By
Laura Hyde |
Explora Journeys and Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri celebrated a construction milestone of Explora IV on 2 April 2025, transferring the ship’s forward lower section, the troncone, from land to water for the first time.
In keeping with maritime tradition, the two companies held a celebration ceremony, which was attended by over 350 guests, at Fincantieri’s Palermo shipyard in Sicily, Italy. Once the bow section has been outfitted, it will be transferred to Fincantieri’s shipyard in Sestri Ponente, near Genoa, for the newbuild to be completed.
Over 350 guests watched as Explora IV’s troncone was transferred to water for the first time
“We are incredibly proud to reach this significant milestone in the construction of Explora IV,” said Anna Nash, global president of Explora Journeys. “This ship represents our unwavering commitment to delivering a new standard of excellence in luxury ocean travel. Our partnership with Fincantieri, one of the finest shipbuilders in the world, is built on shared values of innovation and the relentless pursuit of quality.”
The LNG-powered ship is scheduled to be delivered to Explora Journeys, MSC Group’s luxury travel brand, in 2027. MSC Group has invested over €3.5 billion ($3.85 billion) in the six Explora Journeys ships, which will all be built by Fincantieri. Explora I debuted in August 2023, while Explora II was delivered in September 2024. Explora III is expected to begin operations in 2026, while Explora V and VI are set to join the fleet in 2027 and 2028 respectively.
Read more: Exploring the world in effortless luxury