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According to MSC Cruises, the MSC World Asia is being assembled at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyards in Saint-Nazaire, France, and will be the third of the World class. The ship is expected to debut on December 4, 2026, with seven-night routes through the Mediterranean, and is still under construction.
MSC Cruises revealed, on June 18, 2026, new details of the MSC World Asia, a ship under construction in France whose main highlight is a slide that the company projects as the largest aboard a vessel in the world. The information was released by the company and reproduced by NSC Total, which detailed the attraction named The Spiral @ Tree of Life.
For now, everything is still at the shipyard. According to MSC, the vessel is being assembled at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyards in Saint-Nazaire, France, with commercial operation expected to start on December 4, 2026. The slide will be 81.3 meters long and will wind through 12 decks, alongside a sculpture named Tree of Life, nearly 10 meters high and 8 tons, on a ship that is still under construction.
The largest slide aboard, according to MSC
The main highlight revealed is the structure of The Spiral @ Tree of Life. The attraction is presented by MSC as the largest slide aboard a vessel in the world, and, at 81.3 meters in length, the descent will wind through 12 decks, or floors, of the ship.
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Beyond the excitement, the structure will have a practical function on board. According to MSC, the slide will serve as a quick and fun shortcut to reach the World Promenade, the ship’s main boardwalk that features shops, bars, and ocean viewing areas. The slide will be located at The Harbour, an open area designed for family gatherings, with restaurants and sunbathing spaces.
The Tree of Life and the light show
The attraction is based on a monumental sculpture at the center of the ship. The structure begins on a suspended walkway that surrounds the Tree of Life, a sculpture nearly 10 meters tall and weighing 8 tons that serves as a visual anchor for the space.
It is around this piece that the area is expected to come to life at night. At night, according to MSC, the central region will host light shows, with more than 150 meters of integrated LED strips and an exclusive soundtrack. It’s worth clarifying that these 150 meters refer to the lighting of the shows in the environment, not the sculpture itself, which weighs 8 tons.
The MSC World Asia ship and the World class
The MSC World Asia enters a specific lineage of the company. The ship will be the third ocean liner of the so-called World class and is being assembled at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyards in Saint-Nazaire, France, one of Europe’s main shipbuilding hubs.
The project is presented as a combination of engineering and experience. According to the company, the vessel bets on the fusion of European engineering and design with international cuisine and themed entertainment. However, the ship is still under construction, with commercial operation scheduled to begin only on December 4, 2026.
Where the ship will sail from December 2026
The first itineraries are already outlined by the company. The initial plans include seven-night routes through the Mediterranean Sea as soon as the ship enters operation, with departures aimed at tourist destinations in the region.
The planned route passes through some of the most sought-after cities in southern Europe. Among the destinations are Marseille (France), Barcelona (Spain), Valletta (Malta), as well as Naples, Civitavecchia, and Messina (Italy). Details about cabin reservations and the complete travel calendar, according to MSC, are available on the company’s official channels.
Still under construction in France, the MSC World Asia is presented by MSC Cruises as a showcase of naval engineering, and the slide designed as the largest on board in the world is its main calling card. The 81.3-meter structure, which winds through 12 decks alongside the Tree of Life sculpture, nearly 10 meters and 8 tons, is part of a ship set to debut on December 4, 2026, with routes through the Mediterranean. It is worth remembering that the superlatives come from the company itself and refer to a vessel that is still being assembled, not sailing.
And you, what do you think of a ship that has a 12-story slide as its main attraction? Would you take a trip aboard the MSC World Asia when it becomes operational? Share your opinion and exchange ideas with other readers, respecting different opinions.
