MSC Cruises has placed a substantial shipbuilding order with Meyer Werft of Papenburg, Germany, marking the start of a new class of cruise vessels designated the “New Frontier” platform. The agreement covers four firm next-generation cruise ships with two additional options, and is expected to keep the German shipyard’s production lines engaged well into the 2030s.
Under the terms of the contract, the first of the New Frontier ships is scheduled for delivery in 2030, with subsequent vessels to follow annually thereafter. Each unit is designed at approximately 180,000 gross tons and capable of carrying up to 5,400 passengers, positioning these ships among the larger cruise vessels under construction during the coming decade.
The framework for the order was formalised at a ceremony in Berlin attended by senior representatives from the German federal government and the state of Lower Saxony, alongside MSC Cruises’ executive leadership and Meyer Werft’s chief executive. The presence of government officials reflected the broader economic significance attributed to the agreement, which supports long-term shipyard activity and regional employment in northern Germany.
MSC’s executive chairman outlined that the initiative will allow the line to develop new itineraries and hospitality features, while incorporating advanced environmental technologies aligned with its target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The shipbuilder’s chief executive described the order as a landmark moment in the yard’s history and indicative of a durable industrial partnership ensuring sustained operations and workforce security.
With delivery commitments extending at least through the mid-2030s, this shipbuilding programme reinforces Meyer Werft’s role as a principal centre of cruise ship construction in Europe and underlines MSC Cruises’ ongoing fleet expansion strategy.