Explora Journeys has taken delivery of its third vessel, Explora III, during a handover ceremony at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genoa, Italy

The event, which took place on Thursday (23 July), was attended by Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chair of the cruise division of MSC Group; Anna Nash, president of Explora Journeys; Biagio Mazzotta, president of Fincantieri; and Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and MD of Fincantieri, alongside Italian civic and government authorities including Silvia Salis, mayor of Genoa, and Marco Bucci, president of the Liguria Region.

Joined on stage by captain Serena Melani, Vago and Folgiero presided over the ceremonial change of flag, accompanied by the Italian and Maltese national anthems, marking the official transfer of the ship from builder to owner. Following the ship’s blessing, Explora III‘s godmother, Maya Aponte, concluded the ceremony with the traditional ribbon-cutting and bottle-breaking.

Nash said: “Today marks another proud milestone for Explora Journeys as we officially welcome Explora III into our growing fleet. With every new ship, we have the opportunity to listen, learn and refine, building on what our guests value most while remaining true to the vision that defines our brand.

“Explora III represents the next step in our journey as we continue to redefine ocean travel through thoughtful innovation, exceptional design and the intuitive hospitality that sits at the heart of the Explora Journeys experience. As a privately owned, family-led business with deep maritime heritage, we remain committed to investing for the long term, always with our guests at the centre of every decision.”

Extended by 19.2 metres, Explora III is the most spacious ship in the line’s fleet while welcoming a similar number of guests as her sister ships Explora I and Explora II.

The ship introduces an enhanced culinary offering with three distinctive new concepts, The Cellar, The Chef’s Table and Shore Club on 11, and also features a second Owner’s Residence, designed by architect and designer Patricia Urquiola, as well as an expanded collection of Ocean Penthouses and Ocean Residences, reimagined Ocean Wellness facilities and Chopard’s first boutique onboard.

Following the delivery, Explora III will sail a five-night Mediterranean Prelude Journey departing Genoa on 24 July and concluding in Civitavecchia on 29 July.

Following the prelude cruise, the vessel will sail to Barcelona for its official naming ceremony on 1 August 2026. On 3 August 2026, it will depart Barcelona on a seven-night Maiden Journey to Lisbon, launching an inaugural season spanning Northern Europe, Iceland, Greenland and North America.

In 2027, Explora III will mark Explora Journeys’ debut Alaska season, with the brand’s global expansion continuing in 2028 with the debut of Explora V in Asia.

With Explora III now delivered, Explora Journeys has reached the halfway point in the development of its six-ship fleet, with three vessels now in service. Construction continues at Fincantieri on Explora IV, Explora V and Explora VI, scheduled to join the fleet in 2027 and 2028.