Explora Journeys, the ocean travel brand of MSC Group, has marked a series of construction milestones for its expanding fleet during a ceremony held at the Fincantieri shipyard in Sestri Ponente.
The event brought together senior representatives of the cruise line and the shipbuilder to commemorate three stages in the development of the company’s next generation of vessels. The program included the technical launch, or float-out, of EXPLORA IV, the traditional coin ceremony for EXPLORA V, and the steel-cutting ceremony marking the start of construction for EXPLORA VI. The ceremony represented the third time within eighteen months that the brand had marked multiple shipbuilding milestones simultaneously, reflecting the rapid progress of its planned 6-ship fleet.
Participants included Pierfrancesco Vago, Anna Nash, Pierroberto Folgiero and Luigi Matarazzo, together with local officials and representatives from the shipyard workforce.
The brand currently operates two vessels already in service, while EXPLORA III is expected to be delivered in July 2026. With four ships now under construction at the Genoa yard, the fleet program is progressing toward the goal of placing six ships into service by 2028.
The ceremony also highlighted maritime traditions associated with ship construction. During the coin ceremony for EXPLORA V, the role of godmothers was undertaken by Captain Serena Melani, representing Explora Journeys, and Alice Gallo from the Sestri Ponente shipyard. Captain Melani previously served as master of both EXPLORA I and EXPLORA II, and is also scheduled to command EXPLORA III. The technical launch of EXPLORA IV was marked with Cristina Bacigalupo from the shipyard’s outfitting workshop acting as the ceremony’s godmother.
The development of the Explora fleet forms part of a broader investment by MSC Group in Italian shipbuilding. The six vessels under construction represent an investment of approximately EUR 3.5 billion. When combined with earlier projects involving four ships built for MSC Cruises at Fincantieri, the group’s total investment in the shipbuilder approaches EUR 7 billion.
Following delivery, EXPLORA III is scheduled to begin operations with a Mediterranean introductory voyage before its naming ceremony, which is planned for August 1 at MSC’s new cruise terminal in Barcelona. Subsequent ships in the series will enter service progressively, with EXPLORA IV and EXPLORA V scheduled for delivery in 2027 and EXPLORA VI expected to follow in 2028.
Environmental technologies form a significant component of the fleet design. The cruise division of MSC Group is pursuing a long-term target of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from its marine operations by 2050 through improvements in vessel efficiency, the adoption of new technologies and the use of alternative fuels.
Beginning with EXPLORA III, the vessels will incorporate capabilities to operate on liquefied natural gas, which the company views as a transitional fuel with the potential to support the future use of bio-LNG and synthetic LNG. The ships are also equipped with shore-power connectivity, enabling them to connect to port electrical grids while alongside and thereby eliminate direct emissions during port stays.
Further technological developments are under consideration, including the integration of fuel-cell systems capable of converting LNG into hydrogen to reduce emissions further. EXPLORA V has been designed to accommodate a potential retrofit of this technology, while EXPLORA VI is expected to be delivered with a fuel-cell system already installed as part of the vessel’s propulsion and energy infrastructure.