MSC World Asia has completed her final sea trials in the Atlantic off western France, MSC Cruises said on Monday, clearing the last major test before the shipyard hands her over.
She now returns to Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire for finishing work. Delivery is set for 25 November, and her first paying passengers board in Barcelona on 4 December.
What was tested
The trials ran this week and covered engines, manoeuvring, fuel efficiency, safety systems, speed and stopping distances. MSC says they confirmed the ship is ready for completion.
It was the second round. The first trials began in July, when the ship left the yard for the first time.
The naming ceremony follows on 28 November in Le Havre, three days after delivery.
What she is
World Asia is the 24th ship in the MSC fleet and the third of the LNG-powered World Class, after World Europa and World America.
She has more than 40 bars, lounges and restaurants, including a Venchi chocolate shop and a British pub with its own brewery. MSC says her 81.3-metre dry slide, which drops through 12 decks, is the longest at sea.
The Asian theme is mostly in the details. A 12-metre dragon sculpture hangs 10 metres above the World Promenade.
She runs on LNG, can take renewable and synthetic versions of the fuel, and is fitted for shore power, so her engines can be switched off in port. That only works where the quay has the connection, which in the Mediterranean is still the exception.
Where she sails and what it costs
Her first season is seven-night Western Mediterranean loops from Barcelona, calling at Marseille, Genoa, Civitavecchia for Rome, Messina and Valletta. Embarkation is possible at any of the six ports.
Winter fares are on sale now, cruise-only, with port taxes and service charges included. Inside cabins on the 29 January 2027 sailing start at £678 per person; the cheapest week of the season is 26 February at the same price.
The inaugural sailing on 4 December is £794 and Christmas week is £1,280. Drinks and flights are extra throughout.
A balcony on 29 January is £766, three pounds more than an ocean view.
If you take MSC’s own flight package, the airports on offer are a short list: Manchester and Dublin included, Heathrow at a supplement, and nothing from Cardiff or Bristol.
Barcelona’s planned tripling of its cruise tax applies to day-visitors, not passengers starting their cruise there.
From winter 2027/28 she moves to the southern Caribbean, with fly-cruise packages from Manchester.
The bottom line
Sea trials passing is what normally happens. The news is that the dates haven’t moved: delivery, naming and first sailing are all where MSC put them in July.
The January lead-in works out at £97 a night with tips included, before the flight to Barcelona.
She is a Mediterranean ship for one winter and one summer. After that, the nearest she gets to Britain is a Manchester departure gate.
