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Explora Journeys vs. Oceania: The Brutal Truth About "All-Inclusive" Cruising. I Saved Thousands!

Bucket List Guides
Bucket List Guides
Creator
👁️ 651 views📅 3 weeks ago⏱️ 15:29
What This Creator Said
Creator RecommendsShip ComparisonCreator
❤️ Best for CoupleNorthern_europe · Summer · 12 nightsFrom ReykjavikVeteran Cruiser

Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.

Creator's Key Takeaways

I've just done the luxury maths for an upcoming 12-night Iceland to UK cruise in August, and the differences in prices here have made me do a double-take.

On Explorer, you're paying roughly 1,000 US dollars a night each. On Oceania, we're paying 412 US dollars a night for two of us.

Explorer Journeys is a better product. It's six star, brand new, all suite, all inclusive, pretty much.

Creator's Tips & Advice

Act fast to catch Oceania's spring sale, which offers up to 50% off selected voyages.
Get on Oceania's mailing list to receive alerts for future deals.
Use DIY port guides from Bucketlist Guides to avoid expensive cruise line tours.
Consider an inside cabin for port-heavy itineraries where you spend little time in the room.

🆕New to Cruising? This Creator Addresses:

Price might drop after bookingOceania has a best value guarantee that matches better public promotions for your specific sailing.
Value for money on port-heavy itinerariesChoose a more affordable cabin since you'll spend little time in the room; invest savings in future cruises.

Questions This Creator Answers

QIs Explora Journeys worth the extra cost compared to Oceania Cruises?
QWhat is included in an all-inclusive ultra-luxury cruise versus a premium-plus cruise?
QHow can travelers save money on all-inclusive cruising in 2026?

Topics Covered

Value Pricing3 Happy BaconDining Specialty2½ Happy BaconWifi Connectivity1½ Sad BaconExcursions1 Sad BaconBooking Process3 Happy BaconSpa Fitness1 Happy BaconService Crew1½ Happy BaconCabin Suite3 Happy Bacon

Port Highlights

Dublin1½ Happy Bacon
Faroe Islands1½ Happy Bacon
Isle of Skye1 Sad Bacon
Top: Bus tour ($250 US a person)
How to read the Trip Bacon Score
Happy Bacon — creators loved this aspect
Sad Bacon — creators took issue with this
Meh — no strong opinion either way

Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = “meh”, 5 = “bacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.

About our Bacon Score methodology
YouTube Video Description

Is Explora Journeys worth the money? I compared an Explora all-inclusive cruise to Oceania Cruises for a 2026 Iceland itinerary and saved over $7,000. If you are looking at all-inclusive cruising in 2026, you’ve likely seen the staggering prices for the Ultra Luxury, or Luxury Cruise lines like Explora Journeys. But is the "Ultra-Luxury" experience actually $7,000 better than a "Premium Plus or Luxury lite" line like Oceania Cruises? In this video, I break down my actual booking for a 12-night Iceland to UK sailing. On Explora, the cost was over $8000 per person for a 10 night similar ( not the same) Cruise. On Oceania Marina, I booked it for $2500 per person for an inside cabin, bitu the balcony is 3600 per person. That is a massive price gap for the exact same ports of call. In this Oceania vs. Explora Journeys comparison, we analyze: The "Your World Included" Value: Is Oceania's new inclusion model better value than Explora’s all-inclusive fare? Oceania Spring Sale 2026: How I snagged a 50% discount Luxury Suite vs. Inside Cabin: Why I chose a "box" with no window to save thousands on a port-heavy route. The Best Value Guarantee: Oceania’s price-match policy explained. Dining & Inclusions: Comparing "The Finest Cuisine at Sea" to Explora’s 6-star culinary experiences. The "Cruiseline Tax" Warning: Both Explora and Oceania have eyewatering shore excursion prices. I’m sharing my DIY cruise port strategy to help you avoid paying $300 for a bus tour. 🔗 GET THE DIY PORT GUIDES: Planning a trip to Iceland, Scotland, or the Faroe Islands? Don't book a ship tour until you've checked my independent guides: https://www.bucketlistguides.com Timestamps: 0:00 - Explora Vs Oceania North Europe 1:30 - Snagging the Oceania Cruises Sale 2:30 - Cabin Differences 4:05 - The best Value Guarentee 4:40 - Where these Cruises call 6:00- The Inclusions Tick-List: Food, Drinks, Starlink 9:50 - The Shore Excursion "Trap" 10:30 - Bucket list guides Cruise Port Guides 12:00 - Is Explora Worth the Extra $7,000? #ExploraJourneys #OceaniaCruises #CruiseReview #AllInclusiveCruising #CruiseDeals #IcelandCruise #BucketListGuides #LuxuryTravel2026 #CruiseTips