MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l’Atlantique marked significant milestones for three World Class ships on Friday in Saint-Nazaire, France, with the delivery of MSC World America, the coin ceremony of MSC World Asia, and steel cutting for the newly named MSC World Atlantic.
MSC World America is the 23rd ship in the cruise line’s modern fleet and is set to be officially named on April 9 at the company’s new state-of-the-art MSC Miami Cruise Terminal, the largest in the world. The new ship offers new venues and concepts tailored specifically to the North American market, combining the brand’s signature European style with North American comfort.
The ship’s inaugural season from Miami starts on April 12. She will sail alternating seven-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, San Juan, Puerto Rico and MSC Cruises private island Ocean Cay and seven-night Western Caribbean voyages to Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico, Isla de Roatan, Honduras, and Ocean Cay.
MSC World Asia
The traditional coin ceremony for MSC World Asia saw commemorative coins placed inside the ship as a sign of blessing during construction and to bring good fortune to the ship. Two godmothers, Marialuisa Iaccarino, VP Shore Excursions for MSC Cruises, and Flavie Biondo, Chargé d’affaires for Chantiers de l’Atlantique, did the honours as part of this maritime tradition. MSC World Asia will enter service in winter 2026-27 with sailings in the Mediterranean to destinations in France, Italy, Spain and Malta.
MSC World Atlantic
MSC Cruises’ third celebration was a steel cutting ceremony to officially start the construction of the line’s fourth World Class ship, due to enter service in 2027. The ship’s name was revealed for the first time – MSC World Atlantic. The ship will be deployed in the Caribbean from Port Canaveral, U.S, from winter 2027-28.
“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 Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, Cruise Division, MSC Group. “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.”
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