MSC Cruises Just Ordered Two More Mega Ships—And the Price Tag Is Staggering

MSC Cruises is doubling down on its World Class fleet in a big way. The cruise line just announced a €3.5 billion order for two additional LNG-powered mega ships, bringing the total World Class lineup to eight vessels by 2031.

According to Cruise Industry News, the announcement came on November 12, 2025, during a celebration at Chantiers de l’Atlantique’s shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France. The event marked double milestones: the float out of MSC World Asia and the coin ceremony for MSC World Atlantic—both ships already under construction at the same yard.

What This Means for the Fleet

The new ships, designated as World Class vessels 7 and 8, will deliver in 2030 and 2031 respectively. Like their predecessors, both will run on liquefied natural gas, continuing MSC’s push toward cleaner-burning fuels across its fleet.

Here’s how the complete World Class lineup now stands:

MSC World Europa (2022) — Already sailing MSC World America (2025) — Launching soon MSC World Asia (2026) — Just floated out MSC World Atlantic (2027) — Coin ceremony completed Ships 5 & 6 — Ordered earlier in 2025 Ships 7 & 8 — Just announced, delivering 2030-2031 The math here is remarkable: MSC ordered four World Class ships in 2025 alone, representing nearly €7 billion in commitments. Combined with vessels already under construction, MSC’s total direct investment in the French shipyard reaches €10.5 billion.

Why MSC Is Going All-In

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Group’s Cruise Division, called the World Class platform “a symbol of our vision to set new standards for the future of cruising.” He emphasized the ships’ energy efficiency and their readiness to transition to renewable fuels as those technologies mature.

Laurent Castaing, General Manager of Chantiers de l’Atlantique, described the expansion as “exceptional,” noting that four new ship orders in a single year represents an enormous vote of confidence in both the cruise industry’s recovery and the long-term demand for premium cruise experiences.

What This Signals for Cruisers

This level of investment tells us a few things. First, MSC is betting heavily that demand for large-ship cruising will continue growing through the end of the decade. Second, the emphasis on LNG power suggests environmental regulations are driving real changes in ship design—not just marketing talking points, but fundamental engineering decisions worth billions of euros.

For travelers, more World Class ships mean more capacity on popular itineraries and potentially better availability for those in-demand sailings that book up quickly. These aren’t small ships—World Class vessels are among the largest cruise ships afloat, offering the kind of onboard variety that appeals to families and first-time cruisers alike.

Whether you’re already an MSC loyalist or just keeping an eye on the cruise industry’s direction, this announcement confirms that the mega-ship trend isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

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Source: Cruise Industry News – MSC Orders Two More World Class Ships for 2030 and 2031