Cruise & Ferry Review - Autumn/Winter 2021

4 3 FEATURED INTERV IEW glass roof and more than 2,500 square metres of outdoor decks with three outdoor pools and 64 private cabanas. “MSC Group was established in Geneva, Switzerland, which is the epicentre of vibrant European luxury and hospitality, so we wanted to recreate this for our guests,” says Ungerer. “It will be reflected in the smooth flowing lines of our ships, the elegant interior designs, the upscale amenities, the varied dining experiences, the personalised and intuitive hospitality services, and much more. “Our ships will feature the perfect combination of open public areas that are designed to encourage guests to come together, as well as intimate spaces that enable individuals to relax by themselves. From the moment they step onboard our vessels, we want guests to feel as though they are being welcomed into the home of a friend who is dedicated to making their holiday as comfortable, luxurious and enjoyable as possible. We’ll achieve this with a guest-to-crew ratio of 1.25 to 1.” Itineraries have been carefully curated to include overnight stays, as well as non-conventional arrival and departure times, to offer guests more time in destinations and access to exclusive onshore experiences. EXPLORA I will begin her maiden season in May 2023, sailing voyages to the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Canada, the east and west coasts of the USA, the Caribbean and South America. Voyages will start at seven nights in length. “None of our ships will sail roundtrips from the same homeport; every sailing will be an individual journey that will start in a marquee port and combine calls at popular destinations like Reykjavik in Iceland with less-visited ports such as Kastellorizo in Greece and Norway’s Lofoten Islands,” says Ungerer. “We’ll take guests on an explorative journey, offering destination experiences that are designed to suit both groups and individuals. They will fully immerse guests in the destinations, taking them off the beaten path to create unforgettable memories.” Explora Journeys will invest in the latest green technologies to minimise the environmental impact its vessels have on the destinations it visits. Solutions will include selective catalytic reduction systems to cut nitrogen oxide emissions by 90 per cent and ship-to- shore technology to eliminate carbon dioxide emissions while berthed in port. In addition, the ships will be RINA Dolphin-certified for reduced underwater noise and single-use plastics will be banned – both onboard and during land- based experiences. “We’re committed to respecting and protecting the sea, marine life and the destinations we will visit, and our long-term goal is to decarbonise our operations,” explains Ungerer. “Initially, the vessels will operate using marine gas oil, but the design incorporates provision for battery storage to facilitate hybrid power generation and can be adapted for cleaner fuels when they become widely available in future.” Focused firmly on the future, Ungerer is building diverse team of more than 40 people of over 20 different nationalities with a 50:50 ratio of males and females to navigate Explora Journeys through the ongoing Covid-related challenges and uncertainties ahead of EXPLORA I’s debut. “We’ve been through multiple iterations of our go-to-market plan, but this has helped us to improve and refine our brand promise and ensure that our offerings will truly satisfy our guests’ needs and preferences,” he says. “I’m very privileged to be working with an incredibly talented team to take Explora Journeys from a concept design on a piece of paper to reality, and I’m excited for our guests to enjoy it. “For me, the biggest indicator of success will be our guests disembarking our ships feeling fully refreshed, reinvigorated and satisfied after enjoying a cruise that exceeded their expectations. We hope that by reinventing the classic cruise experience, we will be able to introduce the ocean state of mind to the current and next generations of luxury travellers, turning them into lifelong cruise and brand advocates.” CFR EXPLORA I features multiple balconies, floor-to-ceiling windows and outdoor spaces to put guests in an “ocean state of mind”