MSC Cruises Marks Milestones for Three World Class Ships

An MSC cruise ship in France
Cruise Industry
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Updated Published

On March 27, MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l’Atlantique celebrated three key milestones in the construction of the cruise line’s World Class ships at the Saint-Nazaire shipyard in France. 

The occasion included the official delivery of MSC World America, the coin-laying ceremony for MSC World Asia, and the steel-cutting for the newly announced MSC World Atlantic. 

MSC World America becomes the 23rd ship in MSC Cruises' fleet and is scheduled to be christened on April 9 at the MSC Cruise Terminal in Miami. Specifically designed for the North American market, the ship will introduce a range of new experiences and venues tailored to U.S. guests. 

The ceremonies were attended by notable figures including MSC Group Founder and Chairman Gianluigi Aponte, MSC Cruises Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago, Chantiers de l’Atlantique General Manager Laurent Castaing, French Minister for Industry and Energy Marc Ferracci, as well as representatives from MSC Cruises’ newbuild team and the shipyard’s workforce. 

“Today is a proud moment for all of us at MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l’Atlantique as we mark these major milestones in the development of our fleet,” said Vago. “Our new flagship is a testament to our long-standing, innovative partnership spanning over 20 years, resulting in five groundbreaking prototypes and 19 ships. Together, we continue to push boundaries, combining cutting-edge design, the latest technologies, and a richness of experiences to set new standards in cruising and always striving to further improve the environmental performance of each ship. We look forward to raising the bar even higher with the upcoming MSC World Asia and MSC World Atlantic.” 

The coin ceremony for MSC World Asia was conducted by godmothers Marialuisa Iaccarino, vice president of shore excursions at MSC Cruises, and Flavie Biondo, chargé d’affaires at Chantiers de l’Atlantique. The ship is expected to enter service in the winter of 2026-27, offering itineraries across France, Italy, Spain, and Malta. 

During his remarks, Vago noted that the combined development of the three ships represents an investment of more than €3.4 billion in France and its shipbuilding sector.