Explora Journeys has announced a delay in the delivery of Explora II to allocate additional time for final adjustments to the vessel.
The Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and the future shipowner MSC Cruises has confirmed the delay and that the vessel will now be delivered on September 12th, 2024. Consequently, the maiden voyage is rescheduled to September 16th, out of Civitavecchia-Rome. The 7-night itinerary visits Italy's Sorrento and Lipari, Sicily's Trapani and Siracusa, Malta's Valletta, and Spain's Tarragona.
Explora Journeys is proactively reaching out to guests with bookings on the affected voyages, either directly or through their travel agents, to offer alternative cruise options on Explora II or her sistership, Explora I, which is also operating in the Mediterranean.
Explora 2 is deployed in the Western Mediterranean, calling at destinations such as Portofino, Porto Cervo, Saint-Tropez, Calvi, Mahon, and Monte Carlo. The itineraries feature multiple overnight and extended port stays.
In 2023, Explora I's maiden voyage was canceled due to issues with materials used on the vessel.
Earlier in 2024, the company's CEO Michael Ungerer stepped down for personal reasons after ~5 years of leadership, during which he established the brand and oversaw the launch of Explora I. Additionally, the company recently bolstered its sales team for the UK & Ireland by appointing Koral Lipton, formerly a business development manager at APT Travel Group.