By
Laura Hyde |
Explora Journeys has marked three construction milestones at a celebration ceremony at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genoa, Italy, on 9 March 2026.
MSC Group’s luxury cruise brand joined the Italian shipbuilder to float out Explora IV from its dry construction dock for the first time. Cristina Bacigalupo from Fincantieri’s shipyard outfitting workshop in Sestri Ponente served as the godmother to bestow good fortune to the ship.
Explora IV was floated out for the first time during the triple ceremony
Explora appointed two godmothers for the coin ceremony of Explora V: Captain Serena Melani from Explora Journeys, who served as first Master on Explora I and II, and Alice Gallo from Fincantieri.
The first steel for Explora VI was also cut at the ceremony to mark the official start of construction on the ship.
MSC Group’s executive chairman of the cruise division of MSC Group, Pierfrancesco Vago (centre) joins other executives to mark the steel cutting for Explora VI
Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of the cruise division of MSC Group, attended the event at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genoa, Italy alongside Anna Nash, president of Explora Journeys, Pierroberto Folgiero, chief executive officer and managing director of Fincantieri, and Luigi Matarazzo, general manager of Fincantieri’s merchant ships division, as well as local dignitaries.
The ceremony was the third triple ceremony for Explora Journeys in 18 months as the cruise line aims to expand its fleet to six ships by 2028. Explora I began operations in 2023, followed by Explora II in 2024. Explora III is on track to be delivered by Fincantieri in July 2026 with a christening ceremony scheduled for 1 August at MSC’s cruise terminal in Barcelona, Spain. Explora IV and Explora V are due in 2027, and Explora VI in 2028.
“For the first time, all six ships in our fleet are either in service or under construction – a defining moment as we bring the ‘Ocean State of Mind’ to life on an even greater scale,” said Nash. “These ships realise the Aponte-Vago family's vision of an experience where the ocean itself becomes the destination – inviting wellbeing, discovery and a deeper connection with the ocean. As our fleet grows, we are introducing more discerning guests to a new expression of luxury ocean travel – one that stands in a category of its own and challenges the idea that luxury must always be anchored to land, instead finding its home on the horizon.”
(From left) Captain Serena Melani from Explora Journeys, Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of the cruise division of MSC Group, and Anna Nash, preseident of Explora Journeys
“With two ships already in service, and the remaining four under construction at the same time – a true record – today we can say that the Explora Journeys fleet already fully exists, even if it still needs to be completed,” said Vago. “The construction of the final ship – Explora VI – has just begun.”