Explora III Makes Maiden Southampton Call in Inaugural Season
The 72,810-gross-ton ship carries 922 guests in 463 suites, with added length used for larger public areas, expanded wellness space and a second Owner’s Residence.
Explora III made its maiden call at Southampton on Aug. 17, 2026, and Explora Journeys hosted 25 UK travel advisors aboard its newest ship. The visit came during the vessel’s inaugural Northern European season.
It was the second Explora Journeys ship to call at Southampton, following Explora I in August 2023. Explora III is the third vessel in a planned six-ship fleet.
UK trade outreach aboard Explora III
Anna Nash, president of Explora Journeys, and Antonio Paradiso, vice president and managing director for the UK and Ireland, welcomed the advisors.
“Explora III takes that vision further, giving our travel advisor partners an even stronger proposition for attracting new-to-ocean guests,” Paradiso said.
Captain Serena Melani also exchanged commemorative crests with port and city officials during a traditional ceremony. The travel advisors had lunch at Fil Rouge, one of seven dining destinations aboard the ship, before disembarking.
A longer ship, and the line’s first with LNG
The 72,810-gross-ton, 268-meter Explora III accommodates 922 guests in 463 suites. It is 19.2 meters longer than Explora I and Explora II, with the additional space used for larger public areas, expanded wellness facilities and a second Owner’s Residence while maintaining a similar passenger capacity.
Fincantieri delivered the ship at its Sestri Ponente yard in Genoa on July 23. Explora III was formally named in Barcelona on Aug. 1 by godmother Cristina Ozores, a marine educator and National Geographic Educator, before beginning its inaugural season on Aug. 3.
The vessel is Explora Journeys’ first with LNG capability. It is equipped to use bio-LNG and synthetic LNG as those fuels become available. The ship can plug into shore power and switch off its engines at ports with the necessary electrical infrastructure. It also holds Polar Code C certification for operations in polar regions.
Explora III was scheduled to leave Southampton on Aug. 18 for an eight-night voyage to Copenhagen, calling at Mandal, Sandnes, Olden, Bergen and Flam. Its inaugural deployment continues through Iceland, Greenland and North America, followed by the company’s first Alaska season in 2027.
Explora IV and Explora V are due to enter service in 2027, with Explora VI scheduled to complete the six-ship fleet in 2028.
