MSC Cruises has completed the installation of a spectacular 12-metre-long dragon sculpture aboard its newest flagship, MSC World Asia, as construction of the vessel enters its final months ahead of its maiden Mediterranean season in December 2026.
Currently under construction at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France, MSC World Asia will welcome its first guests from 4 December, operating seven-night Mediterranean itineraries calling at destinations including Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Civitavecchia (Rome), Messina and Valletta.
The latest milestone sees a huge stainless-steel dragon suspended 10 metres above the ship’s Outdoor World Promenade, an open-air area combining ocean views with dining, entertainment and relaxation.
3,000 LED lights and 700 mirrors
Measuring 12 metres long and 3.5 metres wide, the pearlescent white sculpture has been designed by Balich Wonder Studio, the international creative company behind major live entertainment productions and ceremonies around the world.
Nearly 700 mirrors cover the dragon, while 400 metres of integrated strip lighting and more than 3,000 LED light points are intended to create a sense of movement and reflection. After dark, the sculpture will illuminate the promenade, giving passengers the impression of a dragon flying above the ship.
The centrepiece ties into MSC World Asia‘s broader design concept, which incorporates references to Asian culture, art and landscapes throughout the vessel.
“For the first time, an icon becomes the defining symbol of a ship: a powerful expression of identity, created to inspire dreams and enrich every journey,” said Marco Balich, Chairman of Balich Wonder Studio. “The dragon brings together vision, craftsmanship and emotion, creating an experience that will remain with guests long after their journey.”
Third vessel in MSC Cruises’ World Class
MSC World Asia will become the third ship in MSC Cruises’ World Class series, following MSC World Europa and MSC World America. The new flagship combines European design with international influences and will offer a wide range of restaurants, entertainment venues and family attractions.
As previously reported by Travel Tomorrow, one of the vessel’s major new features will be The Harbour, an outdoor family theme park featuring attractions including the Cliffhanger, an over-water swing that suspends passengers above the ocean.
The attraction forms part of the Family Aventura District, an area dedicated to family entertainment. MSC Cruises has said the experiences aboard MSC World Asia have been developed to combine technology with increasingly popular outdoor and adventure activities.
The vessel is also part of MSC Cruises’ wider investment in a new generation of more energy-efficient ships. In an interview with Travel Tomorrow earlier this year, Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago highlighted the importance of the World Class programme to the company’s decarbonisation strategy.
Like its sister ships, MSC World Asia will feature dual-fuel engines capable of operating on LNG and renewable alternatives such as bio and synthetic LNG as they become available at scale. MSC Cruises aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from its marine operations by 2050.
The World Class series also reflects the cruise line’s longstanding relationship with Chantiers de l’Atlantique. Vago told Travel Tomorrow that around 70% of each MSC ship built there is made in France, highlighting the importance of European shipbuilding expertise and engineering to the company’s expansion.
With its illuminated dragon now in place, MSC World Asia is taking on more of its final identity before entering service on 4 December and beginning its first winter season in the Mediterranean.
