By
Rebecca Gibson |
Explora Journeys officially named Explora II, the second of its luxury cruise ships, during a ceremony onboard the vessel in the port of Civitavecchia, Italy, on 15 September.
The ceremony was hosted in the Journeys Lounge by Italian actress and TV personality Lorella Cuccarini and was attended by senior representatives from the port and MSC Group, including founder and group chairman Gianluigi Aponte, as well as international journalists, key travel partners and other invited guests.
Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Group’s cruise division, opened the ceremony with a speech discussing the importance of the shipbuilding industry in Italy and the need for the government to support the cruise industry’s decarbonisation efforts. He also discussed the new ship and the brand.
“Naming a new ship is a proud maritime tradition, and tonight’s celebration marks our continued growth as we redefine luxury ocean travel,” said Vago. “Our vision began with the contemporary brand MSC Cruises where we developed a premium offer with MSC Yacht Club and from there we identified a further demand for luxury experiences at sea. With Explora Journeys we offer an unparalleled value proposition and a unique offering compared to other types of luxury holiday.”
Guests also heard speeches from Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and managing director of Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri; Antonio Tajani, Italy’s deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs; and Marco Piendibene, the mayor of Civitavecchia. Both Tajani and Piendibene praised MSC Group and Fincantieri for their contribution to the Italian economy.
Other highlights of the ceremony included separate performances by British actress and singer Kerry Ellis and English pop singer Tony Hadley, a conversation with Captain Serena Melani, and a discussion about the MSC Foundation’s work with executive director Daniela Pico, who was joined on stage by Explora II’s godmother, Rosalba Giugni, founder and president of the Marevivo Foundation, a non-partisan environmental conservation organisation that aims to preserve marine environments. While on stage, Giugni called for the Italian government to support the Marevivo Foundation and MSC Foundation’s joint aim to educate young Italians about the importance of conservation and protecting the environment.
Explora Journeys/Ivan Sarfatti
Italian film director, screenwriter and Academy Award winner Giuseppe Tornatore also took to the stage to talk about the late Ennio Morricone, an Oscar-winning Italian composer who created the scores of multiple films and also MSC Cruises’ global marketing campaign in 2020. A string group also played one of Morricone’s compositions as part of the tribute.
The ceremony concluded with a traditional parade of ship officers and Giugni cutting a ribbon to break a bottle on the ship’s bow alongside Vago and Melani.
Explora Journeys/Ivan Sarfatti
Following the formal proceedings, guests attended a gala dinner with a menu prepared by chef Franck Garanger, head of Explora Journeys’ culinary department, and watched a drone show that narrated the story of the brand. Highlights of the display included the drones forming a whale, Explora II, a mandala and the logos of both MSC Group and Explora Journeys.
Explora II’s inauguration marked the culmination of a weekend of celebrations onboard the ship, during which time international media representatives and other guests were invited to tour the ship to see the subtle differences from Explora I. Some of these updates include refreshed colour palettes and soft furnishing materials in key venues, additional shading in outdoor areas, the redesigned Ocean Wellness Spa, the bespoke Unopiù outdoor furniture designed by Matteo Nunziati in the Helios Pool & Bar, and the first Buccellati jewellery boutique at sea.
In addition, guests were invited to watch Prince Hussain Aga Khan open Explora II’s reconfigured art gallery, which features an exhibition of his personal marine photography and original artwork by Emilio Isgró. Khan donated the collection of underwater photographs to the MSC Foundation as part of its partnership with Focused on Nature, an organisation dedicated to educating others on the need to preserve marine life and biodiversity.
Explora Journeys/Ivan Sarfatti
Explora II will now embark on a seven-night maiden voyage, which will take guests to the Italian ports of Sorrento, Lipari, Trapani and Siracusa, before visiting Valletta in Malta and concluding in Tarragona, Spain. The cruise ship will stay in the Mediterranean until the winter season, when it will reposition to the Caribbean to offer itineraries to destinations such as Gustavia in St. Barts, Oranjestad in Aruba, and St. John’s in Antigua. Explora I will sail Caribbean itineraries this winter.
In summer 2025, Explora II will return to the Western Mediterranean and sail to ports like Barcelona in Spain, St. Tropez in France, Monte Carlo, and Porto Cervo in Italy.
Explora Journeys also laid the keel for Explora III and cut the steel for Explora IV at Fincantieri’s yard in Sestri Ponente, near Genoa, Italy, last week. Explora III will be delivered in the 2026 and will be the first of four LNG-powered ships in the fleet, followed by Explora IV and Explora V in 2027 and Explora VI in 2028.
“By 2028 the Explora Journeys fleet will comprise six ships offering a spirit of luxurious ocean adventure visiting sought-after destinations, where our guests can expect the same high standards and quality service across our fleet, all over the globe,” said Vago.
Read the cover story in the Autumn/Winter 2024 issue of Cruise & Ferry Review to find out how Explora Journeys is transforming the concept of luxury cruising