MSC Cruises has placed two new orders for their globally successful World Class ships. The agreement with the French shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique brings the total number of World Class ships in the MSC Cruises fleet to six. The two newly ordered ships — provisionally referred to as World Class 5 and 6 — will be delivered in 2029 and 2030, respectively. This underscores the company’s ongoing commitment to France and European shipbuilding.
Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, MSC Cruises, says, “The confirmation of the orders for the two new World Class ships marks another milestone in our remarkable shipbuilding journey in France and the continuation of our long-term industrial plan. This milestone underlines our commitment to building some of the world’s best-performing ships and creating a legacy of excellence and innovation in partnership with Chantiers de l’Atlantique—our long-standing partner of more than 20 years. The highly successful World Class platform combines the very best in environmental technology with the latest developments in guest experience.”
Laurent Castaing, General Manager, Chantiers de l’Atlantique, adds, “We thank MSC Cruises for their continued trust. It is the synergy between the expertise of our two companies that has led to the development of this promising World Class series, which addresses the challenges of both passenger experience and environmental performance. World Class V and VI represent a milestone in the history of the cruise industry, with the best energy efficiency to date.”
The new ships will join MSC World Europa and MSC World America, along with MSC World Asia and MSC World Atlantic, which are currently under construction and are scheduled to enter service in 2026 and 2027, respectively.
The World Class ships are already among the most energy-efficient ships in operation and perform significantly better than the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI). The new ships will continue to uphold the high standards of energy efficiency set by their sister ships. All World Class ships are prepared for the use of various alternative fuels, including bio- and synthetic LNG. In addition, they will be equipped with a new configuration of the latest generation dual-fuel combustion engines, which use technology to further reduce methane emissions.
The new ships will feature shore power connections to reduce CO₂ emissions in ports, the most advanced wastewater treatment systems according to IMO guidelines, new innovations in waste management, and a comprehensive range of energy-efficient equipment on board. These systems are designed to optimize engine use and energy consumption for hotel operations, with the aim of further reducing emissions.
Like the other World Class ships, the new vessels will effortlessly combine MSC Cruises’ signature elegant European design with comfort, to offer an unparalleled guest experience. This is achieved through a ‘districts’ concept, with facilities and experiences tailored to the needs of different types of travelers. Every new ship MSC Cruises builds brings something unique and distinctive—and this will be no different for World 5 and 6.
The two new orders are subject to obtaining financing, as is customary in the industry.
Additional Information
MSC Cruises’ first LNG-powered ship, MSC World Europa, was launched in November 2022. The newest ship in this class, MSC World America, entered service in April 2025 and operates in the North American cruise market. Currently, two ships are under construction at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France: MSC World Asia and MSC World Atlantic. These ships will be delivered in 2026 and 2027, respectively.
All World Class ships are equipped with dual-fuel engines, and as bio- and synthetic fuels become more widely available, emissions from MSC Cruises’ World Class ships will be further reduced.
LNG is essential for the development of low-carbon solutions in shipping, as emerging technologies such as fuel cells can be powered by LNG until zero-emission bio- and synthetic LNG become widely available.
MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l’Atlantique are actively involved in various projects to develop and implement these technologies, in collaboration with regulators, academic institutions, and the industry.
