Today MSC Cruises officially signed contracts for the construction of two new World Class cruise ships, set to be delivered in 2029 and 2030. The agreement with French shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique will increase the total number of World Class vessels in the MSC Cruises fleet to six, reinforcing the cruise line’s long-term commitment to European shipbuilding and innovation.
The two new vessels temporarily designated as World Class 5 and World Class 6, represent a continued evolution of MSC Cruises' largest and most technologically advanced ships. These new builds will join MSC World Europa and MSC World America, as well as MSC World Asia and MSC World Atlantic, which are currently under construction and set to debut in 2026 and 2027 respectively.
“This marks a new milestone in our remarkable journey of shipbuilding in France,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises. “It underscores our commitment to building some of the highest-performing ships in the world, in partnership with Chantiers de l’Atlantique—our trusted partners for over 20 years.”
Laurent Castaing, General Manager of Chantiers de l’Atlantique, echoed the sentiment, adding, “It is the synergy of our two companies’ expertise that has led to the creation of this high-potential World Class series. World Class V and VI will mark a milestone in the history of the cruise industry, with the best energy efficiency.”
The World Class ships are already considered some of the most energy-efficient vessels operating today, significantly surpassing the IMO’s Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI). The upcoming additions will continue this trend, incorporating next-generation dual-fuel engines designed to reduce methane slip and accommodate a range of alternative fuels including bio and synthetic LNG.
Additional features will include:
- Shore power plug-in connectivity to reduce carbon emissions in port
- State-of-the-art wastewater treatment systems meeting IMO standards
- Advanced waste management technologies
- Comprehensive energy optimization systems for both propulsion and hotel operations
