The first ship in Explora Journeys’ luxury lifestyle fleet, EXPLORA I, operated by the MSC Group, embarked on its maiden voyage on Aug. 1. The seven-night itinerary sailed from Copenhagen and included calls at Lerwick in the Shetland Islands and Kirkwall in Orkney, before continuing on to Reykjavík, Iceland.
“It is our absolute honor to welcome the very first guests onboard our extraordinary ship and share this special moment with them as we embark on the maiden voyage of EXPLORA I from Copenhagen,” said Michael Ungerer, CEO of Explora Journeys. “Guests will experience the finest European hospitality at sea and our vibrant, cosmopolitan approach to luxury while discovering some of the world’s most remarkable destinations. A new era of transformative luxury ocean travel begins now with the first sailing of EXPLORA I.”
© Explora Journeys
Built around the brand’s “Ocean State of Mind” philosophy, EXPLORA I offers immersive experiences designed to enrich guests physically, intellectually and spiritually. Following the inaugural sailing, the ship called at Copenhagen on Aug. 15 and then sailed to Hamburg, Germany. After several weeks of Northern Europe itineraries, EXPLORA I will cross the Atlantic to spend the winter season in North America and the Caribbean, returning to Europe in summer 2024 for Mediterranean voyages.
Explora Journeys is expanding its fleet with additional ships under construction. EXPLORA II is being built in Italy and is expected to enter service in August 2024. The line also has plans for two liquefied natural gas–powered vessels: EXPLORA III, anticipated in 2026, and EXPLORA IV, expected in 2027.