EXPLORA II Naming Ceremony sees MSC Foundation further expand its horizons 

Unveiling a new MSC Foundation Area on board, we’re set to reach and engage with more guests than ever through captivating awareness-raising and education activities

On 15 September, the MSC Foundation took centre stage at the naming ceremony of the new luxury cruise ship EXPLORA II in Civitavecchia, Italy. MSC Foundation’s Executive Director, Daniela Picco, and long-time partner Rosalba Giugni, President and founder of Marevivo as well as the ship’s godmother, spoke compellingly of their mission to raise ocean conservation awareness together.

Rosalba Giugni has dedicated over 35 years to marine conservation, leading numerous environmental campaigns and successfully advocating for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea. Rosalba's leadership and passion for environmental education align seamlessly with those of the MSC Group and MSC Foundation, being firmly rooted in a vision shared with their founder, Captain Aponte. So Marevivo’s partnership with the MSC Group has flourished over the past nine years, with the MSC Foundation providing continuous support since 2019. 

Introducing a New MSC Foundation Area

We’re extending our reach with a beautifully equipped MSC Foundation Area on the new EXPLORA II, which has been purpose-designed to showcase our work, programmes and partners. Fostering personal relationships with our guests, a fully-trained host will be on hand to provide them with insights into the Foundation’s work, including our commitment to education, youth engagement and global collaboration. The area will serve as a hub for raising awareness of our mission and connecting with passengers who share a strong interest in these issues, inspiring collective action for meaningful change and encouraging contributions to support our cause.

The ‘Marine Encounters’ Exhibition: art with a cause

Positioned next to the MSC Foundation Area, EXPLORA II also features Marine Encounters, a remarkable exhibition in the ‘Galleria d’Arte’ presenting a varied collection of exquisite marine photography by the renowned environmentalist Hussain Aga Khan. This visual tribute to the world’s oceans, gifted to the MSC Foundation by Hussain Aga Khan himself, is more than just a showcase of the ocean’s beauty – it’s a powerful reminder of the need to protect vital marine ecosystems.

This partnership between the MSC Foundation and Hussain Aga Khan’s environmental initiative Focused on Nature reflects a shared commitment to inform and inspire action to preserve marine life and biodiversity. Guests on Explora II will have the exclusive opportunity to purchase limited-edition signed photographs from the exhibition, with the proceeds from each sale going to fund a scholarship for one semester’s studies by a marine science student at the University of The Bahamas.

From the left: Alexa Aponte Vago, Pierfrancesco Vago, Rosalba Giugni, Hussain Aga Khan, Fareen Aga Khan, Capt. Serena Melani, Daniela Picco, Anna Nash.

Engaging with our younger generations: youth programmes and MSC Foundation Day

The MSC Foundation is equally focused on educating and empowering EXPLORA II’s younger guests, reaching out to them with specially designed youth programmes that promote ocean literacy through engaging interactive learning experiences. These edutainment activities are expertly crafted to help young people develop a deeper understanding of the ocean’s role in sustaining life on Earth and to foster a lifelong commitment to marine conservation.

Crowning these experiences, younger guests will all have the opportunity on each voyage to join in an MSC Foundation Day that celebrates their achievements in learning about the importance of protecting our shared environment. One of the featured activities, the ‘Ocean Messenger’ has been created in partnership with Mission Blue raise awareness among teenagers on key ocean-related topics, including the importance of the ocean, the threats it faces, marine biodiversity, species conservation, and Mission Blue’s efforts to protect vital marine ecosystems.