MSC Group has taken delivery of MV Explora III, the third vessel in its ultra-luxury cruise brand Explora Journeys. The ship is the first LNG-capable vessel in the company’s six-ship fleet currently under construction at Fincantieri.
The handover ceremony took place on 23 July at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genoa, Italy. The vessel is part of MSC’s €3.5bn investment programme for Explora Journeys, with all six ships being built by Fincantieri. Three additional vessels are scheduled to join the fleet by 2028.
MV Explora III is an enlarged version of the first two ships in the series. The vessel was extended by 19.2 metres, increasing its length overall to approximately 268 metres and gross tonnage to 72,810, compared with 63,621 GT for the earlier ships. Despite the larger dimensions, the ship maintains a similar passenger capacity, with 461 suites compared with 456 on the first two vessels.
The new cruise ship introduces LNG propulsion capability, allowing future use of alternative fuels such as bio-LNG and synthetic LNG as they become available. The vessel is also equipped with shore power connectivity.
Built under RINA classification, MV Explora III also holds Polar Code C certification for operations in polar regions.
Following delivery, MV Explora III will begin a Mediterranean prelude voyage before its official maiden journey from Barcelona in August. The ship will operate routes across Northern Europe, Iceland, Greenland and North America, followed by a Caribbean season and the brand’s first Alaska deployment in 2027.
