MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l'Atlantique mark two important milestones in the construction of the World Class ships: the float-out test of the MSC World America and the start of construction of a new vessel.
Construction work has officially begun on World 3, which will be delivered in 2026 with the steel-cutting ceremony and, as is tradition, MSC Cruises has already revealed the name of the new ship: MSC World Asia.
The name follows the format of the World Class ships, which pay homage to different continents, symbolizing the global nature of MSC Cruises. While details about where the ship will operate have not yet been revealed, MSC World Asia will feature distinctive design touches, experiences, and features inspired by this incredible continent.
Meanwhile, its sister ship, MSC World America, is preparing for another milestone with its float-out trial, which took place last Sunday, April 7, at the Saint-Nazaire shipyard in France. The state-of-the-art flagship is entering its final phase of construction and is preparing for its official inauguration on April 9, 2025, at MSC Cruises' new terminal in PortMiami.
The inauguration will feature an inaugural voyage to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. MSC Cruises' private island in The Bahamas is home to the MSC Foundation's 'Super Coral' program and has been designated a 'Hope Spot' by Mission Blue, the non-profit organization founded by renowned oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle in recognition of the island's conservation efforts.
Pierfrancesco Vago, CEO of MSC Cruises, commented: “MSC World America is another example of the incredible professional partnership between Chantiers de l'Atlantique and our company, with whom we have designed five distinct and innovative prototypes, the most recent being the revolutionary World Class platform.
“With each of our ships, we strive to improve and enrich not only the environmental technology, but also the new features that enhance the passenger experience.”
“By designing the vacation experience of the future, MSC World Asia continues this tradition, and with this important milestone of steel cutting, we are pleased to confirm that it will offer even more new and advanced features in terms of marine technologies and onboard hospitality, as well as passenger experiences, preparing us for the future.”
Laurent Castaing, CEO of Chantiers de l'Atlantique, commented: “We are very proud to begin construction of MSC World Asia. The third ship in the World Class will feature cutting-edge technologies, making it one of the cleanest and most energy-efficient ships in the world. It embodies the long-term partnership and commitment to the environment between MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l'Atlantique.”
MSC World America promises a new world of cruising with a wide range of enriching and immersive features that are specially designed for all segments of the North American cruise market, from young couples to multigenerational families.
The ship will offer the comfort and variety of experiences that passengers in this market expect, while offering MSC Cruises' distinctive high-quality European design and elegance.
World Class boats are distinguished by their striking silhouette and lead-shaped bow, which rises vertically from the waterline, with a Y-shaped stern that opens onto a stunning open-air walkway.
These ships are an ultramodern urban metropolis at sea, offering a world of different experiences, spanning 22 decks, with more than 2,600 cabins and suites, offering more than 40,000 m2of public space and featuring MSC Cruises' largest MSC Yacht Club space to date.
The “yacht within a ship” concept offers unparalleled levels of comfort, with generous public space including a private lounge and restaurant, elegant suites and expansive outdoor areas with a sundeck spanning two decks with panoramic ocean views.
Sustainability
MSC World Europe and MSC World America currently have one of the lowest carbon footprints in the cruise industry today, according to the International Maritime Organization's Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), and MSC World Asia will be an evolution of these high-performance ships, with an even smaller carbon footprint.
MSC World Asia will become the fourth LNG-powered ship to join the MSC Cruises fleet, and LNG continues to be seen as a critical pathway to maritime decarbonization.
Fossil LNG offers immediate reductions in greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional marine fuels and a direct pathway to renewable substitutes such as Bio-LNG and synthetic LNG, which MSC Cruises' LNG ships are ready to use today when the fuels become commercially available on a large scale.
The new generation of dual-fuel internal combustion engines will help reduce emissions and decrease methane leakage by 30% compared to current technology.
MSC Cruises is part of an EU-funded project called GREEN RAY, which is working to minimize methane leakage by developing new technologies that can be installed on existing and new ships.
Initial tests of the new combustion concept have yielded encouraging results. The technologies will be tested and demonstrated for use in new vessels, as well as for installation in existing vessels.
MSC World America and MSC World Asia, like all new MSC Cruises ships, will be equipped with shore power connectivity as standard, and where available onshore. This reduces emissions by allowing the ship's engines to be switched off in port.
Smart technology is used throughout the ship to ensure passengers can travel in comfort while keeping energy and water usage low. A robust onboard recycling program minimizes waste, and even the propellers are designed to reduce noise and avoid disturbing marine life.
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