MSC's luxury line Explora Journeys has hit two big construction milestones on the same day. On October 26, at Fincantieri's Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genoa, the Explora V floated out for the first time while the Explora VI held its traditional coin ceremony — the maritime equivalent of a keystone blessing, where commemorative coins are placed aboard for luck.
The two ships are the final entries in the brand's first six-ship fleet, with the Explora V due to enter service at the end of 2027 and the Explora VI in summer 2028. Guests at the ceremonies included MSC Cruise Division executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago, Explora president Anna Nash (who served as godmother for the Explora VI alongside Fincantieri's Camilla Ronco), and Fincantieri CEO Pierroberto Folgiero.
What does this mean for anyone eyeing a luxury cruise? Explora is positioning itself in the upscale 'ocean travel' category — think fewer crowds and more design-led ships — and the newbuilds come with genuine green credentials. Both ships run on LNG and are built to switch to bio-LNG, synthetic LNG and biofuels as those fuels mature. The Explora VI goes a step further with fuel cell technology for onboard energy generation, while the Explora V is designed to add it later.
When the Explora V launches, it will sail the Mediterranean on itineraries covering 27 destinations across nine countries — a solid signal that Explora intends to concentrate its newest hardware on classic European routes rather than far-flung debut seasons.
The timeline matters if you're tracking the brand: Explora III, the fleet's first LNG-powered ship, was delivered in July 2026, Explora IV follows in spring 2027, and then come these two Genoa-built sisters. For travellers, that's a widening choice of itineraries and cabin inventory in the premium space over the next two to three years — and, judging by Nash's comments, not necessarily the end of the expansion story.
