Explora Journeys vs Hebridean Island Cruises

The core difference

Placing Explora Journeys alongside Hebridean Island Cruises is an exercise in contrasts — and that is precisely what makes it useful. These two lines represent the furthest possible poles of luxury cruising, and understanding where each excels illuminates what matters most to you as a traveller.

Explora is the modern vision. Launched in July 2023 by the MSC Group, Explora was purpose-built to deliver what its founders call “ocean living” — a European residential aesthetic aboard 922-guest ships with four pools, a 7,500-square-foot thermal spa, nine dining venues, and a contemporary design language of muted earth tones and natural materials. The fleet is expanding to six ships by 2028, all uniformly modern. The atmosphere is cosmopolitan and deliberately un-cruise-like — no formal nights, no production shows, no cruise director. Deployments span the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Caribbean, and transatlantic.

Hebridean is the traditional vision. The Hebridean Princess, carrying 50 guests in 30 cabins, is a converted former CalMac car ferry operating since 1989 as what is widely regarded as the smallest luxury cruise ship afloat. Tartan furnishings, polished wood panelling, a library, a drawing room with an honesty bar, and a single-sitting restaurant serving Loch Fyne oysters and Highland venison. Queen Elizabeth II chartered her twice. Lord of the Highlands, at 38 guests, navigates the Caledonian Canal. Both sail exclusively in Scotland.

The comparison is not about quality — both lines deliver luxury within their niche. The comparison is about what luxury means to you: sleek contemporary design with global reach, or intimate traditional hospitality in a specific place you love.

What is actually included

The inclusion models reveal different philosophies of luxury service.

Hebridean’s all-inclusive fare covers genuinely everything. All meals, all drinks (champagne, single malt whiskies, wines, spirits, cocktails, soft drinks), all shore excursions with entrance fees, bicycles, fishing equipment, and gratuities. There is no onboard account. No bill. No reaching for a wallet. The simplicity is profound — and increasingly rare in the cruise industry.

Explora’s fare includes premium spirits, wines, and cocktails, Starlink Wi-Fi, all gratuities, access to the complimentary thermal spa (sauna, steam room, vitality pool, snow room), and 24-hour in-suite dining. Most dining venues are included, with surcharges for Anthology (approximately EUR $120) and the Chef’s Kitchen (approximately EUR $180). Explora does not include flights, shore excursions, airport-to-ship transfers, or valet laundry.

The structural difference is clear. Hebridean assumes you want every element of the holiday handled. Explora assumes you want the onboard experience covered but will manage your own logistics. For travellers who value total simplicity, Hebridean’s model is unmatched. For travellers who value onboard wellness and contemporary amenities, Explora’s complimentary thermal spa is a unique inclusion.

Dining and culinary experience

Scale versus intimacy — nine restaurants versus one, and both approaches have merit.

Explora offers nine dining venues per ship. Emporium Marketplace is the main restaurant with show kitchens and rotating international menus. Fil Rouge delivers refined European table service. Sakura serves Japanese-inspired cuisine. Med Yacht Club is the casual poolside venue. Anthology — the standout — changes its entire menu daily based on the ship’s destination. The Chef’s Kitchen is an interactive culinary theatre. Most venues are included; Anthology and Chef’s Kitchen carry surcharges.

Hebridean offers one restaurant serving all 50 guests in a single sitting. The chef prepares menus of fine Scottish produce — Loch Fyne oysters, smoked salmon, Highland venison, Aberdeen Angus beef, artisan Scottish cheeses — tailored to individual guest preferences. Wine pairings are selected to complement each course. The dining room seats all guests at individual tables. The atmosphere is a private dinner party in a Highland lodge.

Explora wins on variety, innovation, and contemporary culinary ambition. Hebridean wins on personal attention — when the chef knows your name, your dietary requirements, and your preference for a particular whisky after dinner, the experience transcends the number of restaurants available. For food-motivated travellers who value choice, Explora. For those who value intimacy, Hebridean.

Suites and accommodation

Modern design versus country house charm — with a significant size advantage for Explora.

Explora’s entry-level Ocean Terrace Suite is 377 square feet with a private terrace — one of the most generous entry-level offerings in ultra-luxury cruising. Contemporary design with warm wood tones, natural stone bathroom, walk-in wardrobe, Dyson hairdryer, and Italian bed linens. The Owner’s Residence spans approximately 2,798 square feet. Every suite has a private terrace. Butler service for Prestige Suites and above.

Hebridean Princess offers 30 cabins across several categories, none large by modern standards. The ship was built in 1964 and converted in 1989. The best suites feature picture windows, tartan soft furnishings, and en-suite bathrooms with Scottish-made toiletries. There are no private balconies. The character lies in the ship’s public spaces — library, drawing room, and deck.

Explora’s accommodation is objectively larger, more modern, and more luxurious by conventional metrics. Hebridean’s accommodation is characterful, traditional, and cosy. The comparison is between a contemporary luxury suite and a room in a Scottish country house — different experiences rather than different quality levels.

Pricing and value

Both lines require significant investment from Australian travellers — and total cost depends heavily on what each fare includes.

Explora’s per-diem runs approximately USD $450 to $750 per person per night. A seven-night Mediterranean sailing costs roughly AUD $7,000 to $11,000 per person for the cruise fare. Add flights from Australia (AUD $5,000 to $9,000 per person in business class), shore excursions (AUD $1,000 to $2,500), and transfers. Total: approximately AUD $13,000 to $22,500 per person.

Hebridean’s per-diem runs approximately GBP $700 to $1,000 per person per night (AUD $1,350 to $1,900). A seven-night Scottish sailing starts from approximately AUD $9,500 to $13,500. Add flights from Australia to Scotland (AUD $2,500 to $5,000 in economy; AUD $8,000 to $14,000 in business). Total: approximately AUD $12,000 to $27,500 per person.

The total holiday costs are comparable — which is remarkable given the radical difference in product. Explora offers a modern ocean cruise; Hebridean offers an intimate Scottish experience. The value judgement depends entirely on which experience you are seeking.

Spa and wellness

Explora has a structural advantage here — and it is one of the line’s defining features.

Explora’s Helios Spa & Fitness Centre spans approximately 7,500 square feet across two decks. The thermal area — sauna, aromatic steam room, vitality pool, snow room, and experiential showers — is complimentary for all guests with no booking required. Treatment rooms offer ocean views. The Ocean Wellness Pool is among the largest at sea. Each ship has four pools and multiple Jacuzzis.

Hebridean Princess has no spa, no swimming pool, and no fitness centre. The ship is too small for such facilities. Relaxation is a whisky in the drawing room, a walk on deck with views of the Scottish coastline, or a landing on a deserted Hebridean beach.

There is no comparison in conventional spa terms. Explora’s thermal spa is arguably the best in ultra-luxury ocean cruising. Hebridean offers the wellness of fresh Atlantic air, walking excursions, and the profound calm of being on a 50-guest ship in the middle of nowhere. If spa facilities matter, Explora wins by default. If inner peace through remoteness matters, Hebridean has its own answer.

Entertainment and enrichment

Both lines reject mainstream cruise entertainment — but their alternatives differ significantly.

Explora’s entertainment features intimate musical performances, DJ sets, cultural storytelling, acoustic concerts, and destination-focused talks. The Journeys Lounge hosts experts and cultural figures. Wine and spirit tastings are frequent and often complimentary. No production shows, no theatre, no cruise director.

Hebridean’s enrichment is built around themed voyages — specialist departures focused on art, architecture, gardens, whisky, wildlife photography, walking, and natural history. Guest speakers include ornithologists, historians, and local experts. Evening entertainment is a pianist in the drawing room, conversation over after-dinner whiskies, and quiet card games.

Both approaches suit travellers who prefer substance over spectacle. Explora’s enrichment is broader and more varied. Hebridean’s is deeper and more specialist — a week-long whisky cruise with distillery visits and expert tastings creates knowledge that a single evening event cannot match.

Fleet and destination coverage

Explora is expanding globally; Hebridean stays resolutely local.

Explora currently operates two ships (922 guests each), with four more arriving by 2028. Deployments span the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Caribbean, and transatlantic. By 2028, six uniformly modern ships will cover most major cruise regions.

Hebridean operates two vessels. Hebridean Princess (50 guests) sails Scotland’s islands and coastline. Lord of the Highlands (38 guests) navigates the Caledonian Canal and Highland lochs. Every departure is in British waters, predominantly Scotland.

Explora offers global reach. Hebridean offers unmatched Scottish depth. The choice is self-evident: if you want to sail multiple regions, Explora is the only option. If Scotland is your destination, Hebridean is the only specialist.

Where each line excels

Explora excels in:

• Modern design. Purpose-built ships from 2023 onward with a contemporary residential aesthetic.
• Wellness. The 7,500-square-foot complimentary thermal spa is the best in ultra-luxury cruising.
• Dining variety. Nine venues including the daily-changing Anthology concept.
• Global deployment. Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Caribbean, and expanding into Asia.

Hebridean excels in:

• Intimacy. Fifty guests maximum — crew know your name, your drink, and your preferences.
• All-inclusive simplicity. Everything covered. No onboard account. No bill.
• Scottish specialisation. Remote harbours and islands accessible only to a ship this small.
• British heritage. The Queen Elizabeth II charter pedigree and country house atmosphere.

Standout itineraries for Australian travellers

Explora Journeys

Mediterranean Discovery (10 nights on Explora I or II) — Barcelona, the French Riviera, Amalfi Coast, and Greek Islands. Explora’s European atmosphere feels natural in Mediterranean waters. The thermal spa and four pools suit warm-climate sailing.

Northern Europe & Baltic (12–14 nights on Explora I) — A contemporary ship in Northern European waters. May include brief Scottish port calls on select itineraries.

Hebridean Island Cruises

Hebridean Princess: Scottish Islands (7 nights, roundtrip Oban) — The classic voyage visiting Mull, Iona, Skye, and the Outer Hebrides. Fly to Glasgow or Edinburgh, transfer to Oban. Pair with a pre-cruise Edinburgh stay.

Hebridean Princess: Northern Isles (10 nights, Oban to Orkney and Shetland) — Remote northern archipelagos where Viking heritage meets dramatic seascapes.

Lord of the Highlands: Caledonian Canal (6 nights, Inverness roundtrip) — Scotland’s Great Glen, Loch Ness, and Fort Augustus at just 38 guests.

Ship-by-ship recommendations

Explora Journeys

Explora I (922 guests, 2023) — The inaugural ship with established passenger feedback. Choose for Mediterranean and Northern European itineraries.

Explora II (922 guests, 2024) — Near-identical with minor design refinements. Choose based on itinerary preference.

Hebridean Island Cruises

Hebridean Princess (50 guests, converted 1989) — The flagship and reason the line exists. Every cabin is different — request guidance on the best for your preferences.

Lord of the Highlands (38 guests) — The Caledonian Canal specialist. Even more intimate than the Princess.

For Australian travellers specifically

Neither line has a direct Australian presence — both require international travel and independent booking arrangements.

Explora’s Australian proposition is effectively non-existent until 2029. No Australian sailings. No Australian air programme. The closest itineraries are Southeast Asian sailings. MSC Group’s Australian operations through MSC Cruises provide commercial infrastructure for eventual deployment, but today, Australian travellers must fly to Europe or the Caribbean.

Hebridean’s Australian proposition requires commitment but rewards it. A small but devoted Australian following combines Hebridean cruises with broader UK holidays. Fly to Scotland (approximately 24 hours from Australian capitals via Singapore, Dubai, or Hong Kong), transfer to Oban or the embarkation port, and immerse in a Scottish experience unlike anything available in the Southern Hemisphere.

The practical recommendation: Both lines require Australian travellers to travel internationally. Explora is more accessible from a flight-infrastructure perspective — major European ports with frequent connections. Hebridean requires a Scotland-specific trip. If you are planning a European holiday with a cruise component, Explora fits more naturally. If Scotland is the destination, Hebridean is the only choice.

The onboard atmosphere

These ships create fundamentally different emotional experiences.

Explora’s atmosphere is contemporary, cosmopolitan, and resort-like. The average passenger is 50 to 60, European-majority with growing international representation. No casino, no production shows. Elegant resort dress code. Lounge DJs, acoustic sets, curated music. The feeling is more Aman resort than traditional cruise ship.

Hebridean’s atmosphere is the country house. Predominantly British guests in their 60s and 70s. Tartan armchairs, a log fire effect, bookshelves, and the gentle hum of after-dinner conversation. A pianist in the drawing room. Single malt whiskies at the honesty bar. The pace is deliberate, the tone is genteel, and the silence is punctuated by seabird calls rather than poolside music.

One is a floating luxury resort. The other is a floating country house. Both are excellent — the question is which version of luxury speaks to you.

The bottom line

Explora Journeys and Hebridean Island Cruises serve profoundly different travel motivations — and choosing between them is entirely about what kind of holiday you want.

Choose Explora for modern ultra-luxury ocean cruising with the best complimentary thermal spa at sea, nine dining venues, contemporary design, and global deployment. Choose it for a European cosmopolitan atmosphere and the convenience of major embarkation ports. Accept that flights, excursions, and transfers are not included, that no Australian sailings exist, and that 922 guests is a different social dynamic from 50.

Choose Hebridean for the most intimate, all-inclusive, and quintessentially British cruise experience afloat. Choose it if Scotland is your passion, if 50 guests feels right, and if you value single malts, tailored menus, and your name remembered by every crew member. Accept the long flight from Australia, the modest cabin sizes, the limited geographic scope, and the fact that this is a niche product for a niche traveller.

Both are luxury. Both are excellent. The distance between them — in concept, in scale, in atmosphere — is precisely what makes the comparison illuminating.