MSC Cruises Expands Fleet with Two New World Class Ships
by Marsha Mowers
MSC Cruises signed two new orders for their globally successful World Class ships with French ship builder Chantiers de l’Atlantique which will expand the fleet to six.
The two new ordered vessels – currently referred to as World Class 5 and 6 – will be delivered in 2029 and 2030 respectively. They will join MSC World Europa and MSC World America along with MSC World Asia and MSC World Atlantic, which are currently under construction and will enter service in 2026 and 2027 respectively.
“The confirmation of the orders for the two new World Class ships marks a new milestone in our remarkable journey of shipbuilding in France and the continuation of our long-term industrial plan, said “Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, MSC Cruises.
“This milestone underscores our commitment to building some of the highest performing ships in the world, creating a legacy of excellence and innovation in collaboration with the Chantiers de l’Atlantique – our long-term partners of more than 20 years. The highly successful World Class platform combines the very best in environmental technology with the latest advancements in guest experiences.”
“We thank MSC Cruises for their continued trust,” said Laurent Castaing, General Manager, Chantiers de l’Atlantique. “It is the synergy of our two companies’ expertise that has led to the creation of this high-potential World Class series, meeting the challenges both in terms of passenger experience and environmental performance. World Class V and VI mark a milestone in the history of the cruise industry, with the best energy efficiency.”
MSC Cruises’ first LNG ship, MSC World Europa was launched in November 2022 and the latest ship in this class, MSC World America entered service in April 2025 and is operating in the North American cruise market.
MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l’Atlantique are actively involved in several projects to develop and make these technologies viable in partnership with regulators, academia, and industry.
All World Class ships feature dual engines and as bio and synthetic fuels become available at scale, emissions from MSC Cruises’ World Class vessels will be further reduced.
