Everything You Need to Know About MSC’s Newest Ships (In Order)

MSC Cruises has been making waves (pun intended) in the world of cruising with some ambitious plans.

The cruise line has outright stated that it wants to become the biggest in the world, which would be some feat if it did manage to overtake established leaders Royal Caribbean and Carnival.

In the few short years since cruising made its comeback, MSC has launched five dazzling new ships and isn’t slowing down. With more vessels on the horizon – and the launch of a whole new luxury sub-brand, Explora Journeys – MSC is making a serious play for the top spot.

Here’s a look at all the newest MSC cruise ships, listed in order of launch, plus what’s coming next.

The Newest MSC Cruise Ships Sailing Now

1. MSC World America – 2025

MSC Cruises’ newest ship, MSC World America, is the second in the futuristic World Class – joining her sister, MSC World Europa. She’s also the biggest MSC ship, designed specifically for the North American market.

While she shares the same impressive size and structure as World Europa, MSC World America is packed with new features tailored to American tastes. With space for over 6,700 guests at full capacity, she’s an absolute mega-resort at sea.

She’s also one of the most environmentally advanced cruise ships in the world, powered by LNG and equipped with cutting-edge technology to reduce emissions, manage waste, and boost energy efficiency.

Like all World Class ships, she has a unique Y-shaped aft, a nearly 350-foot-long outdoor promenade, and the striking World Promenade featuring the LED-lit Venom Drop dry slide – the tallest at sea.

Onboard, you’ll find six pools, 13 hot tubs, a massive aqua park, and a full-scale family zone. MSC World America will offer a huge range of dining options too, with over 30 bars, lounges, and restaurants – including new concepts for MSC.

Sailing from Miami, she’s set to shake up the Caribbean cruise scene from April 2025, offering 7-night itineraries that include stops at MSC’s private island, Ocean Cay.

2. MSC Euribia – 2023

MSC Cruises’ second newest ship is the final ship in the Meraviglia Plus Class, joining the MSC Grandiosa and the MSC Virtuosa.

MSC Euribia isn’t the largest ship in the fleet – the World-class ships are bigger – but she is still mightily impressive, with a maximum guest capacity of over 6,300.

I’ve cruised on MSC Euribia and had a fantastic time! You can read my MSC Euribia review here.

Along with many of the other newer MSC ships, she is significantly more friendly to the environment than older cruise ships. She’s powered by LNG, which is a cleaner fuel, and she has advanced water treatment and energy efficiency systems to minimise waste and ensure only the fuel needed is burned.

A ship this big is obviously packed with things to see and do, including five pools and a waterpark. She will also be home to the Galleria Euribia, the largest LED dome at sea in the indoor promenade.

MSC Euribia sails a variety of itineraries around Northern Europe and the Med from Southampton, making her one of the biggest ships to call the port home.

3. MSC World Europa – 2022

The MSC World Europa debuted in 2022 and quickly established itself as one of the most impressive ships currently sailing. 

At the time of her launch, she was the first ship outside of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class to have a volume above 200,000 gross tonnes, slotting her into the number six position for the biggest ships in the world. This meant she was the biggest ship in the MSC fleet; however, this title has now been taken by the new MSC World America.

It’s not just about size with MSC World Europa though – the ship has a stunning modern design with futuristic attractions including the Luna Park Arena which hosts game shows, various kids’ activities and movie screenings.

She was the first ship in the MSC fleet to be powered by LNG, and she also boasted the longest dry slide at sea, until this title was also taken by MSC World America’s marginally bigger Jaw Drop slide.

The MSC World Europa sails the Mediterranean during the summer months, and the Middle East in the winter, with Grand Voyages (cruises between regions) also available.

Suggested read: MSC World Europa Review

4. MSC Seascape – 2022

The MSC Seascape launched in 2022 as the second of the Seaside EVO ships for MSC. The Seaside EVO Class is an expansion of the original Seaside Class, quite literally – they are around 10% bigger than the two Seaside-class ships.

MSC Seascape pays tribute to New York City in her design, with the retail area of the ship named Times Square featuring a projection of the Manhattan skyline, and an impressive three-metre-high replica of the Statue of Liberty as the centrepiece of the casino.

 She is full of interesting attractions and features, along with beautiful artworks – the primary one being the Incando del Mare glass sculpture, which rises from Deck 5 through to Deck 8. She has a real focus on outdoor spaces, including a fantastic Infinity Pool where guests can relax with stunning views.

MSC Seascape is based in the Caribbean year-round, sailing out of Miami. Itineraries typically call at Ocean Cay, the private marine reserve destination for MSC Cruises.

5. MSC Seashore – 2021

The first of the Seaside EVO ships, MSC Seashore, debuted in 2021 and so remains one of the newest and best ships in the whole fleet.

She is an almost identical twin of her newer sister ship, MSC Seascape, even down to the New York City theming, although her glass sculpture is unique and is named Danza del Mare.

Like her sister ship, she is packed with fantastic attractions, including quality theatre shows, an expansive casino area, and extensive family-friendly areas, with some of the best kids’ clubs at sea.

She is also packed with environmentally-friendly tech to reduce emissions, recycle waste and ensure she is as efficient as possible, and therefore needs less fuel to move.

Unlike MSC Seascape, the MSC Seashore doesn’t have a permanent home. Instead, she offers cruises in the Caribbean and around South America during the winter months (again, with port visits to Ocean Cay), but during the summer she relocates to the Mediterranean.

6. MSC Virtuosa – 2021

The MSC Virtuosa launched in May 2021 and became the second ship in the Meraviglia Plus Class. Similar to the Seaside and Seaside EVO classes, the Meraviglia Plus Class is an expansion of the original Meraviglia ships.

The MSC Virtuosa was, when she launched, the largest ship in the fleet, being around 6% larger than the Seaside EVO ships. She has a host of impressive features, including the Galleria Virtuosa with its LED dome, and the MSC Starship Club – the first robotic bar at sea with a humanoid robot bartender (unlike Royal Caribbean’s first robot bar at sea with two standalone arms).

MSC Virtuosa hosts many of the best signature features of the MSC fleet, including the MSC Aurea Spa and the MSC Yacht Club – a special area of the ship with dedicated lounges and a private pool just for those who book a Yacht Club cabin.

New MSC Cruise Ships in Order

1. MSC World Asia (2026)

MSC World Asia will be the next ship in the World Class, launching in December 2026. She’ll spend her first seasons sailing the Med, with cruises from Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa and Rome throughout winter 2026/27 and summer 2027.

MSC World Asia will have a capacity of up to 6,782 passengers and, as the name suggests, World Asia has a strong pan-Asian theme, with decor, venues, and menus inspired by Asian culture and cuisine. Expect a dedicated Pan‑Asian restaurant with an outdoor terrace, perfect for those warm sea days.

Families are in for a treat too, with The Clubhouse – a brand-new space featuring bumper cars, table games, a Lego zone, and even a basketball court. It’s a fresh take on MSC’s usual fun zones and looks seriously cool.

Oh – and the slide? Tree of Life @ The Spiral is an incredible 81.3 metres long and inspired by Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay. It will officially be the longest dry slide at sea, overtaking the one on MSC World America.

2. MSC World Atlantic (2027)

MSC World Atlantic will be the fourth ship in the World Class, launching in late 2027. She’ll be just as enormous as her sister ships, carrying around 6,850 guests and packing in all the high-tech, eco-friendly features you’d expect – including LNG fuel and 22 decks of fun.

She’s set to homeport in Port Canaveral, Florida, sailing 7-night Caribbean cruises that are likely to include MSC’s private island, Ocean Cay – a real highlight for beach lovers.

On board, you can expect all the best bits from the World Class fleet – from themed neighbourhoods and stunning entertainment venues to the stylish World Galleria shopping zone and plenty of exciting new dining options too.

3. Four More World-Class Ships!

It was originally thought that MSC World Atlantic would be the final World Class ship – but now we know that couldn’t be further from the truth!

Two more ships were ordered to join the class in 2028 and 2029, and then another two World-Class ships have been ordered, set to join the fleet in 2030 and 2031.

So that will be eight of these mega ships in total – wow!

Explora Journeys

Only a quick mention here since the Explora Journeys aren’t technically part of the MSC Cruises fleet – but instead, a brand new cruise line owned by the MSC parent company.

While MSC is all about big family ships and bold entertainment, Explora goes in the opposite direction – smaller ships, high-end design, and proper luxury.

The first ship, Explora I, launched in 2023. Then came Explora II in 2024, turning heads with her sleek navy-blue hull, stylish restaurants, full spa and heated pools (yes, even the outdoor ones).

And that’s just the start.

• Explora III arrives in 2026
• Explora IV and V follow in 2027 (all three hit a big shipbuilding milestone in summer 2025)
• Explora VI wraps up the class in 2028

Each ship carries fewer than 1,500 guests and is designed to feel more like a luxury resort than a traditional cruise. Think spacious ocean-front suites, all-inclusive dining in six different restaurants, wellness spas, and panoramic sea views everywhere you turn. Some of the newer ships will even have hydrogen fuel cells for greener cruising.

I recently spent four nights on Explora II exploring the coasts of Spain and France – and it completely blew me away.

People always ask me if I have a favourite cruise line. Until now, I didn’t. But I’ve always said there’s a perfect cruise for everyone… and with Explora Journeys, I might have just found mine. You can read my full review here.

If you love the sea but prefer it without the crowds, Explora might be your kind of cruise.

Final Word

It’s a really exciting time if you’re a fan of cruising with MSC. There have been a lot of new ship launches in the last couple of years – more than with any other cruise line – and there are plenty more on the horizon.

MSC isn’t a cruise line for everyone, but it has a lot of great features, especially for families. And with so many new ships expanding the capacity of the fleet, who’s to say they can’t challenge the likes of Royal Caribbean and Carnival in future?

From a cruise passenger perspective, it’s always good to have plenty of choice.

Related Posts:

• MSC Cruises Ships by Size, Age and Class
• Why Are MSC Cruises So Cheap?
• MSC Drink Packages: The Ultimate Guide
• 9 Things Explora Journeys Does Better Than Other Cruise Lines