Posted on October 28, 2026
Luxury cruise line Explora Journeys held a dual ceremony at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genoa, Italy, marking two construction milestones: the float out of EXPLORA V and a coin ceremony for EXPLORA VI. The two ships are the fifth and sixth vessels in the brand’s fleet.
Following the July 2026 delivery of EXPLORA III, construction continues across the remaining fleet. EXPLORA IV is scheduled to enter service in spring 2027, with EXPLORA V following later that year. EXPLORA VI is expected to launch in summer 2028, completing the brand’s six-ship fleet.
Ceremony Details
The event was attended by representatives from national and local institutions, maritime authorities, and the broader maritime industry. Notable attendees included Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Group’s Cruise Division; Anna Nash, President of Explora Journeys; Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri; and Luigi Matarazzo, General Manager of Fincantieri’s Merchant Ships Division.
In keeping with maritime tradition, Anna Nash and Camilla Ronco, PRS Workshop Manager at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard, served as Godmothers for the EXPLORA VI coin ceremony, placing commemorative coins inside the ship as a symbol of good fortune. Consuelo Brunelli, Production Planner at Fincantieri, served as godmother for the EXPLORA V float out ceremony. Genoa-born presenter, writer, and actress Marina Minetti hosted the event.
As the sixth and final ship in the fleet, EXPLORA VI represents a key milestone for Explora Journeys. Each of the brand’s six ships has had a godmother appointed in recognition of her contribution to the fleet’s development and the broader team’s expertise in bringing each vessel to life.
“EXPLORA VI marks an important milestone in our journey and represents how far we have come in bringing a new category of ultra-elegant ocean travel to life,” said Anna Nash, President of Explora Journeys. “Having joined Explora Journeys at such a pivotal stage in its development, becoming godmother to the sixth ship in our fleet is an extraordinary honour and a deeply personal moment for me. I am immensely proud of what we have built together, and excited by what lies ahead as we continue to shape the future of ocean travel and create even more meaningful experiences for our guests. EXPLORA VI may mark the completion of our first six ships, but it is by no means the final chapter.”
Marine Technology and Energy Transition
All Explora Journeys ships are equipped for shore power connectivity, allowing them to connect to local electricity grids while in port and switch off their engines, eliminating direct emissions from onboard power generation during that time.
EXPLORA III was the fleet’s first LNG-powered ship. EXPLORA V and EXPLORA VI will also run on LNG and are designed to use renewable and next-generation fuels, including bio-LNG, synthetic LNG, and biofuels. EXPLORA VI will additionally feature fuel cell technology to support more efficient energy generation, while EXPLORA V is being designed to accommodate this technology in the future.
These developments align with MSC Group’s long-term energy transition strategy, which combines advanced marine technology with an increasing use of lower-emissions and renewable fuels.
