Explora Journeys is taking another step towards completing its fleet. At Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genoa, the MSC Group’s luxury ocean travel brand celebrated two important milestones in the construction of its upcoming vessels: the float-out of EXPLORA V and the traditional coin ceremony aboard EXPLORA VI.
The two events mark further progress in the fleet development programme, which aims to bring the fleet to six ships by 2028. Following the delivery of EXPLORA III in July 2026, EXPLORA IV is scheduled to enter service in spring 2027, followed by EXPLORA V towards the end of the same year. EXPLORA VI, the final ship in the series, is expected to enter service in summer 2028.
The ceremonies were attended by representatives of national and local institutions, maritime authorities and the wider shipbuilding industry. Among those present were Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Group’s Cruise Division; Anna Nash, President of Explora Journeys; Pierroberto Folgiero, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Fincantieri; and Luigi Matarazzo, General Manager of Fincantieri’s Merchant Ships Division.
Alongside the technical and industrial milestones, the events also celebrated the maritime traditions associated with shipbuilding. During the ceremony for EXPLORA VI, Anna Nash and Camilla Ronco, PRS Workshop Manager at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard, placed commemorative coins inside the ship. This longstanding maritime tradition is regarded as a symbol of good fortune during construction and throughout the vessel’s future life at sea.
The float-out of EXPLORA V was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Consuelo Brunelli, Production Planner at Fincantieri, who served as the ship’s godmother. The events were hosted by Marina Minetti, a presenter, writer and actress born and raised in Genoa.
For Anna Nash, the ceremony for EXPLORA VI held particular significance. As the sixth ship, it represents the completion of the fleet’s first phase of development and an important milestone in bringing the Explora Journeys vision to life: offering a new interpretation of luxury ocean travel. The brand’s President expressed her pride in the progress achieved and in the work of everyone involved in building the ships, while emphasising that the completion of the first six vessels does not mark the end of the company’s development journey.
Appointing a godmother for each ship also recognises the contribution of the people involved in expanding the fleet, celebrating the expertise, dedication and collaboration that underpin every stage of construction.
Alongside its fleet expansion, Explora Journeys continues to focus on technologies designed to reduce the environmental impact of maritime operations. All ships in the brand’s fleet are equipped for shore power connectivity, allowing them to connect to local electricity grids while in port and switch off their engines, eliminating direct emissions from onboard power generation while connected.
EXPLORA III was the first ship in the fleet to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). EXPLORA V and EXPLORA VI will also use LNG and will be designed to accommodate alternative fuels, including bio-LNG, synthetic LNG and biofuels. EXPLORA VI will additionally feature fuel cell technology to support more efficient energy generation, while EXPLORA V will be designed to allow for the potential installation of the same technology in the future.
These initiatives form part of MSC Group’s long-term energy transition strategy, which combines technological innovation with the increasing use of lower-emission and renewable fuels.
With these latest milestones at Sestri Ponente, Explora Journeys continues to strengthen its growth trajectory and its partnership with Fincantieri in the construction of its upcoming ships.
Giorgia Lombardo
