Explora and Fincantieri Celebrate Explora III’s Delivery

Posted on 25 July, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

Explora and Fincantieri Celebrate Explora III’s Delivery

The delivery ceremony of the Explora III, the third vessel built by Fincantieri for Explora Journeys, took place today in Genoa at the Fincantieri shipyard in Sestri Ponente.

Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Group’s Cruise Division, said: “The delivery of the Explora III marks another important milestone in realizing our vision for Explora Journeys.”

“In just three years, we have defined a new and distinctive perspective in ocean travel. With each new ship, we expand our ability to offer guests new perspectives on the world through increasingly immersive experiences in the destinations we visit,” added Vago.

“The Explora III reflects our commitment to innovation, craftsmanship excellence and responsible growth, while contributing to the broader economic benefits that cruise tourism brings to coastal destinations and communities.”

Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and general manager of Fincantieri, said: “The Explora III testifies to Fincantieri’s ability to lead the transformation of the shipbuilding industry through innovation, sustainability and the evolution towards new technologies and alternative fuels.”

“The entry into the fleet of the first ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) marks a significant milestone in this journey, an expression of the development of increasingly sustainable and technologically advanced solutions,” added Folgiero.

Fincantieri said in a press release that the newbuild was celebrated with numerous authorities and institutions in attendance, including:

President of the Liguria Region, Marco Bucci
Mayor of Genoa, Silvia Salis
Admiral Inspector Antonio Ranieri, and
President of the Port System Authority of the Western Ligurian Sea, Matteo Paroli.

The Explora III is the third out of six ships; the remaining three are all under construction and will take to the sea within two years: the Explora IV and Explora V in 2027, and Explora VI in 2028.

Guests were welcomed by:

Biagio Mazzotta, president of Fincantieri
Pierroberto Folgiero, chief executive officer and general manager of Fincantieri;
Luigi Matarazzo, general manager of Fincantieri’s Merchant Ships Division
Massimo Canesin, director of the Fincantieri Shipyard in Sestri
Diego Aponte, chairman of the MSC Group
Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of the Cruise Division of the MSC Group
Anna Nash, president of Explora Journeys
Maya Aponte, godmother of the ship, and
other managers of Fincantieri and MSC.

The Explora III will use liquefied natural gas (LNG), reducing emissions of sulfur oxides by 99 percent, nitrogen oxides by 85 percent, particulate matter by 98 percent and greenhouse gases by up to 20 percent.

It is designed to run on renewable and latest-generation fuels such as bio-LNG, synthetic LNG and biofuels. The Explora V and Explora VI will also adopt fuel cells.

Designed and built under RINA class surveillance, the Explora III has been acknowledged for its environmentally sustainable and passenger-comfort design, and was certified to sail in the polar regions.

Caribbean Cruise Capacity Up Over 10% for 2026

Posted on 5 February, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

Caribbean Cruise Capacity Up Over 10% for 2026

The Caribbean will have over 40 percent of cruise market share worldwide in 2026, according to the upcoming 2026 Cruise Industry News Annual Report.

CIN data shows that more than 200 ships will sail in the region, with capacity up over 10 percent on a year-over-year basis.

Larger brands, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC and Norwegian, will account for 75 percent of the capacity in the Caribbean this year.

Pushing up the numbers are large new ships, which are set to enter service for some of these brands over the course of 2026.

Norwegian will add a new ship to its Caribbean lineup in the second quarter, with the debut of the new Norwegian Luna.

Currently under construction in Italy, the 3,571-passenger vessel is set to offer weeklong cruises departing from PortMiami.

In November, Royal Caribbean is also introducing the next largest ship in the world, the Legend of the Seas.

As the third vessel in the company’s Icon-class series, the 5,610-guest ship will offer a seasonal deployment out of Fort Lauderdale.

The Caribbean is also welcoming new ships from a series of upscale and niche brands, such as Explora Journeys.

After an inaugural season in Northern Europe, the 922-guest ship will spend the 2026-27 season offering a series of cruises between San Juan and Miami.

Other luxury ships arriving in the region this year include the Seven Seas Prestige, the Four Seasons I, and Orient Express’ Corinthian.

2026 will also mark the first full year of service for megaships that entered service in 2025.

The lineup includes MSC’s World America, which debuted last April, Norwegian’s Aqua, which also debuted in April, and Royal Caribbean’s Star, which entered service in August.

After kicking off its maiden season in November 2025, the Disney Destiny will also offer its first year-round schedule in Port Everglades

Explora Journeys Evolves Loyalty Program

Posted on 4 July, 2025 by Spacejunkie2

Explora Journeys Evolves Loyalty Program

Following the launch of Explora Club in April 2025, Explora Journeys has announced the second phase of the brand`s exclusive loyalty program.

The company said that Explora Club Members can now enjoy benefits and privileges while on board and view their points balance and loyalty status via their My Explora Account on explorajourneys.com.

Every night sailed onboard, eligible onboard purchases and Destination Experience bookings now contribute to earning points, unlocking an expanding collection of exclusive privileges and benefits with every journey.

For those yet to join, Explora Journeys invites guests to enrol so they can begin enjoying privileges including bespoke onboard events, value savings, surprise gifts, and elevated services designed to make every journey uniquely personal, the company said in a statement.

The brand also said it is expanding its Explora Club Status Match to include guests of Oceania Cruises, bringing the program to a total of 11 brands.

This enhancement is a direct response to guest feedback, driven by strong demand for Oceania’s inclusion. Travellers holding status with any of the eligible programs can match to the equivalent Explora Club level by providing proof of status, unlocking curated benefits from their very first journey.

Explora Club offers a seamless and intuitive, five-level structure – Classic, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond – with each level unveiling a collection of benefits, from priority access and bespoke events to personalised gifts and exclusive savings.

Explora Club Member Benefits Include:

Thoughtful touches such as birthday gifts (Silver onwards) and special turndown service surprises (Gold onwards).
Exclusive savings and rewards, including member offers (Classic onwards), future journey savings (Silver onwards), Journey Experience Credit (Platinum onwards), and a complimentary journey for two (Diamond).
Pre-journey privileges like early access to new journeys, a dedicated online members area (Classic onwards), priority assistance (Silver onwards), private transfers and suite upgrades (Diamond).
Exclusive hosted events, from cocktail receptions with ship leadership (Silver onwards) to curated President Journeys and Chef’s Kitchen experiences (Diamond).
Enhanced onboard services include complimentary laundry (Gold onwards), a bridge tour (Platinum onwards), and personal shopping advice (Diamond).