Fincantieri delivers Explora III, third of six ships for MSC Group’s luxury cruise brand

Explora III [Photo: Fincantieri]

Explora Journeys, MSC Group’s luxury ocean travel brand, yesterday celebrated the delivery of Explora III at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genoa. The vessel is the third ship of the six vessels planned for the brand to enter service, while the remaining three are all under construction at Fincantieri and will be delivered within the next two years – Explora IV and Explora V in 2027, followed by Explora VI in 2028.

Reflecting an investment of more than EUR 3.5 billion, the Explora Journey vessels, says Fincantieri, “represent the very best of Made in Italy excellence and serve as ambassadors of Italian craftsmanship around the world.”

Advanced environmental technologies have been incorporated throughout the fleet. All vessels are equipped with shore power connectivity, enabling engines to be switched off and reducing emissions to virtually zero while in port.

Extended by 19.2 meters compared with Explora I and Explora II, Explora III is the most spacious ship in the fleet, though carrying a similar number of guests as her 992-passenger sister ships.

Explora III is the first vessel in the fleet – to be followed by the three further vessels in the series – to be fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG). The vessels are also capable of operating on renewable and next-generation fuels, including bio-LNG, synthetic LNG and biofuels.

Explora V and Explora VI will additionally feature fuel cells, an innovative technology capable of generating energy more efficiently and supporting the industry’s pathway towards net-zero emissions, ahead of the industry’s 2050 target.

Designed and built under the supervision of classification society RINA, Explora III has received a number of additional notations recognizing its environmental performance and passenger comfort. These include the “Green Plus” notation for high environmental standards and the “Comfort Noise and Vibration” notation for low onboard noise and vibration levels. The vessel has also received the “Dolphin” notation, recognising efforts to minimise underwater radiated noise in environmentally sensitive marine areas, as well as Pzolar Code C certification, enabling operations in polar regions.

“The delivery of Explora III marks another important milestone in the realization of our vision for Explora Journeys,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman, MSC Group’s Cruise Division. “In just three years, we have established a distinctive new perspective on ocean travel. I have always believed that the finest real estate in the world is found at sea. No hotel on land can offer the same ever-changing views, the same sense of arrival, or the privilege of waking each morning in a different destination. Combined with the generous space, privacy and comfort of Explora Journeys, our all-inclusive approach and highly personalised service, it delivers exceptional value in both time and money. With every new ship, we expand our ability to take guests beyond the familiar through more immersive experiences in destinations around the world. Explora III reflects our commitment to innovation, craftsmanship and responsible growth, while supporting the wider economic benefits that cruise tourism brings to destinations and coastal communities.”

“Explora III demonstrates Fincantieri’s ability to drive the transformation of shipbuilding through innovation, sustainability and the adoption of new technologies and alternative fuels,” said Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and managing director of Fincantieri. “The introduction of the first LNG-powered vessel into the fleet marks an important milestone in this journey and reflects our commitment to developing increasingly advanced and sustainable solutions. The construction of these ships demonstrates the value of an industrial ecosystem that brings together large companies, SMEs and local communities. The Sestri Ponente shipyard, together with the wider Ligurian supply chain, represents a unique concentration of expertise and skills that enables the creation of increasingly advanced vessels capable of showcasing the very best of Made in Italy excellence around the world.”

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