MSC Cruises has placed an order worth $4 billion for two new World Class cruise ships to be built at France’s Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard, marking another major step in the company’s long-term expansion.
The contracts, signed during milestone ceremonies in Saint-Nazaire, coincide with two other key moments in MSC’s World Class program: the float-out of MSC World Asia and the coin ceremony for MSC World Atlantic.
The newly ordered ships, designated World Class 7 and World Class 8, are scheduled for delivery in 2030 and 2031. With this deal, MSC’s total investment in its World Class fleet now exceeds $12 billion.
The new vessels will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and designed for compatibility with future green fuels. Once completed, MSC World Asia will debut in the Mediterranean in December 2026, followed by MSC World Atlantic, which will sail Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral beginning in 2027.
The World Class series began with MSC World Europa in 2022 and continues with MSC World America, launched earlier this year. Construction on the two newly ordered ships is expected to begin in 2029.
