Explora Journeys officially named the Explora III in Barcelona on August 1, welcoming the brand’s first LNG-powered ship and marking the halfway point in its plan for a six-ship fleet.
The vessel was delivered ahead of schedule in Genoa on July 23, allowing an five-night Prelude Journey from Genoa to Civitavecchia before she arrived in Barcelona for the naming ceremony.
Godmother Cristina Ozores, a marine educator and National Geographic Educator, blessed and named the ship during the christening.
The ceremony, held alongside the MSC Cruise Division terminal, featured addresses by Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Group’s Cruise Division, Explora Journeys President Anna Nash, and Port of Barcelona President José Alberto Carbonell.
“Naming Explora III is a momentous occasion that reflects both the trajectory of our fleet and our steadfast commitment to shaping the future of ultra-elegant ocean travel,” Nash said.
As the fleet’s first LNG-powered vessel, the Explora III is equipped with shore power capability and offers a pathway toward bio-LNG and synthetic LNG.
The ship departs August 3 on a seven-night Maiden Journey to Lisbon, with an inaugural season spanning Northern Europe, Iceland, Greenland and North America. Explora IV follows in early 2027, with Explora V and Explora VI joining in 2027 and 2028.
