MSC Cruises announces two new orders for world-class ships during a double celebration with Chantiers de l'Atlantique

MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l'Atlantique announced the signing of two new orders for World Class ships, the seventh and eighth in the series, with deliveries scheduled for 2030 and 2031. The announcement was made during a double celebration at the Saint-Nazaire shipyard (France), which included the launch of the MSC World Asia and the minting ceremony for the MSC World Atlantic.

With a combined value of €3.5 billion, the new orders bring MSC Cruises' total committed investment in the four ships ordered this year in France to almost €7 billion, and the company's total direct investment in the country to €10.5 billion. This industrial plan reaffirms the group's confidence in the future of maritime tourism and its commitment to European shipbuilding.

“Today is a day of great pride for MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l'Atlantique, as we celebrate milestones that reflect our vision for the future,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of the MSC Group Cruises Division. “The World Class platform symbolizes our commitment to setting new standards for energy efficiency and sustainability. We remain committed to LNG and to preparing for the renewable fuels of the future.”

For his part, Laurent Castaing, Director General of Chantiers de l'Atlantique, said:

“We are deeply grateful for the trust placed in us by MSC Cruises. The World Class series, which now comprises eight ships, is a testament to the talent of our teams and a collaboration that drives both innovation and environmental performance.”

A legacy of collaboration and innovation

Construction of the World Class 7 and 8 ships will begin in 2029. These new vessels will join a line that redefines the concept of cruising through visionary design, advanced sustainability, and personalized onboard experiences.

Each World Class ship is designed as a destination in itself: distinct zones for every type of traveler, contemporary design, and technology that combines energy efficiency and comfort. Currently, the series includes the MSC World Europe (2022), MSC World America (2025), MSC World Asia (2026), and MSC World Atlantic (2027), along with the four remaining ships that will be added before 2031.

Double hito in Saint-Nazaire

The event included two highly significant maritime ceremonies:

Launch of the MSC World Asia:
The ship touched the water for the first time, marking the beginning of a new phase of construction. Its delivery is scheduled for November 2026, after which it will operate seven-night itineraries in the Western Mediterranean with stops in Barcelona, ​​Marseille, Genoa, Civitavecchia (Rome), Messina, and Valletta.

MSC World Atlantic Coin Laying Ceremony
In a symbolic act of good fortune, commemorative coins were laid aboard the new ship, which will enter service in 2027 from Port Canaveral (USA), with itineraries through the Caribbean Sea during the winter of 2027–2028.

The godmothers of the ceremony were Lynn Torrent, president of MSC Cruises North America, and Agnès Sahores, Smart Yard Improvement Manager at Chantiers de l'Atlantique, both with outstanding careers in the maritime sector.

A vision for the future

The addition of these new ships underlines MSC Cruises' strategy of combining sustainable growth, technological innovation and operational excellence, ensuring that each vessel contributes to reducing the environmental impact of shipping and enhancing the traveler's onboard experience.