Explora Journeys, the luxury travel brand of the MSC Group, held the christening ceremony of EXPLORA I yesterday in New York City.
The maritime tradition of cutting a ribbon to break a bottle of champagne on the bow of the ship to officially christen it and bring good luck will be carried out by the godmother of EXPLORA I, Dr. Sylvia Earle, the renowned marine biologist and oceanographer, at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal.
The event was attended by distinguished guests from around the world, international journalists, key travel partners of Explora Journeys and senior representatives of the MSC Group, who will enjoy a gala dinner after the launching ceremony and an evening of emotional celebrations.
Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Group's Cruise Division, stated: “In the world of luxury travel, EXPLORA I is a game-changer. We are offering journeys that redefine the very essence of luxury travel by sea. We want to attract a broader group of travelers who have experienced the finest luxury resorts on land, but who are looking for more value, more authenticity, and a deeper connection with the world. Explora Journeys is the answer, offering a way to discover lesser-known destinations by sea while enjoying some of the world's finest real estate. With five more ships joining the fleet over the next five years, we are committed to delivering the same unique onboard experience, anywhere in the world.”
Michael Ungerer, CEO of Explora Journeys, added: “Today’s event is a significant milestone for Explora Journeys, as our first ship, EXPLORA I, brings to life our vision of reshaping luxury travel. We are proud to usher in a new era of discovery and luxury travel and to showcase our first ship in the vibrant city of New York.”
Dr. Sylvia Earle, Founder and President of Mission Blue, stated: “It is an honor for me to be the Godmother of EXPLORA I and I hope that a meaningful relationship will be established between Mission Blue, Explora Journeys and the MSC Foundation to contribute in a very positive way to the protection and restoration of the world’s seas and oceans.”
The EXPLORA I, the first of six luxury ships built by the Italian shipyard Fincantieri, began sailing in July of this year with a series of trips around northern Europe before crossing the Atlantic to New York with en route visits to Iceland, Greenland and Canada.
The ship features 461 suites, penthouses and oceanfront residences, six restaurants, 12 indoor and outdoor bars and lounges, four swimming pools, spacious outdoor decks with private cabanas and nearly 1,000 square meters of wellness and fitness facilities.
The ship will spend the fall in North America, the winter in the Caribbean, and the spring on the US West Coast and Hawaii before returning to Europe in the summer of 2024 for a series of Mediterranean sailings with many itineraries that include less-traveled ports so that EXPLORA I guests can enjoy a different perspective of a destination.
The EXPLORA II will enter service in the summer of 2024 and operate until April 2025 in the Mediterranean Sea and the Middle East. The EXPLORA III and EXPLORA IV will be powered by liquefied natural gas and will enter service in 2026 and 2027, respectively. The EXPLORA V and EXPLORA VI will enter service in 2027 and 2028, respectively, and both will feature state-of-the-art energy efficiency measures and will be capable of using alternative fuels such as biogas and syngas. These two ships will pursue the use of liquid hydrogen fuel cells for their hotel operations while docked in ports, in order to eliminate carbon emissions when the ships' engines are off.
All Explora Journeys ships will be equipped with the latest environmental and marine technologies, including selective catalytic reduction technology, plug-in connectivity to the shore power grid, underwater noise management systems to help protect marine life, and a wide range of energy-efficient equipment on board to optimize engine use and further reduce emissions.
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