Explora Journeys is the luxury cruise brand of the MSC Group, the family-owned shipping and cruise business built by the Aponte family. Where MSC Cruises operates some of the largest resort ships afloat, Explora was created to do the opposite: a small fleet of elegant, yacht-influenced ships with all-suite accommodation, generous space per guest and a quieter, hotel-like atmosphere. The brand was unveiled in 2021, and its first ship, Explora I, was delivered by the Italian builder Fincantieri in July 2023, entering service that August. At 63,621 GT she established the class: a mid-sized luxury ship, large enough for several restaurants, pools and a substantial spa, but carrying under a thousand guests. Her sister Explora II, at 63,713 GT, followed as the second ship of the class. The third entry in this directory, Explora III, is a larger development of the design at 72,810 GT, lengthened and adapted for liquefied natural gas propulsion. Together the three ships show a new luxury brand being built, unusually, as a matched series from a single yard.
The fleet — 3 ships in this directory
Sources: https://www.fincantieri.com/en/newsroom/news-e-comunicati-stampa/2023/msc-group-makes-major-investment-in-luxury-travel-market-and-launches-explora-i-first-luxury-ship-from-explora-journeys, https://maritime-executive.com/article/msc-s-explora-journeys-takes-delivery-of-enlarged-lng-luxury-cruise-ship