MSC Cruises confirmed just before Christmas that they have finalised contracts with STX France for two new cruise ships. They will be an extended version of the Meraviglia class, and will enter service in 2019 and 2020 respectively. The first of the Meraviglia class, pictured above, was launched in September 2016 and is scheduled to enter service in June next year. The second of the class is due to enter service in June 2019.

At 177,000grt, the new ships will accommodate 6,300 passengers in 2,450 cabins. MSC Cruises stated that the two new ships are part of a €9 billion investment plan that includes eleven new cruise ships that will come into service in the next ten years, The current plan is to build all of these vessels at STX France.