13 nights, San Juan to San Juan
Explora's name for it: An Extended Journey through Golden Shores & Island Grace
Thirteen nights, nine stops, out and back from San Juan, where Explora ties up at the Old San Juan piers in the historic district itself. The cobbled grid of pastel houses and the two stone forts are a short walk from the gangway. From there the route works the eastern Caribbean's smaller islands, with the pace built around tendering as much as docking. Road Town on Tortola is a doorstep, not a destination: its real value is the roughly 30-minute ferry to The Baths on Virgin Gorda, a far better sight than anything on Tortola. Gustavia anchors offshore by design, since St Barths keeps large ships out, so the harbor never crowds. Terre-de-Haut tenders you straight into Le Bourg, where you time Fort Napoléon first thing because it closes around midday and buy tourment d'amour warm from a harbor stand.
This one rewards travelers who like variety and don't mind that several calls hinge on tenders and ferries rather than a quick walk off the pier. If swell is running at Gustavia or Cruz Bay, the day shortens, so come patient. Miami sits oddly mid-route, a contrast day of murals and Metromover rather than a beach. If you want a tight, walk-everywhere itinerary, pick a different one. If you want range across nine islands, this delivers it.
Explora III is all-suite, all-oceanfront. Send me your dates and I'll lay out the options.
The itinerary, port by port
9 calls over 13 nights, round-trip from San Juan. Open any port for my full day-ashore guide, what to see, when to go, and how the day actually runs.
Getting there: Flights to San Juan (SJU) are already bookable for these dates. I watch the fare for booked clients so you book at the right moment. When to book your flights →
- Embark
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- Disembark
Fares on this departure, decoded
Reading the fare fine print is the job. Here's what this sailing currently carries:
- Founders Fare
- A founding-era fare on a selected set of sailings. Onboard credit where the offer applies.
- Invitation to Discover More
- Explora's discovery fare, available across most of the calendar. Onboard credit where the offer applies.
- Air-Inclusive Fare
- A fare that folds airfare into the voyage price on a smaller set of sailings.
The ship and your suite
This sailing is aboard EXPLORA III, all-suite, every suite with a private ocean-front terrace. Suites run from the entry Ocean Terrace to the Owner's Residence; the right tier depends on how you travel. Compare suites → · What's included →