The new shipping company in Geneva has big plans. With the first of six planned ships, Explora Journeys wants to “redefine the concept of luxury on board,” according to the advertising brochure for a discerning target group: for passengers who are willing to spend at least 650 euros per night and person for a cruise.
In the words of Michael Ungerer, the Chief Executive Officer, the “Explora I” stands for “Swiss precision and European craftsmanship”, as he said on the ship’s first visit to the Port of Hamburg. The ex-Aida president, who made cruising popular in Germany at the end of the 1990s and developed it into a mass business, now wants to use his new premium product to lure the wealthy clientele from the luxury hotel industry on board.
Founded in 2021, Explora Journeys is part of the MSC Group, which not only owns the 22 cruise ships of MSC Cruises, but also the world’s largest and, in recent years, highly profitable container shipping company, the Mediterranean Shipping Company. All companies that are not listed on the stock exchange but are owned by the Aponte family.
A Rolex boutique always travels with you
At first glance, the “Explora I”, delivered by the Italian shipyard at the end of July, looks like an oversized yacht with its dark blue hull and swan-white superstructure. Light colours, wood and leather as well as chrome and lots of marble dominate the interior. Glitter effects such as steps set with Swarovski crystals were deliberately avoided.
There are many places to retreat to in the public areas. Some rooms smell fresh like a new car and look more like a three-dimensional rendering without any patina.
The on-board boutiques are open on days at sea. These include the floating branches of brands such as Cartier, Piaget, Panerai and – a first for a cruise ship – the watch manufacturer Rolex. Fun fact on the side: On the trip to Hamburg, all available watch models were already sold out.
Great emphasis is placed on the topic of sustainability in speeches and on the Explora website. Heavy fuel oil containing sulfur is no longer used. The machines run on marine diesel and SCR catalytic converters reduce nitrogen oxide emissions. The installation of tanks for liquefied natural gas is not planned until the “Explora III” is commissioned in 2025.
Shore power connection is not used
Many shore excursions, known as “Destination Experiences” in ship language, do not fit the concept. For example, guests in Nuuk on Greenland and several Caribbean islands such as Saint Lucia or in the Dominican Republic can book sightseeing flights with a helicopter.
The ship is said to be equipped with a connection for shore power. In practice, however, the more environmentally friendly technology was not used in Hamburg. Since 2016, the Cruise Center Altona quay has been one of the first European ports to be equipped with an electrical connection for cruise ships. But the cable strands hung in the air without a connection. “That wasn’t possible at the first attempt,” said Michael Ungerer in an interview with the star.