Explora Journeys Floats Out Ship Five, Lays Keel Coins for Ship Six

Explora Journeys moved two ships closer to market on October 26, floating out the Explora V and holding the coin ceremony for the Explora VI at Fincantieri's Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genoa, Italy.

The dual milestone sets delivery timelines sellers of luxury ocean travel can plan against: Explora V enters service at the end of 2027, Explora VI in summer 2028. Together they complete the brand's first six-ship order book at the Italian yard.

MSC Group's Cruise Division and Fincantieri used the occasion to show the programme's scale. Attendees included Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Group's Cruise Division; Anna Nash, president of Explora Journeys; Pierroberto Folgiero, chief executive and managing director of Fincantieri; and Luigi Matarazzi, general manager of Fincantieri's Merchant Ships Division. Representatives of national and local institutions, maritime authorities and the wider maritime industry also attended.

In plain terms, the ceremonies confirm the MSC-Fincantieri build pipeline stays on schedule through 2028.

Who are the godmothers?

Nash and Camilla Ronco, PRS workshop manager at the Sestri Ponente yard, served as godmothers for the Explora VI coin ceremony, placing commemorative coins inside the ship.

Nash framed the ship as proof of how far the young brand has come. "Explora VI marks an important milestone in our journey and represents how far we have come in bringing a new category of ultra-elegant ocean travel to life," she said. "Having joined Explora Journeys at such a pivotal stage in its development, becoming godmother to the sixth ship in our fleet is an extraordinary honor and a deeply personal moment for me."

She signalled more capacity beyond the current order book: "Explora VI may mark the completion of our first six ships, but it is by no means the final chapter."

Consuelo Brunelli, production planner at Fincantieri, served as godmother for the ribbon-cutting that marked the float out of Explora V.

What propulsion will the new ships use?

Both vessels continue the brand's shift to LNG. Explora V and Explora VI will run on LNG and are designed to use renewable and next-generation fuels, including bio-LNG, synthetic LNG and biofuels, according to the company.

Explora VI will also carry fuel cell technology to support more efficient energy generation. Explora V is being designed to accommodate the same technology later.

The build sequence ahead is fixed: Fincantieri delivers Explora III, the fleet's first LNG-powered ship, in July 2026, followed by Explora IV in spring 2027.

Where will Explora V sail?

Explora V will operate in the Mediterranean Sea, reaching 27 destinations across nine countries — an itinerary footprint that gives agents a wide, regionally concentrated product to sell from late 2027.

The pace of delivery — three ships in roughly two years from mid-2026 — will more than double the young brand's capacity window and test demand for its premium positioning in a crowded luxury cruise market.