Explora Journeys has officially taken delivery of Explora I, the first ship in the fleet.

The delivery ceremony took place at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.

Earlier in July, Explora Journeys cancelled the ship’s original maiden voyage because of a problem with materials used on the vessel.

It will now set sail on its first cruise from Copenhagen on 1 August 2023.

Following this, Explora I will spend several weeks in Northern Europe, offering a range of different itineraries, and will then cross the Atlantic via Greenland for the autumn in North America and the winter in the Caribbean.

Explora Journeys has ‘pushed the boundaries’

MSC Group cruise division executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago said: “Today is a historic day and represents a decisive step in our growth path, because it marks the entry of the MSC Group into the luxury travel sector.

“This segment has strong growth prospects, in which we strongly believe and whose standards we aim to redefine, focusing as always on excellence and luxury.”

Explora Journeys CEO Michael Ungerer added: “This traditional maritime moment marks the most important milestone for Explora Journeys as we will finally be able to showcase our highly anticipated, extraordinary new ship.

“We have pushed the boundaries of innovation and design to create a ship that embodies our commitment to excellence.

“With the delivery of Explora I our vision to provide unparalleled luxury experiences has become an incredible reality.”

Explora II is currently being built at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Genoa and will enter service in August 2024.

In addition, Explora III will become the first of two LNG-powered vessels to join the line’s fleet, with the ship due to be delivered in 2026 and Explora IV in 2027.