Luxury cruise ship EXPLORA III docks in Riga port

On Sunday, August 30, two cruise ships docked in the Port of Riga – the frequent visitor Clio, a smaller vessel, and the brand-new EXPLORA III, which entered service just over a month ago. Built at a shipyard in Genoa, Italy, the ship belongs to the six-star ultra-luxury segment and is considered the most luxurious and modern cruise ship ever to call at Riga.

EXPLORA III measures 268 meters in length and 32 meters in width. It brought 809 passengers to Riga from the United States, Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada and other countries, cared for by a crew of 689. The Riga stop is part of the ship's eight-night Northern European cruise, and this voyage marks only the fourth cruise the vessel has undertaken since entering service.

Ceremonial welcome

To mark the ship's first visit, the Freeport of Riga Authority arranged a musical greeting performed by the University of Latvia Wind Orchestra and the Cēsis Wind Orchestra. Following maritime tradition, a plaque exchange ceremony also took place between the ship's captain, Serena Melani, and port representatives. Melani, an Italian, made history in 2020 as the first woman in the world to captain a new cruise ship out of a shipyard, and previously served as the first captain of both EXPLORA I and EXPLORA II.

Luxury amenities

The ship has 13 decks, three outdoor pools, more than 60 private relaxation cabins, several jacuzzis, an extensive spa area and nine different dining options. EXPLORA III is also the first vessel in the Explora Journeys fleet to run on liquefied natural gas, a cleaner alternative to traditional marine fuel that reduces air pollution.

This season has brought a wave of luxury and expedition ship visits to Riga – in August alone, Scenic Eclipse II and Seven Seas Grandeur also called at the port for the first time. EXPLORA III will remain in Riga until 5:30 p.m., with its departure from the quay expected around 6:30 p.m.