MSC Cruises and Chantiers de L’Atlantique marked the float out of the MSC World Asia on Thursday in France.

It marked the first time the vessel touched water and now the ship will enter a new phase of construction. The MSC World Asia will be delivered in November 2026 from December will offer seven-night West Mediterranean voyages to Barcelona, Marseille Genoa, Civitavecchia, Messina and Valletta.

In addition, the coin ceremony for the MSC World Atlantic also took place on Thursday, as the vessel’s godmothers from both the cruise line and the shipyard placed commemorative coins inside the ship as a sign of blessing during construction and to bring good fortune to the vessel.

The MSC World Atlantic will enter service in 2027 and will be deployed in the Caribbean from Port Canaveral for winter 2027-28.

MSC Cruises’ godmother was Lynn Torrent, President of MSC Cruises North America, who oversees all commercial and operational functions across the region.

From Chantiers de L’Atlantique, the godmother was Agnès Sahores, Smart Yard Improvement Manager, who has worked 25 years for the company. She oversees implementing the company’s improvement plan, that focuses on industrial performance, innovation, environmental efficiency and collective success.

Photos: Top: MSC World Asia (Credit: Bernard Biger – Chantiers de l’Atlantique); Bottom: Henri Doyer, Lynn Torrent, Agnès Sahores, Pierfrancesco Vago (credit CdA).