MSC has announced it is to enter the luxury cruise market with a new brand, Explora Journeys.
Explora will initially operate with four ship, the first of which will set sail in 2023. Three more ships will follow in 2024, 2025 and 2026.
The 14-deck ships will have 461 cabins, with floor-to-ceiling windows and private terraces.
The outdoor decks will have three pools and 64 private cabanas.
Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago said: “Building a luxury brand that will redefine the cruise experience and create a category of its own has been a long-held vision of mine and my family.”