MSC's new luxury cruise line has finally set sail — and its most expensive 2023 sailing will cost you a cool $21,500

Wealthy travelers now have a new playground: Explora Journeys, a new luxury cruise line backed by one of the world's largest shipping companies, has finally set sail following delays amid fire safety concerns.

Source: Explora Journeys, Insider 

This budding brand is MSC Group's latest venture into the cruise industry.

If this name sounds familiar, it's because the shipping and logistics giant also oversees the eponymous MSC Cruises, a popular European cruise line in the midst of a US expansion.

Source: Insider

But unlike MSC Cruises — which has 2023 itineraries sailing for as little as $40 per day according to data from Cruise Sheet — 2023 sailings on the Explora I will start at $2,150 for a three-night cruise.

Source: Cruise Sheet

On Wednesday, the cruise line's first vessel, the Explora I, finally embarked on its seven-night maiden journey from Copenhagen to Reykjavik, Iceland after faulty fire panels caused a delay in its initial launch.

Through the remainder of this year, the ship will spend its time sailing around Europe, North America, and the Caribbean Sea.

These 2023 sailings will range from the aforementioned $2,150 three-night sailing from Hamburg, Germany to Southahampton, United Kingdom …

Source: Explora Journeys

… to a 35-night cruise from Hamburg to New York City for a whopping $21,500 per person.

For now, this is the brand's only vessel. But by 2028, Explora wants to build a fleet of six luxury vessels.

Source: Explora Journeys, Insider

But before we get ahead of ourselves, let's take a look at the renderings of its first ship.

Like any cruise, the Explora I has a large selection of restaurants, bars, and lounges …

… four swimming pools, onboard entertainment, and "wellness facilities."

But it wouldn't be a true luxury cruise without plush staterooms: The Explora I is set to have 461 "Homes at Sea" — a collection of suites, penthouses, and residences — all with views of the ocean.

Of the over 460 accommodations, 371 will be Explora's baseline Ocean Terrace and Ocean Grand Terrace Suites.

These suites, which start at 377 square-feet, may be significantly smaller than the 3,014 square-feet Owners Residences, but they still hold their own weight in luxury.

Explora Journeys designed the hotel rooms at sea with design firms NenMar and De Jorio Luxury and Yachts. The latter specializes in cruise and yacht designs.

Inside, there's a bedroom, a living room, a walk-in closet with a vanity, and a modern bathroom, all created with a neutral and contemporary look.

These suites also have terraces with daybeds and a dining set, giving guests a private space to lounge outdoors.

But if you'd rather lounge indoors, you can still enjoy views of the ocean through the floor-to-ceiling windows that separate the terrace from the living room.

These aren't the typical Carnival staterooms: To make the rooms feel more like a "luxurious home," they will also have heated floors in the bathroom, espresso machines…

… a mini bar restocked according to travelers' preferences, and binoculars to watch the passing wildlife while lounging on the terrace.

These luxuries are obviously more comparable to a luxury hotel room than the average cruise. And as a result, a vacation aboard the cruise won't be cheap.

But if you're already sailing with cruise lines like Oceania and Silversea, this could serve as a good alternative if you're craving a change of stateroom scenery.