MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l’Atlantique marked the official start of construction on MSC’s second World Class ship by cutting the vessel’s first steel. The cruise line also revealed the ship will be named MSC World America and be dedicated to the U.S market when it comes into service in 2025. The announcement makes this the first of MSC Cruises’ LNG-powered ships to be deployed in North America and yet another of the line’s flagships to be customized for the American market.
Rubén A. Rodríguez, president, MSC Cruises USA, said: “MSC World America is testament to our ambitious growth plans in the U.S. and the Caribbean and further solidifies MSC Cruises as a major player in the North American market with another of our largest, most glamorous ships coming to the region. In addition to delivering a state-of-the-art cruise experience, MSC World America exemplifies our commitment to sustainability with its advanced environmental technology. The ship will continue to elevate our guest experience in the Caribbean, and we look forward to raising the bar on what travelers can expect, whether they’re loyal cruisers or enjoying their first vacation at sea.”
MSC World America will be the latest in a growing line of U.S. flagships dating back to the 2017 launch of MSC Seaside, whose design transformed Caribbean cruising with increased outdoor space and new opportunities to be close to the sea. The company went on to deploy the new MSC Seashore from PortMiami in 2021, with MSC Seascape set to inherit the flagship crown when it enters service later this year.
According to MSC, World America will offer a "groundbreaking design, unique dining experiences and unforgettable onboard entertainment." It will include elements similar to MSC World Europa, but aspects of the ship’s design and guest experience will be specifically tailored to appeal to guests from North America. When it comes into service in the summer of 2025, MSC World America will be the line’s largest ship in the U.S., measuring 22 decks tall and more than 150 feet wide, with more than 2,600 cabins and 420,000 square feet of public space.
MSC Cruises has recently unveiled plans for its largest-ever U.S. presence with five ships serving the region for the winter 2023-2024 season. MSC Meraviglia will sail its inaugural winter season from Brooklyn, New York to Bermuda—or Florida and the Bahamas—following an inaugural summer season that will have included sailings through Canada and New England.
MSC Seascape is offering seven-night itineraries from PortMiami to the eastern and western Caribbean with calls at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in The Bahamas, while MSC Divina is sailing from PortMiami with a variety of itineraries ranging from quick Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve getaways to extended sailings through Central and South America.
MSC Magnifica is sailing short cruises from PortMiami to Key West and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, and MSC Seashore is sailing from Port Canaveral and offering short cruises to The Bahamas along with longer western Caribbean itineraries, all of which offer calls at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.
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