Explora's fourteen suites, compared.
Fourteen sub-categories across four tiers, and most buyers pick the wrong one. Explora's own site lists each category on its own page. Eleven on Explora I, sixteen by Explora III. There is no comparison view. The square footage is in metres. Pricing requires an advisor login. Here is the same information on one page, in feet, with the trade-offs that matter.
What a real suite looks like
Before the table: this is my actual suite aboard Explora I. The walkthrough below beats any render. Wardrobe, bath, bedroom, living area, in the order you'd move through it.
Decision rules in 90 seconds
If you don't have time for the full breakdown, this is the answer. Or take the 90-second Suite Picker and I'll recommend a tier with two matching voyages.
- 01
Ocean Suites for couples who want oceanfront without the residence-tier pricing.
Cheapest way onto the ship; the Grand Terrace is the value pick within the tier.
- 02
Ocean Penthouses for couples or families who want a separate living area and a butler-equivalent.
The most-negotiated tier. Deluxe and Premier usually beat the base Penthouse for the same dates.
- 03
Ocean Residences when you want Residence Host service, free transfers, and dining reservations 120 days out.
A different category of trip, not just a larger suite.
- 04
Owner's Residence when you want the single largest suite on the ship.
One per ship. On Explora III and IV, designed by Patricia Urquiola.
The whole fleet, one table
Fourteen categories. Two are ship-exclusive: Patricia Urquiola's Owner's Residence on Explora III and IV; the Grand Penthouse with Whirlpool on Explora V and VI.
| Suite | Tier | Sqft | Outdoor space | Ships | Dining reservations open |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean Terrace Suites | Ocean Suites | 377 | 7 sqm (75 sqft) private sun terrace, alfresco dining + daybed | I, II, III, IV, V, VI | 75 days before sailing |
| Ocean Grand Terrace Suites | Ocean Suites | 420 | 11 sqm (118 sqft) expanded terrace with dining table + daybed | I, II, III, IV, V, VI | 75 days before sailing |
| Penthouses | Ocean Penthouses | 463–517 | sun terrace with dining table + daybed | I, II, III, IV, V, VI | 90 days before sailing |
| Deluxe Penthouses | Ocean Penthouses | 463–657 | expansive outdoor terrace with dining tables and daybeds | I, II, III, IV, V, VI | 90 days before sailing |
| Premier Penthouses | Ocean Penthouses | 517–571 | large terrace with daybed and alfresco dining | I, II, III, IV, V, VI | 90 days before sailing |
| Grand Penthouses | Ocean Penthouses | 646–743 | panoramic terrace with daybed and dining for four | I, II, III, IV, V, VI | 90 days before sailing |
| Grand Penthouse with Whirlpool | Ocean Penthouses | 646–743 | expansive oceanfront terrace with dining for four, sun loungers, private whirlpool | V, VI only | 90 days before sailing |
| Cove Residences | Ocean Residences | – | – | I, II, III, IV, V, VI | 120 days before sailing |
| Cove Residences with Whirlpool | Ocean Residences | 721–861 | expansive terrace with private outdoor whirlpool | I, II, III, IV, V, VI | 120 days before sailing |
| Retreat Residences | Ocean Residences | 829–872 | sweeping views over ship's bow | I, II, III, IV, V, VI | 120 days before sailing |
| Serenity Residences | Ocean Residences | 1,216–1,356 | expansive wraparound terrace, private whirlpool, dining for four, sun loungers, Technogym Bench | I, II, III, IV, V, VI | 120 days before sailing |
| Cocoon Residences | Ocean Residences | 1,604 | vast wraparound terrace with private whirlpool at the most panoramic point | I, II, III, IV, V, VI | 120 days before sailing |
| Owner's Residence | Owner's Residence | 3,014 | – | I, II, V, VI | 180 days before sailing |
| Owner's Residence by Patricia Urquiola | Owner's Residence | 3,014 | – | III, IV only | 180 days before sailing |
Sqft figures converted from Explora's published sqm. Outdoor space wording quoted from each suite's own Explora product page.
Best suite by buyer type
Most of the suite-decision question is really an audience-translation question. Four shorthand reads.
For an Aman loyalist
The math suggests an Ocean Penthouse on a 7-night Mediterranean or a Caribbean voyage as the first Explora suite to consider. The 463–743 sqft sits between an Aman Pavilion and a one-bedroom Pavilion in scale. The Residence tier reads as the closer Aman analog on paper, but the value lives in the Penthouse. Most Aman-trained buyers don't need the Residence service layer on a 7-night voyage.
For a Four Seasons loyalist
Ocean Residence is typically the right tier. Specifically the Cocoon for the wraparound terrace, or the Serenity for the aft positioning. Four Seasons buyers expect the residence service layer (dedicated Host, free transfers, dining priority), and the Residence tier delivers it.
For a multi-gen family
Two connected Ocean Penthouses beats a single larger suite for groups of four or more. Privacy plus shared living spaces, and the Penthouse tier's separate living area gives the adults a place to be after the kids are asleep. The Grand Penthouse is the only sub-category with a sofa bed and works for a parent-with-teenager arrangement in one suite.
For a design-conscious solo traveler
The Owner's Residence on Explora III or IV. Designed by Patricia Urquiola. Is the strongest architectural statement at sea right now. For solo travelers who choose hotels for design first (Belmond, Soho House, Aman), this is the suite that pays back the price. Below the Owner's tier, the Deluxe Penthouse on decks 8–9 of Explora I/II offers the cleanest design language at a fraction of the price.
These are starting points. Real suite recommendations come down to the specific voyage, the specific deck plan, what's available, and how you actually travel. My suite framework tool walks through how I read the deck plan once you've landed on a tier, and we work out the rest on a 30-minute Pre-flight call.
Ocean Suites
377–420 sqft. The entry, but not the compromise.
These are the cheapest way onto an Explora ship. They are also among the largest entry-tier suites at sea: a 377 sqft Ocean Terrace is bigger than a standard Verandah on Silversea Nova (387 sqft incl. balcony. Explora's 377 sqft excludes the terrace). The trade-off lives in two places: dining reservations open at 75 days versus 90 for Penthouses, and the service is the standard ship hospitality, not the in-residence layer.
Pick this if: the destination matters more than the suite, you're a Med-loyalist buying a 7-night port-rich itinerary, or you're testing Explora before committing higher next time. The Grand Terrace on decks 6–7 is the value pick. 11 sqm of usable outdoor space and a quieter deck for $40–80 more per night than a base Terrace.
Sub-categories in this tier
- Ocean Terrace Suites
Designed to embrace space and light. 28 sqm (301 sqft) interior plus a 7 sqm (75 sqft) private terrace. Floor-to-ceiling windows, alfresco dining and daybed lounging, endless sea view.
- Ocean Grand Terrace Suites
Located on decks 6 and 7. 28 sqm (301 sqft) interior plus a more expansive 11 sqm (118 sqft) private terrace with dining table and daybed, ideal for long afternoons outdoors.
Ocean Penthouses
463–743 sqft. The most negotiated tier.
The most-negotiated tier on every Explora booking I write. The category contains five sub-types that don't slot cleanly into a single price line, a Premier Penthouse is sometimes priced below a Deluxe Penthouse of the same sqft because the Deluxe is forward of the spa. Penthouses come with a real second living-and-dining space, the residence-style closet, and the early-dining perk that the Suites tier doesn't get.
Pick this if: you want a room you can actually live in for 14 nights without feeling cramped, you entertain in-suite, or you're travelling with one other adult who will keep different hours. The Grand Penthouse is the only Penthouse with a sofa bed, the right call for a parent-with-teenager trip. Skip the standard Penthouse unless your specific voyage prices it well; the Deluxe and Premier are nearly always worth the upgrade for the same dates.
Sub-categories in this tier
- Penthouses
Lounge, dining area for four indoors. Sun terrace outdoors with a direct line to the water.
- Deluxe Penthouses
Carefully zoned layout. Large lounge, dining area for four. Expansive outdoor terraces with dining tables and daybeds.
- Premier Penthouses
Additional privacy. Entrance hall, luminous lounge, dining area for four. Floor-to-ceiling glass doors to large terrace with daybed and alfresco dining.
- Grand Penthouses
Largest of Ocean Penthouses. True residential-style living, distinct dining/lounging/sleeping/working zones. Double sofa bed, ideal for travel with children.
- Grand Penthouse with Whirlpool
EXCLUSIVE TO EXPLORA V and VI. Grand Penthouse layout with a private whirlpool on a more spacious terrace.
Ocean Residences
700–1,604 sqft. Residence Host service. Different category of trip.
This is where Explora changes character. A Residence Host is assigned at embarkation, ground transfers within 50 miles of the port are included, the laundry is unlimited, and the dining reservations open at 120 days. Long enough that you actually get the seat you want at Anthology on a peak Med week. The smallest Residence is 700 sqft. The Cocoon at 1,604 sqft is the largest non-Owner's option.
Pick this if: you've sailed top-tier suites on Regent or Seabourn and Explora is the brand you want to try; or you're booking a long-haul Grand Journey where the additional laundry and transfer benefits compound. The Serenity on the aft has the wraparound terrace and the private whirlpool, the highest-conversion specific suite I recommend to first-time-Explora hotel-luxury buyers.
Sub-categories in this tier
- Cove Residences
Named after secluded ocean inlets. Contemporary living area with large sofa, dedicated workstation, dining table for four, separate bedroom with sea views, walk-in wardrobe with seated vanity.
- Cove Residences with Whirlpool
Calacatta marble bathrooms; Molteni&C and Manutti furniture. Each occupies one of the ship's finest positions; each has unique character.
- Retreat Residences
Forward-most section of the ship. Sweeping views over the bow. Contemporary, characterful interior with apartment-style layout and fresh flowers.
- Serenity Residences
Tranquil haven on ship's aft. Panoramic ocean views. Wraparound terrace is the highlight. Molteni&C furnishings, dining for four, separate bedroom, walk-in wardrobe.
- Cocoon Residences
Ultimate in ocean living. Vast wraparound terrace, distinct zones for live/work/dine/unwind. Guest powder room and Technogym Bench.
Owner's Residence
3,014 sqft. Patricia Urquiola on Explora III + IV. One per ship.
One per ship. Spans the full width of the aft, with a dedicated Residence Manager who handles every reservation, transfer, and onboard amenity. On Explora III and IV, Patricia Urquiola redesigned this category. Different layout, different finishes, a notable upgrade if the standard Owner's Residence interior on I/II feels too restrained for the price. Up to four ground transfers per Journey and a private driver ashore.
Pick this if: the budget is decided and the question is which line. The Owner's Residence on Explora III is, by suite design, the most architecturally interesting top-suite at sea right now. Book early. There is one per voyage and on peak weeks it sells twelve months out.
Variants in this tier
- Owner's Residence
Largest living space on-board: 155 sqm (1,668 sqft) interior plus a 125 sqm (1,345 sqft) full-beam terrace with private whirlpool. Separate living, dining and sleeping areas, dining for 8, private steam room. Dedicated Residence Manager.
- Owner's Residence by Patricia Urquiola
EXCLUSIVE TO EXPLORA III and IV. New interpretation by Patricia Urquiola, one of the world's most celebrated architects and designers.
Tell me your voyage and I'll tell you which suite.
Best available price, the same fare you'd pay direct with Explora. What changes is the value on top: onboard credit where the current offer allows, favorable deposit and early-booking terms, a suite picked by category fit rather than upsell pressure, and a real person to call if something goes sideways at sea.