by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 10:20 AM ET, Wed April 10, 2024
MSC Cruises celebrated two major construction milestones for its upcoming World Class ships, MSC World America and the newly named MSC World Asia this week.
The two ships are currently under construction at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.
MSC World America celebrated its float-out on April 7, which is the first time the ship ever touched water. This ceremony also marks the last stage of its construction period. The ship will debut on April 9, 2025 in PortMiami with a naming ceremony and a sailing to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, the line’s private island oasis in The Bahamas.
The ship will be the largest in MSC’s fleet to visit the U.S. and will be the first in the region to be powered by LNG, or liquid natural gas, a more sustainable alternative to marine fuels. It offers 2,614 staterooms and spans 22 decks. It’ll also feature the new over-water swing ride called the Cliffhanger.
This week, the line’s third World Class ship celebrated its steel-cutting ceremony and its official name announcement: the MSC World Asia. Steel-cutting ceremonies mark the first phase of ship construction. This new ship is expected to debut in 2026 and will feature design touches that call back to the region it’s named for.
“MSC World America is another example of the incredible professional partnership between us and the Chantiers de l’Atlantique with whom we have designed five distinct and innovative prototypes – the most recent being the ground-breaking World Class platform,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises.
“With each and every ship we strive to improve and enhance not only the environmental technology but also new features that enrich the experience for the guest as we design for the future holiday experience,” continued Vago. “MSC World Asia continues in this tradition and with this important milestone of the steel cutting we are pleased to confirm that she will offer even more advanced new features in terms of future-proof marine and onboard hospitality technologies as well as guest experiences.”
A New Class of Sustainability
World Class ships are not only designed with the future of cruising in mind: they’re also designed with sustainability in mind. MSC World Asia will become MSC’s fourth LNG-powered ship in the fleet, and will be able to run on synthetic LNG when they become commercially available.
The new ships will also feature new dual-fuel internal combustion engines, which should reduce emissions and methane slip by 30 percent, as part of an EU-funded project called GREEN RAY. Both ships will also be able to connect to shore power while in port.
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