MSC Cruises’ Newest 6,700-Passenger Mega Ship Just Completed Sea Trials

MSC Cruises’ World Class ships are the largest cruise ships the company has ever built. And the third one, MSC World Asia, is one step closer to carrying up to 6,700 passengers all over the Mediterranean Sea.

The new milestone was celebrated on the cruise line’s social media accounts with the words, “SEA TRIAL COMPLETE”. But what this really means is now the outfitting of the ship can begin as more testing is done over the next few months.

MSC World Asia recently departed the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. The ship took to open water for the first time for her sea trials and the crew tested her propulsion, maneuverability, and safety systems. It looks like all went well.

By the Numbers: Specs & Capacity

As the third vessel in MSC’s successful and popular World Class series, following MSC World Europa (2022) and MSC World America (2025), the ship has some impressive stats:

• Gross Tonnage: Approximately 216,636 GT
• Double Capacity: Roughly 5,400 passengers
• Maximum Capacity: Up to 6,762 passengers across 2,614 cabins and 20 decks
• Crew: Over 2,100 crew members on board
• Power: Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) dual-fuel engines

What Makes MSC World Asia Unique?

While MSC World Asia is a sister ship to the first two World Class ships, she introduces several new concepts and firsts for the European market:

• The Cliffhanger (European Debut): First introduced on MSC World America, this swing ride suspended over 160 feet over the open ocean will make its European debut aboard MSC World Asia.
• The Spiral @ Tree of Life: Set to be the longest dry slide at sea at 265 feet long, taking riders down 11 decks in seconds. The visual design draws inspiration from Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay.
• Asian-Inspired Look: Design elements, artwork, and specialty dining venues incorporate Asian-inspired decor into the ship’s European style.
• Expanded Attractions: Features an expanded 6,210-square-foot Adventure Trail high-ropes course and zip line, along with an upgraded interactive Luna Park Arena.

Maiden Voyage and Itineraries

After the ship is all decked out with its brand-new cabins and all the little details that new vessel needs, it will officially set sail on her maiden season starting on December 4, 2026.

She will be spending her inaugural season running year-round 7-night Western Mediterranean itineraries.

Thanks to MSC’s flexible setup, guests will be able to start and end their cruise from several key homeports along the route:

• Barcelona, Spain (Main Homeport)
• Marseille, France (Main Homeport)
• Civitavecchia / Rome, Italy (Main Homeport)
• Genoa, Italy (Main Homeport)
• Messina, Sicily, Italy (Visiting Port)
• Valletta, Malta (Visiting Port)