The ship EXPLORA III. Photo: Explora Journeys Another luxury ship is joining the Explora Journeys luxury cruise brand. The
EXPLORA III is the third of six planned and the first to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The ship was delivered to Explora Journeys in a festive ceremony held at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy. In the upcoming season, the ship will sail in the regions of Northern Europe, Iceland, Greenland and North America, and in 2027 will arrive in Alaska.
The new ship is 19.2 meters longer than the EXPLORA I and EXPLORA II ships, and is the widest in the fleet, without increasing the number of guests.
On board EXPLORA III are three new restaurants - The Cellar, an intimate wine complex with one of the largest wine collections in the cruise world with nearly 350 wines, personally accompanied by sommeliers; The Chef's Table, a chef's restaurant where the guest builds the menu, culinary combinations and atmosphere together with the chef, and Shore Club, a restaurant that serves grilled dishes, salads and gelato in a Mediterranean summer atmosphere.
The ship EXPLORA III. Photo: Explora JourneysThe ship will feature a spa and fitness complex in one harmonious space. It will also include a variety of luxury brand stores such as Rolex and Cartier, the first store of the jewelry and watch brand Chopard, and additional stores of other brands.
The suite mix at EXPLORA III has been updated to include a higher proportion of penthouses and luxury residences (Ocean Penthouses and Ocean Residences) alongside two Owner's Residence suites, designed by international designer Patricia Urquiola.
As the first ship in the fleet to be powered by liquefied natural gas, EXPLORA III will be able to switch to renewable fuel alternatives such as bio-LNG and synthetic LNG in the future. It is also equipped with shore power connection capability, allowing the engines to be turned off while docked in ports where the appropriate infrastructure is available.
The handover ceremony was attended by Pierfrancesco Vago, Chairman of the Board of MSC Cruises; Anna Nash, President of Explora Journeys; and Fincantieri executives, including the company's President Biagio Mazzutta and CEO Pier-Roberto Folgero. The ceremony was also attended by the Mayor of Genoa Silvia Salis and the President of the Liguria Region Marco Bucci. Vago and Folgero presided over the flag-changing ceremony alongside Captain Serena Melani, and the ship's godmother Maya Aponte, who concluded the ceremony with the traditional ribbon-cutting and bottle-breaking.
Pierfrancesco Vago,and Anna Nash. Photo: Explora JourneysThe official launch ceremony will take place in Barcelona on August 1, and EXPLORA III will set sail on her official maiden voyage on August 3. This coming season, the ship will sail to Northern Europe, Iceland, Greenland and North America, and will arrive in Alaska in 2027.
The next three ships in the fleet, EXPLORA IV, EXPLORA V and EXPLORA VI, are under construction at Fincantieri and will begin sailing in 2027 and 2028. This is part of Explora Journeys' investment of more than €3.5 billion in the new fleet.
Anna Nash, President of Explora Journeys: "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. As a privately owned, family-led business with deep maritime heritage, we remain committed to investing for the long term, always with our guests at the centre of every decision."