MSC Cruises, Explora Journeys ‘on track’ to reach net-zero emissions by 2050

Swiss-headquartered MSC Group has published the 2025 sustainability report for its cruise division, made up of MSC Cruises and the smaller-ship, luxury cruise brand Explora Cruises.

The company said its efforts to improve its overall ’sustainability’, showed "clear and sustained progress on decarbonisation, destination stewardship, biodiversity and workforce initiatives as the two cruise line businesses continue to grow globally".

MSC bases its efforts on an internally developed plan it calls the ’Energy Transition Plan’. In its report, MSC said its MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys companies "remain on track to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for marine operations by 2050", which is consistent with the overall decarbonisation ambitions of shipping’s international regulator, the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

"In 2025, MSC Group’s Cruise Division achieved the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2030 carbon intensity reduction target five years ahead of schedule," MSC claimed.

MSC appears to be making most of its emissions reduction gains through the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a fuel for its vessels. LNG, a fossil fuel, still produces a significant proportion of the carbon dioxide emissions present in traditional liquid fuels in use in the maritime sector, but does notably better in curbing nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate emissions as compared to other fossil fuels. 

MSC Group brought its third dual-fuel LNG-burning cruise ship, MSC World America, into its fleet in 2025 and said that "all future newbuilds across MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys will feature this capability". 

Explora Journeys’ newest vessel, the LNG-powered Explora III, has just completed its sea trials, the cruise line said. 

"The third ship in our journey and the first powered by LNG, Explora III reflects the continued evolution of our approach to luxury ocean travel," the line said in a social media post.

The cruise ship is now headed back to Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard for its final outfitting and interior completion ahead of delivery.

The vessel will begin sailing for Explora Journeys, departing on 24 July 2026 for a repositioning inaugural cruise, followed by a christening in Barcelona on 1 August.