Why seasoned travelers are choosing winter over summer
Summer has long been treated as the only time worth visiting Europe, and winter as something to work around. That thinking is fading. Seasoned travelers—less interested in ticking off a season than in actually enjoying a destination—are increasingly favoring Europe’s colder months over its high summer, trading oppressive heat and touristic crowds for softer light, milder temperatures and towns that feel like themselves again. A tourist waits for a table in August; a seasoned traveler has the piazza to themselves in November.
A quieter Mediterranean, aboard Explora II
It is this version of the region that Explora Journeys has chosen to spotlight aboard Explora II for its Winter 2026–2027 Journeys Collection, A Serene Mediterranean. Rather than treating the off-season as a lesser one, the brand has built an entirely new program around it: chef-led market visits, a vineyard lunch at a rock star’s Tuscan estate, a fleet-wide truffle celebration, and a 12-day wellness journey built around stillness rather than spectacle.
“Our Serene Mediterranean Journeys reflect the way today’s discerning guests increasingly want to travel. They are seeking experiences that feel more connected, more immersive and more personal. Every element of the journey has been designed to reflect the character of the destinations we visit, from seasonal gastronomy and Ocean Wellness to enriching cultural encounters.”
Anna Nash, President of Explora Journeys.
Shore-to-table: where the itinerary becomes the menu
Explora Journeys’ new Shore-to-Table series starts from a simple idea: the best onboard meal begins on land. Each experience opens with a guided market visit alongside an Explora Journeys chef, then continues on board with a hands-on masterclass in the Chef’s Kitchen, turning that morning’s produce into the evening’s dinner.
In Palermo, guests shop Mercato del Capo, one of Sicily’s oldest food markets, for the seafood and produce behind a menu of refined Sicilian coastal dishes. In Marseille, they travel by private boat to the historic Vieux-Port fish market before returning on board to prepare the Chef’s Kitchen’s bouillabaisse, paired with regional wines.
Barcelona’s edition threads through La Boqueria market for tapas with cava or cerveza, followed by a Paella Valenciana masterclass. Further south, stops in Bari and Brindisi trade market stalls for vineyards and olive groves, with guests sourcing ingredients from the Puglian countryside before sitting down to a regional meal there.
An afternoon among the vines at Sting’s Tuscan estate
The season’s Meet the Winemaker series takes guests into the Mediterranean’s most storied vineyards, none more notable than Il Palagio, the Tuscan estate belonging to Sting and Trudie Styler. In Livorno, guests are welcomed for vineyard and cellar visits, guided tastings and a lunch built around the estate’s own wine and Tuscany’s authentic flavors—a rare look inside a working vineyard rather than a curated tourist stop.
A fleet-wide tribute to the Piedmont truffle
Timed to the Mediterranean truffle harvest between October and November, The Truffle Season brings one of Europe’s most prized ingredients to every Explora Journeys ship as a complimentary, fleet-wide dining event. Each day brings a new truffle creation, shaved tableside across the fleet’s dining venues and paired with Piedmont wines—a seasonal indulgence built into every guest’s fare.
Ocean Wellness and a path to inner discovery
The season’s most ambitious addition is A Path to Inner Discovery, a complimentary 12-day Ocean Wellness program available to all guests sailing the Barcelona-to-Lisbon Journey from February 11 to 23, 2027. Built around the Mediterranean’s quieter winter rhythm, it moves through yoga, journaling, mantra and pranayama practice timed to sunrise, sunset and moonlight, with gong baths and electronic music meditation rounding out a schedule built around stillness rather than fitness metrics.
The program is anchored by specialists rather than generalist wellness hosts: psychologist and neuroscientist Dr. Helena Boschi, holistic wellbeing expert Carlie Barlow, astrology and emotional-awareness practitioner Belinda Matwali, nutrition specialist Kate Cook and movement coach Shane Benzie each lead workshops in their own field.
Conversations and performances worth sailing for
Explora II’s Inspiring Voices series brings a small group of internationally recognized speakers and performers on board for the season. Zelda La Grange, who spent nearly two decades as Nelson Mandela’s closest personal aide, shares personal reflections on courage, reconciliation and human connection. Pianist Maxim Lando performs intimate classical recitals, while Dr. Helena Boschi and Shane Benzie extend their wellness-program expertise into standalone talks on resilience and the science of movement.
Behind the season, a fleet still growing
The Serene Mediterranean season arrives as Explora Journeys, the MSC Group’s luxury ocean brand rooted in the Aponte-Vago family’s maritime heritage, continues building out its fleet. Explora I and Explora II are already sailing, launched in July 2023 and September 2024. Explora III, the brand’s first LNG-powered ship, launches July 24, 2026, with Explora IV following in early 2027 and Explora V and Explora VI planned for 2027 and 2028.
For now, the focus is narrower: one ship, one quiet season, and a Mediterranean stripped of its summer crowds—proof that Europe’s so-called off-season might be its best one yet.
About the Author: Jason Kerr
