MSC Cruises orders two new World-class ships during double celebration with Chantiers de l'Atlantique

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 12 November 2025 12 November 2025

MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l’Atlantique today announced a major extension of their long-standing relationship with orders for two additional World Class ships – numbers 7 and 8 – due to be delivered in 2031 and 2032.

The announcement was made at a double celebration event to mark important maritime milestones for two other World Class ships currently under construction at Chantiers de l’Atlantique’s shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France, the float out of MSC World Asia and coin ceremony of MSC World Atlantic.

Valued at €3.5 billion, the orders announced today bring MSC Cruises’ total investment in the four ships ordered in France this year to nearly €7 billion. Together with the World Class vessels already under construction, this brings the company’s total direct investment currently committed in France to €10.5 billion. This major industrial plan reflects the shipowner’s confidence in the future of cruise tourism and its ongoing commitment to shipbuilding excellence in France and across Europe.

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, Cruise Division, MSC Group, said, “We mark a proud moment today for MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l’Atlantique as we celebrate important milestones for our future - the float out of MSC World Asia, the coin ceremony of MSC World Atlantic and the order of two new ships. The World Class platform is a symbol of our vision to set new standards for the future of cruising. These are some of the most energy efficient ships in the world and we continue our commitment to LNG, ensuring we are ready for future renewable fuels. We look forward to continuing with our innovative and successful collaboration with Chantiers de L’Atlantique – our long-term partner for more than 20 years.”

Laurent Castaing, General Manager, Chantiers de l’Atlantique, added, “We are deeply grateful to MSC Cruises for their renewed confidence. What our shipyard is achieving today is truly exceptional — four new ships ordered in 2025! The World Class series, now totalling eight vessels, is a testament to our teams’ expertise and to MSC’s vision. It exemplifies our shared commitment to elevating the passenger experience while advancing environmental performance.”

Construction of both World Class 7 and 8 will begin in 2029 and will join a legacy of ships delivered by Chantiers de L’Atlantique as part of its longstanding partnership with MSC Cruises.

MSC Cruises’ World Class redefines the art of cruising, delivering an extraordinary guest experience shaped by visionary design and boundless imagination. Each ship is a destination in itself—where innovation meets elegance, and every detail is crafted to elevate every moment on board.

With distinct districts designed to suit every mood and moment, guests are able discover, connect and unwind in ways that feel uniquely personal. Every new addition to the World Class fleet brings something bold and original. This spirit of constant evolution is demonstrated in MSC World Asia, MSC World Atlantic, and the remarkable ships yet to come—each one a new chapter in a journey to deliver the most memorable experiences at sea.

MSC Cruises’ World Class consists of MSC World Europa (2022) and MSC World America (2025), MSC World Asia (2026), and MSC World Atlantic (2027), with the yet-to-be-named World Class 5, 6 7 and 8 ships to follow by 2031.

The two new orders will be subject to access to financing, as per industry practice.

 

Viking celebrates historic milestone naming nine newest river ships

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 22 October 2025 22 October 2025

Viking yesterday named its nine newest river ships – including the company’s 100th ship – during a simultaneous ceremony in Basel, Switzerland. Of the nine new river ships, the Viking Annar, the Viking Dagur, the Viking Eldir and the Viking Honir will sail Viking’s most popular itineraries along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. The Viking Nerthus, the Viking Gyda and the Viking Tonle sail the Seine, Douro and Mekong rivers, respectively. The two other new ships named yesterday – the Viking Thoth and the Viking Amun – sail the Nile River. The ceremony also marked a major milestone – Viking now has more than 100 ships across its river, ocean and expedition fleet, more than any other cruise line. This achievement reflects the company’s history of industry-leading innovations.

“Today we are proud to name our newest river ships and to honor the nine distinguished members of our extended Viking family serving as their godparents,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking. “We have always been quite a bit different from others in the travel industry – we like to be contrarian. Over the last 28 years, we have grown from four ships to more than 100 – a fleet size that no other line has achieved – and we have done so because of our innovative approach. First, we modernized river voyages; then we reinvented ocean voyages and perfected the expedition experience. We look forward to continuing our leadership in experiential travel in the years to come.”

Viking naming ceremony

For thousands of years, it has been an ancient maritime tradition for each new ship to have a ceremonial godmother. Viking has adapted this custom and, for its ships in Egypt, extended it to include godfathers. Viking’s tradition is to appoint individuals who have made an impact—either in the world, or in the life of Viking. For its nine newest river ships, the company invited colleagues and partners in the extended Viking family to serve as godparents, including:

– Allison Becker, Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Viking – Godmother of the Viking Nerthus
– Sara Conley, Senior Vice President of Brand, Creative and Communications, Viking – Godmother of the Viking Dagur
– Chitra Goswami, Senior Vice President of Finance, Viking – Godmother of the Viking Gyda
– Yumi Kim, Senior Vice President of Finance, Europe, Viking – Godmother of the Viking Eldir
– Michelle Patterson, Senior Vice President, Corporate Controller, Viking – Godmother of the Viking Annar
– Laura Perlman, Senior Vice President of Marketing Planning, International & Product, Viking – Godmother of the Viking Tonle
– Michele Saegesser, Vice President, Trade Development and Training, Viking – Godmother of the Viking Honir
– Youssef Fouad Amin, Chief Executive Officer & Chairman, Sherry Nile Cruises – Godfather of the Viking Thoth
– Sherif El Banna, Chief Executive Officer, Cosmos Egypt – Godfather of the Viking Amun

The naming ceremony took place in Basel on board the Viking Honir and was connected virtually to the eight other new ships, which were located across five other countries around the world. The Viking Nerthus was in Paris, France; the Viking Dagur, the Viking Eldir and the Viking Annar were in Rostock, Germany; the Viking Gyda was in Porto, Portugal; the Viking Tonle was in Mỹ Tho, Vietnam; and the Viking Thoth and the Viking Amun were in Luxor, Egypt.

Guests at the naming event enjoyed performances by Sissel Kyrkjebø, one of the world’s leading crossover sopranos and godmother of the Viking Jupiter; Norwegian violinist Tor Jaran Apold; the Viennese Residence Orchestra; and a Basel girls’ choir.