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Explora Journeys has marked a defining moment in its rapid ascent within the ultra-luxury cruise market, staging a triple maritime celebration at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genoa that advances three next-generation vessels and brings all six of its planned ships into either service or active construction.
Triple Ceremony Showcases Ambition in Genoa
Held on Monday, March 9, 2026, the ceremony in Genoa combined three key maritime traditions into one highly symbolic event for Explora Journeys and its shipbuilding partner Fincantieri. The day featured the technical launch, or float out, of EXPLORA IV, the coin ceremony for EXPLORA V, and the steel cutting for EXPLORA VI, underscoring the accelerated pace at which the young luxury brand is expanding its fleet.
The event took place at the historic Sestri Ponente shipyard, where Explora’s relationship with Fincantieri has helped secure long-term work and investment in the Ligurian maritime cluster. Executives from MSC Group, which owns Explora Journeys, joined senior leaders from Fincantieri and local civic and port authorities to witness the ships’ latest construction milestones and reaffirm the strategic role of Genoa in the project.
For Explora Journeys, the gathering represented far more than a traditional shipyard ritual. Company leaders described the triple ceremony as a visible marker of confidence in demand for ultra-luxury ocean travel and a confirmation that the brand’s six-ship roadmap is firmly on track for completion by 2028.
What Each Milestone Means for the New Fleet
At the heart of the celebration was the float out of EXPLORA IV, a crucial step in which the vessel first touches water and moves from the building dock to an outfitting berth. This transition signals that the structural work on the hull is largely complete and that the focus now shifts to interiors, onboard technology, and fine-tuning of guest spaces ahead of sea trials and delivery.
Alongside EXPLORA IV’s float out, the traditional coin ceremony for EXPLORA V honored a long-standing maritime custom, in which commemorative coins are placed beneath the ship’s mast block as a symbol of good fortune and safe passage. The event also highlighted the appointment of ship “godmothers,” including Captain Serena Melani, who has served as first master of EXPLORA I and EXPLORA II and will again play a prominent role in the fleet’s evolution.
Completing the trilogy was the first steel cutting for EXPLORA VI, marking the official start of construction on what will become the final ship in Explora Journeys’ initial six-vessel series. With steel plates now in fabrication, Fincantieri is effectively working on four Explora ships at once, a workload that underscores both the shipbuilder’s capacity and the scale of MSC Group’s long-term investment in Italy’s cruise industry.
Timeline: Six Ultra-Luxury Ships by 2028
The triple celebration in Genoa comes as Explora Journeys rapidly closes in on its goal of operating a six-ship fleet by 2028. The first two vessels, EXPLORA I and EXPLORA II, are already sailing globally and operating at high occupancy levels, according to company executives, giving the brand confidence to push ahead aggressively with its build program.
EXPLORA III, the line’s first vessel powered by liquefied natural gas, is currently in sea trials and scheduled for delivery in July 2026. A special Mediterranean prelude voyage between July 24 and 29 will see the ship sail to Civitavecchia before it begins its inaugural journey from Barcelona to Lisbon, departing on August 3 and positioning the ship in some of Europe’s most in-demand summer waters.
EXPLORA IV and EXPLORA V, both now firmly in the construction phase, are planned to enter service in 2027. Explora has indicated that EXPLORA IV will spend its inaugural season in Western and Northern Europe, Iceland, Greenland, the United States, and Canada, while EXPLORA V is expected to start with Mediterranean itineraries in late 2027 before shifting to the Red Sea and Arabian Peninsula for the winter. EXPLORA VI, whose steel has just been cut in Genoa, is slated to complete the fleet in 2028.
Taken together, the timeline means that all six ships are either in service, on sea trials, afloat for outfitting, or physically under construction. For guests and travel advisors, this offers an increasingly clear picture of how Explora Journeys intends to deploy its vessels across key luxury markets worldwide.
What Travelers Can Expect Onboard the New Ships
The Genoa milestones also offered fresh insight into what the forthcoming ships will bring to Explora Journeys’ onboard experience. The brand has framed its vessels as floating ultra-luxury hotels, with all-suite accommodations, expansive outdoor decks, and a strong emphasis on space per guest, privacy, and personalized service. The newer ships, particularly EXPLORA III and beyond, are being fine-tuned based on feedback from the first two vessels.
Executives noted that the line took a deliberate pause from new ship launches in 2024 to analyze guest comments from EXPLORA I and EXPLORA II and refine design and operations. That work is now feeding into the next generation of ships, with adjustments to suites, culinary venues, and wellness concepts intended to elevate the “ocean state of mind” positioning that underpins the brand.
For itineraries, Explora Journeys continues to favor longer, more immersive journeys that blend marquee ports with lesser-known coastal destinations. With EXPLORA IV, V, and VI, the brand plans to deepen its presence in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, and the North Atlantic, while also positioning ships seasonally in regions such as the Caribbean, Red Sea, and Arabian Peninsula to follow the sun and high-end demand patterns.
Environmental performance remains another key theme across the fleet. EXPLORA III will be the first LNG-powered ship in the series, and later vessels will incorporate advanced technologies aimed at reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency, reflecting both regulatory expectations and the heightened sustainability focus of the luxury travel segment.
Genoa’s Growing Role in Luxury Cruise Shipbuilding
Beyond the headline-grabbing ship numbers, Monday’s ceremonies underscored the importance of Genoa and the wider Liguria region to the future of luxury ocean travel. Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard has been central to the Explora project from the outset, and the decision by MSC Group to concentrate much of the fleet’s construction there has provided a crucial boost to local industrial employment and technical know-how.
Regional and municipal leaders attending the event pointed to the triple celebration as a sign that decades of shipbuilding expertise in Genoa remain globally competitive, particularly in high-value segments such as ultra-luxury cruising. With four Explora ships currently in various stages of construction or outfitting at Sestri Ponente, the yard has become a showcase for Italy’s ability to deliver complex, design-led vessels for discerning international travelers.
The scale of investment is significant. MSC Group has committed approximately 3.5 billion euros to the six-ship Explora Journeys fleet, with much of that spend flowing through Italian yards and an extensive network of domestic suppliers, many of them small and medium-sized enterprises. As EXPLORA IV, V, and VI move from steel plates to completed ships, that economic impact is expected to ripple through local communities well beyond the waterfront.
For travelers watching the sector, Genoa’s latest triple celebration offers a clear signal that Explora Journeys is not only forging ahead with its own ambitious fleet plan but also helping to anchor a new chapter for Italian shipbuilding at the very top end of the global cruise market.