Explora Journeys' LNG-Powered Cruise Ship Explora III Completes Sea Trials

Explora Journeys announced that its new cruise ship EXPLORA III successfully completed a third round of technical and nautical sea trials in the Mediterranean. The 72,810‑gross‑ton vessel is the first LNG‑powered ship in the brand’s fleet and a key step toward a six‑ship fleet planned for 2028, with the ability to use renewable fuels such as bio‑LNG and synthetic LNG.

The ship remains on schedule for delivery ahead of plan, with its inaugural Mediterranean Prelude Journey set to depart on 24 July 2026, followed by a naming ceremony in Barcelona on 1 August and a seven‑night maiden voyage to Lisbon. Subsequent itineraries will include Norway’s fjords, Iceland, Greenland, and a trans‑Atlantic crossing to New England and Canada’s east coast, supporting Explora Journeys’ target of net‑zero greenhouse‑gas emissions for maritime operations by 2050.