In a series of significant events for MSC Cruises, the shipbuilder Chantiers de l'Atlantique delivered MSC World America, conducted a coin ceremony for MSC World Asia, and commenced steel-cutting for the newly named MSC World Atlantic.
MSC World America is MSC's 23rd vessel and is scheduled to be officially named on April 9th, coinciding with the inauguration of MSC's new terminal at PortMiami (Florida USA).
During the ceremonies in Saint-Nazaire (France), Pierfrancesco Vago (Executive Chairman of MSC Group's Cruise Division) remarked that the day marked a proud moment for both MSC and Chantiers de l’Atlantique, highlighting these milestones in the fleet's development. He noted that the new flagship exemplifies the longstanding, innovative partnership between the two entities, spanning over two decades and resulting in five groundbreaking prototypes and 19 ships.
Vago emphasized their ongoing efforts to push boundaries by integrating cutting-edge design, advanced technologies, and a diverse array of experiences to set new standards in cruising, while continually striving to enhance the environmental performance of each vessel. He also expressed anticipation for elevating standards further with the forthcoming MSC World Asia and MSC World Atlantic.
The events were attended by Captain Gianluigi Aponte (Founder and Group Chairman of MSC), Laurent Castaing (General Manager of Chantiers de l’Atlantique) and Marc Ferracci (France's Minister for Industry and Energy). Representatives from MSC’s newbuild team and shipyard workers who contributed to the 30-month construction of MSC World America were also present.
Collectively, the three World-class ships represent an investment exceeding EUR 3.4 billion in France and its shipbuilding industry.
The traditional coin ceremony for MSC World Asia involved the placement of commemorative coins within the ship for good fortune. Marialuisa Iaccarino (Vice President of Shore Excursions at MSC Cruises) and Flavie Biondo (Chargé d'Affaires at Chantiers de l’Atlantique) served as the ceremony's godmothers, performing the honors in accordance with maritime tradition. MSC World Asia is slated to commence service in late 2026, offering Mediterranean cruises to destinations in France, Italy, Spain, and Malta.
The steel-cutting ceremony marked the official initiation of construction for MSC World Atlantic, the fourth ship in the World-class series, which is expected to enter service in 2027. As previously announced, this vessel will operate in the Caribbean from Port Canaveral during the winter 2027-2028 season. MSC Cruises clarified that while the World-class ships are named after continents and oceans to reflect the global nature of its brand, these names do not necessarily indicate their deployment regions.
Laurent Castaing expressed that the three-ship celebrations evoked great emotion, noting that the continuous improvement of the onboard experience and the optimization of energy performance are among the achievements of the collaborative efforts between MSC and Chantiers de l'Atlantique. He highlighted that the ships' latest-generation engines, powered by LNG, will facilitate a seamless transition to bio and synthetic renewable fuels once they become available at scale.