MSC Orders 4 New Ships in a New Class

December 15, 2025 Randy Young

Last Updated on December 18, 2025

MSC has been building its fleet at a rapid pace. Just a month ago, the cruise line announced it had ordered two more World Class ships, bringing the total to 8 World Class ships expected to be delivered by 2032. Now, MSC has announced an order for an entirely new class of cruise ship.

New Frontier Class Cruise Ships Ordered From Meyer Werft

Today, MSC Cruises signed an agreement with Meyer Werft, a German shipbuilding company that underwent a government bailout in 2024. The shipyard has previously built ships for several major cruise lines, including Carnival’s Excel Class, Disney’s Wish Class, and Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class.

The order released today covers four next-generation cruise ships, with an option for two additional vessels in the future. The ships will be delivered annually starting in 2030.

Class	Gross Tonnage	Maximum Guest Capacity
Meraviglia Plus Class	181,541	6,334
World Class	215,863	6,762
New Frontier Class	180,000	5,400

The new Frontier Class ships will come in at approximately 180,000 gross registered tons and will have a maximum passenger capacity of 5,400 guests. That puts them roughly in the same size range as MSC’s current Meraviglia Plus Class ships, such as MSC Grandiosa, MSC Virtuosa, and MSC Euribia, but with approximately 15% fewer guests onboard.

This new order marks a significant milestone in the 230 year history of Meyer Werft. We are delighted to welcome MSC Cruises as a new customer and strategic partner, and we are truly honored by the trust they have placed in us. This long term partnership with MSC Cruises ensures sustainable growth and job security for many years to come. Today is a truly positive and significant day for everyone at Meyer Werft, our employees and our partners alike.”
-Dr. Bernd Eikens, CEO of Meyer Werft

Other than these high-level details, not much is currently known about the new Frontier Class. MSC has not yet shared information about onboard venues, public spaces, or itineraries. Those details will likely be revealed closer to the ships’ launch dates.

My Take: A Surprise Move for MSC

Over the past few months, many cruise watchers have been expecting MSC to announce the rumored Constellation Class, which is widely believed to be designed to take over the mantle of the largest cruise ships in the world. Last month’s additional order of World Class ships caught many people off guard, and this latest announcement is even more surprising.

In addition, it has become increasingly rare for cruise lines to invest in smaller ships. Although the Frontier Class ships are by no means small, they will be approximately 16% smaller than MSC’s World Class ships. They will also carry fewer guests, which is somewhat unusual for MSC, a cruise line known for operating some of the most densely populated ships at sea.

Overall, the move feels reminiscent of Royal Caribbean’s rumored Discovery Class, suggesting that cruise lines may be rethinking ship size, passenger density, and overall guest experience as they plan for the next decade.