Cruise Frog guide
Crystal vs Explora Journeys
Crystal rates higher than Explora Journeys on Cruise Frog's editorial scores, 4.5 to 4.3 out of 5 across their rated ships. Crystal leads on entertainment, with the rest level. Pick Crystal for solo travelers; Explora Journeys for multigenerational groups.
Comparison updated
| Fact | Crystal | Explora Journeys |
|---|---|---|
| Style | Luxury | Luxury |
| Best for | Food lovers, Couples, Solo travelers, History and culture | Couples, Food lovers, History and culture, Multigenerational groups |
| Fleet rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Cabins | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Dining | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Entertainment | 4.0 | 3.0 |
| Service | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Pools & decks | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Value | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Ships in service | 2 | 3 |
| Ships on the way | 1 | 3 |
| Largest ship | Crystal Serenity (68,870 GT) | Explora III (72,810 GT) |
| Newest ship | Crystal Serenity (2003) | Explora III (2026) |
| Guests per ship, average | 673 | 996 |
| Usually sails | Caribbean, Mediterranean, Canada and New England, Transatlantic | Caribbean, Mediterranean, Alaska, Northern Europe |
| Solo cabins | Some ships | None |
| Single supplement | The Single Ocean View rooms are sold only for single occupancy at the fare shown. Elsewhere a solo guest pays a supplement over the… | A Journey of One offer: solo occupancy from 0% over the current per-person fare on select journeys, in Ocean Terrace, Ocean Grand Terrace… |
| Loyalty program | Crystal Society | Explora Club |
| Owner | A&K Travel Group | MSC Group |
| Headquarters | Hallandale Beach, Florida, United States | Geneva, Switzerland |
| Founded | 1988 | 2021 |
Ratings are Cruise Frog's editorial scores of each line's ships in service, 1 to 5, averaged; the higher figure is highlighted. How we rate.
Quick answers
Which is better, Crystal or Explora Journeys?
Crystal rates higher than Explora Journeys on Cruise Frog's editorial scores, 4.5 to 4.3 out of 5 across their rated ships. Crystal leads on entertainment, with the rest level.
Is Crystal or Explora Journeys better value?
They score the same for value, 3.0 out of 5.
Is Crystal or Explora Journeys better for dining?
They score the same for dining, 5.0 out of 5.
Is Crystal or Explora Journeys better for entertainment?
Crystal scores higher for entertainment, 4.0 to 3.0 out of 5 (shows, music, and things to do at sea).
Is Crystal or Explora Journeys better for cabins?
They score the same for cabins, 5.0 out of 5.
Which has bigger ships, Crystal or Explora Journeys?
Explora Journeys's largest ship, Explora III, measures 72,810 gross tons, against 68,870 for Crystal Serenity, Crystal's largest. An average Crystal ship carries 673 guests, a Explora Journeys ship 996.
How many ships do Crystal and Explora Journeys have?
Crystal has 2 ships in service and 1 on the way; Explora Journeys has 3 ships in service and 3 on the way.
Are Crystal and Explora Journeys owned by the same company?
No. Crystal is part of A&K Travel Group; Explora Journeys is part of MSC Group.