Explora Journeys recently marked three separate construction milestones at the Fincantieri shipyard in Genoa Sestri Ponente, Italy, as the luxury travel brand of MSC Group progresses towards a fleet of six ships by 2028 following its €3.5 bill investment.
A triple celebration saw ‘Explora III’ floated out, a coin ceremony for ‘Explora IV’, and the first steel ‘cut for ‘Explora V’.
‘Explora I’ and ‘Explora II’ are both in service and currently operating near full capacity in the Mediterranean.
Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, Cruise Division, MSC Group, said, “We celebrate today a triple milestone in the growth of Explora Journeys, our brand dedicated to the luxury segment, whose fleet will be fully operational in three years with all six vessels.
“We are turning our vision into reality, and we are doing so quickly. We are very pleased with the results that Explora Journeys has already achieved globally and with positive feedback from guests.
“Sustainability remains a top priority for our company, and these ships, thanks to the innovative solutions and technologies implemented on board, play a crucial role in our de-carbonisation journey,” he said.
First, ‘Explora III’ was floated out from a drydock. She will join Explora Journeys’ fleet in 2026.
A second event saw the traditional coin ceremony take place for ‘Explora IV’ when commemorative coins were placed in the ship’s keel as a sign of blessing during the remaining phase of construction and bring good fortune to the vessel.
The third celebration today saw the first steel cut for ‘Explora V’ to signify the start of construction for the luxury ship.
Both ‘Explora IV’ and ‘Explora V’ will enter service in 2027, while ‘Explora VI’ will start cruising in 2028.
Anna Nash, President, Explora Journeys, added, “Today marks a proud milestone for Explora Journeys as we celebrate three remarkable ships – each a symbol of our ambition to redefine ultra-elegant ocean travel.
“This triple celebration reflects the strength of our vision and the power of collaboration between our team, our partners at Fincantieri, and the unwavering support of the Aponte/Vago family.
“Guided by our values of care, respect, and excellence, we are not just building ships – we are creating a legacy of transformative journeys that will endure for generations to come,” he said.
Luigi Matarazzo, General Manager of Fincantieri’s Merchant Ships Division, concluded, “We are proud to support the MSC Group on this journey, which demonstrates Fincantieri’s ability to interpret and anticipate developments in the cruise market, where we hold a global share of over 45%.
“The Explora Journeys fleet is a concrete example of how collaboration with the shipowner can translate into outstanding results, combining innovation, sustainability, and quality.
“Five of the six ships in the class are being built here in Sestri Ponente, a strategic asset in our production system and a symbol of an industrial vision focused on modern shipyards, green technologies, and highly complex processes,” he said.”
All of the ships are equipped with advanced environmental technologies, including shore power capabilities that eliminate emissions while in port, and sophisticated underwater noise management systems to help protect marine life.
A full suite of energy efficient on board systems also ensures optimal engine performance and reduced fuel consumption.
From ‘Explora III’ onwards, the four newest ships will be powered by LNG. These ships will also be ready to use renewable alternatives, such as bio-LNG and synthetic LNG.
‘Explora V’ and ‘VI’ will go even further, with the possibility to use fuel cell technology capable of converting LNG into hydrogen to significantly reduce emissions at ports.
