GENEVA, Switzerland (May 19, 2025) – MSC Cruises today signed an order with shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique for the construction of two new World Class ships. These two units will join the four already delivered or under construction, bringing the total for this class of ships to six.
The new orders, provisionally referred to as World Class 5 and World Class 6, are scheduled for delivery in 2029 and 2030, respectively. They will join MSC World Europa, which entered service in November 2022, and MSC World America, which began operations in April 2025 from Miami. Currently, two other ships in this class, MSC World Asia and MSC World Atlantic, are under construction at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, with deliveries scheduled for 2026 and 2027. MSC World Atlantic is planned to operate from Port Canaveral following its delivery.
World Class ships are designed with a focus on environmental technology and passenger experience. All feature dual-fuel engines and are prepared to use Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). According to the company, these engines will also allow the use of biofuels and synthetic fuels as they become available at scale, aiming to progressively reduce emissions. MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l’Atlantique are actively collaborating on various projects for the development and viability of these technologies.
The execution of these two new orders is subject to access to financing, a common practice in the cruise industry. The recently inaugurated MSC World America has introduced new onboard areas, such as Family Aventura, which includes the Cliffhanger attraction, and new dining concepts.
