MSC CRUISES ANNOUNCES TWO NEW WORLD CLASS SHIP ORDERS DURING DOUBLE CELEBRATION WITH CHANTIERS DE L’ATLANTIQUE

• Two new orders for World Class ships worth €3.5 billion confirmed today brings the value of current orders this year with Chantiers de l’Atlantique to nearly €7 billion
• Announcement made during double celebration with shipbuilder Chantiers de L’Atlantique, currently constructing two other World Class ships
• Ceremony marked the float out of MSC World Asia and coin ceremony of MSC World Atlantic

Geneva, Switzerland – November 12, 2025 – MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l’Atlantique announced a major extension today of their long-standing relationship with orders for two additional World Class ships—numbers 7 and 8—due to be delivered in 2030 and 2031.

The announcement was made at a double celebration event to mark important maritime milestones for two other World Class ships currently under construction at Chantiers de l’Atlantique’s shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France—the float out of MSC World Asia and coin ceremony of MSC World Atlantic.

Valued at €3.5 billion, the orders announced today raise MSC Cruises’ total investment in France this year to nearly €7 billion for the construction of the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth World Class ships. Together with the World Class vessels already under construction, this brings the company’s total direct investment currently committed in France to €10.5 billion. This major industrial plan reflects the shipowner’s confidence in the future of cruise tourism and its ongoing commitment to shipbuilding excellence in France and across Europe.

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, Cruise Division, MSC Group, said: “We mark a proud moment today for MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l’Atlantique as we celebrate important milestones for our future - the float out of MSC World Asia, the coin ceremony of MSC World Atlantic and the order of two new ships. The World Class platform is a symbol of our vision to set new standards for the future of cruising. These are some of the most energy efficient ships in the world and we continue our commitment to LNG, ensuring we are ready for future renewable fuels. We look forward to continuing with our innovative and successful collaboration with Chantiers de L’Atlantique – our long-term partner for more than 20 years.”

Laurent Castaing, General Manager, Chantiers de l’Atlantique, said: “We are deeply grateful to MSC Cruises for their renewed confidence. What our shipyard is achieving today is truly exceptional — four new ships ordered in 2025! The World Class series, now totaling eight vessels, is a testament to our teams’ expertise and to MSC’s vision. It exemplifies our shared commitment to elevating the passenger experience while advancing environmental performance.”

Construction of World Class 7 and 8 will begin in 2029, joining a legacy of ships delivered by Chantiers de L’Atlantique as part of its longstanding partnership with MSC Cruises.

MSC Cruises’ World Class redefines the art of cruising, delivering an extraordinary guest experience shaped by visionary design and boundless imagination. Each ship is a destination in its own right—where innovation meets elegance, and every detail is crafted to elevate every moment on board.

With distinct districts designed to suit every mood and moment, guests are able discover, connect and unwind in ways that feel uniquely personal. Every new addition to the World Class fleet brings something bold and original. This spirit of constant evolution is demonstrated in MSC World Asia, MSC World Atlantic, and the remarkable ships yet to come—each one a new chapter in a journey to deliver the most memorable experiences at sea.

MSC Cruises’ World Class consists of MSC World Europa (2022), MSC World America (2025), MSC World Asia (2026), and MSC World Atlantic (2027), with the yet-to-be-named World Class 5, 6, 7 and 8 ships to follow by 2031.  

The two new orders will be subject to access to financing, as per industry practice.

MSC World Asia float out

The float out today is a major milestone in ship building process as it is the first time a new vessel touches water and sees the ship enter the next phase of construction. MSC World Asia will be delivered in November 2026, with Mediterranean sailings following from December onward. The ship will offer seven-night sailings to the most popular destinations in the Western Mediterranean—Barcelona (Spain); Marseille (France); Genoa, Civitavecchia for Rome, and Messina (Italy); and Valletta (Malta).

MSC World Atlantic coin ceremony

A traditional coin ceremony for MSC World Atlantic also took place today, during which the vessel’s godmothers from both the cruise line and the shipyard placed commemorative coins inside the ship as a sign of blessing during construction and to bring good fortune to the vessel. MSC World Atlantic will enter service in 2027 and will offer Caribbean sailings from Port Canaveral starting with the winter 2027-28 season.

MSC Cruises’ godmother was Lynn Torrent, President of MSC Cruises North America. Torrent oversees all commercial and operational functions across the region. A seasoned cruise industry executive, she is instrumental in advancing MSC Cruises’ strategic growth across the North American market.

Torrent said: “It was a true honor to fulfill such a pivotal role in the journey of bringing MSC World Atlantic to life. This ship will build on everything our guests and travel partners love about MSC World America, which has been sailing from Miami since April. We are already planning new spaces and experiences on board that are designed to elevate our blend of European style and American comfort, and we can’t wait to reveal them.”

From Chantiers de L’Atlantique, the Godmother was Agnès Sahores, Smart Yard Improvement Manager, who has been working at the shipyard for 25 years. She oversees implementing the company’s improvement plan, which focuses on industrial performance, innovation, environmental efficiency, and collective success.

# # #

Notes to Editors

All World Class ships feature dual-fuel liquefied natural gas (LNG) engines and, as bio and synthetic fuels become available at scale, these fuels will be utilized as part of the company’s commitment to reaching net-zero emissions for its maritime operations by 2050.

LNG is key to the development of low carbon solutions for shipping as emerging technologies such as fuel cells can be operated with LNG until zero emissions bio and synthetic LNG become available at scale.

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.

About MSC Cruises

Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the privately-owned MSC Cruises is the world’s third largest cruise line and the market leader in Europe with a strong and growing presence in North America. 

A global cruise brand with 23 modern ships offering cruises across five continents, guests can visit more than 100 countries worldwide with more than 300 destinations, making unforgettable memories and enjoying the finest hospitality.  

For more information visit MSC Cruises. 

About Chantiers de L’Atlantique

Thanks to the expertise of its teams and its network of subcontractors, combined with top industrial technology, Chantiers de l’Atlantique is a key leader in the design, integration, testing and precise delivery of cruise ships, naval vessels, electrical substations for offshore wind farms and fleet services.

The company is a pioneer in the challenges of tomorrow. Thanks to its research and development, Chantiers de l’Atlantique offers ships with the highest environmental performance, as well as equipment for offshore wind farms, making it a major player in global energy transition.

For more information, click here.