GENEVA — The ultra-luxury cruise segment will soon welcome a new heavy-hitter into the mix – none other than MSC Cruises.

The cruise line announced today that it has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the construction of four ultra-luxury cruise ships for a total value in excess of EUR 2 billion.

The first ship, set for delivery in spring 2023, will feature 500 staterooms and a gross tonnage of approximately 64,000 GT. The remaining three ships will come into service one per year over the following three years. All ships will feature the best and latest environmental technology, cutting-edge maritime solutions at sea and highly-innovative design, said MSC.

On its new venture into luxury, MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago said: “It is off the back of the great success of our ship-within-a-ship luxury concept that our guests asked us to enter into the ultra-luxury segment, as a natural evolution of the MSC Yacht Club. These ships will be able to offer unique itineraries, thanks to their size, and the guest services will be taken to another level, including our personalized MSC Yacht Club butler service, available 24/7.”

Vago also highlighted the company’s longstanding partnership with Fincantieri. “The award-winning Seaside and Seaside-Evo class have already been recognized as groundbreaking and innovative designs. We are now introducing another new class, which will establish a new standard of ultra-luxury at sea with ships that will showcase the quality and highest standards that are associated with Made in Italy,” said Vago.

Roberto Fusaro, Country Manager of MSC Cruises USA, noted how the new ships will be of particular interest to North American cruises.

“In addition to our Yacht Club experience, North American guests will enjoy from 2023 onwards an even wider choice of five-star cruises experiences in the highest segment of the market. Our future ultra-luxury ships will come as close as it comes to a private yacht experience.”

With the addition of these four new ships, MSC Cruises’ investment plan will now account for a total of 17 new ships to be built by 2027, for an overall investment of EUR 13.6 billion. Of these, three have already come into service since June 2017: MSC Meraviglia, MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview. Two more – MSC Bellissima and MSC Grandiosa – will be delivered in February and October 2019, respectively.

All five ships will feature MSC Cruises’ existing ship-within-a-ship luxury concept, the award-winning MSC Yacht Club.

MSC Seaside Yacht Club

MSC Seaside Yacht Club Restaurant

MSC Seaside Yacht Club Private Pool

MSC Divina Yacht Club Stateroom