Simon Wittenberg looks at the latest news about the arrival of EXPLORA I, the first Explora Journeys luxury cruise ship to take to the water.
Explora Journeys, the luxury lifestyle brand of the MSC Group, headquartered in the Swiss city of Geneva, has taken delivery of the first of six vessels set to hit the water between now and 2028.
The delivery of EXPLORA I recently took place at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone on Italy’s Gulf of Trieste, where the construction of the 63,900 gross-tonne vessel began back in June 2021 at a reported cost of around €500 million.
The arrival of EXPLORA I was marked by a prestigious ceremony attended by several senior representatives, including Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Group’s Cruise Division, and Pierroberto Folgiero (below), CEO of Fincantieri.
EXPLORA I combines 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.
The inaugural cruise is set to leave Copenhagen in Denmark on 1st August, and EXPLORA I will embark on a seven-night sailing to Reykjavik in Iceland, with scheduled stops in Lerwick, Shetland Islands and Kirkwall, Orkney.
The luxury ship will then spend several weeks in Northern Europe, offering a range of different itineraries, before crossing the Atlantic via Greenland to spend the autumn in North America. EXPLORA I is then scheduled to return to Europe in Summer 2024.
With journeys from seven to 11 nights available, the delivery of a best-in-class guest experience will ensure relaxed mornings and memorable evenings. Non-conventional arrival and departure times, combined with overnight stays in port, will allow Explora Journeys to deliver exclusive access to once-in-a-lifetime experiences and a slower pace of travel.
EXPLORA II is currently being assembled in time for its debut in August 2024. Four more vessels are set to join the Explora Journeys fleet thereafter between 2026 and 2028, where EXPLORA III and EXPLORA IV will be powered by LNG fuel, and EXPLORA V and VI will use hydrogen as part of the brand’s sustainability drive.
All of the Explora Journeys cruise ships will also be fitted with the latest environmental and marine technologies, which counts selective catalytic reduction technology, shore power plug-in connectivity, underwater noise management systems to help protect marine life, and an extensive range of onboard energy efficient equipment to optimise engine use to further reduce emissions.
Explora Journeys – Where and How?
For more information about Explora Journeys, visit www.explorajourneys.com.
Photo credit: Ivan Sarfatti.
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