| MSC debuts luxury brand Explora

MSC Group has revealed its new luxury cruise brand Explora Journeys (pictured) (CW 18 Mar).

With trips starting at seven nights, non-conventional arrival & departure times combined with overnight stays will allow Explora to offer guests exclusive access to the destinations the cruise line visits.

Explora will bring guests to lesser-travelled harbours to enjoy a more authentic experience and a slower pace of travel, with itineraries in the inaugural collection to offer stops such as Saint Tropez, Bordeaux and Reykjavik, and hidden gems such as Kastellorizo, Tenedos and Lofoten.

The first of four luxury ships built by Fincantieri, Explora I, will set sail in 2023, and will offer 461 oceanfront suites and residences, with striking views, with floor-to-ceiling windows and personal private terraces.

Suites will start at 35m2, which is among the most spacious for the category in the industry.

With a total of 14 decks, there will be ample indoor public space, while generous outdoor decks will boast more than 2,500m2 overlooking the sea, with 64 private cabanas across four pools, one with a retractable glass roof.

Flexible dining times at nine distinct restaurants will provide unrivalled variety at sea, while several indoor and outdoor bars and lounges will also be available.

A spacious indoor-outdoor spa and fitness area will offer state-of-the-art fitness equipment, group workout classes, personal training appointments, and tailor-made programs.

Explora I’s design incorporates provision for battery storage, allowing future hybrid power generation.

The ship will be built with ship-to-shore power capabilities to avoid carbon dioxide emissions while at berth.

Explora hosted a steel-cutting ceremony for Explora I this morning at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, with the remaining ships to be ready in 2024, 2025 and 2026.

Each will utilise the latest in cutting-edge maritime technology to provide journeys to destinations both on and off the beaten path – ExploraJourneys.com.