MSC Cruises Plans to Add 10 New Ships by 2033

MSC Cruises is preparing major fleet growth after confirming new ship orders that will bring 10 new ships into service over the next eight years. The expansion is expected to increase the company’s global cruise capacity significantly by 2033.

The latest development includes four newly ordered ships at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany. These vessels add to MSC Cruises’ existing orderbook, which already includes six World-class ships being built at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in France.

Industry estimates show that the upcoming ships will add more than 47,500 berths to MSC Cruises’ fleet by 2033. This growth will increase the company’s overall fleet capacity by close to 60 percent over the coming years.

At present, MSC Cruises operates a fleet of 23 ships. Each vessel carries an average of about 3,600 guests. Once all new ships enter service, the fleet’s average capacity will rise to just under 4,000 passengers per ship.

The cruise line is set to welcome two World-class ships in the near future. MSC World Asia is scheduled to join the fleet in late 2026, followed by MSC World Atlantic in 2027. These additions mark the next phase of MSC’s large-ship strategy.

MSC Cruises has also signed an agreement with Chantiers de l’Atlantique to receive four more World-class ships between 2029 and 2032. These ships will continue the expansion of the World-class series.

The World-class ships are the largest vessels ever built for MSC Cruises. Each ship measures 205,700 gross tons and can carry up to 5,400 passengers based on double occupancy.

The newly signed contract with Meyer Werft introduces a fresh ship design known as the New Frontier class. These ships will be slightly smaller than the World-class vessels, with a size of 180,000 gross tons.

The New Frontier ships will also have a maximum passenger capacity of 5,400 guests. The agreement covers four ships, with an option for two more vessels at a later stage.

Meyer Werft’s Chief Executive Officer, Bernd Eikens, described the contract as a major milestone in the shipbuilder’s 230-year history. The deal strengthens the long-standing partnership between the German shipyard and MSC Cruises.

With these orders, MSC Cruises continues to position itself as one of the fastest-growing cruise brands in the global market.