Explora III cruise ship delivered by Fincantieri to MSC Group's Explora Journeys

Italian shipyard Fincantieri completed the hand‑over of the luxury cruise vessel Explora III to MSC Group’s Explora Journeys brand on 22 July 2026 at its Sestri Ponente yard in Genoa. The vessel, 267 m long—19.2 m longer than its sisters—carries 461 suites for up to 922 passengers and is the first ship in the fleet to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG), cutting sulphur‑oxide emissions by 99 % and nitrogen‑oxide emissions by 85 %.

The delivery was marked by a ceremony attended by MSC Cruise Division executive Pierfrancesco Vago, Fincantieri CEO Pierroberto Folgiero and Explora Journeys president Anna Nash. The following day the ship began a “Prelude Journey” from Genoa to Civitavecchia, offering guests a preview before its official christening in Barcelona on 1 August 2026. Explora III is the third of six ships planned for the Explora series, with Explora IV and V under construction for delivery in 2027.