Explora Journeys casinos
MSC Group's luxury brand has a small, low-key casino on each ship. There's no casino rewards program and no comp cruises, and drinks are already included in the fare.
Terms with a dotted underline are explained when you tap or select them.
On the casino floor
Explora I, II and III each have a casino on Deck 4. Luxury Travel Advisor described Explora I's as "a small but serious casino" with 3 tables offering four games and 18 slot machines. Explora doesn't market its casinos: they appear on deck plans and fact sheets, not on a page of their own.
Hours
On Explora I, slots open from 5 p.m. and tables from 7 p.m. "until late" (Cruise Critic). Explora II's casino is reported to open when the ship is at sea.
Drinks
Fares include unlimited drinks, including premium spirits and fine wines, so there's nothing for a casino comp to cover.
New ships
Explora IV and V are due in 2027 and Explora VI in 2028. Explora hasn't said whether they'll have casinos.
No casino rewards program
Explora has no players club, casino tiers or casino cruise offers. Its general loyalty program, Explora Club, rewards nights sailed and "eligible onboard purchases". Explora doesn't say whether casino spending counts.
How you earn
- Casino play: no casino points or rated play (Play the casino records against your account so it earns points. At tables, staff note your average bet and how long you play.)
- Explora Club: points for nights sailed, eligible onboard purchases and Destination Experiences
- We found no link to MSC Cruises' casino program
Why there's no casino program
On mainstream lines, casino rewards exist mainly to fill cabins and sell drinks. Explora's fares are high, its ships are small and drinks are already included, so a comp program has little to offer. If casino rewards matter to you, sister line MSC Cruises runs a full program.
Explora Club tiers are Classic, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond, and Diamond includes a complimentary journey for two. Explora Club also runs a status match (A line gives you a tier or a cruise offer based on proof of your level with a land casino or another cruise line.) covering 11 brands, including Oceania.
Ships to know
Where the casino action is biggest or newest.
Explora I
2023
Casino on Deck 4 with 18 slots and 3 tables (reported).
Explora II
2024
A small casino on Deck 4, reported to open when the ship is at sea.
Explora III
July 2026
The newest ship, a little longer than its sisters. Casino on Deck 4 next to the Journeys Lounge.
Every Explora ship
Casino figures for the whole fleet. Select a ship for its full profile and sources.
| Ship | Class | Year | Slots | Tables | Sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explora I | Explora | 2023 | 18 | 3 | — |
| Explora II | Explora | 2024 | — | — | — |
| Explora III | Explora (lengthened, LNG-capable) | 2026 | — | — | — |
| Explora IV Coming | Explora (lengthened, LNG-capable) | 2027 | — | — | — |
| Explora V Coming | Explora (LNG, hydrogen-ready) | 2027 | — | — | — |
| Explora VI Coming | Explora (LNG, hydrogen-ready) | 2028 | — | — | — |
Cruise lines rarely publish per-ship casino counts. Dashes mean we found no reliable figure. See all ships →
Good to know before you play
- AgeExplora doesn't publish a casino age. Its drinking age is 21 on North American sailings and 18 elsewhere.
- SmokingSmoking is only allowed in designated outdoor areas, so the casino is non-smoking.
- DrinksUnlimited drinks are included everywhere, even in your suite. A list of rarer wines and spirits costs extra.
- RewardsNo casino points, tiers or offers, so don't expect a casino host (A casino employee who looks after regular players and arranges offers and comps.) or end-of-cruise certificates.
What's changed recently
- Explora Club's next phase. The loyalty program's next phase launched, with tiers from Classic to Diamond and no casino benefits announced.
- Explora III delivered. The third ship, with a Deck 4 casino.
- Three more ships. Explora IV and V in 2027, Explora VI in 2028.
Sources
Items marked Reported come from press or player reports and haven't been confirmed by Explora.
- Explora Journeys — Ships (accessed Oct 2026)
- Explora Journeys — Explora I deck plans (Jun 2026)
- Explora Journeys — Explora III deck plans (Jun 2026)
- Explora Journeys — FAQ: ship (accessed Oct 2026)
- Explora Journeys — FAQ: culinary (accessed Oct 2026)
- Explora Journeys — Inclusions (accessed Oct 2026)
- Explora Journeys — Explora III delivery (Jul 22, 2026)
- Explora Journeys — Explora Club next phase (Jul 2025)
- Luxury Travel Advisor — First look at Explora Journeys (Dec 11, 2023)
- Cruise Critic — Explora I activities (accessed Oct 2026)
- Cruise Critic — Explora II activities (accessed Oct 2026)