[REVISION HISTORY]

Explora III delivery and Explora Journeys fleet expansion

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2026-09-20 20:02 UTC → 2026-10-12 02:48 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Fincantieri handed over the LNG-powered luxury cruise ship Explora III to MSC Group’s Explora Journeys brand on 22 July 2026 in Genoa. The 267-metre vessel, 19.2 m longer than its sisters, carries 461 suites for up to approximately 922 passengers and offers 19.5 m² of public space per guest. It includes a second Owner’s Residence designed by Patricia Urquiola. As the first MSC ship to run on liquefied natural gas, it reduces SOx emissions by 99% and NOx by 85%, with the capacity for future use of bio-LNG or synthetic LNG. It also features shore power capabilities to reduce emissions while in port. Following a five-day “Prelude Journey” from Genoa to Civitavecchia, Explora III was christened on 1 August 2026 in Barcelona. The vessel has since begun its inaugural Mediterranean voyage, including calls at the Port of Tangier Ville in Morocco. As part of MSC’s €3.5 billion luxury fleet programme, Explora Journeys is expanding its fleet with six planned eco-friendly vessels. Explora III is currently operational, with Explora IV and V scheduled for delivery in 2027 and 2028. In September 2026, the brand announced new winter collections for the 2027-2028 season to replace previously planned Middle East and Red Sea routes. These include a South American summer itinerary for Explora I, visiting 37 destinations across Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, and the Falkland Islands, and an inaugural winter season for Explora V focusing on the Mediterranean, North African coast, and Atlantic Islands. In October 2026, the brand announced its inaugural “President's Journey,” hosted by company president Anna Nash. Scheduled for 9–16 December 2026, the voyage will take place aboard Explora II as part of the “A Serene Mediterranean Winter 2026–2027 Journeys Collection.” Sailing from Barcelona to Tenerife, the itinerary includes stops in Gibraltar and an overnight stay in Casablanca.

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