Explora I was scheduled to set sail at the end of May but this was pushed back to July 17 and later to August 1, due to safety concerns over its fire-resistant panelling. The ship's naming had been to take place in Civitavecchia on July 8.
An investment of more than €500m
Investment in the new ship amounted to more than €500m, with a total investment plan of €2.5b for four ships on order.
‘Historic day’
The handover ceremony was attended by Gianluigi Aponte, founder and chairman of the MSC Group, Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Group's cruise division, godmother of the ship Zoe Africa Vago, Fincantieri CEO Pierroberto Folgiero and representatives of MSC's construction team together with managers and workers from the shipyard.
‘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,’ said Vago. ‘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.’
He went on to explain that ‘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".'
Maiden voyage Aug.1
Explora I will set sail on its maiden journey from Copenhagen on August 1, a seven-night sailing to Reykjavik in Iceland with visits to Lerwick, Shetland Islands and Kirkwall, Orkney.
The vessel will spend several weeks in Northern Europe, offering different itineraries, then will cross the Atlantic via Greenland to spend 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 Mediterranean voyages.
Guests will be sourced 40-50% from North America, 40% from Europe and up to 20% from the rest of the world, depending on where the ship is sailing.
Explora II is being built at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente yard and is due to enter service in August 2024.
Explora III will become the first of two LNG-powered vessels in the Explora Journeys fleet with delivery scheduled in 2026 and Explora IV in 2027.
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