The luxury vessel Explora III, the third ship in the Explora Journeys fleet and the first to be LNG-powered, began operations in Canada and New England, will reposition to Miami on October 25 for its Caribbean season, and will debut in Alaska in 2027.
The Explora III, the newest ship in the Explora Journeys fleet, arrived in North America in late September 2026, after entering service earlier this year and sailing the Mediterranean and northern Europe before crossing the Atlantic. The ship is currently operating itineraries in Canada and New England and will reposition to PortMiami on October 25 to begin a winter season in the Caribbean running through early April 2027, with cruises departing from Florida, Puerto Rico and Barbados. Following that season, the 922-passenger vessel will head to the West Coast for its first Alaska program, with departures from Vancouver and Seward between May and September 2027.
On its first voyage through the region, the 72,810 GT Explora III offered an 11-night itinerary between Reykjavik and Quebec City, with calls at Corner Brook, Saguenay, Havre Saint Pierre and Newport, as well as visits to Halifax, Charlottetown and Portland. The cruise line also incorporated that leg into a combined 30-night voyage between Hamburg and New York, which includes 20 destinations in countries such as Germany, the United States, Ireland, England, Iceland and Canada.
During this voyage, the ship made its inaugural call at Port Charlottetown, on Canada's Prince Edward Island, where port officials thanked the line for including the call in this season's lineup and expressed hope of welcoming the ship again in future seasons. Days later, on October 8, the Explora III made its first call in New York, an occasion marked by a traditional plaque exchange ceremony between the ship's crew and port representatives.
The Explora III, delivered by the Fincantieri shipyard in July 2026, is the third ship in the fleet of Explora Journeys, the luxury brand owned by MSC, and the first to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), featuring a design that offers greater spaciousness and amenities aimed at enhancing the passenger experience.
According to Explora Journeys, the new ship marks the midpoint toward its goal of having six ships by 2028: following EXPLORA I, which entered service in 2023, and EXPLORA II, in 2024, the brand will add Explora IV in April 2027 and Explora V and VI between 2027 and 2028. Chris Austin, President of Explora Journeys for North America, said the Explora III represents the next evolution of the brand and marks an important milestone in its growth.