Cruiseship giants MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (RCCL) could be ready to step in and scupper the proposed takeover STX France by Italian yard Fincantieri according to local press reports.

Suggestions that the Fincantieri bid is facing a challenge comes as the Italian yard chief executive Giuseppe Bono is due to visit STX France’s Saint-Nazaire based facility today to outline his ambitions for the cruiseship builder and allay union fears over job security.