MSC Explora 3

The 2026-built MSC Explora 3 cruise ship (officially “Explora III”) is the third in a series of six MSC EXPLORA-class expedition ships, with sisters Explora 1 (2023), Explora 2 (2024), Explora 4 (2027), Explora 5 (2027), and Explora 6 (2028). These vessels are owned by the MSC Group and operated as a separate fleet under MSC’s luxury brand EXPLORA JOURNEYS.

The vessel (IMO number 9869899) is currently Malta-flagged (MMSI 248098000 and registered in Valletta. While under construction, the vessel was Italy-flagged (MMSI 247503500).

Compared to the original/initial design, Explora III is longer (by 19 m) and bigger (by 8900 GT tons). This extra volume allows expanded public spaces, redesigned venues, additional amenities, larger staterooms, and space for advanced systems (including LNG propulsion/fuel infrastructure).

History – construction and ownership

MSC Cruises (MSC Crociere) is a passenger shipping company headquartered in Genoa and Naples. Established in 1960, MSC Crociere is a subsidiary of MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) – the world’s second-largest containership operator and the largest privately owned cruise company.

By annual passenger shipping volumes, MSC ranks as the world’s third-largest cruise shipowner, following Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean Group.

MSC’s EXPLORA ships offer expansive interior public areas, more than 2500 m2 (~27,000 ft2) of exterior deck spaces, a large Sundeck with 64 private cabanas, three outdoor swimming pools (two aft, one forward), and a midship indoor pool covered by a retractable glass roof (with a two-deck sunbathing area and a large LED screen for movies, UHD content, and real-time sea views). Additional amenities include multiple Jacuzzies (5 indoor/outdoor spa pools/whirlpools, including a crew pool), poolside dining and lounging areas, and nine dining venues (restaurants and food bars) plus 24-hour in-suite dining.

Explora III’s ultra-modern wellness complex exceeds 700 m2 (7500+ ft2) and includes an indoor-outdoor Spa (9 treatment rooms, Thermal Suites, Beauty Salon), a 270+ m2 (2900+ ft2) Gym fitted with the latest equipment, and a dedicated Fitness Studio for group classes and personal training. A Running Track encircles the Sundeck’s sunbathing area on Deck 12.

The public space per guest is calculated at 19,5 m2, which is among the industry's highest.

The 1,25 passenger-to-crew ratio ensures highly attentive service from a dedicated staff.

For more details on MSC’s EXPLORA-class vessels, see the ship’s Wiki section.

Decks and cabins

All MSC Explora III staterooms (463 total) are outside, balconied, and categorized as suites.

Each stateroom features floor-to-ceiling windows opening onto a step-out terrace. Standard suites (OCEAN TERRACE SUITES) measure 35–39 m² / 375–420 ft², including 28 m² (300 ft²) of indoor space and a 7–11 m² (75–120 ft²) balcony.

The largest suite onboard is the OWNER’S RESIDENCE (280 m² / 3015 ft²), featuring 155 m² (1670 ft²) of indoor space and an aft-facing wraparound balcony (125 m² / 1345 ft²) with an infinity whirlpool.

Cabin categories include the Owner’s Residences (2), Ocean Residences (39; including 2x COCOON, 2x SERENITY, 6x RETREAT, 29x COVE), Penthouses (100; including 11x GRAND, 65x PREMIER, 27x DELUXE, 6x PENTHOUSE), and Ocean Suites (296; including 70x Ocean GRAND TERRACE and 226x Ocean TERRACE).

The ship has 82 interconnecting staterooms (Family Suites) designed to accommodate families and small groups.

Complimentary “MSC Yacht Club”-style 24-hour butler service is provided to all Residences and Penthouses. Butler services include packing/unpacking, pressing and laundry assistance, room service, itinerary and transportation planning, special-event coordination, and reservation assistance (onboard and ashore).

The vessel features 13 decks, of which 11 are accessible to passengers and 5 contain accommodations.

Explora Journeys fares include accommodation, shipboard dining (nine venues plus room service), unlimited beverages (fine wines, premium spirits, specialty coffees and teas, soft drinks), complimentary in-suite mini-bar, access to wellness facilities (Spa, Fitness Center, training programs), onboard gratuities, free unlimited Wi-Fi throughout, Welcome Aboard gifts (flowers, chocolates, Champagne), port-city shuttle transfers, 24-hour concierge, twice-daily housekeeping (including evening turndown), and shoeshine service.

Shipboard facilities and amenities

All public venues (restaurants, lounges, bars) feature floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic sea views. Sundecks are wind-protected with wraparound glass walls, furnished with premium outdoor furniture (three-seat sofas, padded loungers, double daybeds, deckchairs), and decorated with abundant live plants.

The onboard dining program is fully all-inclusive, offering flexible dining times and gourmet cuisine prepared with sustainably and locally sourced ingredients.

The ship offers 18 food and beverage venues, including 10 dining options (6 restaurants plus Chef’s Kitchen) and 12 bars and lounges (8 indoor, 4 outdoor). Wine selections vary by itinerary, with certified sommeliers providing pairing recommendations and boutique wine service.

The ship has 12x lifts (6x forward and 6x aft elevators), with additional floor access via indoor and outdoor staircases.

In-suite dining is available 24 hours a day.

Deck 3 houses the Aft Marina Deck (for launching watersports activities), the Marina Lounge & Bar, and two Tender Areas (port and starboard). Forward-starboard is the Infirmary/Medical Centre. The Marina Lounge & Bar is positioned at the stern of the vessel and serves as one of the public social spaces on that deck, offering drinks and seating near the Marina/tender facilities.

Deck 4 houses the Forward Lounge/Journeys Lounge (with a large stage and amphitheatrical seating), the Casino (gaming lounge fitted with table games and slot machines), the midship Lobby Hall (24-hour Guest Services/Reception Desk for assistance, Destination Experiences for information on and organizing of land tours and excursions), Lobby Bar, Boutiques (duty-free shops), and two restaurants - Med Yacht Club (Mediterranean-style) and Fil Rouge (International-style), with an adjacent Galley (kitchen and storage rooms for food and beverages).

The onboard shops include the first at-sea Rolex Boutique, opened through a partnership signed in June 2023. The boutique offers an extensive selection of Rolex models, including the Oyster Perpetual collection. Another premium retail venue is the “Watch and Jewelry Shop,” introduced in July 2023, offering Cartier, Panerai, and Piaget timepieces.

Deck 5 houses the Ocean Wellness complex (sized 700+ m2 / 7500+ ft2, an indoor-outdoor Spa consisting of 9x Treatment Rooms for massages, Thermal Suites, Beauty Salon for manicures, pedicures, hairdresser and barber services), Chef's Kitchen and Anthology Restaurant, Crema Cafe (coffee lounge/patisserie), Marble & Co. Grill (steakhouse restaurant with a wine cellar), Art Gallery (original artworks on display, also hosts art auctions), MSC Foundation (Aponte family's not-for-profit organization that manages MSC Group's conservation and humanitarian activities), Sakura Restaurant (Pan-Asian/Japanese cuisine), the Astern Pool & Bar (Aft Lounge & Bar/live music entertainment daily, doubles as nightclub with a DJ programming), the Lower Aft Plunge Pool & Lounge (poolside bar lounge with nightly live music, with an outdoor swimming pool and sundeck).

Deck 6 forward is crew-only, with staff accommodations, Messhall (crew dining and lounge), and the crew sundeck (bow-facing, with a large Jacuzzi).

Deck 10 houses the Navigation Bridge/Wheelhouse (with adjacent Captain’s Suite and officers' quarters), the Fitness Center (270+ m2 / 2900+ ft2, Gym Room with Technogym equipment, a separate Fitness Studio for group classes and personal training sessions), the Atoll Pool & Bar (Upper Aft Pool & Lounge with a sundeck, an open-air Atoll Bar, an outdoor swimming pool, sunbathing area with daybeds and padded loungers).

Deck 11 (Lido Deck) houses the bow-facing Explora Lounge, Malt Whiskey & Cigar Bar (smoking-allowed venue with an Outdoor Cigar Lounge/terrace), Meeting Rooms, children's facilities (Nautilus Club Juniors and Nautilus Club Teens), the midship Conservatory Pool & Bar (main indoor swimming pool covered by a retractable glass roof, surrounding sunbathing area, two large Indoor Whirlpools/spa pools; the pool deck is served by the poolside bar Gelateria & Creperie/snacks and beverages, and the Emporium Marketplace/indoor Lido buffet with an aft terrace/outdoor seating). In the evenings, the Conservatory Pool & Bar/pool deck transforms into a Cinema for watching movies under the stars.

Deck 14 houses the aft "Sky Bar on 14" (fka Panorama Lounge/outdoor venue with a Whirlpool/Jacuzzi and sundeck), the Ocean Wellness Open Air Fitness & Sports Court (outdoor facility for playing basketball, volleyball, football, tennis), the Funnels (smokestacks), and the Retractable Glass-Roof (covering the main swimming pool on Deck 11). Deck 14 is accessed only via outdoor stairs.

Journey Together Gatherings (family program)

In May 2023, Explora Journeys introduced the “Journey Together Gatherings” program.

The program targets multi-generational families and features a dedicated children’s lounge (Nautilus Club for kids and teenagers), various destination-themed family activities, and complimentary land-to-ship transfers.

The Nautilus Club hosts supervised, age-appropriate activities (for children aged 6–17), including interactive gaming (PlayStation 5, PS VR2, Nintendo Switch, Xbox), sports contests, workshops, and games. It also features its own heated swimming pools and a Sports Court.

Each Explora ship has 82 interconnecting staterooms (for families), offered in three categories: Ocean Suite, Ocean Penthouse, and Ocean Residence. In each family cabin, one minor (under 18) sails free.

Infants and toddlers (6–23 months) sail free, while children aged 2–17 sail at 50% off.

Itineraries

MSC Explora III’s itinerary program (revenue operations) officially starts on August 3, 2026, with the Maiden Voyage leaving from Barcelona (Spain). For July 24th (2026) was added an exclusive (VIP guests only) 5-day preview cruise (titled "Prelude Journey") starting in Genoa and ending in Civitavecchia-Rome.

The inaugural Caribbean season begins October 25th, sailing from PortMiami (Florida, USA), with one-way voyages between Miami and San Juan (Puerto Rico).

In May 2025, it was announced that EXPLORA III will inaugurate the brand’s Alaska program. Sailing from Vancouver (BC, Canada), the ship will explore glacier-carved fjords and forested islands, visiting destinations such as Sitka, Prince Rupert, and Endicott Arm.

The vessel (Fincantieri Monfalcone yard/hull number 6321) has a volume of 63,900 GT, a DWT (deadweight tonnage) of 7,500 tons, and a maximum draught of 7 m. The powerplant consists of four Wartsila marine diesel engines (model 8L46F) with a combined output of 38.4 MW (51,500 hp). Propulsion is provided by a PEM fuel-cell–battery hybrid system (two motors) with a combined output of 20 MW (26,820 hp). The registered shipowner is MSC CROCIERE SPA, and the registered manager is MSC MEDITERRANEAN SHIPPING CO.

In January 2018, strong rumors began circulating that MSC was considering the launch of a new all-inclusive luxury cruise brand. The alternative under consideration was a parallel “expedition” fleet under the MSC Cruises umbrella. In 2020, it was confirmed that MSC would instead establish a completely new luxury brand.

On October 18, 2018, MSC Group and Fincantieri signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for the construction of four ultra-luxury ships, with a contract value of EUR 2.0 billion (~USD 2.3B / ~GBP 1.75B). The announcement stated that the first unit would be delivered in Q2 2023, with a design of approximately 64,000 GT and 500 staterooms.

• The final MSC–Fincantieri shipbuilding contract for the four luxury expedition ships was signed on March 14, 2019.
• Both agreements were signed by Pierfrancesco Vago (MSC Executive Chairman) and Giuseppe Bono (Fincantieri CEO).
• With this order, MSC’s Fincantieri-built fleet grew to 17 ships (total investment EUR 14.96 billion / ~USD 17.27B / ~GBP 13.6B), all scheduled for completion/delivery by 2027. By that year, the MSC cruise fleet will total 29 vessels.

The collective investment for the four units (~EUR 2.3 billion) was estimated to generate an economic impact exceeding EUR 10 billion for the Italian economy, including employment. Each unit requires more than 7 million man-hours of construction work and an average workforce of 2,500 individuals for over two years.

The rumors were officially confirmed in March 2021 when MSC announced the senior management team for the new brand.

• Michael Ungerer (CEO), Chris Austin (CSO – Chief Sales Officer)
• Sarah Doyle (CMO – Chief Marketing Officer)
• Thatcher Brown (Commercial and Strategic Advisor), John Stoll (Destination Experience Advisor)
• Sacha Rougier (Itinerary Planning and Shore Experience)
• Before joining MSC, Chris Austin worked for Seabourn (SVP Global Sales and Marketing); Sarah Doyle worked for Bacardi Europe (Vice President Marketing); Thatcher Brown worked for GHK Dream Cruises (President) and Crystal Cruises Asia (Managing Director); Sacha Rougier was Managing Director at Cruise Gate Hamburg/Center Steinwerder; and John Stoll worked for Crystal Cruises and Silversea (Director Land Programs).

Explora III’s construction officially began with the steel-cutting ceremony on September 6, 2023, at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente Shipyard (in Genoa). On the same day, Explora 2 was launched/floated out from drydock. The dual ceremony was attended by Michael Ungerer (Explora Journeys CEO), Leonardo Massa (Explora Journeys Italy Managing Director), Pierroberto Folgiero (Fincantieri CEO and General Manager), and Luigi Matarazzo (General Manager, Fincantieri Merchant Ships Division), along with VIP officials such as Giovanni Toti (President of Liguria Region), Marco Bucci (Mayor of Genoa), Renato Franceschelli (Genoa Prefect), and Orazio D’Anna (Genoa Police Commissioner).

EXPLORA 3’s physical assembly began on September 12, 2024, with the keel-laying ceremony at Cantieri Navali di Sestri. Notably, on the same day EXPLORA 2 was delivered, and the steel-cutting ceremony for EXPLORA 4 was held. This triple-event ceremony was attended by MSC executives (Pierfrancesco Vago, Stefania Vago) and Fincantieri executives (Biagio Mazzotta, Pierroberto Folgiero).

EXPLORA 3 was launched/floated out on July 14, 2025. On the same day at Sestri Ponente Shipyard, Fincantieri also held the keel-laying ceremony for EXPLORA 4 and the steel-cutting ceremony for EXPLORA 5.

MSC EXPLORA ship technology

All ships for MSC’s Explora Journeys brand are constructed at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone Shipyard (near Trieste, Italy).

With Explora I’s steel-cutting on June 10, 2021, MSC officially launched its expedition luxury travel brand “Explora Journeys.” The brand’s mandala-inspired logo was designed by Alexa Aponte-Vago (MSC Group CFO, daughter of MSC founder Gianluigi Aponte, and wife of Pierfrancesco Vago).

Explora Journeys’ vessels are fitted with the latest maritime environmental-protection technologies and are prepared to adopt alternative energy sources (hybrid powerplants) once they become commercially viable.

The MSC EXPLORA-class ship design includes provisions for battery storage that enables hybrid power generation, as well as advanced SCR Systems (Selective Catalytic Reduction/wet scrubbers) reducing nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 90%. Additional energy-saving and environmental technologies installed on all EXPLORA ships include optimized hulls (with anti-fouling coating), improved hydrodynamics, smart HVAC systems, USCG-approved ballast-water treatment plants, advanced wastewater treatment systems, LED lighting throughout, and CII Trim Optimization software (improving fuel efficiency by optimizing trim and draft).

The vessels feature shoreside power connectivity (eliminating CO emissions while berthed) and advanced underwater noise-management systems to protect marine life. All MSC EXPLORA ships utilize a comprehensive range of onboard energy-efficient technologies to further reduce emissions.

Explora 1 and 2 are fitted with marine diesel engines (LSFO – low sulfur fuel oil). Explora 3 and 4 are equipped with LNG engines, while Explora 5 and 6 operate with LNG engines combined with hydrogen powerplants (fuel-cell technology). All ships are RINA-certified (RINA DOLPHIN) for reduced underwater noise and vibration levels. In compliance with MSC’s sustainability policies, single-use plastics are eliminated both onboard and ashore.

In late September 2020, Versonix Seaware announced that MSC’s new brand would use its booking system for online cruise reservations. Versonix serves more than 20 million passengers annually across 100+ ships. Founded in 1986, Versonix is headquartered in San Jose, California, and led by Victor Velton (President) and Yuri Polissky (CEO).

In July 2022, MSC signed a contract with SES SA (Luxembourg-based satellite and telecommunications operator) to provide “O3b mPower” satellite connectivity for the Explora Journeys fleet. O3b mPower integrates SES’ second-generation MEO satellites (~8,000 km / ~5,000 mi altitude) and GEO satellites (~35,800 km / 22,300 mi altitude).

On July 6, 2022, the MoA for building two additional EXPLORA ships (Explora 5 and Explora 6) was signed. These vessels are powered by LNG and hydrogen, featuring LNG-fuelled engines and a containment system for liquid hydrogen. The hydrogen feeds a 6-MW fuel cell that produces all electricity needed for hotel operations. With Explora 5 (2027) and Explora 6 (2028), MSC’s total investment in Explora Journeys reached EUR 3.5 billion.

The initial cost for each MSC EXPLORA-class vessel was EUR 495 million (USD 600M). The second pair of ships (Explora 3 and Explora 4) have a higher construction cost (EUR 615 million / USD 730 million, +EUR 120M per unit) due to the LNG engines and associated design modifications. This also delayed delivery: Explora 3 was rescheduled from 2025 to 2026, and Explora 4 from 2026 to 2027.

Inaugural itineraries (2026)

In October 2025 was scheduled the 5-night “Mediterranean Prelude to EXPLORA III Cruise.” The special preview voyage (July 24–29, 2026) sails from Genoa/Milan to Civitavecchia/Rome, visiting the French and Italian Riviera ports of Marseille, Saint-Tropez, Villefranche-sur-Mer/Nice, and Livorno/Florence.

The following tables list the ship’s first voyages by region.

(MAIDEN VOYAGE 2026) – 7-day Mediterranean from Barcelona to Lisbon

(Inaugural Transatlantic crossing from Europe to Canada and the USA)

8-day from the UK to Iceland

11-day from Iceland to Canada

10-day repositioning from Canada to Florida USA

Inaugural 7-day Caribbean itinerary from Florida USA

Inaugural 7-day Caribbean itinerary from Puerto Rico

Inaugural 10-day Panama Canal cruise

Godspeed!