TRIESTE – MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l’Atlantique celebrated yesterday in Saint-Nazaire the delivery of the new flagship MSC World America, the coin ceremony for MSC World Asia, and the steel-cutting ceremony for MSC World Atlantic.
MSC World America is the 23rd vessel in the company’s modern fleet and will be officially christened on April 9 in the United States, at the new “MSC Cruise Terminal” in Port Miami, the world’s largest and most technologically advanced cruise terminal.
MSC World America is one of the most energy-efficient cruise ships in the world, exceeding all design requirements set by the IMO’s (International Maritime Organization) Energy Efficiency Design Index. The ship is powered by state-of-the-art LNG engines and is equipped with shore power connectivity, allowing its engines to be shut off in ports with compatible infrastructure. Among its many features, the ship includes an advanced wastewater treatment system and an onboard waste management plant that together significantly reduce waste production.
MSC Cruises’ new flagship has 22 decks and a gross tonnage of 216,638 tons, measures 333.3 meters in length and 47 meters in width. It can carry up to 6,762 passengers and hosts 2,138 crew members, with 2,614 cabins and over 38,400 square meters of public space.
Yesterday also saw the traditional coin ceremony for MSC World Asia, during which commemorative coins were placed within the ship as a symbol of blessing and good luck. The vessel will enter service in winter 2026–27, operating Mediterranean cruises to France, Italy, Spain, and Malta.
At Chantiers de l’Atlantique, the steel-cutting ceremony for the company’s fourth World Class ship was also held, officially marking the start of the ship’s construction. The vessel, which will enter service in 2027, was officially named for the first time: it will be called MSC World Atlantic and will operate in the Caribbean, departing from Port Canaveral starting in winter 2027–2028.
The event in Saint-Nazaire was attended by Captain Gianluigi Aponte, founder and chairman of the MSC Group, Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of the Cruise Division, Laurent Castaing, General Manager of Chantiers de l’Atlantique, and French Minister for Industry and Energy Marc Ferracci, along with representatives of MSC Cruises’ shipbuilding team and the shipyard workers who have worked on the vessel over the past 30 months.
