Why Everyone Is Excited About MSC New Frontier Class

As of July 2026, MSC Cruises has not revealed the restaurants, attractions or deck plans for its upcoming New Frontier class yet!

So why are people already excited about it?

Well, the answer comes down to two numbers: approximately 180,000 gross tons AND a maximum capacity of only 5,400 guests!

On their own, those numbers may not sound especially interesting. But when compared with MSC’s existing ships, they suggest New Frontier could offer a noticeably different onboard experience.

Almost the Same Size as MSC Grandiosa

MSC New Frontier will be roughly the same size as the Meraviglia Plus Class.

MSC Grandiosa measures 181,541 gross tons and can carry as many as 6,334 passengers. New Frontier is expected to measure approximately 180,000 gross tons, but carry no more than 5,400 passengers.

That means New Frontier could be almost the same overall size as MSC Grandiosa while carrying 934 fewer guests at maximum capacity.

Based on those figures, New Frontier would have around 16% more gross tonnage per passenger than MSC Grandiosa. Gross tonnage measures enclosed volume rather than the exact amount of usable passenger space, but it is still a helpful way to compare how densely different ships may be designed.

MSC New Frontier could be Meraviglia Plus-sized, but with almost 1,000 fewer people onboard.

Could That Mean Shorter Lines?

Potentially, but it is too early to make any promises.

Fewer passengers aboard a similarly sized ship could reduce pressure on elevators, restaurants, bars and entertainment venues. It may also make it easier to find seating in lounges or move through busy areas of the ship.

However, shorter lines will depend on more than passenger capacity. MSC could use the additional volume for larger cabins, crew areas, attractions or other spaces that do not directly increase capacity in public venues.

The number and size of restaurants, elevators and entertainment spaces will matter just as much. Until MSC releases the deck plans, shorter waits remain a possibility rather than a confirmed feature.

Could There Be More Open-Deck Space?

The lower passenger count could also give MSC more freedom when designing the pool decks and outdoor areas.

New Frontier could potentially have more loungers per guest, wider walkways or larger outdoor venues without needing to accommodate the maximum capacity found aboard the Meraviglia Plus ships.

This could be especially appealing to cruisers who enjoy MSC’s large ships but sometimes find the pool deck or buffet busy during sea days.

Again, MSC has not confirmed that New Frontier will have larger pools, more deck space or fewer cabins. Those are simply possibilities suggested by the ship’s announced size and passenger capacity.

Could New Frontier Feel More Premium?

New Frontier may also provide a more premium feeling without becoming a small luxury ship.

A lower-density design could create a calmer atmosphere, more seating and less competition for popular spaces. The ships would still be large enough to offer the dining, entertainment and family features people expect from a modern MSC cruise.

MSC has said the new class will provide an “exceptional guest experience,” support new and exclusive itineraries and introduce next-generation environmental technologies. The cruise line has not yet explained exactly what that guest experience will include.

New Frontier could therefore sit in an interesting place within the MSC fleet: a true large ship, but potentially without packing in as many passengers as other ships of a similar size.

What Has MSC Actually Confirmed?

MSC has ordered four New Frontier ships from Meyer Werft in Germany, with options for two additional vessels.

Each ship is planned to measure approximately 180,000 gross tons and carry a maximum of 5,400 guests. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2030, with a new ship arriving annually.

MSC has not yet confirmed:

• Ship names
• Restaurants and bars
• Pools or water attractions
• Cabin numbers or layouts
• MSC Yacht Club
• Homeports or itineraries
• Entertainment venues
• How the additional space will be used

That distinction is important. More deck space, shorter lines and a more premium atmosphere have not been announced by MSC. They are what the early size and capacity figures suggest may be possible.

The Bottom Line

The excitement surrounding MSC New Frontier is not about a newly announced roller coaster, restaurant or waterslide.

It is about the possibility of getting a large MSC ship with many of the amenities cruisers enjoy, but with nearly 1,000 fewer guests than a similarly sized Meraviglia Plus ship.

Whether that results in shorter lines, less crowded decks or a more premium experience will depend on how MSC uses the space.

For now, none of those features are confirmed. But the numbers suggest New Frontier could take MSC’s next generation of ships in a very interesting direction.