A milestone forged in Sicily
There is something quietly thrilling about the moment a ship first meets water. At Fincantieri’s Palermo shipyard in Sicily, that moment arrived for Explora V when the bow section—known in maritime tradition as the Troncone—was transferred from land to sea for the first time. It is a longstanding ritual that signals construction has entered its next phase.
From Palermo to Genoa
Following initial outfitting in Sicily, the bow section will travel north to Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente yard in Genoa, where construction will be completed ahead of a planned 2027 delivery.
“We are pleased to mark the launch of the bow section of Explora V, an important milestone in the continued development of our fleet. We now look ahead to the delivery of Explora III this July and her inaugural journeys, from the Mediterranean to Northern Europe, Iceland and Greenland.”
Anna Nash, President of Explora Journeys.
A fleet built with intention
Explora Journeys is expanding deliberately. Explora I entered service in August 2023, Explora II followed in September 2024, and Explora III joins the fleet in July 2026. Explora IV and V will both debut in 2027, with Explora VI completing the six-ship program in 2028—each vessel from Explora III onward powered by liquefied natural gas as part of the brand’s commitment to net zero marine emissions by 2050.
Worth the wait
The numbers behind each ship are formidable: more than seven million work hours and employment for approximately 2,500 people over two to three years. The MSC Group has invested more than €3.5 billion across the program, all constructed by Fincantieri.
For travelers drawn to the brand’s signature offer—all oceanfront suites, eleven culinary experiences, and a design language rooted in European luxury—a larger fleet means greater range and more opportunities to book the kind of unhurried ocean journey that defines the Explora Journeys experience.
Explora V is still two years away. But in Palermo, the story has already begun.
About the Author: Jason Kerr
