BY: ANN RUPPENSTEIN
Explora Journeys is three steps closer to achieving its goal of having a fleet of six ships by 2028. The luxury lifestyle brand marked a triple milestone at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente Shipyard in Italy on July 14th, celebrating the float out of EXPLORA III, the coin ceremony of EXPLORA IV and the steel cutting of EXPLORA V.
“This is our second triple ceremony in less than a year, which is quite an unusual milestone. I don’t think a lot of brands have set out on the journey that we have — it’s very ambitious,” Anna Nash, the president of Explora Journeys told Travel Courier on location for the ceremonies in Genoa. “It’s unusual to have a triple ceremony and it’s very, very unusual to have two within a year.”
The growth and expansion strategy represents a €3.5 billion investment across the six-ship fleet. Nash, who took on the role of president in Sept. 2024, recalled participating in her first triple ceremony event within her first two weeks on the job. At the time, Explora Journeys celebrated the delivery of EXPLORA II, the coin ceremony for EXPLORA III and the steel cutting for EXPLORA IV.
“When I joined Explora Journeys on the 1st of September last year, the triple ceremony was on Sept. 12, within two weeks of joining the company. I was, excuse the pun, but thrown in at the deep end, meeting everyone for the first time, so it’s my second one,” she noted. “It’s a lot of hard work, a lot of time to get those ships completed. For us, as a family brand especially, it really is an emotive ceremony because it’s all about celebrating the hands and the hearts that have gone into delivering those ships.”
This year’s triple event kicked off with the steel cutting ceremony for EXPLORA V, representing the start of construction for the new cruise ship. The first piece of steel that will be used for the shipbuilding process was cut nearby in the shipyard and then carried over to the ceremony.
“It’s the first time that we will really be starting to shape EXPLORA V and set that out on its construction journey,” Nash said.
A steel cut out of EXPLORA V was also brought on stage, with members of Explora Journey’s leadership team then proceeding to sign it with white markers.
“Today marks a proud milestone for Explora Journeys as we celebrate three remarkable ships – each a symbol of our ambition to redefine ultra-elegant ocean travel. This triple celebration reflects the strength of our vision and the power of collaboration between our team, our partners at Fincantieri, and the unwavering support of the Aponte-Vago family. Guided by our values of care, respect, and excellence, we are not just building ships – we are creating a legacy of transformative journeys that will endure for generations to come.”
–Anna Nash, the president of Explora Journeys, who experienced her second triple ceremonies event in 10 months
Photos by Ivan Sarfatti & Ann Ruppenstein
For Explora IV’s coin ceremony, Caroline Cooney-Hurrell, customer journey strategist at Explora Journeys, who has been heavily involved in the brand for the past five years, served as godmother of the ceremony. The ship is scheduled to launch in the summer of 2027.
“Today’s celebration carries with it traditions that are deeply meaningful to all of us in the maritime world but for some this day will forever and very personally link their name to the history of a ship,” Nash said taking the stage at the shipyard. “The coin ceremony is a centuries-old tradition where commemorative coins are placed with the ship’s hull by godmothers as a sign of good fortune.”
Nash shared that Cooney-Hurrell has been an integral part of the brand even before Explora Journeys had a name and at a challenging time not only in the early stages for a young brand but also during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This blueprint was created with the constraints of no physical interactions with colleagues, with vendors or potential employees. It is a testament to the persistence, creativity and empathy for which Caroline is known and that she stands here today with her achievements and significant contributions to our success… Caroline, from all of your colleagues, thank you for being such a valued and inspirational part of our team.”
Set to welcome guests in the summer of 2026, a highlight of the festivities was the float out of EXPLORA III. Nash and members of the Explora Journeys team and of parent company MSC Group came on stage to open the valves to officially start the flow of water into the shipyard, marking the first moment EXPLORA III touched water for its float out.
“Today we are celebrating a triple milestone in the growth journey of Explora Journeys, our brand dedicated to the luxury segment, whose fleet will be fully operational within three years with all six vessels,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Group’s cruise division. “We are turning our vision into reality — and we are doing so quickly. We are very pleased with the results Explora Journeys has already achieved globally, and with the positive feedback from our guests.”
Photos by Ivan Sarfatti & Ann Ruppenstein
For more on Explora Journeys and what the future holds, stay tuned to Canadian Travel Press.
