MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l'Atlantique are extending their long-standing relationship with an order for two additional World Class ships, numbers 7 and 8, scheduled for delivery in 2030 and 2031.
The announcement was made at a double celebration to mark two important maritime milestones for two other World Class ships currently under construction at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyards in Saint Nazaire, France: the float-out ceremony of MSC World Asia and the coin-making ceremony of MSC World Atlantic.
The best customer
Valued at €3.5 billion, the orders announced today bring MSC Cruises' total investment in the four ships ordered in France this year to nearly €7 billion. Together with the other World Class ships already under construction, this raises the company's total direct investment currently committed in France to €10.5 billion. This significant 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 stated, “Today is a proud day for MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l'Atlantique, as we celebrate several important milestones for our future: the float-out ceremony of MSC World Asia, the coin-making ceremony of MSC World Atlantic, and the order for two new ships. The World Class 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 remain committed to LNG, ensuring we are ready for the renewable fuels of the future. We look forward to continuing our innovative and successful collaboration with Chantiers de l'Atlantique, our partner for more than 20 years.”.
Laurent Castaing, CEO of Chantiers de l'Atlantique, added: “We are deeply grateful to MSC Cruises for their renewed confidence. The World Class, now comprising eight ships, is a testament to the expertise of our teams and the vision of MSC Cruises.”.
World Class
Construction of the World Class 7 and 8 ships will begin in 2029 and will add to the legacy of ships delivered by Chantiers de L'Atlantique as part of its long-standing collaboration with MSC Cruises.
MSC Cruises' World Class line consists of MSC World Europe (2022) and MSC World America (2025), MSC World Asia (2026) and MSC World Atlantic (2027), which will be followed by the as-yet-unnamed World Class ships 5, 6, 7 and 8 by 2031. The two new orders will be subject to securing financing, as is standard industry practice.
MSC World Asia Floating Ceremony – Today’s float-out ceremony marks a significant milestone in the shipbuilding process, as it is the first time a new ship touches the water and moves to the next phase of construction. MSC World Asia will be delivered in November 2026, ready to sail the Mediterranean, and from December will offer seven-night cruises to the most popular destinations in the Western Mediterranean: embarking in Barcelona, it will call at Marseille (France), Genoa, Civitavecchia for Rome, Messina (Italy), and Valletta (Malta).
MSC World Atlantic Coin Ceremony – Today, the traditional MSC World Atlantic coin ceremony was also held, in which the ship's godmothers, representing both the shipping company and the shipyard, placed commemorative coins inside the hull as a symbol of blessing during its construction and to bring good luck to the vessel. MSC World Atlantic will enter service in 2027 and will sail the Caribbean Sea from Port Canaveral, USA, during the winter of 2027-28.
MSC Cruises' godmother was Lynn Torrent, president of MSC Cruises North America, who oversees all commercial and operational functions in the region. As an executive with extensive experience in the cruise industry, she plays a key role in advancing MSC Cruises' strategic growth in the North American market.
Representing Chantiers de L'Atlantique, the godmother was Agnès Sahores, director of smart shipyard improvement, who has worked at Chantiers de l'Atlantique for 25 years. She oversees the implementation of the company's improvement plan, which focuses on industrial performance, innovation, environmental efficiency, and collective success.
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