The first ship in the Explora Journeys’, a luxury lifestyles brand from MSC Group, fleet, EXPLORA I, set sail on its maiden voyage Aug. 1 on a seven-night sailing through Lerwick, Shetland Islands; and Kirkwall, Orkney; before heading to Reykjavik, Iceland.
“It is our absolute honor to welcome the very first guests onboard our extraordinary ship and share this special moment with them as we embark on the maiden voyage of EXPLORA I from Copenhagen,” said Michael Ungerer, CEO, Explora Journeys. “Our guests will be able to experience the very best European hospitality at sea and our vibrant, cosmopolitan sense of luxury, while discovering some of the world’s most remarkable destinations. A new era of transformative luxury ocean travel begins now with the first sailing of EXPLORA I.”
© Explora Journeys
The brand’s Ocean State of Mind philosophy means immersive experiences that reward cruisers physically, intellectually and spiritually. EXPLORA I called on the port of Copenhagen, Denmark, on Aug. 15 before a sailing to Hamburg, Germany. After several weeks in Northern Europe, the ship crosses the Atlantic to winter in North America and the Caribbean Sea before returning to Europe in summer 2024 for Mediterranean Sea voyages.
EXPLORA II is currently being built in Italy, expected to come into service in August 2024. The first of two liquefied natural gas-powered vessels to join the line’s fleet, EXPLORA III, is expected in 2026, with EXPLORA IV in 2027.
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