Explora Journeys takes delivery of EXPLORA III, unveils largest ship in fleet

Explora Journeys has officially welcomed EXPLORA III to its fleet, marking another milestone in the luxury cruise line's expansion and the halfway point in its six-ship fleet development.

The vessel was delivered Thursday (July 23) at Fincantieri's Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genoa, Italy, during a traditional handover ceremony attended by executives from Explora Journeys, parent company MSC Group, Fincantieri and Italian government officials.

The delivery represents the next phase of MSC Group's more than €3.5-billion investment in Explora Journeys, with all six ships being designed and built by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri.

Among those attending the ceremony were Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Group's Cruise Division, Anna Nash, President of Explora Journeys, Fincantieri President Biagio Mazzotta and CEO Pierroberto Folgiero. Italian television presenter Lorella Cuccarini hosted the event.

Celebrations included a performance by Italian dance group Urban Theory, the traditional parade of the ship's officers and Fincantieri workforce, the ceremonial change of flag and a blessing of the vessel. EXPLORA III's Godmother, Maya Aponte, completed the ceremony with the traditional ribbon-cutting and bottle-breaking.

“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,” said Anna Nash, president of Explora Journeys, in a statement.

“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.”

Largest ship in the fleet

At 19.2 metres longer than her sister ships, EXPLORA III becomes the largest vessel in the Explora Journeys fleet while carrying a similar number of guests, allowing for more space and privacy onboard.

The ship introduces three new dining concepts — The Cellar, The Chef's Table and Shore Club on 11 — alongside several new accommodations and amenities.

These include a second Owner's Residence designed by architect Patricia Urquiola, additional Ocean Penthouses and Ocean Residences, expanded wellness facilities that combine spa and fitness offerings, and Chopard's first onboard boutique.

Mediterranean prelude before maiden voyage

Following delivery, EXPLORA III will embark on a special five-night Mediterranean Prelude Journey departing Genoa on July 24 and arriving in Civitavecchia (Rome) on July 29.

The sailing will call at Marseille, Saint-Tropez, Villefranche-sur-Mer and Livorno, giving guests an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the ship before its official debut.

Tennis star and Explora Journeys brand ambassador Jannik Sinner will sail aboard during the first two days of the voyage.

The ship's official naming ceremony is scheduled for Aug. 1 in Barcelona.

EXPLORA III will then depart on its seven-night maiden voyage to Lisbon on Aug. 3, launching an inaugural season that includes sailings throughout Northern Europe, Iceland, Greenland, the Canadian Maritimes, New England and North America.

The cruise line said the itineraries have been designed with longer port stays and no repeated routes to encourage deeper destination immersion.

Looking ahead, EXPLORA III is scheduled to begin Explora Journeys' first-ever Alaska season in 2027, while EXPLORA V is slated to introduce the brand to Asia in 2028.

First LNG-capable Explora ship

EXPLORA III also marks an environmental milestone as the first LNG-capable ship in the Explora Journeys fleet.

The vessel has been designed to operate on liquefied natural gas while also being capable of using future renewable alternatives such as bio-LNG and synthetic LNG as they become available.

 It is also equipped with shore power technology, allowing the ship to connect to electrical grids in compatible ports and shut down its engines while docked.

With EXPLORA III now in service, Explora Journeys has three ships sailing, while EXPLORA IV, EXPLORA V and EXPLORA VI remain under construction at Fincantieri.

The remaining vessels are expected to join the fleet in 2027 and 2028 as MSC Group continues its goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its cruise operations by 2050.

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