NEW YORK CITY — Explora Journeys has officially welcomed its first luxury ship into its fleet with a namingceremony earlier this week.
Taking place in New York City’s Manhattan Cruise Terminal on Oct. 12, the ceremony celebrated the arrival of EXPLORA I, the first of six luxury ships constructed for Explora Journeys by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri in a deal valued at $5 billion.
Guests from around the world including key travel partners, media and senior representatives from parent company MSC Group enjoyed a gala dinner following the ceremonial launch and ribbon cutting.
“In the world of luxury travel, EXPLORA I is a game changer,” said Perfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, Cruise Division, MSC Group. “We are looking to attract a wider group of discerning travellers who have experienced the finest luxury land-based resorts but seek more value, more authenticity and a deeper connection to the world. Explora Journeys is the answer by giving you a way to discover off-the-beaten-track destinations by sea, all whilst enjoying some of the best real estate in the world.”
EXPLORA I arriving in New York City
The ship’s Godmother, renowned marine biologist and oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle, added: “I am honoured to be the Godmother for EXPLORA I and look forward to a meaningful relationship between Mission Blue, Explora Journeys and the MSC Foundation towards making a very positive contribution to protect and restore the world’s seas and oceans.”
EXPLORA I began sailing this past July with a series of journeys in Northern Europe before crossing the Atlantic to New York with visits en route to Iceland, Greenland and Canada.
The ship offers 461 oceanfront suites, penthouses and residences, six restaurants, 12 indoor and outdoor bars and lounges, four swimming pools, extensive outdoor decks with private cabanas and nearly 1,000 square metres of wellness and fitness facilities.
It will spend the fall season in North America, the winter in the Caribbean, and the spring on the U.S. West Coast and Hawaii before returning to Europe in summer 2024 for a series of sailings in the Mediterranean Sea.
Explora Journeys’ second ship, EXPLORA II, will enter service in summer 2024 and operate until April 2025 in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Following that will be EXPLORA III and EXPLORA IV, both of which will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and enter service in 2026 and 2027, respectively. EXPLORA V and EXPLORA VI will enter service in 2027 and 2028, respectively, with both capable of using alternative fuels such as bio and synthetic gas. These two ships will pursue the use of liquid hydrogen with fuel cells for their hotel operations while docked in ports to eliminate carbon emissions while engines are switched off.
All of the vessels will be equipped with the latest environmental and marine technologies, including selective catalytic reduction technology, shore power plug-in connectivity, underwater noise management systems to help protect marine life, and a comprehensive range of onboard energy-efficient equipment to optimize engine use to further reduce emissions.
