Explora Journeys, the new luxury brand of the MSC Group, has chosen Valencia as its port of embarkation and call, and the Explora I arrived in the city this Tuesday on its first Mediterranean voyage this summer. A visit that, for the regional government, “opens new expectations for tourism.”
The regional secretary of tourism, Cristina Moreno, attended the inaugural stopover of this new shipping line at the Valencia cruise terminal at the Muelle de Poniente, where she visited this premium Explora Journeys ship alongside the general manager of Explora Journeys in Spain and director of MSC, Fernando Pacheco, and the president of the Port Authority of Valencia, Mar Chao, according to the Generalitat and the shipping company.
At the opening ceremony, Cristina Moreno stated that the Generalitat (Catalan Government) hopes the ship will make regular stops in the city of Valencia, which is also the European Green Capital this year. “We are working towards sustainable tourism, one that integrates with the daily lives of the city and its residents,” she stated, and therefore advocated for all the administrations and sectors involved to work together “along the same lines of sustainability to achieve controlled growth.”
In this regard, she emphasized the importance of the tourism sector for the Valencian Community, as, she noted, “it contributes 16% to the GDP” and also “contributes to the local development of all our towns.” Therefore, she reiterated the support of Turisme Comunitat Valenciana (Tourism of the Valencian Community) for the sector.
For his part, Pacheco emphasized that, “with the arrival of Explora I and Explora II to the coast of Valencia, the company is committed to a more premium offering that will impress travelers.” “Furthermore, we will actively collaborate with port authorities and suppliers in each area to offer the best to national and international travelers,” he stated.
MSC emphasized that, by choosing Valencia as a port of embarkation and stopover, “the company is contributing to the city’s local business, both through its travelers’ hospitality consumption and through the use of services, allowing them to discover the unique corners the region has to offer.”
In the city, Explora Journeys will offer various options for travelers to discover the culture, gastronomy, nature, and beaches of the Valencian Community. A visit to Tavernes Blanques, home to the famous Lladró factory, is offered, where travelers can learn about the brand’s origins; visits to the City of Arts and Sciences, the Central Market, the Silk Exchange, and the Museu Faller de València, along with a tour.
Another option is a “visit to a family orange farm and tasting of its products” near Carcaixent, where travelers can learn “the secrets of orange production.”
Tourists who have visited Valencia will continue a journey that will extend until June 19, giving Explora Journeys guests the opportunity to continue enjoying the luxuries of Explora I before disembarking in Barcelona.
During its 17 stops in Spain, Explora I will visit ten different Spanish ports, including Barcelona, Santa Cruz de la Palma, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Arrecife (Lanzarote), Valencia, Malaga, Cartagena (Murcia), Cadiz, Alicante, and Motril (Granada).
In addition to the stopover in Valencia that Explora II will make on November 3rd, EXPLORA II, which will begin sailing this summer from Barcelona, will visit ten Spanish ports during its inaugural season, including Barcelona, Tarragona, Ibiza, Mahón (Menorca), Malaga, Cadiz, Puerto Banús (Marbella), Motril (Granada), and Palma de Mallorca, making a total of 25 stops in Spanish territory this year.