Explora Journeys has signed a Letter of Intent with Dutch shipbuilder Den Breejen Shipyard to construct luxury river cruise ships, marking its first venture into the river cruise market as of September 2026.
Den Breejen Shipyard, based in the Netherlands, is an established vessel builder for river cruise operators including Avalon, Emerald, and Scenic. The shipyard has a recognized track record for delivering river vessels tailored to premium cruise brands.
Sales for Explora Journeys’ upcoming river cruise fleet are expected to begin during 2027. The anticipated launch window for the new river vessels is the 2027-28 cruising season and beyond.
Precise details on the number of ships, delivery timelines, and initial itineraries remain undisclosed and will be announced at a later date.
River Cruise Market Context
Explora Journeys will join a competitive river cruise market featuring established companies such as Viking, Uniworld, AmaWaterways, and Avalon. The market also includes newer entrants like Celebrity River Cruises and Trafalgar, which have expanded options within Europe’s river cruise segment.
Bringing its reputation as an ultra-luxury ocean cruise brand to river cruising, Explora Journeys aims to apply its Ocean State of Mind philosophy—focused on combining freedom, discovery, and refined European hospitality—to Europe’s iconic rivers.
The new river cruise
offerings will complement Explora’s existing ocean cruise portfolio. Travelers can expect new itinerary options to be unveiled and sales to open starting in 2027, providing additional luxury cruise experiences along European waterways.
