The MSC Group has revealed that its luxury cruise brand will be called Explora Journeys.

The company’s move into the luxury market will see four ships launched.

Built by Fincantieri, the first will set sail in 2023. It will be followed by three other vessels in 2024, 2025 and 2026.

The group hosted a steel-cutting ceremony at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, today (10 June), for Explora I.

Explora I will kick off its inaugural season with seven-night cruises, calling at destinations such as Saint Tropez, Bordeaux and Reykjavik.

Bookings will open in autumn this year.

The ship will feature 461 oceanfront suites and 64 private cabanas, nine dining venues, three outdoor pools and one indoor with a retractable glass roof. The ship will have a guest-to-crew ratio of 1.25 to 1.

MSC also stated that the luxury vessels will be designed to improve environmental performance with provision for battery storage allowing for future hybrid power generation, as well as technology to reduce NOx emissions by 90 per cent.

The ships will also have ship-to-shore power capabilities to cut CO2 emissions while at berth. Single-use plastics will not be used on board, nor will they be offered during shore excursions.

MSC Cruises executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago said: “Building a luxury brand that will redefine the cruise experience and create a category of its own has been a long-held vision of mine and my family.

“Inspired by our personal travel wishes, Explora Journeys will be an ocean escape like no other, allowing guests to relax, make memories, and cherish the time at sea with their loved ones. After all, time is the ultimate luxury.”

Explora Journeys CEO Michael Ungerer added: “Explora Journeys was designed for guests who want to stay longer, leave later, and travel deeper.

“Customer centricity is at the core of everything we do. We’ve commissioned research, organised focus groups, and hosted roundtable discussions with global specialists in luxury to design the perfect ship for our guests.

“Explora Journeys will bring a new perspective to the travel industry, reinventing the classic cruise experience for the next generation of luxury travellers.”