When it comes to luxury, size matters

Mega ship World Asia debuts this year, bringing a whole world of fun for families.

- By JULIE DELAHAYE

A HUGE new cruise ship that will rival the size of small UK towns is set to take to the seas later this year. MSC Cruises' MSC World Asia is due to make her debut in December 2026, complete with a water park, over 40 bars and restaurants, a spa, casino, bumper cars, thousands of suites and a shopping gallery.

Boasting a 215,863 gross tonnage, this new sister ship to MSC World Europa and MSC World America will sail on a series of seven-night trips around the sun-soaked Mediterranean and we suspect she'll be popular with cruise fans wanting to beat the winter blues.

The government classifies small towns as having populations of between 5000 and 10,000 residents, and World Asia will be able to hold up to 6758 guests across 2582 cabins.

And that's not forgetting the sheer scale of entertainment onboard too.

While the title of the world's biggest cruise ship will remain with Royal Caribbean's Icon Class ships, MSC World Asia still holds her own when it comes to size.