EXPLORA II Completes Successful Sea Trials

The second luxury ship of Explora Journeys has successfully completed her sea trials and will start sailing on 11 August 2024 for her maiden journey from Barcelona, Spain.

Geneva, Switzerland, 12 June 2024 - Explora Journeys, the luxury lifestyle ocean travel brand of the MSC Group, today announced that EXPLORA II has successfully completed her sea trials. This will be the second of a fleet of six luxury ships to be built for Explora Journeys by Fincantieri in Italy, one of the finest shipbuilders in the world.

The final construction phase of the 63,900 GT vessel took place at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Sestri Ponente near Genoa, Italy.

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, Cruise Division of MSC Group said “The launch of Explora I last year was the realisation of a long-held family dream to offer guests an unmatched luxury at sea experience. Explora II successfully completing her sea trials is the next milestone on our Explora journey. In summer 2024 discerning travellers will now have the opportunity to travel on our two ships on carefully created and combinable itineraries both in the Western and Eastern Mediterranean, embarking from easy access ports and uncovering hidden gems in lesser travelled destinations."

This summer, EXPLORA II provides access to some of the Western Mediterranean's most enchanting and less-explored destinations to ensure guests experience the splendour of the Mediterranean's most celebrated places, rich in history and culture. The itineraries will feature distinctive ports such as Portofino, Porto Cervo, St-Tropez, Calvi, Mahon or Monte Carlo. With overnights and longer stays at destinations, guests can explore local cultures and experiences, creating memories that last a lifetime. Journeys start at 7 nights and can extend to 14 or 21 nights, all departing from easily accessible ports, such as Barcelona, Spain or Civitavecchia near Rome, Italy – all while avoiding repetitions of ports during the combinable journeys.

Explora Journeys offers today’s discerning luxury traveller an opportunity to experience a truly transformative and purposeful ocean travel experience, reflecting both the essence of each destination visited as well as the brand’s cosmopolitan and vibrant European luxury. On every journey, guests can enjoy elegant suites with a private ocean-front terrace, nine unforgettable inclusive culinary experiences, unlimited premium beverages, high-speed Wi-Fi via Starlink connectivity, vibrant entertainment, and ocean-inspired wellness.

EXPLORA II Highlights

Setting a new standard in luxury ocean travel, EXPLORA II, offers discerning travellers the perfect blend of discovery and sophistication, combining celebrated destinations with off-the-beaten-path ports, inviting travellers to immerse themselves in the essence of exploration. With overnights and longer stays at destinations, guests can delve deep into local cultures and experiences, creating memories that last a lifetime. Journeys start at 7 nights and can extend to 14 or 21 nights, all departing from easily accessible ports.

·       A total of 14 decks offering 16,600 sqm (178,680 sq ft) total public space, offering unrivalled space and privacy with one of the highest guest-to-space ratios in the luxury ocean category at 18.4 sqm (198 sq ft)

·       461 Ocean front ‘Homes at Sea’ with an average size of 42 sqm (452 sq ft): 1 Owner’s Residence, 22 Ocean Residences, 67 Ocean Penthouses, 301 Ocean Terrace Suites, 70 Ocean Grand Terrace Suites

·       A choice of 11 culinary experiences, 6 unique restaurants, 12 bars and lounges

·       248 metres long, 32 metres wide, 56 m height above water line

·       Ocean Wellness offering both indoor and outdoor wellness and fitness facilities, 9 treatment rooms, 1 beauty salon

·       3 outdoor pools, 1 indoor pool with retractable roof, 1 indoor hydrotherapy pool, 64 private cabanas

·       1:1.25 Host to Guest ratio

EXPLORA II Environmental Supporting Technologies

As part of the MSC Group, Explora Journeys is committed to building ships for tomorrow, utilising today’s latest technologies and being ready to adapt to alternative energy solutions as they become available.

·       Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) System: Reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by 90 per cent.

·       Advanced wastewater treatment system: Complies with the most stringent standards on the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO’s) MEPC 227(64) Resolution - the so-called ‘Baltic Standard’

·       Ballast water treatment system: US Coast Guard Approved with UV treatment to prevent the introduction of invasive species in the marine environment through ballast water discharges, in compliance with IMO’s Ballast Water Management Convention

·       Shore-to-ship power connectivity: Allows the ship to minimise engine use at ports where shore-to-ship power infrastructure is available

·       State-of-the-art recycling and solid waste management: Comprehensive systems to reduce, recycle and reuse all waste aspects on board

·       RINA Dolphin certified underwater noise reduction with hull and engine room designs that minimises acoustic sound impact, reducing their potential effects on marine fauna, most particularly on marine mammals in the surrounding waters.

·       Innovative hull design and optimised hydrodynamics - minimises resistance through the water

·       Trim optimisation - a software application to monitor and optimise trim, the ship’s stability, in real-time. This technology supports ship officers to keep the vessel’s trim optimised to reduce fuel consumption and optimise performance

·       Anti-fouling paint - hulls are coated with special environmentally friendly paints which impede the growth of barnacles, algae and marine organisms in order to reduce drag significantly.

·       Smart heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC) - Automated energy recovery loops that redistribute heat and cold to reduce demand

·       LED lighting - high-efficiency appliances controlled by smart management systems to enhance further energy saving