First look at Explora Journeys' €3.5bn cruise ship expansion
It forms part of a €3.5bn (£3.04bn) investment by the MSC-owned luxury cruise line to expand Explora Journeys' upmarket ships, boosting choice for passengers.
Explora III is set to launch in 2026, joining sister ships Explora I and Explora II.
The vessel touched water for the first time during a float out at the Fincantieri shipyard in Genoa on Monday.
Its maiden seven-night voyage is scheduled for 3 August 2026 from Barcelona to Lisbon, with prices starting at £5,300 per person.
The ship will sail around the Mediterranean as well as to the Norwegian fjords from Southampton in August and September 2026.
Two more Explora Journeys ships are also being built at the shipyard, creating a triple celebration.
Explora IV had its coin ceremony – where coins are put under the keel of a newly built ship for good luck – on Monday, and there was a steel cutting for Explora V to mark the start of its construction.
The aim is for Explora IV and Explora V to join the fleet in 2027, while Explora VI is due to launch in 2028.
Explora IV's maiden voyage is on 15 April 2027, an eight-night sailing from Genoa to Portugal. Prices start at £4,450 per person.
The vessel will also operate itineraries to Copenhagen and Iceland.
Similar to Explora I and II, the new ships will have capacity for around 900 guests but will have space for 463 suites instead of 461 and a higher gross tonnage of 72,810 (compared with 63,900 in the current fleet).
There will still be five heated pools, six restaurants and 12 bars and lounges with a guest per host ratio of 1.25 to 1.
Further details are yet to be revealed for Explora V and VI, but they are expected to be the same size as the new vessels.
Anna Nash, president of Explora Journeys, said: "This triple celebration reflects the strength of our vision and the power of collaboration between our team, our partners at Fincantieri, and the unwavering support of the Aponte-Vago family.
'Guided by our values of care, respect, and excellence, we are not just building ships - we are creating a legacy of transformative journeys that will endure for generations to come."
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