By
Laura Hyde |
Explora I has made its maiden call at the Port of Barcelona in Spain, just four days after Fincantieri delivered the vessel to Explora Journeys in Monfalcone, Italy, on 20 July.
In keeping with maritime tradition, the ship’s master captain Serena Melani exchanged crests with Barcelona Port Authority president Lluís Salvadó. Michael Ungerer, CEO of Explora Journeys, and local port officials also attended the event.
“Barcelona is one of the most important ports in the western Mediterranean, and it is our absolute honour to finally showcase our highly anticipated, extraordinary new ship Explora I,” said Ungerer. “We have pushed the boundaries of innovation and design to create a ship that embodies our commitment to excellence. We are delighted to showcase our ship today in Barcelona, offering a taste of what Explora Journeys will offer her guests.”
Explora I will sail its first commercial voyage from Copenhagen, Denmark, on 1 August, taking guests on a seven-night voyage to Reykjavik, Iceland.
The ship will then spend several weeks in northern Europe, offering a range of different itineraries before repositioning to North America for autumn and the Caribbean Sea for the winter season. The vessel will then sail itineraries along the US West Coast and Hawaii in spring 2024, before returning to Europe to operate Mediterranean voyages for the summer season.
Explora Journeys and sister company MSC Cruises are working with the Port of Barcelona to build a new cruise terminal, which will be completed in 2024.
“The commissioning of ships like Explora I is strategic for Barcelona and for the maritime sector as a whole,” said Salvadó. “Incorporating sustainability innovations to cut nitrogen oxide emissions by 90 per cent and with equipment to connect to electricity on land, eliminating emissions when docked, is important for the ports and cities that host them because it shows how the sector works to achieve clean maritime activity. It is also an example of the success of the strategy that we follow at the Port of Barcelona to make the necessary infrastructure available to ships to make this emission-free future a reality.”