Explora Journeys, the luxury travel branch of MSC Group, recently marked the naming ceremony of EXPLORA I in New York City. This maritime tradition, involving the symbolic act of cutting a ribbon and breaking a champagne bottle on the ship's bow, officially christened the vessel, led by EXPLORA I's Godmother, Dr. Sylvia Earle, a renowned marine biologist and oceanographer, at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal.
Distinguished guests from around the world, international journalists, key travel partners of Explora Journeys, and senior representatives from MSC Group attended the event. Following the ceremonial launch, attendees enjoyed a gala dinner and a lively evening of celebrations.
EXPLORA I, the first of 6 new luxury ships crafted by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri under a EUR 3.5 billion agreement, embarked on her maiden voyages in July this year, sailing through Northern Europe and eventually crossing the Atlantic to New York with stops in Iceland, Greenland, and Canada.
The vessel features 461 oceanfront suites, penthouses, and residences, 6 restaurants, 12 indoor and outdoor bars and lounges, 4 swimming pools, expansive outdoor decks with private cabanas, and nearly 1,000 square meters of wellness and fitness facilities.
During autumn, the luxury ship will be in North America, spend the winter in the Caribbean, cruise along the U.S. West Coast and Hawaii in spring, and then return to Europe in Summer 2024 for a series of Mediterranean sailings that often include less-traveled ports, providing EXPLORA I's guests with a unique perspective on various destinations.
EXPLORA II is scheduled to enter service in summer 2024 and operate until April 2025 in the Mediterranean Sea and the Middle East. Subsequently, EXPLORA III and EXPLORA IV, both LNG-powered/by liquefied natural gas, will commence service in 2026 and 2027, respectively. EXPLORA V and EXPLORA VI, beginning operations in 2027 and 2028, will be equipped with state-of-the-art energy efficiency features and have the capability to utilize alternative fuels like bio and synthetic gas. These two vessels will explore the use of liquid hydrogen with fuel cells for their hotel operations while in port, eliminating carbon emissions with their engines turned off.
All Explora Journeys ships will incorporate the latest environmental and marine technologies, including selective catalytic reduction technology, shore power plug-in connectivity, underwater noise management systems for marine life protection, and a comprehensive array of onboard energy-efficient equipment to optimize engine usage and further reduce emissions.