On September 25th, Port NYC New York welcomed EXPLORA I, marking the debut of Explora Journeys in the USA. This luxury vessel is the first of six ships in the MSC Group's luxury travel brand Explora Journeys.
A maritime tradition of exchanging crests to commemorate the ship's first visit occurred at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal between Captain Diego Michelozzi, the ship's Master, and Captain Zeita Merchant, Commanding Officer of the USCG Sector New York.
Following her maiden call in New York City, EXPLORA I embarked on her inaugural East Coast USA and Canada voyage, which includes stops in Boston Massachusetts and Saint John NB Canada, Bay of Fundy, and Quebec City. The luxury ship will then undertake two additional 7-night voyages along the East Coast USA and Canada before starting the Caribbean season from Miami Florida.
EXPLORA I boasts the latest environmental and marine technologies, such as selective catalytic reduction technology, shore power plug-in connectivity, underwater noise management systems for marine life protection, and a range of onboard energy-efficient equipment to optimize engine use and reduce emissions.
EXPLORA I began its service in July 2023, while EXPLORA II is scheduled to operate in the Mediterranean Sea and the Middle East from summer 2024 until April 2025. Both EXPLORA III and EXPLORA IV will be powered by liquefied natural gas, entering service in 2026 and 2027, respectively. EXPLORA V and EXPLORA VI will be powered by hydrogen and set to enter service in 2027 and 2028, respectively.