Explora Journeys has announced the launch of Explora III, the latest vessel to debut in the company's planned fleet of six ships. Olivia Palamountain reports

The new Explora III will accommodate guests across 463 Ocean Suites, Penthouses and Residences, with an emphasis on spacious design featuring 18.7 sqm of public space per guest - among the highest ratios in the cruise industry.

The vessel's layout includes an increased number of premium accommodations, with Ocean Penthouses now comprising 24% of suites and Ocean Residences representing 9% of inventory.

"With Explora III, we are thrilled to reach the halfway point in the launch of our fleet of six luxury ships, each designed to redefine the standards of ocean travel," says Anna Nash, president of Explora Journeys. "This milestone represents more than just growth; it underscores our dedication to offering guests unparalleled access to some of the world's most breathtaking destinations."

The ship's inaugural season will begin with Western European journeys, including a visit to Bordeaux, before departing Southampton on August 17, 2026 for Northern Europe.

The itinerary encompasses ports in the Netherlands, Norway, Estonia, Sweden, and Germany, followed by explorations of Iceland and Greenland, including lesser-known destinations such as Rønne in Denmark and Seyðisfjörður in Iceland.

Explora III will then cross to North America, arriving in Quebec City on September 27, 2026, before travelling along the East Coast, reaching Miami on October 25 for its Caribbean winter season.

The vessel introduces enhanced wellness facilities, including an expanded Ocean Wellness and Fitness area featuring Technogym equipment and an outdoor training space on Deck 14. The expanded Sports Court now offers Pickleball, Padel and Basketball.

Family amenities have been upgraded with the Nautilus Club offering dedicated spaces for children and teenagers, including supervised care services for those under three years old.

Dining options maintain the line's established venues such as Anthology, Sakura and Fil Rouge, while the ship also features new culinary concepts offering both casual and fine dining in a variety of venues. For corporate clients, meeting rooms on Deck 11 can be configured into three separate spaces for business events.

Notably, Explora III is the company's first LNG-powered vessel, reflecting its commitment to environmental sustainability. These ships usually have a turbine-powered propulsion system that uses boil-off-gas (BOG) from LNG, boiled liquid fuels like oil, or a combination of both.

The ship has been designed with shore power capabilities and advanced energy efficiency features, with LNG serving as a transitional fuel towards bio-LNG and synthetic LNG options that could reduce well-to-wake greenhouse gas emissions by more than 80%.

The accommodation configuration includes 313 Ocean Suites, 109 Ocean Penthouses, 39 Ocean Residences, and 2 Owner's Residences, maintaining the brand's focus on luxury while slightly increasing capacity compared to its predecessors, Explora I and II.