By
Rebecca Gibson |
Explora Journeys celebrated construction milestones for three luxury cruise ships at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genoa, Italy, on 14 July.
After floating Explora III out of dry dock for the first time, Fincantieri laid the first keel block for Explora IV. To celebrate this milestone, two godmothers – Caroline Cooney-Hurrell, customer journey strategist at Explora Journeys, and Franca Parisi, head of quality and performance at Fincantieri – laid ceremonial coins under the keel to bring good fortune to Explora IV.
Explora III pictured in dry dock ahead of being floated out to the outfitting dock
Fincantieri also cut the first piece of steel for Explora V, marking the official start of the construction phase of the project.
“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,” said Anna Nash, president of Explora Journeys. “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.”
All three ships – and the upcoming Explora VI – will be equipped with advanced environmental technologies, such as underwater noise management systems and a full suite of energy-efficient onboard systems to optimise engine performance and cut fuel consumption.
In addition, they will be able to connect to shore power and will run on LNG to decrease emissions. They will also be designed to operate on renewable alternative fuels, like synthetic LNG and bio-LNG, when they become available. Explora V and Explora VI will be fitted with fuel cell technology capable of converting LNG into hydrogen to “significantly reduce” emissions at ports too.
“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,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Group’s cruise division. “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 onboard, play a crucial role in our decarbonisation journey.”
Explora Journeys president Anna Nash (second from right) joins other executives to mark the steel cutting for Explora V
Explora III will debut in 2026 and be followed by Explora IV and Explora V in 2027, and Explora VI in 2028. Explora I and Explora II are already in service and currently operating near full capacity in the Mediterranean Sea. All six vessels will be built by Fincantieri.
“The Explora Journeys fleet is a concrete example of how collaboration with the shipowner can translate into outstanding results, combining innovation, sustainability and quality,” said Luigi Matarazzo, general manager of Fincantieri’s merchant ships division. “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.”
Read more: Anna Nash, president of Explora Journeys, explains to CFR how the brand is redefining the concept of cruising