MSC Euribia

MSC Euribia is a large cruise ship in the Meraviglia-Plus class, owned and operated by MSC Cruises. It is the third ship in that subclass and the fifth Meraviglia-family vessel constructed by Chantiers de l’Atlantique at Saint-Nazaire, France. The ship was ordered by MSC in 2018, entered construction in June 2020, and had its keel laid in December 2021. It was launched on 22 June 2022, completed sea trials, and was formally delivered to MSC Cruises on 31 May 2023 before entering commercial service in June 2023. The vessel forms part of MSC Cruises’ contemporary fleet of high-capacity resort ships. It measures approximately 180,000 gross tonnage and is about 331.4 metres long, 43 metres wide and 65 metres high. Its design accommodates up to approximately 6,327 passengers and 1,711 crew members. During trials, it reached a reported maximum speed of 23.5 knots. These dimensions and capacity place it among the largest ships in MSC Cruises’ mainstream passenger fleet. A distinguishing feature of MSC Euribia is its propulsion system. It is the second MSC Cruises ship to use liquefied natural gas, or LNG, as its primary fuel. LNG propulsion was adopted as part of the company’s effort to reduce selected air emissions and greenhouse-gas output compared with conventional marine fuels, although LNG-powered cruise operations remain part of the wider environmental debate surrounding fossil fuels and maritime transport. MSC Euribia operates as a cruise product rather than as a separately incorporated consumer brand. Its commercial identity is closely tied to MSC Cruises, whose itineraries, onboard service system, loyalty ecosystem and sales channels support the vessel. The ship’s operating profile combines international cruising with the facilities expected of a modern resort vessel, including passenger accommodation, dining, entertainment and recreation spaces. Its launch expanded MSC Cruises’ LNG-capable fleet and reinforced the company’s strategy of introducing large, technologically updated ships on European and other international routes. In March 2026, according to the cited reference material, MSC Euribia became involved in a regional maritime disruption when it was among several cruise ships delayed in the Gulf after the reported closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the 2026 Iran war. MSC arranged charter flights from Dubai for some affected passengers. The ship later departed Dubai and transited the strait with other vessels while the passage was reportedly open, after which MSC stated that MSC Euribia had passed safely and was returning to Europe.

MSC Euribia was commissioned as part of MSC Cruises’ continuing expansion of the Meraviglia family of cruise ships. MSC placed the order in 2018 with Chantiers de l’Atlantique, the French shipbuilder in Saint-Nazaire responsible for several major MSC vessels. Construction began in June 2020, followed by keel laying in December 2021. The ship was assigned the yard designation V34 during construction. The vessel was launched on 22 June 2022. Launching was followed by fitting-out work and sea trials intended to test the ship’s propulsion, maneuverability and onboard systems before handover. During trials, MSC Euribia reached a reported speed of 23.5 knots. The ship was delivered to MSC Cruises on 31 May 2023 and entered service in June 2023, becoming the third Meraviglia-Plus-class ship and the twenty-second ship operated by MSC Cruises at the time described by the reference material. MSC Euribia is approximately 180,000 gross tonnage, 331.4 metres long and 43 metres wide. It has a reported capacity of up to 6,327 passengers supported by approximately 1,711 crew. Its scale reflects the development of cruise ships as destination resorts, with extensive accommodation, dining, entertainment and recreational facilities integrated into a single vessel. The ship’s most notable technical characteristic is its LNG propulsion. MSC Euribia is identified as the second MSC Cruises ship powered by liquefied natural gas. LNG can reduce certain local air pollutants and some greenhouse-gas emissions compared with traditional marine fuels, and its use marked a step in MSC Cruises’ fleet-renewal and emissions-reduction program. The vessel therefore combines the capacity and design language of the Meraviglia-Plus series with a propulsion system intended to improve environmental performance relative to older ships. Commercially, MSC Euribia is not an independent corporate company. It is a named ship and passenger product within MSC Cruises’ broader fleet. Its routes, sales, branding, staffing and onboard service are managed through MSC Cruises. The vessel has been associated with European and international cruise operations, including Middle Eastern positioning and transit activity described in the 2026 reference material. In March 2026, MSC Euribia was reportedly one of six cruise ships caught in the Gulf during the 2026 Iran war after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz. MSC organized chartered flights with Emirates Airlines to help some stranded passengers return home from Dubai. On 17 April, MSC Euribia departed Dubai with Celestyal Journey, while other affected cruise ships also moved from the region. The ships transited the strait in a group while passage was reportedly available. Reference material states that MSC later reported MSC Euribia had passed safely and was returning to Europe. This episode represents an operational and geopolitical disruption rather than a change in ownership or product identity.

• 2026

  Gulf transit disruption

  [1]MSC Euribiaen.wikipedia.org

  The ship was reportedly delayed in the Gulf during the 2026 Iran war and later transited the Strait of Hormuz while returning toward Europe.

• 2023

  Delivery and entry into service

  [1]MSC Euribiaen.wikipedia.org

  MSC Cruises accepted delivery on 31 May, and MSC Euribia entered passenger service in June.

• 2022

  Ship launched

  [1]MSC Euribiaen.wikipedia.org

  MSC Euribia was launched on 22 June and proceeded to sea trials and final completion work.

• 2021

  Keel laid

  [1]MSC Euribiaen.wikipedia.org

  The ship’s keel was laid in December, marking a major stage in its construction.

• 2020

  Construction begins

  [1]MSC Euribiaen.wikipedia.org

  Shipbuilding work on MSC Euribia began at the Saint-Nazaire shipyard in June.

• 2018

  MSC orders MSC Euribia

  [1]MSC Euribiaen.wikipedia.org

  MSC Cruises placed an order for the future Meraviglia-Plus-class ship with Chantiers de l’Atlantique.

A large, contemporary MSC Cruises resort ship positioned around high-capacity international cruising, Meraviglia-class onboard experiences and lower-emission LNG propulsion relative to the company’s conventionally fueled vessels.

• Meraviglia-Plus-class cruise ship · 2022

  MSC Euribia

  MSC Euribia is an approximately 180,000-gross-ton cruise ship built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique for MSC Cruises. The vessel is around 331.4 metres long and can carry approximately 6,327 passengers with 1,711 crew. It combines large-scale accommodation, dining, entertainment and recreation facilities with LNG propulsion. As the third Meraviglia-Plus-class ship, it extends MSC Cruises’ high-capacity resort-ship platform while adding a fuel system intended to reduce selected emissions compared with conventional marine propulsion.

• 2018

  Commissioning of a new Meraviglia-Plus shipProduct launch

  Background

  MSC Cruises ordered MSC Euribia as part of the expansion of its Meraviglia family and its large-ship fleet.

  Action taken

  The company commissioned construction from Chantiers de l’Atlantique, with the ship later developed as an LNG-powered Meraviglia-Plus vessel.

  Aftermath

  The ship was launched in 2022, delivered in 2023 and entered service in June 2023.

  Source

1. 1MSC Euribiaen.wikipedia.org