MSC Orders Two More World-Class Ships For 2030 And 2031

Published on Nov 12, 2025, 3:35 pm CST

3 min read

Key points

MSC will add two more World-class ships for 2030 and 2031 at Chantiers de l'Atlantique
Total World-class fleet grows to eight vessels with the new orders
Order value is €3.5 billion and construction begins in 2029
MSC World Asia floated out on November 12, 2025 in Saint-Nazaire
MSC World Atlantic held its coin ceremony on the same day
MSC World Europa and MSC World America are currently in service

Impact

Booking Outlook: More capacity on LNG-powered megaships arrives from 2026 through 2031, widening itinerary choice in the late decade
North America Focus: World America's Miami deployment continues and later sister ships are likely to target Caribbean demand
Environmental Tech: LNG propulsion and pilot fuel cell projects continue across the class, reducing emissions versus conventional fuels
Pricing Dynamics: Added berths can temper peak-season pricing on select routes, although destination limits may constrain supply effects
Shipyard Cadence: Back-to-back milestones at Saint-Nazaire signal schedule discipline for upcoming deliveries

MSC Cruises has ordered two additional World-class ships for delivery in 2030 and 2031, both to be built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France. The €3.5 billion order lifts the class to eight vessels, and follows a pair of construction milestones on November 12, 2025, when MSC World Asia was floated out and MSC World Atlantic marked its coin ceremony at the yard. The newbuilds will begin construction in 2029, maintaining a steady pipeline of large-ship capacity into the early 2030s.

MSC's World-class program, where it stands

The World-class program anchors MSC's growth at the top end of ship size and amenities. Two ships are already sailing, MSC World Europa, delivered in 2022, and MSC World America, which entered service from PortMiami in April 2025. At maximum occupancy, World Europa accommodates about 6,762 guests, placing the design among the largest cruise ships in the world outside Royal Caribbean's fleet. World Asia and World Atlantic are next in line, with Asia now afloat and Atlantic advancing through early build stages.

Latest developments

The two fresh orders, referred to as World-class 7 and 8, extend MSC's collaboration with Chantiers de l'Atlantique. Delivery is slated for 2030 and 2031, and both ships are specified with liquefied natural gas, LNG, propulsion in line with the class standard. The announcement coincided with yard events for the third and fourth ships in the series, underscoring a production cadence that has remained resilient through 2025.

Analysis

For travelers, this is a signal that MSC intends to sustain high-capacity offerings in North America and Europe through the end of the decade. MSC World America's April 2025 start from Miami set a template for alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean seven-night itineraries, each calling at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, and that formula is likely to persist as additional hulls arrive. More ships typically translate into broader sailing dates, more berth availability for families during school breaks, and a wider spread of cabin categories on any given week.

From an environmental and operations perspective, LNG remains the class baseline, reducing sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides to near zero and lowering carbon dioxide emissions versus conventional marine fuels. MSC has also piloted a solid oxide fuel cell demonstrator on World Europa, an early indicator of where auxiliary power could evolve over time. Travelers will not see those systems directly, but may notice itinerary planning that favors ports with robust LNG bunkering and shoreside infrastructure, particularly around the Western Mediterranean and Florida.

Background

A float-out marks the moment a hull first touches water, shifting construction from dry dock to outfitting alongside. A coin ceremony is a maritime tradition, placing a coin at the keel or structure for good fortune and to mark a specific build milestone. These steps are not marketing flourishes, they are schedule indicators, and when paired with firm delivery years, they help travel planners anticipate when new capacity will realistically open for sale. The November 12 events in Saint-Nazaire, paired with the 2030 and 2031 delivery commitments, suggest MSC's yard timeline remains on track.

Final thoughts

MSC's decision to add two more World-class ships, bringing the total to eight, locks in late-decade capacity and keeps pressure on competitors in the big-ship Caribbean and Mediterranean markets. For travelers, the takeaway is simple, more dates, more cabins, and continued investment in greener propulsion across the MSC World-class series.