MSC Orders Two More Newbuilds at Chantiers de L’Atlantique

MSC Cruises has confirmed the execution of its option for the construction of two groundbreaking cruise ships at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France. These ships are poised to become one of the largest in the industry, each vessel will be 215,800 gross tons.

Part of MSC Cruises’ World Class, these ships are scheduled for delivery in 2026 and 2027. The ships will measure 1,092 feet in length and will have 22 passenger decks. The ships will be able to accommodate over 6,700 passengers and 2,100 crew members.

Ranked as the third largest in the industry, the World Class is surpassed only by Royal Caribbean International’s Icon class and Oasis Class, with the largest ship of the Oasis class reaching 235,600 gross tons.

MSC Cruises currently operates a fleet of 22 ships, with 18 of them constructed at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard. The shipyard is actively working on MSC World America, the second vessel of the World class, scheduled to enter service in April 2025. The first ship of the class, “MSC World Europa”, was inaugurated into service in November 2022.

Offering an array of amenities, the new ships will feature 13 restaurants, 20 bars and lounges, six swimming pools, and an 11-deck-high slide. Operating on LNG as the primary fuel source, MSC emphasizes the ships’ energy efficiency, surpassing the benchmark Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) requirements.

Notably, the vessels will employ a new generation of dual-fuel engines with significantly reduced methane slip. Other features include shore power and wastewater treatment systems. MSC has also committed to transitioning to alternative fuels like synthetic methane and green methanol as they become more widely available.