Explora Journeys has appointed renowned marine educator and conservation advocate Cristina Ozores as the godmother of EXPLORA III, the luxury cruise line’s first LNG-powered vessel, ahead of its official naming ceremony in Barcelona on 1 August 2026.
The announcement, made to coincide with World Ocean Day, highlights the brand’s growing focus on ocean stewardship and sustainability as it prepares to welcome the third ship in its expanding fleet.
Ocean conservation advocate chosen for naming role
Ozores is a marine educator, dive trainer and National Geographic Educator who has spent decades promoting ocean literacy and marine conservation.
She is also co-founder of Vellmarí, a marine education and conservation centre in Spain’s Balearic Islands, which has partnered with the MSC Foundation since 2024 on seagrass restoration and environmental education initiatives.
Explora Journeys President Anna Nash said Ozores was a natural choice for the ceremonial role.
“Her dedication to ocean education and preservation reflects values that are deeply important to our brand and to the Ocean State of Mind philosophy that guides us,” Nash said.
EXPLORA III to begin maiden season in August
As part of maritime tradition, the godmother is entrusted with officially blessing and naming the vessel, symbolically offering good fortune and safe passage for the ship, its crew and guests.
Following the naming ceremony in Barcelona, EXPLORA III will embark on its seven-night maiden voyage to Lisbon on 3 August 2026.
The inaugural season will include sailings through Northern Europe, Iceland and Greenland before crossing the Atlantic to New England and Canada’s east coast.
Fleet expansion continues
EXPLORA III will become the third vessel in the Explora Journeys fleet and the first powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), marking another step in the brand’s sustainability strategy.
The ship joins EXPLORA I, launched in 2023, and EXPLORA II, which entered service in 2024. Three additional vessels are scheduled to join the fleet between 2027 and 2028.
For the trade, the appointment reinforces Explora Journeys’ positioning around luxury ocean travel with a strong emphasis on environmental awareness, destination immersion and responsible tourism.
