Explora VI is the sixth luxury ocean cruise ship planned for Explora Journeys, the luxury travel brand of the MSC Group. Construction officially began with the first steel cutting at Fincantieri's Sestri Ponente shipyard on 9 March 2026. The vessel is scheduled to enter service in August 2028, completing Explora Journeys' planned six-ship fleet.
Explora Journeys' current ship page identifies 457 ocean-front suites, five heated pools, seven restaurants and 12 bars and lounges, with a published guest-to-host ratio of 1.25:1. Because the ship remains at an early construction stage, Deck7 does not populate unconfirmed dimensions, gross tonnage, passenger capacity, crew capacity or final deck count from secondary estimates where current primary documentation has not yet established them.
LNG and fuel-cell technology
Fincantieri explicitly confirms that Explora VI will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). The ship will additionally feature fuel cells designed to generate energy more efficiently by converting LNG into hydrogen. Fincantieri says the technology also supports the use of LNG from renewable sources.
Explora VI therefore represents another technological step beyond the conventionally fuelled Explora I and Explora II and the LNG-powered ships that follow them in the series.
Shore power
Fincantieri confirms that all Explora Journeys vessels currently under construction are equipped with a cold-ironing system, enabling connection to shoreside electrical power while in port so that onboard engines can be switched off. Deck7 therefore records shore-power status as Yes, although no commissioning year is assigned until the vessel is delivered.
Inaugural season
Explora Journeys says Explora VI will debut in August 2028. Her maiden journey is planned from Rome to Barcelona, followed by Mediterranean itineraries through November 2028 including Sicily, Sardinia, the French Riviera and later the Adriatic, with calls including Trogir, Dubrovnik and the Bay of Kotor.
Identification
Final registry information and dynamic identifiers are deliberately left blank in this pre-delivery Deck7 record pending authoritative confirmation closer to delivery. The record should be revisited as Fincantieri, Explora Journeys and classification or registry sources publish the completed vessel's technical particulars.