MSC Explora 1 accidents and incidents

July 2023Structural and Technical Issues

On July 6, 2023, Michael Ungerer (MSC Explora Journeys' CEO) emailed travel agents about the cancellation of EXPLORA I's maiden voyage (scheduled for July 17th, 2023) and rescheduling the ship's/and the brand's inauguration to August 1st.

Michael Ungerer said that Explora Journeys, together with the shipbuilder Fincantieri, decided to delay EXPLORA I's delivery. While the ship was fully ready, Fincantieri identified a "critical issue that must receive immediate attention".

The Helsinki Finland-based company Group Oy (subsidiary of Owens Corning/1938-founded American company that specializes in the development and production of insulated building materials, ranked the world's largest manufacturer of fiberglass composites) was contracted as a third-party supplier of the fire-resistant insulation panels for the cruise ship.

In late May, Paroc notified Fincantieri that it lost its safety certification for one type of its insulation panels (used to equip EXPLORA I) as these materials don't meet the European Union's requirements. Then the panels were recalled by the third-party supplier (Paroc's local distributor) prompting the delay of the ship’s delivery/inauguration.

The delivery (planned for July 6th, 2023) was delayed by 2 weeks to allow all the necessary works (at the Monfalcone yard) to be carried out. EXPLORA I's delivery was rescheduled for July 24th, resulting in the cancellation of the July 17th voyage and rescheduling of the inaugural cruise (out of Copenhagen, Denmark) for August 1st.

A total of 6x voyages were canceled in July - 5-day Southampton to Trondheim (July 17th), 12-day Southampton to Bergen (July 17th), 15-day Southampton to Copenhagen (July 17th), 38-day Northern Europe Grand Journey (July 17th), 10-day Trondheim to Copenhagen (July 22nd), and 3-day from Bergen to Copenhagen (July 29th).

October 2022Structural and Technical Issues

In October 2022, the Explora Journeys brand's inauguration and the ship's Maiden Voyage in 2023 were rescheduled from May 31st to July 17th.

Citing delayed delivery (due to supply chain issues affecting the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone), MSC canceled 12x voyages (including 10x Mediterranean) planned for 2023.

1. (May 31) 25-day "Inaugural Grand Journey into History Cruise" roundtrip from Barcelona visiting Saint-Tropez, Calvi Corsica, Civitavecchia-Rome, Kefalonia Island, Istanbul, Piraeus-Athens, Patmos Island, Bodrum, Kastellorizo Island, Santorini Island, Piraeus-Athens, Mykonos Island, Gozo Island Malta, Ibiza Island. Prices started from US$16550 pp with double occupancy.
2. (May 31) 17-day segment from Barcelona to Piraeus-Athens ($12300 pp)
3. (May 31) 11-day segment from Barcelona to Piraeus-Athens ($8400 pp)
4. (Jun 11) 14-day segment from Piraeus-Athens to Barcelona ($9500 pp)
5. (Jun 11) 6-day segment roundtrip from Piraeus-Athens ($4600)
6. (June 17) 14-day from Piraeus-Athens to Lisbon ($9400) visiting Mykonos, Gozo Malta, Ibiza, Barcelona, Malaga, Cadiz-Sevilla, Portimao
7. (June 17) 8-day segment from Piraeus-Athens to Barcelona ($5450) 
8. (June 25) 16-day from Barcelona to Southampton ($8600) visiting Malaga, Cadiz, Portimao, Lisbon, Porto-Leixoes, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Bordeaux, Saint-Malo, Honfleur
9. (June 25) 6-day segment from Barcelona to Lisbon ($4500)
10. (July 2) 9-day segment from Lisbon to Southampton ($5100)
11. (July 11) 12-day from Southampton to Tromso ($8700)
12. (July 11) 21-day from Southampton to Copenhagen($14500)

All affected bookings (made directly with MSC or through travel agents) were fully refunded and additionally received a 100% in FCC/future cruise credit.