MSC Cruises Ships By Size, Age & Class (2026)

With 23 ships now sailing for MSC Cruises, it’s easy to get them mixed up.

Some are among the biggest and newest cruise ships in the world, packed with cutting-edge attractions and modern features. Others are smaller, older ships that often offer excellent value and visit ports the mega-ships can’t reach.

And that’s where many cruisers get caught out. Two cruises might look similar on paper, but the onboard experience can be completely different depending on the ship.

Whether you’re trying to work out which MSC ship is the newest, the biggest or simply the best fit for your holiday, this guide will make it easy. But which MSC ships are hiding the biggest surprises?

New Ships

With 23 ships currently sailing, MSC Cruises also has several major new vessels on the way.

MSC World Asia is set to join the fleet in December 2026, followed by MSC World Atlantic in November 2027.

Beyond those ships, MSC Cruises has confirmed four additional World Class vessels as part of a €3.5 billion agreement with Chantiers de l’Atlantique. Commonly referred to as World Class 5, 6, 7 and 8, these ships are scheduled to enter service between 2029 and 2031.

Once complete, the World Class fleet will comprise eight LNG-powered mega-ships, making it one of the largest cruise ship classes ever built.

A Brand-New Class of Ships From 2030

Alongside the expanding World Class programme, MSC Cruises has also announced an entirely new class of ships, marking a significant shift in its fleet strategy.

In December 2025, MSC confirmed an order for four brand new ships from German shipbuilder Meyer Werft, with options for two more. Known as the New Frontier class, these ships will be slightly smaller than the World Class vessels but still very large by industry standards, at around 180,000 gross tons and carrying approximately 5,400 guests.

The first New Frontier class ship is scheduled for delivery in 2030, with additional ships expected to join the fleet annually thereafter. Designed to balance scale with flexibility, these ships could allow MSC Cruises to serve a wider range of itineraries while continuing its rapid expansion into the next decade.

MSC Ships Ranked by Size

The following table shows MSC cruise ships currently sailing by size, ordered from largest to smallest:

Ship	Gross Tonnage	Passengers	Length (Metres)	Decks	Guest Decks
MSC World America	216,638	6,764	333	22	16
MSC World Europa	215,863	6,762	333	21	16
MSC Euribia	184,011	6,334	331	19	15
MSC Virtuosa	181,541	6,334	331	19	15
MSC Grandiosa	181,541	6,334	331	19	15
MSC Bellissima	171,598	5,686	316	19	15
MSC Meraviglia	171,598	5,655	316	19	15
MSC Seascape	170,412	5,877	312	19	16
MSC Seashore	169,400	5,632	339	19	16
MSC Seaside	153,516	5,336	323	19	15
MSC Seaview	153,516	5,119	323	19	15
MSC Preziosa	139,072	4,345	333	18	14
MSC Divina	139,072	4,345	333	18	14
MSC Splendida	137,936	4,363	333	18	14
MSC Fantasia	137,936	4,363	333	18	14
MSC Magnifica	95,128	3,013	294	16	13
MSC Poesia	92,627	3,013	294	16	13
MSC Orchestra	92,409	3,013	294	16	13
MSC Musica	92,409	3,013	294	16	13
MSC Opera	65,591	2,579	275	13	9
MSC Lirica	65,591	2,548	275	13	9
MSC Sinfonia	65,542	2,546	248	13	9
MSC Armonia	65,542	2,520	275	13	9

Gross tonnage is a measurement of the overall internal volume of a ship. It’s one of the best ways to measure the size of a cruise ship.

The passenger number is based on how many passengers each cruise ship can accommodate at maximum occupancy. That would mean that all the extra beds are in use.

In reality, ships don’t cruise at maximum occupancy because sometimes you will have just two people in a cabin, and so they won’t use the sofa bed or Pullman beds.

Ship Sizes Vary, but None of Them Are “Small”

MSC Cruises’ ships range in size from 248 metres long to 333 metres long. Each ship can accommodate between 2,520 and 6,764 passengers over 13 to 22 decks.

MSC Cruises operates a mix of large and mega-ships, including some of the biggest cruise ships in the world.

MSC Cruises has no small ships. However, in 2023, the MSC Group launched a new cruise line called Explora Journeys. This features only small, luxury ships, the first of which was Explora I.

The World Ships Are the Biggest

The biggest MSC Cruises ship is MSC World America, which launched in April 2025. This World-class mega-ship can accommodate up to 6,764 guests with 22 decks.

MSC World America is the second ship in the innovative World Class, taking everything guests loved about MSC World Europa and adding a distinctly American twist. She features bold design, fresh dining concepts, and new entertainment options created especially for sailings from Miami.

While she shares the same impressive layout as her sister ship, MSC World America feels brighter and more contemporary, with a bigger focus on outdoor spaces and vibrant social areas. From the expanded MSC Yacht Club to the lively World Promenade, she’s designed to bring a taste of modern luxury to Caribbean cruising.

Prior to the launch of MSC World America, the biggest MSC cruise ship title belonged to her sister ship MSC World Europa.

MSC World Europa made headlines when she served as a floating hotel during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, hosting players’ families in the Yacht Club and fans throughout the ship.

Looking ahead, MSC Cruises plans to expand the World Class fleet even further. MSC World Asia will launch in 2026, followed by MSC World Atlantic in 2027, with four additional World Class ships scheduled to enter service between 2028 and 2031.

While exact specifications have not yet been confirmed, they’re expected to be similar in size to MSC World America and MSC World Europa, rather than significantly larger.

Whether Bigger Is Really Better

Which size of ship is the best is a matter of personal preference, and each has its advantages. For some people, bigger is always better, whereas other people will only choose to cruise on small or medium-sized ships.

Bigger ships tend to be newer and have more features and attractions on board, which can also mean that cruise tickets cost more.

Smaller ships have their advantages in that they tend to offer more port-intensive itineraries as they can access some ports which larger ships cannot.

MSC Ships Ranked By Year

The following table shows MSC Cruises ships from newest to oldest…

Ship	Year Built
MSC Frontier Class 4	2033*
MSC Frontier Class 3	2032*
MSC Frontier Class 2	2031*
MSC World Class 8	2031*
MSC Frontier Class 1	2030*
MSC World Class 7	2030*
MSC World Class 6	2029*
MSC World Class 5	2028*
MSC World Atlantic	2027*
MSC World Asia	2026*
MSC World America	2025
MSC Euribia	2023
MSC World Europa	2022
MSC Seascape	2022
MSC Seashore	2021
MSC Virtuosa	2021
MSC Grandiosa	2019
MSC Bellissima	2019
MSC Seaview	2018
MSC Seaside	2017
MSC Meraviglia	2017
MSC Preziosa	2013
MSC Divina	2012
MSC Magnifica	2010
MSC Splendida	2009
MSC Fantasia	2008
MSC Poesia	2008
MSC Orchestra	2007
MSC Musica	2006
MSC Opera	2004
MSC Lirica	2003
MSC Sinfonia	2002
MSC Armonia	2001

MSC Ship Classes Explained

In the MSC Cruises fleet, the ships are grouped into classes. Each ship in a class is very similar, with a few small differences on board.

The following table shows MSC Cruises ships grouped by class…

Ship	Class
MSC Frontier Class 4*	Frontier Class
MSC Frontier Class 3*	Frontier Class
MSC Frontier Class 2*	Frontier Class
MSC Frontier Class 1*	Frontier Class
MSC World Class*	World Class
MSC World Class 7*	World Class
MSC World Class 6*	World Class
MSC World Class 5*	World Class
MSC World Atlantic*	World Class
MSC World Asia*	World Class
MSC World America	World Class
MSC World Europa	World Class
MSC Euribia	Meraviglia Plus Class
MSC Virtuosa	Meraviglia Plus Class
MSC Grandiosa	Meraviglia Plus Class
MSC Bellissima	Meraviglia Class
MSC Meraviglia	Meraviglia Class
MSC Seascape	Seaside EVO Class
MSC Seashore	Seaside EVO Class
MSC Seaview	Seaside Class
MSC Seaside	Seaside Class
MSC Preziosa	Fantasia Class
MSC Divina	Fantasia Class
MSC Splendida	Fantasia Class
MSC Fantasia	Fantasia Class
MSC Magnifica	Musica Class
MSC Poesia	Musica Class
MSC Orchestra	Musica Class
MSC Musica	Musica Class
MSC Opera	Lirica Class
MSC Lirica	Lirica Class
MSC Sinfonia	Lirica Class
MSC Armonia	Lirica Class

Seaside EVO Class

MSC Cruises had a new class of ship for 2021, the Seaside EVO-class. Beginning with the launch of MSC Seashore in August 2021, Seaside EVO-class ships are slightly larger than Seaside-class ships.

Ultra Luxury Class

In 2023, the MSC Group launched the first ship in a new collection of ultra-luxury cruise ships under its sister brand, Explora Journeys. Unlike MSC Cruises’ mainstream ships, these vessels are designed to offer a more intimate, all-inclusive luxury experience.

Two ships, Explora I and Explora II, are already in service, while four more are scheduled to join the fleet by 2028. Even when complete, these ships will be much smaller than MSC Cruises’ mega-ships, carrying far fewer guests and offering a more exclusive atmosphere.

Although they aren’t part of the MSC Cruises fleet, Explora Journeys gives MSC Group a presence in the fast-growing luxury cruise market.

To Conclude

MSC Cruises has ships to suit every type of cruiser – from huge resort-style vessels packed with entertainment to smaller, more traditional ships with a relaxed feel. Over the years, the fleet has grown in size and style, with the newest ships offering the most space, features and modern design.

If you prefer something a little more exclusive, keep an eye on Explora Journeys, MSC’s ultra-luxury brand. Its smaller ships offer a more intimate, all-inclusive experience while still delivering the same high standards MSC is known for.

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