MSC Cruises plans two new giant World Class ships

MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l’Atlantique are strengthening their long-standing industrial partnership with the order of two new World Class ships, the 7th and 8th in the series, to be delivered in 2030 and 2031 respectively.

The announcement was made during a double ceremony: the christening of the MSC World Asia and the coin ceremony for the MSC World Atlantic, held at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire yesterday, Tuesday, November 12.

Beyond the major innovations of this class of ship, the ongoing collaboration between MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l’Atlantique demonstrates the Company’s broader commitment to the French shipbuilding industry.

Over the past two decades, the partnership between MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l’Atlantique has generated more than 100 million hours of work, notably with 500 French suppliers, while supporting 7,500 direct jobs in the Saint-Nazaire region, representing a total economic impact estimated at nearly €24 billion across the entire French industrial ecosystem.

MSC Cruises remains one of the leading private contributors to France’s industrial development and trade balance.

With a direct investment of €3.5 billion, these two new orders bring the total value of ships ordered by MSC Cruises from Chantiers de l’Atlantique to nearly €7 billion by 2025 alone.

These orders are in addition to the two World Class ships already under construction, bringing MSC Cruises’ total direct investment in France to €10.5 billion.

This large-scale industrial plan demonstrates the shipowner’s confidence in the future of cruise tourism and its continued commitment to
excellence in shipbuilding in Europe and France.