Explora Journeys, the new luxury cruise brand of the MSC Group, has launched an online travel agent portal to “further cement its links” with the trade.

Agents will have access to an online booking tool to search and book journeys; a knowledge suite, complete with the latest brand information and tools; digital and print marketing assets; a reporting dashboard to track sales and commissions, and news and updates.

Explora Journeys chief executive officer Michael Ungerer said: “Our new travel advisor centre is another important step forward in our vision and purpose, based on the extensive research we completed to create an ocean experience like no other.

“We have created what I believe is a seamless, best in class digital experience for travel advisors to underscore our mantra of just how easy it is to do business with Explora Journeys.

“Given our belief in this brand to create a new category in luxury, lifestyle travel, we will continue to invest in its expansion to create what we refer to as an ocean state of mind for all our guests.”

Chief sales officer Chris Austin added: “We are proud to announce this next step in the brand’s journey and this is another example of Explora Journeys putting the travel advisor community first.

“A year in the making, we are proud to launch our platform and we will continue to engage travel advisors for input as we add valuable resources to make doing business with Explora Journeys joyful.”

Explora Journeys has four ships on order, with the first, Explora I, set to sail in 2023.

In October 2021, the line held the steel cutting ceremony for its second ship, Explora II, which will join the fleet in spring 2024.

It also recently announced six appointments in global and regional roles across Europe, the Americas and the UK and Ireland.