
by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 10:10 AM ET, Mon June 8, 2026
Explora Journeys has selected Cristina Ozores to be the godmother of its newest ship, EXPLORA III.
Azores is a marine educator and dive trainer with a lifelong passion for ocean education and marine conservation. She’s also the co-founder of Vellmarí, a marine education and conservation center in the Balearic Islands that’s been an MSC Foundation partner since 2024.
“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,” says Anna Nash, president of Explora Journeys. “Cristina’s inspiring work and lifelong connection to the ocean make her a natural choice for this role.”
Ozores will officially bless and name EXPLORA III, the first LNG-powered ship in the Explora Journeys fleet, in Barcelona on August 1 ahead of the ship’s official maiden journey departing two days later.
After the naming ceremony, EXPLORA III will sail to Lisbon on a seven-night voyage. During her inaugural season, the ship will visit Northern Europe, Iceland and Greenland before crossing the Atlantic to explore New England and Canada’s East Coast.
“I have spent much of my life working below the surface—studying marine biology, restoring seabeds and helping younger generations better understand fragile ocean habitats,” says Ozores. “To see that work symbolically connected to a ship that will travel the world feels incredibly meaningful. My hope is that EXPLORA III becomes a space where people can discover the ocean in a deeper and more meaningful way, reconnecting with the beauty beneath the surface.”
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