37 MAIDEN SEASON MSC World Asia The newest World-class ship will spend its maiden season sailing seven-night Mediterranean itineraries following its official launch in December 2026 MSC Cruises’ third World-class ship, MSC World Asia, will begin sailing itineraries in the Mediterranean from 4 December 2026 following a naming ceremony in Le Havre, France, on 28 November. The ship’s maiden passenger voyage is a seven-night itinerary from Barcelona, Spain, calling at Marseille, France; Genoa, Civitavecchia and Messina in Italy; and Valletta, Malta, before returning to Barcelona. MSC World Asia, which was built by French shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique, will spend winter 2026-2027 sailing seven-night itineraries in the Mediterranean. The ship will offer passengers multi-port embarkation, allowing guests to join voyages from several ports including Barcelona, Marseille and Civitavecchia. “This itinerary brings together some of the Mediterranean’s most sought-after destinations, combining iconic cities, rich cultural experiences and broad international appeal,” says Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises. “This voyage also offers guests flexibility with convenient embarkation options across several ports. The Mediterranean is a natural choice for MSC World Asia’s maiden season, as a region that continues to be one of our guests’ most popular holiday destinations. Deploying MSC World Asia in the Mediterranean will further enhance our line-up in the region, giving guests even more choice of embarkation ports and itineraries for their winter escape or summer holiday.” The 6,758-guest ship will remain in the Mediterranean for summer 2027, where it will offer seven-night voyages calling at Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Naples and Messina, Italy, and Valletta. In November 2027, MSC World Asia will reposition to the Caribbean where it will sail seven-night Southern Caribbean itineraries until April 2028. “MSC World Asia is not simply another ship in our World class platform; it is a new evolution of it,” says Onorato. “Every World-class ship is designed as a destination in itself, to take the guest experience further, introducing new concepts, new spaces and new experiences while building on the features our guests love most. MSC World Asia continues that journey, offering an experience that is unmistakably World-class, yet entirely its own. As we look ahead to the ship’s inaugural season, we are proud to continue raising the bar with every new ship we introduce.” Photo: MSC Cruises Photo: Unsplash/D Jonez MSC World Asia will sail seven-night itineraries for the winter 2026-2027 season, with passengers able to embark from several ports, including Barcelona, Spain
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzQ1NTk=