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Hilton

08.12.2025

Hilton and Explora Journeys Announce Partnership for Luxury Ocean Travel with the Debut of Hilton Honors Adventures

08.12.2025

Hilton and Explora Journeys Announce Partnership for Luxury Ocean Travel with the Debut of Hilton Honors Adventures

McLean, Va., USA, and Geneva, Switzerland, December 8, 2025 | Today, Hilton and Explora Journeys, the private and highly elegant cruise brand of the MSC Group, announce an exclusive collaboration. As part of this exciting new travel offering, Hilton is introducing Hilton Honors Adventures, an extension of Hilton's award-winning loyalty program focused on immersive, adventurous travel.

By summer 2026, Hilton Honors members can dream, book, and earn and redeem points while setting sail with Explora Journeys from the Mediterranean to Northern Europe, the Caribbean, and beyond. To celebrate the announcement of the partnership between Hilton and Explora, Hilton Honors members can take advantage of a limited-time pre-launch offer until June 7, 2026, reflecting the spirit of this partnership.  

While Hilton Honors members will eventually be able to choose from all of Explora Journeys' worldwide itineraries, a carefully curated selection of 16 voyages has been put together for this pre-launch offer. They offer Hilton Honors members the extraordinary experience of an ocean journey and exclusive price advantages.  

Anna Nash, President, Explora Journeys, said: “With this partnership, we unite two brands committed to conscious travel, meaningful encounters, and profound discoveries. At Explora Journeys, we believe in giving our guests the time and space to slow down, make conscious choices, and truly feel in tune with their surroundings – we call this 'The Ocean State of Mind'. Together, we offer Hilton Honors members a stay at sea that combines the freedom of the ocean with the warmth of genuine hospitality. Our goal is simple: to create moments that are effortless, personal, and crafted with care, always guided by our commitment to our guests' well-being.”

Chris Silcock, President, Global Brands & Commercial Services, Hilton, said: “Explora Journeys represents luxurious ocean travel and unparalleled experiences at the highest level. This exciting new partnership is the perfect time to launch Hilton Honors Adventures, offering our members new opportunities to discover famous destinations and hidden gems around the world.”

With Hilton Honors Adventures, travelers can experience unforgettable journeys that enrich their bucket list. They enjoy even more loyalty benefits on land and at sea, without compromising Hilton's high standards of service and hospitality. This includes the exclusive partnership with AutoCamp, the leading provider of outdoor hospitality. With more ways than ever to earn and redeem points for unforgettable stays, and with more partnerships on the horizon, Hilton Honors Adventures expands travel opportunities for loyal customers. Hilton Honors members continue to enjoy unparalleled flexibility, personalization, and loyalty benefits at 9,000 Hilton hotels, including an exceptional portfolio of more than 1,000 luxury and lifestyle hotels.

Loyalty Benefits Now at Sea
Ocean travel is experiencing remarkable growth as travelers seek carefree, immersive, and deeply fulfilling experiences. This reflects a desire for travel that combines the ease and serenity of ocean travel with a deeper sense of connection to the world. Through this partnership, Hilton and Explora Journeys realize this vision for Hilton Honors members: offering an elevated way to explore the world at sea, characterized by exceptional hospitality and carefully crafted itineraries. Each journey allows ample time at each destination to discover culture, connections, and meaningful encounters, rather than rushing. Anchored in the “Ocean State of Mind,” this collaboration encourages guests to slow down, reflect, and embrace the restorative rhythm of life at sea. They can start each day with a new horizon and enjoy the freedom to explore at their own pace.

The collaboration between Hilton and Explora Journeys combines the freedom of ocean travel with the benefits of the award-winning Hilton Honors loyalty program. This offers more than 235 million members a new way to travel – this time at sea. By summer 2026, Hilton Honors members can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive onboard benefits. They will experience carefully curated journeys to some of the world's most coveted destinations, including:

  • The Mediterranean – with its sunny islands, charming villages, historic ports, and hidden coves.
  • Northern Europe, Iceland, Greenland, and the East Coast of North America – majestic fjords, dramatic northern landscapes, and culturally rich coastal cities.
  • The Caribbean and Central America – island rhythms, turquoise seas, and the famous Panama Canal.
  • The Red Sea and Arabian Peninsula – ancient cultures and contemporary elegance along historic desert coasts.
  • Alaska, Canada, and the Pacific Coast – glacier-carved fjords, pristine wilderness, and vibrant coastal cities.
  • Asia – dynamic cities, tranquil islands, and rich traditions with impressive Japan cruises starting in 2027.

Special Offer on Explora Journeys for Hilton Honors Members
Until the launch of the ability to earn and redeem Hilton Honors points on Explora Journeys voyages in 2026, members can already book voyages with exclusive benefits until June 7, 2026: 

  • 100,000 Hilton Honors bonus points per suite. 
  • Up to $400/€1 Journey Experience Credits (JEC) on 16 selected Hilton x Explora Journeys itineraries and $200/€ credit on all other Explora Journeys voyages. These credits can be redeemed for onboard experiences, including elevated dining, wine tastings, Destination Experiences, spa treatments, selected shopping opportunities, and suite upgrades.2
  • An exclusive welcome gift in the suite.

Learn more about the partnership between Hilton and Explora Journeys in luxury ocean travel and discover fascinating itineraries at Hilton.com/Explora. Hilton Honors membership is free. Travelers can sign up online at hiltonhonors.com.

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1 Credit will be in the onboard currency applicable to the guest's booked voyage.
2 The Journey Experience Credit (JEC) is not applicable to purchases in luxury monobrand boutiques (Rolex only EXPLORA I, Cartier, Piaget, Panerai, and Buccellati only EXPLORA II), casino credits or advances, cash withdrawals, gratuities, donations to the MSC Foundation, and contributions to the Host Lifestyle Fund. JECs are non-refundable, non-transferable, and have no cash value. Unused credits expire at 6:00 PM on the last evening of the voyage. Additional terms and conditions may apply.

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Press contact for Hilton in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland:

BZ.COMM GmbH
Steffen Hager | Clio Sterkel | Anna Heuer
Hanauer Landstrasse 136 | 60314 Frankfurt am Main 
Mail: hilton@bz-comm.de | Tel: +49 69 2 56 28 88 26


About Hilton   
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 25 world-class brands comprising more than 9,000 properties and more than 1.3 million rooms in 141 countries and territories worldwide. Hilton is dedicated to fulfilling its founding vision to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality. In its more than 100-year history, the company has welcomed over three billion guests. Hilton is recognized as the No. 1 World's Best Workplace by Great Place to Work and Fortune and is committed to creating the best corporate culture for its 500,000 team members worldwide. Hilton offers several industry-leading technology enhancements to optimize the guest experience, including Digital Key Share, automatic complimentary room upgrades, and the ability to book connecting rooms. Through its award-winning loyalty program, Hilton Honors, the more than 235 million members who book directly with Hilton can earn points for hotel stays and experiences money can't buy. With the free Hilton Honors App, guests can book their stay, select their room, check in, unlock their door with a Digital Key, and check out – all from their smartphone. Visit stories.hilton.com for more information and follow Hilton on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

About Hilton Honors

Hilton Honors is the award-winning loyalty program for Hilton's world-class brands, comprising more than 9,000 hotels in 141 countries and territories. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount, and free standard Wi-Fi. Members also have access to contactless technology, exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton Honors App, allowing them to check in, select their room, and access their room with a Digital Key. Hilton Honors offers its more than 235 million members hundreds of ways to earn and redeem points, including with selected co-branded credit cards. Members can redeem points for free nights, purchases on Amazon, exclusive experiences, charitable donations, and more. The program is free to join, and travelers can enroll online at hiltonhonors.com. Learn more about Hilton Honors at stories.hilton.com/hiltonhonors, and follow Hilton Honors on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About Explora Journeys

Explora Journeys is the privately-owned luxury ocean travel brand of the MSC Group, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The brand was born from a long-held vision to redefine the ocean travel experience for a new generation of discerning luxury travelers – inspired by the Aponte family's 300-year maritime heritage. The aim is to create a unique “Ocean State of Mind” that connects guests with the sea, themselves, and like-minded individuals, while immersive itineraries combine iconic destinations with less-traveled ports, fostering discovery and inspiration.

Explora Journeys represents a new kind of transformative ocean travel. The ships offer 461 Oceanfront Suites, Penthouses, and Residences (EXPLORA I & II) – each a “Home at Sea” with floor-to-ceiling windows, expansive ocean views, private terraces, and spacious, elegant interiors.

Guests enjoy eleven distinct culinary experiences across six restaurants (EXPLORA I & II), complemented by in-suite dining and the Chef's Kitchen. Additionally, there are twelve bars and lounges (EXPLORA I & II), five pools, expansive outdoor decks with 64 private cabanas, a holistic wellness program, and world-class entertainment. Inspired by the brand's European heritage and rooted in Swiss hospitality, Explora Journeys stands for intuitive service and a relaxed form of luxury.

The first ship in the fleet, EXPLORA I, entered service in July 2023, followed by EXPLORA II in September 2024. EXPLORA III and EXPLORA IV, both LNG-powered, will follow in 2026 and 2027, respectively. EXPLORA V and EXPLORA VI are scheduled to join the fleet in 2027 and 2028, integrating state-of-the-art environmental technologies – as part of the brand's consistent commitment to sustainable ocean travel.

For more information about Explora Journeys, please visit explorajourneys.com. Also follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, LinkedIn and TikTok.