MSC Cruises has exercised an option for two Meraviglia-Plus mega cruise ships with STX France.

The two underlying options had been confirmed by MSC Cruises executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago in February.

Now the two companies have agreed on all ship specifications hence construction will be able to begin in earnest.

The two next-generation ships – the largest ships ever built for a European cruise line and the second largest globally – will be delivered in October 2019 and July 2020, respectively.

Vago commented: “I am extremely pleased to see us continuing to deliver against our industrial plan with the coming into force of the final contract for the two Meraviglia-Plus ships.

“I view this as a further reflection of the strength of the relationship in place from day one between MSC Cruises and STX France.

“It is for this reason that, in addition to having built at STX France all twelve of our existing ships, through 2026 up to eight more are currently planned to be built in France at STX.”

The two units are part of MSC Cruises’ industry-unprecedented €9 billion investment plan, for eleven new next-generation cruise ships that will come into service by 2026.

The Meraviglia-Plus ships are a further evolution of the Meraviglia class prototype, increasing their GRT to 177,000 with 2,450 guest cabins.

The first of the two identical Meraviglia class ships that is currently being built will come into service in June 2017, featuring 167,000 GRT and 2,250 guest cabins. 

The MSC Cruises Meraviglia-Plus class is the next-level generation of ships for all seasons.

At 331 meters-long and with the addition of 200 extra cabins, the two ships will feature a maximum capacity of 6,300 guests.