Italian reports indicate that MSC Cruises and the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku Finland are in advanced discussions regarding the construction of a new Ultimate Class of cruise ships.
These vessels are poised to potentially become the largest cruise ships globally, surpassing Royal Caribbean's current record-holder. The proposed ships may reach a tonnage of ~270,000 gross tons, ~8% larger than Royal Caribbean's newest vessel Icon of the Seas.
This project would mark a significant milestone for Meyer Turku, representing its first collaboration with MSC. Traditionally, MSC has commissioned its vessels from Chantiers de l'Atlantique (STX France) or Fincantieri Italy. Securing this order could position Meyer Turku as a leading builder of mega passenger ships, particularly as it recently received an order from Royal Caribbean for another ICON Class vessel.
Should this partnership proceed, MSC, already a dominant player with its MSC World Europa ship, could potentially claim the top spot in the cruise shipping market.
Official confirmations from MSC and Meyer Turku are still awaited.