MSC Cruises is accelerating its rise as a global cruise powerhouse, continuing an ambitious expansion that stretches well beyond its European beginnings.
As part of that growth, the cruise line has placed an order for an entirely new class of ships with Meyer Werft, marking the first time MSC Cruises has partnered with the German shipbuilder. The deal was officially announced in Berlin earlier this week. Historically, MSC Cruises has relied on French shipyards such as Chantiers de l’Atlantique, along with Italy-based Fincantieri, to construct its vessels. The move to Meyer Werft signals a strategic shift — and a strong endorsement of the shipbuilder’s engineering and design capabilities.
Meyer Werft has welcomed the partnership, noting that the project will bring long-term economic benefits and sustain thousands of jobs over several years. “This order marks a significant chapter in MEYER WERFT’s 230-year history,” said CEO Dr. Bernd Eikens. “We are proud to welcome MSC Cruises as a new customer and strategic partner, and we greatly value the confidence they have placed in us.”
The New Ships
Information on MSC Cruises’ next-generation ship class is still emerging, but preliminary details point to vessels weighing in at roughly 180,000 gross tons. That size would place them just above Royal Caribbean’s Quantum-class ships and closely aligned with Carnival Cruise Line’s Excel-class vessels.
Early estimates suggest the ships could accommodate up to about 5,400 passengers, although MSC Cruises has not yet released official double-occupancy figures. What remains consistent with recent trends is the cruise line’s continued move toward larger, more feature-rich vessels.
For comparison, MSC’s existing World Class ships measure approximately 216,000 gross tons, putting them on par with Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class ships. Collectively, these giants sit among the largest cruise ships currently operating, alongside Royal Caribbean’s industry-defining Icon class.
MSC Cruises’ Rapid Fleet Expansion
MSC Cruises shows no signs of slowing its fleet growth, with a steady stream of new ships scheduled to enter service over the next several years.
The first vessel from the cruise line’s newly ordered — and still unnamed — class is expected to arrive in 2030, with additional ships joining the fleet annually after that. These deliveries will take place alongside the continued introduction of MSC’s much larger World Class ships. MSC World Europa entered service in 2022, followed by MSC World America in early 2025. The next ships in the series, MSC World Asia and MSC World Atlantic, are slated for 2026 and 2027.
Although the arrival of new ships could eventually lead to the retirement of older vessels, MSC Cruises has not announced any plans to do so. For now, cruise enthusiasts will need to watch closely as the brand continues to expand and further details about both newbuilds and legacy ships are revealed.
