Currently in the final phase of construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, the new Explora II is scheduled to enter service in September.
A sister to the Explora I, the 922-guest vessel will be the second ship for the new luxury brand from MSC: Explora Journeys.
Cruise Industry News takes a closer look at some of the highlights of the inaugural deployment of the Explora II and its itineraries.
Inaugural Cruise
Date: September 16, 2024
Length: 7 nights
Homeports: Civitavecchia (Italy) to Tarragona (Spain)
Itinerary: Sorrento, Lipari, Trapani and Syracuse (Italy); Valletta (Italy)
After a construction delay, the Explora II is set to enter service on September 16, 2024. For its maiden voyage, the upscale ship is offering a seven-night itinerary in the Western Mediterranean.
The one-way cruise sails from Civitavecchia to Tarragona and features visits to destinations in Italy, Spain and Malta. With a special focus on destinations in Sicily, the itinerary features stops in Lipari, Trapani, Syracuse, Sorrento and Valletta.
“Italian Piazzas to Tunisian Souks”
Date: September 30, 2024
Length: 6 nights
Homeports: Civitavecchia (Italy) to Barcelona (Spain)
Itinerary: Sorrento and Palermo (Italy); Tunis (Tunisia); and Mahon/Minorca (Spain)
Continuing its maiden season in the Western Mediterranean, the Explora II offers a six-night cruise to Italy, Spain and Tunisia in late September.
Named “A Journey from Italian Piazzas to Tunisian Souks,” the itinerary sails between Civitavecchia and Barcelona and features visits to unusual ports of call in the region, such as Sorrento, Tunis and Port Mahón (Minorca).
“A Journey of Iberian Wonder and Moroccan Mystic”
Date: October 6, 2024
Length: 10 nights
Homeport: Barcelona (Spain)
Itinerary: Málaga and Ibiza (Spain); Gibraltar (UK); Tangier (Morocco); Lisbon and Portimão (Portugal)
In October, the Explora II is also set to offer itineraries featuring destinations in the Iberian Peninsula and the Atlantic Ocean.
One of the longer cruises being offered by the ship during the summer, this ten-night cruise sails roundtrip from Barcelona and includes six destinations across Spain, the UK, Morocco and Portugal. The itinerary is highlighted by off-the-beaten-path ports of call, such as Ibiza, Tangier and Portimão.
Spain and Morocco
Date: October 16, 2024
Length: 9 nights
Homeport: Barcelona (Spain)
Itinerary: Motril, Puerto Banús and Cádiz (Spain); Casablanca (Morocco)
While its sister ship, Explora I, sails in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Explora II continues to operate in the Western Mediterranean during its maiden season.
In mid-October, the 64,000-ton vessel offers a nine-night cruise in the region that also features ports of call in the Atlantic. Sailing roundtrip from Barcelona, the itinerary includes lesser-visited cruise ports, such as Puerto Banús and Motril.
First Trans-Atlantic Crossing
Date: November 5, 2024
Length: 17 nights
Homeports: Barcelona (Spain) to Miami (United States)
Itinerary: Funchal (Portugal); Bridgetown (Barbados); Fort de France (Martinique); Castries (St. Lucia); St. John’s (Antigua); and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
The Explora II completes its maiden season with a 17-night repositioning cruise from Spain to the United States. Crossing the Atlantic for the first time, the vessel sails fromBarcelona to Miami.
The itinerary also includes visits to six destinations, including Funchal, in Portugal’s Madeira Island, Bridgetown, in Barbados, and St. John’s, in Antigua.
