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The delivery of EXPLORA I took place on 20 July 2023 at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, where the construction of the 63,900 GT vessel began on 10 June 2021
The maiden journey will depart on 1 August 2023 from Copenhagen in Denmark for a seven-night sailing to Reykjavik in Iceland with visits en route to Lerwick, Shetland Islands and Kirkwall, Orkney.
With more than 300 years of seafaring history, Explora Journeys will offer an ocean escape that allows travellers to celebrate discovery in all its forms while reconnecting to what matters most.
Monfalcone, Italy, 20 July 2023 – Explora Journeys, the luxury lifestyle brand of the MSC Group, today officially took delivery of EXPLORA I, the first luxury ship to join the brand`s fleet from the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. The investment of the new ship amounted to over €500 million, with a total investment plan of €2.5 billion for the four ships on order.
EXPLORA I’s delivery ceremony marks a new chapter for the brand, one that offers today’s discerning luxury traveller the opportunity of a truly transformative and purposeful ocean travel experience like no other.
The traditional maritime event was attended by Gianluigi Aponte, Founder and Chairman of the MSC Group; Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Group's Cruise Division, the godmother of the ship Zoe Africa Vago, for Fincantieri Pierroberto Folgiero, Chief Executive Officer as well as representatives of MSC's construction team together with managers and workers from the shipyard.
Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, Cruise Division, MSC Group, said, “Today is a historic day, and represents a decisive step in our growth path, because it marks the entry of the MSC Group into the luxury travel sector. This segment has strong growth prospects, in which we strongly believe and whose standards we aim to redefine, focusing as always on excellence and luxury.”
Michael Ungerer, CEO, Explora Journeys added, “This traditional maritime moment marks the most important milestone for Explora Journeys as we will finally be able to showcase our highly anticipated, extraordinary new ship. We have pushed the boundaries of innovation and design to create a ship that embodies our commitment to excellence. With the delivery of EXPLORA I our vision to provide unparalleled luxury experiences has become an incredible reality. We invite our guests to embark on transformative journeys, offering an opportunity for inner and outer discovery inspired by the ocean, resulting in physical, intellectual and spiritual rejuvenation. We call this the ‘Ocean State of Mind’.”
EXPLORA I will set sail on her maiden journey from Copenhagen, Denmark on 1 August 2023. This remarkable seven-night sailing will take guests through the majestic landscapes of Lerwick, Shetland Islands and Kirkwall, Orkney before heading to Reykjavik, Iceland.
The luxury ship will spend several weeks in Northern Europe, offering a range of different itineraries, both on and off the beaten path, and will then cross the Atlantic Sea via Greenland to spend the autumn in North America, the winter in the Caribbean and spring on the US West Coast and Hawaii before returning to Europe in Summer 2024 for a collection of journeys in the Mediterranean Sea. During all sailings the ship will call lesser-travelled ports for guests to enjoy a more authentic experience,.
With journeys from seven to 11 nights which are all combinable, a best-in-class guest experience will ensure relaxed mornings and exhilarating evenings. Non-conventional arrival and departure times combined with overnight stays in port will allow Explora Journeys to offer guests exclusive access to once in a lifetime experiences and a slower pace of travel.
EXPLORA I will seamlessly blend elegant Swiss precision with modern European craftsmanship and has been thoughtfully designed in partnership with the world`s foremost superyacht and hospitality designers to stimulate the senses and encourage an ‘Ocean State of Mind’. The philosophy of the brand is informed by the family’s European roots, sense of style, and intuitive approach to design and luxury.
EXPLORA II is currently being built at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Genoa Sestri Ponente, Italy and will come into service in August 2024. EXPLORA III will become the first of two LNG-powered vessels to join the Explora Journeys’ fleet with the ship due to be delivered in 2026 and EXPLORA IV in 2027.
All of the Explora Journeys vessels will be equipped with the latest environmental and marine technologies, including selective catalytic reduction technology, shore power plug-in connectivity, underwater noise management systems to help protect marine life, and a comprehensive range of onboard energy efficient equipment to optimise engine use to further reduce emissions.