Exploring the MSC World America: A Comprehensive Review by T+L

Being a travel writer with a family comes with its fair share of guilt—never more so than when I’m in a beautiful place and my husband and daughter are at home. And so it was recently, when I reached them by video call while I was laying on a sandy Caribbean beach, piña colada in hand. Later, I called them from my balcony on the MSC World America, with turquoise waters below me. When I sent my 13 year old a video of the dessert buffet, she replied, “Stop it—I don’t want to see anymore!” Sharing, it seems, is not always caring.

But how could I not be enthused? I’d hopped aboard the ship for a three-day inaugural sailing that included a gala naming ceremony attended by Orlando Bloom and Drew Barrymore. As the ship’s godmother, Barrymore got the honor of cutting a ribbon to release a magnum of Champagne, which smashed against the bow and officially christened the vessel.

I was eager to see World America up close because my family and I had sailed on a similar vessel, MSC World Europa, in the Mediterranean last fall. There’s an indisputably European vibe on that ship, influencing the service style, the cuisine, and the entertainment, all of which are tailored to guests from the Continent. So I was curious how World America, which will sail in and out of Miami year-round, would be different.

“I think the expectation for Americans is not the size of the ship or the shape of the different spaces, but it’s more about service,” said Bernard Stacher, MSC’s senior vice president of shipboard hospitality operations, when I spoke with him aboard the ship. “It’s more about food and entertainment choices, about knowing the name of your server at dinner,” he explained. For example, World America has a comedy club instead of the tea room found on World Europa, and it has an Eataly restaurant rather than a Nordic-influenced Chef’s Garden. The new ship also has a sports bar, a (bigger) candy store, tons of theme park–style attractions, and a “Dirty Dancing” musical revue. Really, is there anything more American than that?

“In Europe, our American guests get a little bit of a European experience,” said Stacher. “Well, over here, the Europeans are getting a little bit of a toned down version of the American experience.”

All the tweaks are in service of MSC’s continued efforts to crack the U.S. market. The company has been operating in North America since 1998, but World America, with its capacity for more than 6,700 passengers, is by far the brand’s biggest play yet. It’s also an unabashed shot across the bow of Royal Caribbean International, which operates Icon of the Seas, currently the largest cruise ship at sea.

As a resident of Italy, I felt particularly well positioned to weigh in on MSC’s attempt to blend its European roots with American-style service. And I found the staff to be so ebullient on World America that they’re likely to give any European visitors a bit of welcome-to-America culture shock: folks, we are exceedingly chatty people. At the same time, I was impressed by the speed and efficiency with which MSC was able to handle all those thousands of passengers. The company’s new state-of-the-art cruise terminal in Miami allows for super-fast self-check-in, even when World America is at full capacity and there are other MSC vessels in port.

And while my husband and daughter weren’t able to join me, I did get to explore the ship with my sister as my cabin mate. Between the two of us, we put the ship to the test. Here’s a closer look at the amenities, restaurants, staterooms, and services that make up the World America experience.

The Staterooms

My sister and I had a Deluxe Balcony Stateroom, which measured about 180 square feet. Once we unpacked and slid our suitcases under the beds we had plenty of room, with a small couch, two twin beds (which can be made up as a double), plus a table and two chairs on the balcony. As I noted in my review of the Yacht Club experience on World Europa, MSC furnishes its staterooms with Italian-made Dorelan mattresses and pillows, which really are quite comfortable. If I had any quibbles, it was the lack of small extras like bottled water and bathroom amenities beyond shampoo and body wash. Otherwise, our room did what it was supposed to do, which was to provide a comfortable, unfussy place to sleep and relax.

In total, there are 2,614 cabins on World America, and about 1,700 of them have balconies—though some have obstructed views or overlook the World Promenade rather than the ocean. Upgrading to the Aurea or Yacht Club categories afford more space and perks. The former includes daily access to the Aurea Spa thermal area and a dedicated restaurant, while Yacht Club, MSC’s ship-within-a-ship concept, offers an upscale experience with dedicated restaurants and a premium drinks package; guests in these suites also get guaranteed reservations at specialty restaurants and theatre shows, plus other VIP perks.

There are also less expensive cabins with fixed windows or portholes, as well as some very affordably priced interior cabins, including some designated for solo travelers.

Bars and Restaurants

There are seven complimentary options, including two buffets, four sit-down restaurants, and a pizza and burger spot. As is the case on many big ships, passengers can choose early or late dining when they book, and they will be assigned to one of the four restaurants with table service, where they’ll have the same table and, likely, the same server for the duration of the cruise.

Specialty restaurants, which come with an extra charge, are where MSC really leans on its Mediterranean roots. I sadly wasn’t able to get into Eataly, the brand’s only restaurant at sea, which was wildly popular. I did get to dine at Paxos Greek restaurant and had sushi at Kaito. The other specialty options are Butcher’s Cut steakhouse and the casual Hola! Tacos & Cantina. There are plenty of other pay-as-you-go options, including a sports bar, an English-style pub, a sweets shop, a gelateria, and—for the virtuous—a juice bar.

In terms of bars, it seemed like one was always in sight; had we been on a longer cruise, I imagine we would have settled into a favorite. One that’s not so apparent is the ship’s secret speakeasy: in order to gain entry, a staff member has to slip you a token and tip you off to the hidden location of the entrance. It’s as fun as it sounds.

Where World America Sails

World America will be based in Miami, sailing from MSC’s massive new terminal, which is, as of May 2025, the world’s largest. It’s worth noting that our check-in process was seamless, and my sister and I were on board within minutes of arriving at the terminal.

From Miami, the ship will offer 7- and 14-day cruises to the Western and Eastern Caribbean. In the west, itineraries include stops along Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula and at Roatán, Honduras. In the east, stops include San Juan, Puerto Rico and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Every itinerary includes at least one day at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, the line’s private island in the Bahamas—more on that below.

Shore Excursions

On my short preview cruise, the only time I got off the ship was for a few lovely, relaxing hours on Ocean Cay. This private island reserve has sandy beaches, a lagoon with snorkeling, plus a restaurant, food trucks, and plenty of bars. (Yacht Club guests have their own private beach, restaurant, and bar.) I donned a snorkel and fins and managed to find a few tropical fish in the lagoon. There are also excursions, at an extra cost, that include activities such as jet skiing, paddleboarding, kayaking, and climbing the island’s lighthouse. My take is that you could easily skip the paid excursions, spend the day under a beach umbrella, and not feel like you missed out on much. That said, it’s important to be one of the first guests off the ship when arriving at Ocean Cay, in order to stake out a prime spot on the far side of the lagoon, with its sheltered beach.

Amenities and Entertainment

If you can imagine it, World America probably has it—and in multiples. Outdoor amenities include seven pools (one with a retractable roof), four waterslides, 13 hot tubs, a ropes course, the one-of-its-kind Cliffhanger swing, and an 11-story dry slide. We dipped into the main Mar Azul pool, but had the cruise been full of little kids, we might have headed to the Zen Area, where there are two pools, hot tubs, and a bar reserved for adults. The Cliffhanger, which swings out over the sea, was less scary than I thought it would be; the ropes course was scarier than I expected. As for the JawDrop slide? Fun, but I was relieved when my ride was over.

For more passive entertainment, the ship has a Vegas-style casino with slots and table games, and two theaters with Broadway-style shows. The “Dirty Dancing” show, with its live band and solid dancing and singing, was a definite step up compared to the performances I saw on World Europa. Across the ship, especially in the World Promenade and Galleria areas, there are pop-up entertainers, roaming musicians, photographers, and other diversions.

I also made time for a Balinese massage and a facial at the Aurea Spa, which also offers hair and nail services and a number of techy rejuvenation treatments. The Aurea Spa Thermal Suite is a fee-based area (unless you’ve booked in Aurea or Yacht Club class) that offers saunas, whirlpools, a salt cave, and relaxation areas. I didn’t get to try it, but the facility looked inviting when I took a quick tour.

Family-friendly Offerings

MSC has long billed itself as oriented toward families, and the company has upped its game with World America. In addition to the water park and Harbour diversions, the ship has five kids clubs for various age cohorts. There’s also a multi-room LEGO construction zone, numerous video game stations, classic arcade consoles, three Formula 1 simulators, and a bumper cars area that doubles as a soccer pitch.

Kids certainly aren’t going to go hungry or thirsty, as there’s plenty of kid-friendly fare at the buffets, including a twice-daily dessert spread. Paid treats include gelato, DIY ice cream bars, chocolate, hot chocolate, and “freakshakes,” those made-for-social-media concoctions.

Accessibility

There are 65 ADA-compliant cabins on World America. Most public areas are accessible to wheelchairs and electric scooters, and fat-tire beach wheelchairs are available at Ocean Cay.