Explora marks three milestones as fleet expansion continues
Explora Journeys marked three milestones in the expansion of its fleet during an event at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Genoa Sestri Ponente on Monday (14 July)
The luxury brand of the MSC Group floated-out EXPLORA III, hosted the coin ceremony for EXPLORA IV, and cut steel for EXPLORA V.
The additions to the line’s fleet, which will comprise six ships when complete, are on schedule to be delivered by 2028. III will join in 2026, followed by IV and V in 2027 and VI in 2028.
Anna Nash, the company’s president, said: “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.
“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.”
Caroline Cooney-Hurrell, customer journey strategist at the line, was named godmother for the coin ceremony of EXPLORA IV in recognition of her commitment to the brand over the past five years.
The €3.5 billion investment in the company’s six-ship fleet – all of which are being built by Fincantieri – will see each vessel operate advanced environmental technologies, including shore power capabilities and underwater noise management systems to help protect marine life.
From EXPLORA III onwards, the four newest ships will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), a fuel that offers a reduction in emissions compared to conventional marine fuels.
These ships are also ready to use renewable alternatives such as bio-LNG and synthetic LNG. EXPLORA V and VI will use fuel cell technology capable of converting LNG into hydrogen to further reduce emissions at ports.
It comes after the company appointed Megan Saunders as its new business relationship expert.
