It’s a sunny day at the Fincantieri shipyard in Genoa, Italy as Explora Journeys is getting its next three luxury cruise ships ready to launch.
Explora Journeys is the upmarket brand from MSC Cruises, offering guests a luxury all-suite hotel experience at sea.
Its first cruise ship, Explora I, launched in 2023 with Explora II following in 2024 and Explora III set to launch next summer.
Passengers get a floating hotel experience at sea with five heated pools, six restaurants and 12 bars and lounges. The vessels have a a guest-per-staff ratio of 1.25:1 during itineraries across the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and Alaska.
Three more ships are in various stages of development and I got the chance to witness the float-out of Explora IV, the ceremonial coin exchange for Explora V and the keel laying to start construction of Explora VI.
Explora IV dominates the dock on my visit. Its red hull is fully exposed as it sits on the concrete, waiting for the water to surround and lift it.
It is due to begin sailing in the Med from April 2027.
The royal blue across the stern and bow is instantly recognisable but there is still work to do over the next year. Scaffolding is still visible and no glass or windows have yet been installed.
Crucial to the process, though, is the float-out. Explora Journeys invited delegates from across the shipyard, the brand and the region to start the process – including a priest to bless the ship.
Anna Nash, chairman of Explora Journeys was among executives who took to the stage to turn a tap, symbolising the filling of the dock.
Millions of gallons of water were released into the dry dock, which takes nine hours to fill. Once complete, the conveyancing process can then begin and the finishing touches will be added before passengers are welcomed on the maiden voyage from Genoa to Lisbon in April 2027.
It isn’t the end for the shipyard staff though. They still have plenty of work to do on the remaining two Explora Journeys ships as well.
Explora V is due to launch in December 2027 and is at a relatively early stage of development.
I watched as the vessel’s new godmothers, Serena Melani – the first female Italian cruise ship captain – and Financtieri’s Alice Gallo led the traditional ceremonial coin ceremony. They handed a coin to a shipyard worker and watched as it was welded into the keel of the ship, a tradition said to bring good luck at sea.
The sixth ship in the fleet is just a piece of steel and we watched as the first parts were ahead of its launch in 2028.
It means the full fleet is now either in operation or development for the first time – something Anna Nash is excited about.
She said: “As our fleet grows, we are introducing more discerning guests to a new expression of luxury ocean travel. One that stands in a category of its own and challenges the idea that luxury must always be anchored to land, instead finding its home on the horizon.”
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