By
Kasturi Datta |
Marine educator Cristina Ozores has been named as godmother of Explora III, the first LNG-powered ship in the Explora Journeys fleet, and will name the ship at an official ceremony in Barcelona on 1 August 2026, before it begins its seven-night maiden journey.
Ozores is co-founder of Vellmarí, a marine education and conservation centre in the Balearic Islands, and works to promote ocean literacy, community engagement and ocean stewardship. She has developed educational initiatives through her work at Vellmari to foster environmental responsibility and support the preservation of the Mediterranean, including a partnership with MSC Foundation on seagrass restoration.
“Being asked to become godmother of Explora III is not just an honour; it is a very emotional moment for me,” said Ozores. “I have spent much of my life working below the surface – studying marine biology, restoring seabeds and helping younger generations better understand fragile ocean habitats. To see that work symbolically connected to a ship that will travel the world feels incredibly meaningful.”
Cristina Ozores is a diving instructor at the diving facility at Vellmarí
“Naming Cristina Ozores godmother is incredibly meaningful for us,” said Anna Nash, president of Explora Journeys. “Her dedication to ocean education and preservation reflects values that are deeply important to our brand and to the ‘Ocean State of Mind’ philosophy that guides us.”
After the naming ceremony, Explora III will sail from Barcelona to Lisbon and begin its seven-night maiden journey acrossNorthern Europe, including Iceland and Greenland, before crossing the Atlantic to New England and Canada’s East Coast.
“My hope is that Explora III becomes a space where people can discover the ocean in a deeper and more meaningful way, reconnecting with the beauty beneath the surface,” said Ozores.