After a few weeks of delay, Explora Journeys finally received delivery of their latest luxury cruise ship, Explora I, on July 20, 2023. The ship was constructed at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, where the building process commenced on June 10, 2021. The entire investment for this new vessel amounted to over €500 million, and the company has a total investment plan of €2.5 billion for four more ships currently on order.

The delivery ceremony for Explora I was a momentous occasion attended by prominent figures in the maritime industry. Gianluigi Aponte, the founder and chairman of the MSC Group, Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Group's Cruise Division, the ship's godmother, Zoe Africa Vago, and Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO of Fincantieri, were all present, along with representatives from MSC's construction team and workers from the shipyard.

For MSC Group, this marks a significant step into the luxury travel sector and they aim to redefine the standards of luxury and excellence in this space.

Michael Ungerer, the CEO of Explora Journeys, expressed his excitement as this momentous event allows them to showcase their new ship to the world. He highlighted the commitment to excellence and innovation that went into the ship's design. With the delivery of Explora I, their vision of providing unparalleled luxury experiences becomes a reality. Explora Journeys invites guests to embark on transformative journeys, finding inspiration from the ocean for physical, intellectual, and spiritual rejuvenation, what they call the "Ocean State of Mind."

Explora I will spend several weeks in Northern Europe, offering various itineraries, both popular and off the beaten path. Afterward, it will cross the Atlantic via Greenland, spending time in North America for the fall, the Caribbean for the winter, and the U.S. West Coast and Hawaii for spring. The ship will then return to Europe in the summer of 2024 for a collection of journeys in the Mediterranean. Throughout all sailings, Explora I will visit lesser-known ports to offer guests a more authentic and unique experience.

The ship will feature journeys ranging from seven to 11 nights, all of which can be combined. Explora Journeys has planned for relaxed mornings and exciting evenings, allowing guests to experience exclusive activities and a slower pace of travel, with non-conventional arrival and departure times and overnight stays in ports.

Following Explora I, Explora II, the second luxury ship of the fleet, is currently under construction at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Genoa Sestri Ponente, Italy, scheduled to enter service in August 2024. Explora III will become the first of two LNG-powered vessels to join the fleet, expected to be delivered in 2026, followed by Explora IV making its debut in 2027.

All of the Explora Journeys vessels will be equipped with cutting-edge environmental and marine technologies, including selective catalytic reduction technology, shore power plug-in connectivity, underwater noise management systems to protect marine life, and various onboard energy-efficient equipment to optimize engine use and reduce emissions.  

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