Explora Journeys Marks Historic Triple Shipbuilding Milestone at Fincantieri Shipyard
Luxury cruise line Explora Journeys celebrated a major milestone for its growing fleet with a triple shipbuilding ceremony at the Fincantieri Sestri Ponente Shipyard on Monday, March 9.
The ceremony highlighted three significant construction milestones for the brand’s future ships: the float-out of Explora IV, the coin ceremony for Explora V, and the steel cutting for Explora VI.
According to the cruise line, the event represents one of the most important days in the company’s history, as it marks the first time all six ships in the Explora Journeys fleet are either sailing or under construction.
Explora Journeys Fleet Expansion Moves Forward
The shipbuilding program forms part of a €3.5 billion investment by parent company MSC Group to develop the brand’s luxury fleet. Once completed, the fleet will consist of six luxury ships, with deliveries scheduled through 2028.
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Explora IV and Explora V are expected to enter service in 2027
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Explora VI is planned for delivery in 2028
Two ships are already in service — Explora I and Explora II — while additional vessels continue to progress through construction.
Coin Ceremony Celebrates Explora V Godmothers
During the ceremony, two godmothers were officially named for Explora V:
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Serena Melani, representing Explora Journeys
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Alice Gallo
Captain Melani received recognition for her significant contribution to the brand’s early success, having served as the first master of both Explora I and Explora II. She is also scheduled to take command of the upcoming Explora III.
Explora III to Debut in 2026
The next ship to join the fleet, Explora III, will be the brand’s first LNG-powered vessel, representing a step forward in cleaner cruise technology. The ship will begin operations with a Mediterranean prelude voyage from July 24–29, 2026, before embarking on its official inaugural sailing from Barcelona to Lisbon from August 3–10, 2026.
Global Itineraries Planned for Future Ships
Future ships in the fleet will operate across multiple regions worldwide. Explora IV is scheduled to spend its inaugural season sailing across Western and Northern Europe, Iceland, Greenland, the United States, and Canada. Meanwhile, Explora V will begin service in the Mediterranean in December 2027, before repositioning to itineraries in the Red Sea and Arabian Peninsula.
A Defining Moment for the Brand
Speaking at the ceremony, Anna Nash highlighted the significance of the moment for the luxury cruise line.
“Today marks an exceptionally special moment for Explora Journeys. This triple milestone marks the first time that our entire fleet is coming to life at once, with two ships successfully sailing and four now under construction,” she said.
“It really is a defining moment for our brand, as every vessel now exists at a different stage of its journey, all moving forward together until the full realisation of our six-ship vision.”
For more information about Explora Journeys and its luxury voyages, visit sovereigncruise.co.uk. To speak with one of our luxury cruise specialists or to make a booking, please call our Luxury Cruise Sales Team on 03331 224466.