The building of the Explora Journeys fleet has reached a new milestone with the float out of EXPLORA I, the first ship in the luxury brand’s fleet.
The float out of EXPLORA I, the first out of four luxury cruise ships ordered by the Cruises Division of MSC Group for its new luxury brand Explora Journeys, has taken place at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy today. The vessel, whose construction began in June 2021, will enter service at the end of May 2023. At the same time, the construction of EXPLORA II, the second ship of the new brand, is proceeding with delivery expected in summer 2024.
The float-out ceremony was attended, among others, by Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of the Cruise Division of MSC Group, and by Fincantieri Chairman, Claudio Graziano, and Fincantieri CEO, Pierroberto Folgiero.
The construction of the innovative Explora Journeys fleet, commissioned to Fincantieri by the MSC Group in 2018, continues at a fast pace thanks to a total order worth more than €2 billion for four units. The ships will have gross tonnage of approximately 64,000 tons, featuring the latest available technologies in terms of environment and sustainability. At the event, the brand indicated that it will explore the introduction of engines powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) on EXPLORA III and IV.
EXPLORA I will commence her inaugural Mediterranean Journey at the end of May 2023 with an 11-night journey from Barcelona to Athens. In her first year at sea, EXPLORA I will visit 132 ports in 40 different countries, including two destinations – Kastellorizo in Greece and Saint Pierre in Martinique – that have never been previously visited by any cruise ships. EXPLORA I’s inaugural journeys collection includes the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the United Kingdom, Iceland, Greenland, Canada, the East Coast of the United States of America, the Caribbean Sea, South America and Hawaii. Sailings start from six-night journeys and culminate in a spectacular 44-night Northern Europe Grand Journey.