The cruise industry’s confidence in long-term growth continued on 11 November, as MSC Cruises announced the signing of $4 billion in contracts with Chantiers de l’Atlantique for the construction of two additional ships in the World Class series. The investment extends MSC’s fleet expansion program well into the next decade.
The announcement was made during ceremonies held in Saint-Nazaire to mark key milestones for two other World Class vessels. The shipyard launched the newly built MSC World Asia and held the coin ceremony for MSC World Atlantic.
🚢 New Orders: World Class 7 and 8
The two newly ordered ships, designated World Class 7 and World Class 8, are scheduled for delivery in 2030 and 2031. With this latest commitment, MSC’s investment in the World Class series has reached $12 billion, covering eight vessels currently in various stages of planning and construction.
Laurent Castaing, CEO of Chantiers de l’Atlantique, commented:
“We are grateful for MSC Cruises’ continued trust. Our shipyard has achieved something remarkable — four new vessels ordered in 2025 alone. The expanded World Class series, now consisting of eight ships, highlights the professionalism of our teams and MSC’s strategic vision.”
⚡ Energy Efficiency and Transition to Cleaner Fuels
Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises, emphasized that these investments reflect strong confidence in the future of the cruise industry. He highlighted:
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the enhanced energy efficiency of the ships,
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the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a bridge toward future clean-fuel technologies.
Each World Class ship is designed with multiple themed zones, offering passengers diverse onboard experiences and atmospheres.
🌍 Deployment Plans for Upcoming Vessels
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MSC World Asia will enter service in the Mediterranean in December 2026, operating weekly itineraries that include
Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Civitavecchia, Messina and Valletta.
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MSC World Atlantic is scheduled for delivery in 2027 and will sail Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral starting in the 2027/28 winter season.
🏗 Timeline of the World Class Series
The World Class program began with MSC World Europa, delivered in 2022.
MSC World America entered service in 2024.
Four additional — yet unnamed — ships are planned between 2028 and 2031, with construction on the two newly ordered vessels to begin in 2029.
