Explora Journeys has hit two construction milestones at once. The MSC Group's luxury ocean line held a twin ceremony in Genoa, Italy, marking the float-out of Explora V and the coin ceremony for Explora VI — the final two ships in a planned six-vessel fleet.

The two rituals sit at different ends of the shipbuilding process. A float-out is when the mostly finished hull leaves dry dock for the water for the first time. The coin ceremony happens much earlier: commemorative coins are placed inside the hull under construction, a centuries-old maritime tradition meant to bring good fortune to the ship and everyone who sails on her.

The schedule now runs like this. Explora I and II have been in service since 2023 and 2024. Explora III, delivered in July 2026, is the fleet's first ship running on LNG. Explora IV follows in spring 2027, Explora V towards the end of that year, and Explora VI in summer 2028, which completes the set.

The new builds lean green. Explora V and VI will both be LNG-powered and designed to switch to renewable and next-generation fuels such as bio-LNG, synthetic LNG and biofuels. Explora VI goes a step further with onboard fuel cell technology, while Explora V is being built so fuel cells can be fitted later. Explora's president, Anna Nash, framed Explora VI as a milestone rather than an endpoint, noting the brand is also expanding into luxury European river cruising with a new fleet of river ships.

Why does this matter if you're not booking a shipyard slot? Because a dated delivery pipeline means you can plan ahead with confidence. Explora positions itself as a new category of ultra-luxury ocean travel — think fewer guests, generous space and a more residential feel than mainstream cruise lines. If that style appeals, knowing exactly when each ship arrives lets you target maiden-season itineraries, which often feature inaugural routes and a lot of industry buzz, or wait a year for the fares to settle.

The LNG and fuel-cell angle is worth noting too: travellers increasingly want to know how their holiday is powered, and these ships are engineered to run on cleaner fuels as the supply matures. And with river cruising on the way, the brand could soon cover both the Med by sea and the Danube or Rhine by water.

For now, the practical takeaway is simple: two more ships are on the way, on a clear timetable, and the fleet will be complete by summer 2028.