Today, MSC Group unveiled the first details of its all-inclusive luxury cruise brand, Explora Journeys.
The new brand will consist of four new ships, with the first scheduled to launch in spring 2023, followed by one each in 2024, 2025 and 2026. The 63,900-ton vessels will tout 461 suites and a guest-to-crew ratio of 1.25 to 1.
“Building a luxury brand that will redefine the cruise experience and create a category of its own has been a long-held vision of mine and my family,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Group’s cruise business and broader passenger division, in a press release. “Inspired by our personal travel wishes, Explora Journeys will be an ocean escape like no other, allowing guests to relax, make memories and cherish the time at sea with their loved ones. After all, time is the ultimate luxury.”
The luxury fleet is already under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, and will display “Swiss precision with modern European craftsmanship,” according to MSC.
Explora Journeys was designed for guests who want to stay longer, leave later and travel deeper.
Every oceanfront suite and residence will feature floor-to-ceiling windows and private terraces, starting at about 377 square feet in size. Also highlighted will be nine restaurants, multiple bars and lounges and an indoor/outdoor spa and fitness area.
Altogether, the ship will consist of 14 decks, with 26,910 square feet overlooking the ocean, including 64 private cabanas across three outdoor pools. An additional fourth pool will have a retractable glass roof, while extra whirlpool baths will dot the promenade deck, all to “put guests in an ocean state of mind.”
An indoor pool will feature a retractable glass roof.
Credit: 2021 MSC GroupFollowing that guiding principle, Explora will utilize environmentally friendly technologies, equipment and practices onboard, not the least of which will be battery storage for future hybrid power, selective catalytic reduction, reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions by 90%, ship-to-shore power capabilities and the elimination of single-use plastics.
“Explora Journeys was designed for guests who want to stay longer, leave later and travel deeper,” said Michael Ungerer, CEO of Explora Journeys. “Customer centricity is at the core of everything we do. We’ve commissioned research, organized focus groups and hosted roundtable discussions with global specialists in luxury to design the perfect ship for our guests. Explora Journeys will bring a new perspective to the travel industry, reinventing the classic cruise experience for the next generation of luxury travelers.”
Itineraries will begin at seven days in length and showcase “non-conventional arrival and departure times,” as well as overnight stays in the likes of Saint-Tropez and Bordeaux in France; Reykjavik, Iceland; Kastellorizo, Greece; Bozcaada, Turkey; and Norway’s Lofoten Islands.
Bookings for Explora I will open in fall 2021.
The Details
MSC Explora Journeys