amador, New York, and Lisbon – allowing guests to experience places beyond the constraints of a typical cruise day. The extended Lima stop permits deeper inland immersion into the sacred Quechua heritage of Cusco and Machu Picchu, while Tasmania and New Zealand’s dramatic landscapes receive the unhurried attention they deserve. Of the 63 destinations visited, 44 represent maiden calls for the brand, spanning regions from the Indian Ocean to Papua New Guinea’s tradition-rich coastlines.
Seven passages, infinite discovery
The voyage unfolds across seven distinct “Passages,” each with its own character and rhythm.
A passage through lands of iridescent seas & inspiring cities
The opening 20-night segment reveals the desert landscapes of the Arabian Peninsula and spice-scented Indian ports before navigating Sri Lanka’s wild beauty – including Yala National Park – and the lush, UNESCO-listed landscapes of Langkawi. This succession of striking worlds, each shaped by the ocean, awakens every sense.
A passage that traces the edge of the east
Across 23 nights, this rare passage unites Bali’s spiritual tranquility in Ubud with Komodo’s famed dragons and Papua New Guinea’s dramatic topography and rich traditions. Following the Great Barrier Reef through Cairns, Airlie Beach, and Brisbane leads to Sydney, where Australia’s vast wilderness meets urban sophistication.
A passage stretching across the southern arc
Melbourne’s cultural vibrancy and nearby wine regions give way to Hobart’s historic charm and sweeping views from Mount Wellington during this 14-night journey. The passage continues through the elemental beauty of Milford Sound to Tauranga, where Rotorua’s Māori traditions offer profound cultural insight. From Art Deco towns to renowned vineyards and remarkable wildlife, each stop invites renewal – a graceful sweep through southern seas where nature leads and wonder follows.
A passage into the sea of islands
A dreamlike 17-night crossing carries travelers across the Pacific’s bluest reaches toward Fiji, Tonga, and the Cook Islands. Crossing the International Dateline brings a quiet shift in time and perspective. In Huahine, ancient temples and traditional dance reflect authentic Polynesian life, while Raiatea reveals the sacred heart of Polynesia at the UNESCO-listed Taputapuātea. The turquoise tranquility unfolds toward Bora Bora and Tahiti – an awakening to life in a vast, far-off world.
A passage to rediscover lost horizons
Remote revelation defines this 14-night segment across the heart of the Pacific, spanning three of the ocean’s most storied destinations. Fakarava’s coral-haloed calm yields to Pitcairn’s solitary mystery and Easter Island’s ancient stone echoes – isolated worlds shaped by shared Polynesian heritage. Days at sea become quiet meditations, ending where the vast Pacific meets Chile’s vibrant shore.
A passage to unveil the many Americas
This 21-night journey traces South America’s spine, where Paracas reveals the Nazca Lines and wildlife-rich Ballestas Islands. Extended time in Lima allows deeper journeys into the Quechua heritage of Cusco and Machu Picchu.
The voyage continues through the engineering marvel of the Panama Canal – marking a defining shift from ocean to ocean – before uncovering Cartagena’s art-rich streets and the idyllic beaches of the Caribbean. From Lima’s cuisine to Panama’s marvel and Cartagena’s history, this passage becomes a vivid rediscovery of the Americas.
A passage through the Atlantic’s mosaic
The final 20-night chapter pauses in New York City then strikes toward the Azores’ volcanic peaks, with an overnight in São Miguel allowing time to explore dramatic landscapes and botanical richness. Stops in Lisbon and Cadiz prelude the ship’s arrival in Barcelona. A singular passage of connection across continents, cultures, and centuries of exploration.
Understanding that even luxury travelers have varying capacity for extended voyages, Explora Journeys offers flexibility within the World Journey framework. Beyond the full 128-day Dubai-to-Barcelona sailing, guests may choose 112 days concluding in New York City or 108 days ending in Miami – same departure date, different disembarkation points for those preferring to remain stateside before the transatlantic crossing.
The seamless door-to-door philosophy
Explora Journeys’ “Ocean State of Mind” extends beyond the ship itself. International business class flights, private transfers, and visa logistics are managed entirely, with bespoke airport assistance at Dubai International Airport ensuring guests arrive unburdened for their pre-journey hotel stay and Dubai welcome evening – a celebratory start to the World Journey.
Once aboard, the brand’s signature offerings include nine distinct culinary options evolving throughout the voyage to reflect regional influences, from Sri Lanka’s spice markets and the wok-fired sizzle of Southeast Asia to the sun-ripened wines of Australia and New Zealand. An enrichment program features distinguished luminaries, experts, and performers tailored to each new destination, while Ocean Wellness Retreats – shaped by destination influences and blending movement, mindfulness, and restorative practices – adapt to cultural, culinary, and creative elements encountered along the way.
“Les Nocturnes” offers restorative evenings at sea with meditative and sound-led experiences inspired by the calm of night, lunar cycles, and the rhythm of each Passage. Guests receive an in-suite wellness welcome, curated private wellness minibar, and access to digital Ocean Wellness experiences for in-suite relaxation.
World Journey guests receive up to $1,000 USD/EUR in journey experience credits, weekly laundry service (one bag per suite), and comprehensive medical care with up to 1,000 USD/EUR covered. Up to seven curated destination experiences and three exclusive celebratory events ashore in each region complete the immersion – though the true luxury remains time itself, unhurried and uncompromising.
All oceanfront suites feature private terraces and floor-to-ceiling windows, with butler service available in penthouses and residences. Hosted tastings and curated culinary moments designed exclusively for the World Journey ensure the experience evolves constantly, where each day brings new expression.
For the modern luxury traveler seeking meaningful connection over mere accumulation of destinations, Endless Worlds presents an increasingly uncommon proposition: the space to witness the world as it unfolds, gradually and gracefully, across the quiet magic of the ocean.
Reservations for Endless Worlds opened February 11, 2026, through explorajourneys.com or preferred travel advisors.
About the Author: Jason Kerr
