Explora Journeys welcomes its new $827m luxury ship

Explora Journeys 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 (AU$827m), with a total investment plan of €2.5 billion (AU$4.14b) for the four ships on order.

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, CEO as well as 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,” Vago said.

“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 seven-night sailing will take guests through the majestic landscapes of Lerwick, Shetland Islands and Kirkwall, Orkney before heading to Reykjavik, Iceland.

Captain Serena Melani at the delivery (Explora Journeys)

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, the Explora Journeys guest experience will ensure relaxed mornings and exhilarating evenings.

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Explora I Explora Journeys Gianluigi Aponte Michael Ungerer MSC Group