Explora Journeys took delivery of EXPLORA III, marking the halfway point in the development of its planned six-ship fleet.
The vessel was handed over today at Fincantieri's Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genoa, Italy, during a ceremony attended by executives from MSC Group and Fincantieri, along with Italian civic and government officials.
The ship is the third to enter service for the luxury cruise brand and the first in the fleet capable of operating on liquefied natural gas (LNG). It is also the largest Explora Journeys ship to date, measuring 19.2 metres longer than its sister ships while accommodating a similar number of guests.
"Today marks another proud milestone for Explora Journeys as we officially welcome EXPLORA III into our growing fleet," said Anna Nash, President of Explora Journeys.
"With every new ship, we have the opportunity to listen, learn and refine, building on what our guests value most while remaining true to the vision that defines our brand. EXPLORA III represents the next step in our journey as we continue to redefine ocean travel through thoughtful innovation, exceptional design and the intuitive hospitality that sits at the heart of the Explora Journeys experience. As a privately owned, family-led business with deep maritime heritage, we remain committed to investing for the long term, always with our guests at the centre of every decision."
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The delivery ceremony included the traditional handover, change of flag and blessing of the vessel. EXPLORA III's godmother, Maya Aponte, performed the ceremonial ribbon cutting and bottle breaking.
The ship introduces several new venues and accommodations, including The Cellar, The Chef's Table and Shore Club on 11, as well as a second Owner's Residence designed by Patricia Urquiola, additional Ocean Penthouses and Ocean Residences, expanded wellness facilities and Chopard's first onboard boutique.
Following delivery, EXPLORA III will operate a one-time five-night Mediterranean Prelude Journey departing Genoa on July 24 and arriving in Civitavecchia (Rome) on July 29. The sailing will visit Marseille, Saint-Tropez, Villefranche-sur-Mer and Livorno and include appearances by brand ambassador Jannik Sinner during the first two days.
The ship's official naming ceremony will take place in Barcelona on Aug. 1, followed by its seven-night maiden voyage to Lisbon beginning Aug. 3.
Its inaugural season will include itineraries throughout Northern Europe, Iceland, Greenland, the Canadian Maritimes and New England before launching Explora Journeys' first Alaska season in 2027.
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As the brand's first LNG-capable vessel, EXPLORA III has been designed to support the future use of bio-LNG and synthetic LNG as those fuels become available. The ship is also equipped with shore power connectivity, allowing it to shut down its engines while docked at ports with the necessary infrastructure.
With EXPLORA III now delivered, construction continues on EXPLORA IV, EXPLORA V and EXPLORA VI, which are scheduled to join the fleet in 2027 and 2028.
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