• MSC Cruises placed an order for four next-generation ‘New Frontier’ class ships with Germany’s Meyer Werft, with two additional options.
• The new ships will be approximately 180,000 gross tons with a maximum capacity of 5,400 passengers, with deliveries starting in 2030.
• The new class will feature next-generation environmental technologies to support MSC Cruises’ net-zero 2050 sustainability commitment.
• The contract is a major boost for Meyer Werft, ensuring job security and sustainable growth for the shipyard and its extensive German supplier network.

MSC Cruises has finalized a landmark agreement with Germany’s Meyer Werft shipyard for the construction of four next-generation cruise ships, with an option for two additional vessels. This marks a new shipbuilding partnership for MSC Cruises, which has historically relied on Chantiers de l’Atlantique, where it still has orders through 2030. The new vessels, designated as the ‘New Frontier’ class, will each have an approximate gross tonnage of 180,000 and a maximum passenger capacity of 5,400.

Deliveries for the four contracted ships are scheduled to begin annually starting in 2030. The financial terms of the order were not disclosed. The announcement was made in Berlin by high-level representatives from the German federal government, the state of Lower Saxony, MSC Cruises Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago, and Meyer Werft CEO Bernd Eikens.

Pierfrancesco Vago emphasized that the ‘New Frontier’ class will be instrumental in designing new itineraries, providing an exceptional guest experience, and featuring next-generation environmental technologies to advance the company’s net-zero 2050 commitment. He praised Meyer Werft’s expertise and craftsmanship in European shipbuilding.

For Meyer Werft, the contract represents a significant milestone, especially as the shipyard has been undergoing restructuring. CEO Bernd Eikens stated that the long-term partnership with MSC Cruises will ensure sustainable growth and job security for the company and its extensive supplier network for many years. The order is expected to secure thousands of jobs in Germany, particularly in the Papenburg region of Lower Saxony, where Meyer Werft is a major employer.