A new luxury cruise line just ordered 2 more ships — and it hasn't even launched yet
Call it the fastest-growing cruise line you've never heard of.
Explora Journeys, a new luxury cruise brand under development by the owners of MSC Cruises, on Wednesday ordered two more vessels for delivery in 2027 and 2028, bringing the total number of ships it plans to launch in the next few years to six.
This is despite the fact that the line isn't yet operating voyages with a single vessel.
The first Explora Journeys ship, to be called Explora I, is scheduled to begin sailing in May of 2023 in the Mediterranean. It's currently under construction at a Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.
Three more sister ships to Explora I already were on order from the same Fincantieri shipyard before Wednesday for delivery in 2024, 2025 and 2026, respectively.
The new order will bring two more ships that are similar to Explora I and its sisters but slightly bigger. In a statement sent to TPG, Explora Journeys said the vessels would be about 62 feet longer than their predecessors.
Explora Journeys didn't say how many passengers the two new vessels will hold. The line has said the first ships in the series would be all-suite vessels with 461 rooms. That means they'll be able to carry 922 passengers at double occupancy. That's similar in passenger capacity to the upscale ships operated by fast-growing Viking and the soon-to-be-relaunched Crystal Cruises.
Explora Journeys will be competing in the same upscale cruise space as Viking and Crystal as well as luxury lines Seabourn, Silversea Cruises and the forthcoming The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. It'll be run completely separately from its sister brand, MSC Cruises, which caters to a mass-market audience.
Related: New Ritz-Carlton cruise ship delayed for a seventh time
Explora Journeys has said its vessels would offer oceanfront suites, penthouses and residences designed to be "homes at sea." Its first ship will have 10 distinct culinary experiences, 10 indoor and outdoor bars and lounges, four swimming pools, outdoor deck areas with private cabanas, wellness facilities and entertainment.
Explora Journeys on Wednesday said the larger size of the two newly ordered vessels would allow for larger public spaces and a different mix of suites.
The line also said the larger size of the ships would allow for the installation of a new type of power generation system that would be able to run partly on hydrogen as well as liquified natural gas — two fuels that are considered cleaner burning than the marine gasoil that many ships currently use as a fuel source.
In a relatively unusual twist, the newly ordered ships will have a 6-megawatt fuel cell system that will be powered by the hydrogen fuel that will allow the vessels to run completely emissions-free while in ports. The fuel cell system also will allow for the ship's onboard electric needs including power for lights and air conditioning to be emissions-free.
Related: Our picks for the 7 best luxury suites at sea
As part of Wednesday's announcement, the line said it would be changing the design of the third and fourth vessels in the series to allow them to run on liquified natural gas. The change will result in the ships being completed a year later than originally announced. They'll now arrive in 2026 and 2027, respectively.
Explora Journeys said the new ship order on Wednesday would bring the total investment in the brand to 3.5 billion euros — about $3.56 billion at current exchange rates.
“Explora Journeys is building ships for tomorrow, utilizing today’s latest technologies and being ready to adapt to alternative energy solutions as they become available," Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of the cruise division of MSC Group, said in a statement.
"The announcement today marks another significant step forward in our goal as a business to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 across all our cruise [operations] for the two brands and a further proof of our commitment to invest in the most advanced marine environmental technologies available to develop sustainable solutions for the future."
MSC Group is the parent company of MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys as well as the Mediterranean Shipping Company. The latter, also known simply as MSC, is the largest container shipping company in the world.
MSC Group is one of just a handful of cruise ship-owning companies that have ordered new cruise vessels since the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020. Pandemic-caused cruise cancellations and reduced bookings over the past three years have left many cruise companies in a tough financial situation that has crimped their ability to order new vessels.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.