Explora Journeys Adds Sky & Sea Fare, Bundling Flights and Transfers Into a Single Luxury Package
Bundled air, transfers, and overnights aim to ease one of the biggest friction points in selling cruises.
Photo: Courtesy of Explora Journeys
Explora Journeys is looking to streamline one of the trickiest elements in selling ocean travel: the logistics between a client’s home airport and the embarkation pier. The line this week introduced its new Sky & Sea fare, a bundled option that folds international flights, transfers, and—in some cases—hotel stays into a single booking.
Available to guests from 10 source markets, including the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and much of Western Europe, the fare is designed to make an Explora sailing feel seamless from takeoff to sail-away. International economy-class airfare is included by default, with the option to upgrade to business or first class for a supplement, as well as flexibility in routes and departures.
Explora is positioning Sky & Sea as a one-call solution: Airport transfers, hotel overnights when schedules require, and 24/7 support are bundled together and handled directly by the line. That reduces the need to piece together separate FIT elements—an appealing option for clients who expect every detail arranged, as well as for advisors who want assurance that air, land, and sea are seamlessly integrated and bundled under one booking through Explora.
It also reflects the reality of selling a relatively new-to-market brand. Explora has only been sailing since 2023, and as it builds credibility among travelers, programs like this can help smooth over objections about complexity. For many advisors, luxury clients already book business- and first-class air through trusted channels; the hook here is integration and peace of mind. If a flight is disrupted, most lines assume responsibility for rerouting and protecting the cruise booking, a level of coverage that independent ticketing often lacks.
The fare can be layered with existing Explora incentives, including Early Booking and Extended Journeys benefits, as well as Explora Club privileges. That stacking may prove especially appealing in markets like North America, where bundling air with luxury cruises has historically been a harder sell.
With Sky & Sea, Explora has signaled it wants to own more of the journey—and remove one more friction point in selling an ultra-luxury cruise.
