EXPLORA V Float Out: EXPLORA VI Reaches Fincantieri Milestone

The EXPLORA V float out marks a major step forward for Explora Journeys, as the luxury cruise brand celebrates two important construction milestones at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genoa, Italy. On October 26, 2026, EXPLORA V entered the next phase of construction while EXPLORA VI celebrated its traditional coin ceremony, bringing the company closer to completing its initial six-ship fleet by 2028.

The double milestone highlights the continued expansion of Explora Journeys, MSC Group’s luxury ocean travel brand, while placing the spotlight on advanced marine technology, the Italian shipbuilding industry and the next generation of luxury cruising.

EXPLORA V Float Out Marks a New Construction Phase

The float out is a significant milestone in cruise ship construction. It marks the point at which a vessel enters the water for the first time following the initial construction phase, allowing further outfitting and completion work to progress.

For EXPLORA V, the October 26 ceremony represents a transition towards the remaining stages required before delivery and entry into service. The ship is scheduled to join the Explora Journeys fleet towards the end of 2027.

The event also reflects the progress made since March 2026, when Fincantieri and Explora Journeys held a series of ceremonies at Sestri Ponente involving EXPLORA IV, EXPLORA V and EXPLORA VI. At that time, EXPLORA IV reached its technical launch milestone, EXPLORA V celebrated its coin ceremony, and the first steel cutting for EXPLORA VI took place.

The latest ceremonies therefore represent another step in a construction programme progressing across several vessels simultaneously.

Readers can also explore our earlier report on EXPLORA III and the previous EXPLORA V construction milestone, which provides additional context on the brand’s fleet expansion.

EXPLORA VI Celebrates Its Coin Ceremony

While EXPLORA V has reached the float-out stage, EXPLORA VI marked a different milestone through its traditional coin ceremony.

The maritime tradition involves placing commemorative coins inside a ship during construction. The coins symbolise good fortune and protection throughout the vessel’s construction and future life at sea.

Anna Nash, President of Explora Journeys, and Camilla Ronco, PRS Workshop Manager at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard, served as godmothers for the ceremony.

Consuelo Brunelli, Production Planner at Fincantieri, served as godmother for the ribbon-cutting ceremony marking EXPLORA V’s float out.

For Anna Nash, the ceremony also carried particular significance because EXPLORA VI will complete the brand’s initial six-ship fleet. She described the milestone as an important moment in the development of Explora Journeys, while emphasising that completing the first six vessels does not represent the end of the company’s ambitions.

EXPLORA VI is currently expected to enter service in summer 2028.

Explora Journeys Fleet Timeline: All Six Ships

The two October ceremonies provide an opportunity to look at the complete development of the Explora Journeys fleet, from the first ship’s introduction to the planned arrival of EXPLORA VI.

Ship	Fleet milestone	Entry into service
EXPLORA I	First ship in the fleet	2023
EXPLORA II	Second ship joins the fleet	2024
EXPLORA III	Delivered in July 2026; first LNG-powered ship in the fleet	2026
EXPLORA IV	Next ship scheduled to join the fleet	Spring 2027
EXPLORA V	Float out celebrated on October 26, 2026	Late 2027
EXPLORA VI	Coin ceremony celebrated on October 26, 2026	Summer 2028

The dates for EXPLORA IV, EXPLORA V and EXPLORA VI are based on the company’s published schedule and remain planned milestones rather than confirmed completion dates.

With EXPLORA III already delivered and the final three vessels progressing through construction, Explora Journeys is moving towards a six-ship fleet within approximately five years of the first ship’s introduction.

The fleet’s expansion will give the company additional capacity to develop itineraries across different regions and seasons. However, the October announcement does not specify new deployment plans for EXPLORA IV or EXPLORA VI.

LNG, Shore Power and Fuel Cell Technology

Beyond construction progress, the October announcement highlights the technologies that will shape the next phase of Explora Journeys’ fleet.

LNG propulsion

EXPLORA III was the first ship in the fleet powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). Both EXPLORA V and EXPLORA VI are also planned to use LNG propulsion.

The company states that the vessels are designed to accommodate renewable and next-generation fuels, including bio-LNG, synthetic LNG and biofuels.

However, being designed to use alternative fuels does not mean that every fuel will be available or used commercially from the first day of operation. The announcement does not provide a timetable or specific fuel-use percentages.

Shore power connectivity

All Explora Journeys ships are equipped for shore power connectivity, allowing them to connect to compatible electricity grids while in port.

When a vessel uses shore power, it can switch off its engines used for onboard electricity generation, eliminating direct emissions from that power generation during the connection.

The actual benefits depend on the availability of suitable port infrastructure, the electricity source and how frequently the connection is used.

Fuel cells: a key distinction between EXPLORA V and EXPLORA VI

EXPLORA VI will feature fuel cell technology designed to support more efficient energy generation. EXPLORA V, meanwhile, is being designed to accommodate this technology in the future.

This distinction is important. The announcement confirms the planned inclusion of fuel cell technology on EXPLORA VI, but it does not provide the system’s capacity, expected energy savings or detailed performance figures.

The broader direction is clear: Explora Journeys intends to combine LNG propulsion with shore power, alternative-fuel readiness and further energy-generation technologies as its fleet expands.

Fincantieri and the Italian Cruise Shipbuilding Industry

The double milestone also highlights the relationship between MSC Group and Fincantieri, one of the world’s major shipbuilders.

The construction programme supports activity at the Sestri Ponente shipyard and across the wider network of companies involved in cruise ship construction. These vessels require complex engineering, hotel systems, marine equipment, interiors and advanced onboard technologies.

The six-ship Explora Journeys programme has been associated in industry reporting with an investment exceeding €3.5 billion. Separate estimates have placed its wider economic impact in Italy above €15 billion. These figures should be understood as reported industrial estimates rather than as the value of a single shipbuilding contract or revenue earned exclusively by the Sestri Ponente yard.

Fincantieri’s wider cruise shipbuilding activity also includes vessels for other international brands. For another example of a luxury cruise ship reaching a construction milestone, read our coverage of Oceania Sonata’s float out at Fincantieri.

The comparison illustrates the breadth of Italy’s role in cruise ship construction, although each vessel belongs to a separate programme with its own design, schedule and commercial strategy.

What the Milestones Mean for Explora Journeys

Explora Journeys is positioning itself in the luxury cruise market through a combination of suite-focused accommodation, destination-led itineraries, refined hospitality and contemporary ship design.

The progress of EXPLORA V and EXPLORA VI matters because the company’s next stage of development depends not only on introducing new ships, but also on deploying them across a broader range of itineraries and seasons.

The fleet’s planned expansion through 2028 will provide more capacity for that strategy. Nevertheless, the company has not announced every future itinerary or confirmed that all planned service dates will remain unchanged.

For a broader perspective on upcoming vessels across the cruise industry, see our guide to new cruise ships and their planned debut dates.

The next milestones to watch will be the remaining construction and outfitting phases for EXPLORA V, the continued progress of EXPLORA VI and the official announcements surrounding their eventual entry into service.

Final Thoughts

The EXPLORA V float out and EXPLORA VI coin ceremony represent more than two separate shipyard events. Together, they demonstrate how Explora Journeys is advancing towards the completion of its initial six-ship fleet while continuing to develop its technology and luxury travel offering.

EXPLORA V is scheduled to enter service towards the end of 2027, followed by EXPLORA VI in summer 2028. Until then, the next stages of construction will determine how the programme progresses towards those targets.

For the wider cruise industry, the milestones also underline the continued importance of Fincantieri and the Italian shipbuilding supply chain in delivering the next generation of luxury cruise ships.

As construction continues, EXPLORA V and EXPLORA VI will remain important vessels to follow in Explora Journeys’ development and in the evolution of the luxury cruise market.

Related Cruise News

Continue exploring the latest cruise ship construction milestones and fleet developments with Cruising Passion:

• Explora III Summer 2026 and EXPLORA V’s Earlier Construction Milestone — Follow the earlier development of Explora Journeys’ fleet.
• Oceania Sonata Floats Out at Fincantieri — Discover another milestone in luxury cruise ship construction.
• New Cruise Ships: Complete Guide to Upcoming Debuts — Explore more ships scheduled to enter service across the cruise industry.

Stay with Cruising Passion for the latest cruise news, shipbuilding updates and developments shaping the future of ocean travel.