Delivered in September in Genoa by Fincantieri and promptly christened at the port of Civitavecchia, Explora II is the second vessel in the Explora Journeys fleet, a brand of the MSC Group offering a refined concept of luxury ‘exploration’ cruises to various destinations worldwide. This evolved idea of luxury is expressed not only through a new architectural language in the interior and exterior spaces but also through attention to the gender/race gap and sustainability in navigation.
Led by a female captain, Serena Melani, Explora II employs over 900 people onshore and onboard from about 50 different nationalities, maintaining a 50:50 male-to-female ratio in frontline and leadership roles. Furthermore, since September, a woman, Anna Nash, has become the President of Explora Journeys. The choice of Alba Giugni, founder and president of the Marevivo Foundation, as the godmother for the naming ceremony reflects the Group’s commitment to operating in a rapidly growing market while safeguarding the marine environment.
Various technologies have been implemented on the ship to reduce its overall impact: state-of-the-art HVAC systems, trim optimisation software for control of the ship’s balance and stability, reduction of underwater noise (RINA Dolphin certified), friction on water, and vibration during navigation, SCR system to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 90%, LED lighting, USCD Approved Ballast Water Treatment System, an advanced wastewater treatment system, plug-in connectivity with the electrical grid, and the adoption of storage systems for hybrid power supply. The Group aims to achieve zero emissions in cruise ship navigation by 2050, with an interim target for 2030 through the adoption of LNG and hydrogen fuel cells.
An international team of architects and designers, including Martin Francis, SMC Design, AD Associates, and De Jorio Luxury and Yacht Projects, contributed to the design of the external lines and guest and crew areas, both private and communal, internal and external. They orchestrated environments and settings that are bright, contemporary, and ever-changing, thanks in part to a wide variety of furnishings and colour palettes.
All 461 suites, varying in size and location – from Ocean Suites to Ocean Penthouses and Residences to the Owner’s Residence – overlook the sea and natural vistas with a private terrace and are illuminated by floor-to-ceiling windows, offering an oasis of comfort and privacy aboard a ship rich in expansive communal spaces and amenities to explore deck by deck—16,600 square metres between indoor and outdoor.
To name just a few: 12 bars/lounges, 4 of which are outdoor, 6 restaurants with international menus, 4 heated pools, numerous Jacuzzis, a spa, an art gallery, a fitness studio, a panoramic running track, and courts for touch tennis and half basketball.
Another goal of Explora Journeys is to expand its fleet to 6 ships by 2028. In September 2024, at the Fincantieri shipyard in Sestri Ponente, both the steel cutting for Explora IV and the keel laying for Explora III were celebrated. Scheduled for delivery in 2026, Explora III will be the first of four liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered ships in the fleet.
