Explora Journeys plans to host hundreds of agents on its ships this year as it steps up its trade support.
The luxury line has welcomed 600 agents from the UK and Ireland across its fleet over the past 18 months, but managing director Antonio Paradiso wants more agents to experience the product first-hand.
Paradiso, who is also managing director of MSC Cruises, said: “There are still a lot of travel advisors who have not had the chance to experience Explora Journeys yet, so our mission is to make sure that we cover everyone, ideally as soon as possible.
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Explora Journeys hails UK trade for ‘phenomenal’ support [Sept 24]
“By January 2026, I would like to say we have had the opportunity to host up to 1,000 travel advisors.”
Paradiso said the current wave season had started with “the strongest booking curve ever registered in the UK”, which he attributed to the line’s increased focus on the trade.
He believed the early success was also due to the line’s offering of shorter itineraries compared with other luxury brands, with an average length of seven nights.
Paradiso said this was attracting an increasing number of new-to-cruise passengers, with 25% of its customers in that segment, as well as younger customers, giving an average age of 50. Paradiso described this as “remarkable” for a luxury brand.
The UK is Explora Journeys’ second-largest market and Paradiso is confident it will experience “high double-digit growth” this year and next, as the line continues to expand its distribution across the UK and Ireland.
The trade represents the largest share of the line’s business in the UK, with 80% of sales coming via agents.
Paradiso confirmed Explora I and Explora III (due to launch in 2026) would sail itineraries out of Southampton, with opportunities for all the line’s ships to “call in the UK more often”, resulting in more opportunities for agent visits.
He echoed his ambition to welcome the UK trade on board MSC’s ships, including MSC World America, which is due to launch in Miami in April.
Paradiso invited agents to use the launch to expand their focus from ex-UK and Mediterranean voyages to long-haul sailings, in line with wider travel trends, and to appeal to repeat guests.
The mainstream cruise line recently debuted Alaska itineraries, for which the UK was the second highest-performing market. Its 2027 world cruise sold out in weeks.
Ultimate Guide to Alaska Cruises, p45