Exciting Growth Ahead For MSC Cruises Fleet

Posted onAuthorChris Owen

  • Significant Capacity Increase: The addition of ten ships is projected to boost MSC’s total fleet capacity by roughly 60 percent, adding tens of thousands of new berths.
  • Dual Shipyard Strategy: The expansion relies on contracts with two major European shipbuilders, Meyer Werft in Germany for the New Frontier class and Chantiers de l’Atlantique in France for the World-class ships.
  • New Vessel Classes: The fleet will welcome both the massive World-class ships and the newly developed New Frontier prototype, each designed to carry over 5,000 passengers.
  • Timeline of Arrivals: Travelers can expect the MSC World Asia and MSC World Atlantic to arrive within the next two years, with a steady stream of new deliveries continuing through 2033.

MSC Cruises has announced a major fleet expansion plan that involves adding ten new ships by the year 2033. This growth is driven by a recent order for four vessels from the Meyer Werft shipyard, combined with an existing orderbook for six World-class ships from Chantiers de l’Atlantique. Industry analysis indicates that these new additions will introduce over 47,500 berths to the fleet, resulting in an overall capacity increase of approximately 60 percent. The company currently operates 23 vessels with an average capacity of 3,600 guests, but this metric is expected to rise to nearly 4,000 passengers per ship once the new builds are in service.

The delivery schedule is set to begin with the arrival of the MSC World Asia in late 2026, followed by the MSC World Atlantic in 2027. Four additional World-class ships are scheduled for delivery between 2029 and 2032. These vessels are the largest in the MSC fleet, weighing 205,700 tons with a capacity for 5,400 passengers at double occupancy. The agreement with Meyer Werft also introduces a new prototype called the “New Frontier” class. These ships will be slightly smaller in tonnage at 180,000 tons but will carry a maximum of 5,400 passengers. This deal includes options for two further vessels, marking a significant development in the cruise line’s long-term strategy.