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MSC World Asia ready for December Mediterranean debut following successful sea trials

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 14 September 2026 14 September 2026

MSC Cruises’ latest flagship, MSC World Asia, has successfully completed her final sea trials, as part of the preparations for her delivery on November 25, 2026.

The final trials took place in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of France this week to test the ship’s engines, maneuverability, fuel efficiency, safety systems, speed, and stopping distances, confirming her readiness as she moves toward final completion. The first sea trials were completed in July.

Joining the fleet as MSC Cruises’ 24th ship and the third LNG-powered World Class vessel, MSC World Asia builds on the success of the World Class platform. Each ship in the series is designed to be a destination in itself, where innovation meets elegance, and every detail is crafted to elevate every moment on board.

MSC World Asia will offer the ultimate cruise experience for guests with more than 40 bars, lounges and restaurants, international entertainment options, a range of family facilities and more.

The ship will sail seven-night itineraries calling at some of the Mediterranean’s most popular destinations, including Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa and Civitavecchia for Rome, Messina and Valletta, with accessible embarkation available in every port.

The ship will now receive her final finishing touches at Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, before being officially delivered to MSC Cruises on November 25. MSC World Asia will be officially named on November 28 in Le Havre, France, in a spectacular ceremony bringing together key figures from across the global travel industry, international media, partners and invited guests in an evening blending maritime tradition with contemporary celebration.

Guests will take their first voyage on December 4, when the ship departs Barcelona on her inaugural seven-night sailing.

Among her standout attractions is The Spiral @ Tree of Life, the longest dry slide at sea, 266.7 feet long, this thrilling ride takes guests soaring down 12 decks with stunning ocean views.

The ship has subtle design elements reflecting Asia’s rich culture, art and landscapes, including a stunning 39-foot-long, 29-foot-wide dragon sculpture in the World Promenade, suspended 32 feet in the air.

MSC World Asia is one the most efficient cruise ships currently at sea, she uses LNG fuel and is also capable of running on bio and synthetic renewable LNG fuels. The ship is fitted with shore power connectivity, which allows the ship’s engines to be switched off while in port, eliminating local emissions and improving local air quality.

Construction of Royal Caribbean's fifth Icon-class ship begins at Meyer Turku shipyard

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 14 September 2026 14 September 2026

Royal Caribbean celebrated the start of physical construction of the fifth Icon-class ship with a keel-laying ceremony at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland. The newbuild is set to debut in 2028.

“The start of construction for the fifth Icon-class ship reflects the strength of the long-term partnership between Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku. Building a series of ships allows us to continuously learn, improve and innovate, and each new vessel benefits from the expertise gained throughout the program. Together with our partner network, we are proud to demonstrate the world-class shipbuilding capabilities developed in Turku and to help shape the future of cruise shipbuilding” said Casimir Lindholm, CEO of Meyer Turku.

During the keel-laying celebration, the first major building block of steel was placed in the dry dock at the shipyard where the ship will take shape over the next two years. The keel forms the backbone of the ship along the bottom and center of its hull and provides the foundation for the ship’s construction. To mark the milestone, Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku placed a layer of freshly minted coins beneath the steel block before it was lifted into position in a time-honored shipbuilding tradition sealing good fortune for the ship’s journey ahead.

The fifth Icon-class ship will build on the revolutionary Icon Class lineup that continues to redefine the world’s best family vacation, followed by the sixth in 2029 and seventh in 2030. From the beach retreat to the resort escape and the theme park adventure, each bold vacation delivers ways for every type of vacationer and family to make memories together or on their own and without compromise.

More details about the fifth Icon-class ship, including its name and features, will be revealed at a later date.

Meyer Werft cuts the steel for Carnival Tropicale

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 11 September 2026 11 September 2026

With a symbolic steel-cutting ceremony using a plasma cutter capable of reaching temperatures of more than 20,000 degrees, Meyer Werft recently celebrated a major construction milestone for the Carnival Tropicale, which is being built for Carnival Cruise Line. The new Excel-class cruise ship is scheduled to set sail on her maiden voyage from Galveston, Texas, in April 2028. The ship’s bow will feature the Star of Texas, symbolising its connection with its home port.

Measuring 344 metres in length and 180,000 gross tons, the vessel will be able to accommodate more than 6,000 guests.

The name Carnival Tropicale pays tribute to the former Tropicale, a ship that played a pivotal role in the development of Carnival’s Fun Ships era. Its funnels, with their distinctive winged design, have become one of the most recognisable trademarks in the cruise industry. In 2028, this legacy will return, reimagined for a new generation with innovative design and exciting guest experiences.

“I am delighted to celebrate this milestone for the first time as the new CEO of Meyer Werft,” said André Walter, who has served as Chairman of the Management Board of Meyer Werft GmbH since July 1, 2026. “The Carnival Tropicale is already the fifth Excel-class ship for Carnival Cruise Line. This successful and highly popular class of vessel reflects our long-standing partnership with Carnival Cruise Line.”

“Today is a special day for Carnival Tropicale as we celebrate her progress from concept to reality,” said Ben Clement, Executive Vice President Maritime & New Builds at Carnival Cruise Line. “We greatly value our partnership with Meyer Werft and are proud to be building Carnival Tropicale together. This represents another important milestone in our collaboration.”

The Carnival Tropicale will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and is based on the design of her sister ship, Carnival Festivale, which is scheduled to be delivered by Meyer Werft in the first half of 2027. The vessel will feature innovative dining and entertainment concepts, as well as a new themed area called Sunsation Point, designed as a vibrant family adventure zone. At the heart of this area will be Carnival WaterWorks Ultra, a multi-storey water park, complemented by a wide range of additional family-friendly leisure and entertainment attractions.

Fincantieri launches Viking Astrea in Ancona shipyard

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 11 September 2026 11 September 2026

The launch ceremony of Viking Astrea, the new cruise ship under construction for the cruise line Viking, took place at Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard. The vessel represents a further step in the development of innovative technological solutions for an increasingly sustainable cruise industry.

The ceremony was attended by Gilberto Tobaldi, Director of Fincantieri’s Ancona Shipyard and Ghislain Lemarie, Vice President Ship Development and Construction of Viking. Godmother of the ceremony was Francesca Baldinelli, who works in the Production Control department at the Ancona shipyard.

With a gross tonnage of approximately 54,300 tons, a length of 239 meters, and accommodation for up to 998 passengers in 499 cabins, Viking Astrea will feature a propulsion system partially powered by liquid hydrogen and fuel cells. The project has been developed with particular attention to environmental sustainability and will enable the ship to operate with zero emissions, allowing access to environmentally sensitive marine areas.

The collaboration between Fincantieri and Viking, began in 2012, has evolved over the years into a strong industrial partnership in the cruise sector through the construction of numerous vessels and the successful delivery of multiple projects. The launch of Viking Astrea marks another milestone in this journey and confirms the value of a collaboration that combines Fincantieri’s shipbuilding expertise with Viking’s commitment to developing innovative solutions for a more sustainable cruise industry.

The Ancona shipyard plays a strategic role within the Fincantieri Group, combining significant production capabilities with an increasing focus on innovation and operational efficiency. The facility covers an area of approximately 360,000 square meters and features a production capacity of 60,000 gross tons, lifting systems capable of handling loads of up to 500 tons, and a hull construction capacity of approximately 1,200 tons.

Since 2009, more than 20 vessels have been delivered from the Ancona shipyard, and today approximately 3,700 people are involved in its operations. Further investments are planned to strengthen its production capacity, while participation in Fincantieri’s Operations Excellence program supports the adoption of advanced technologies, robotics, and artificial intelligence, with the aim of enhancing the efficiency and quality of production processes.

Viking announces $1 billion share repurchase program

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 10 September 2026 10 September 2026

Viking Holdings Ltd today announced that its board of directors authorized a share repurchase program of up to $1 billion of Viking’s outstanding ordinary shares.

“The share repurchase authorization reflects confidence in Viking's long-term prospects, strong financial position and ability to continue generating substantial cash flow,” said Leah Talactac, President and Chief Executive Officer of Viking. “This authorization provides flexibility to return capital to shareholders while continuing to invest in our fleet, guest experience and future growth opportunities.”

Repurchases under the share repurchase program may be made from time to time through open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, accelerated share repurchase transactions or other means, subject to market conditions and applicable legal requirements. The Company may also, from time to time, enter into trading plans intended to qualify under Rules 10b-18 or 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, to facilitate repurchases of its shares under this authorization. The timing, manner, price and amount of any repurchases will be determined by Viking based on business, market and economic conditions, prevailing share prices, corporate and regulatory requirements, capital availability, alternative investment opportunities and other factors. The share repurchase program does not obligate Viking to acquire any specific number of shares or expend any specific amount and may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time.