I recently took my first ever MSC cruise on the cruise line’s newest ship, the MSC World Europa.
The MSC World Europa is the 6th biggest cruise ship in the world after Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships. Stylish, modern, and filled with activities, MSC’s World Class is set to be a game-changer for the cruise line.
I was excited to sail onboard the MSC World Europa, which launched last December. As a brand new ship, I had high expectations for the vessel. I hoped the ship’s cabins would be spacious and modern, adequately equipped with enough storage, outlets, and amenities for a comfortable stay.
I booked my 7-night Mediterranean cruise on the MSC World Europa just six weeks before the sail date. On this sailing, I decided to keep things simple with an interior cabin, which came out to $1480.
The cost of the cabin included the cruise fare, taxes and fees, and prepaid gratuities. This brought the cost to only $740 per person, which seemed like an excellent deal on a new cruise ship—just a little over $100 per day.
We stayed in stateroom #9533 on this cruise, and the location of our room could not have been better. It was located steps away from the elevator lobby, eliminating the need for lengthy walks down the hallway.
Plus, we were just one deck above the top floor of the ship’s World Galleria, a multi-story thoroughfare with bars, shops, and theaters. This made getting to the World Galleria a breeze—we rarely had to take the elevators.
Upon entering my cabin, the first thing I noticed was that despite its size, the cabin appeared larger than it really was. Furniture and decor were kept minimalistic, which helped to make the cabin appear larger as it wasn’t crammed with shelving and closets.
The beds on the MSC World Europa were comfortable, with a plush mattress and set of three pillows. Our cabin initially had a king bed, but we had this separated into two twin beds. When the bed is separated, the twin beds are moved against the wall. This creates a walkway between the two beds, increasing living space in the cabin.
I appreciated that MSC put USB plugs under the lamp on each side of the bed, as it was a convenient place to charge electronics. We were also able to control the room’s lights via a switch by each bed, which meant we didn’t have to get out of bed to turn on and off the lights.
Next to our bed were two small nightstands. Each nightstand had two shelves which were useful for the extra storage.
Having extra storage was helpful, as I did not find there to be a ton of storage in the room. Our cabin had just one wardrobe with shelves and hanging space. For two people, I found storage a bit tight, but it was adequate for such a small room.
At the foot of one of the beds was a small chair. While relatively comfortable, I missed having a couch or more plush chair to sit on in the cabin.
We had a desk and vanity area in the room as well, with four outlets and 2 USB slots for charging electronics. There were a few shelves above the desk and a mini-fridge below the desk. A small stool was provided for sitting.
On the wall across from our beds was a large television and our stateroom’s phone. While we did not make use of the TV during the sailing, you could use it to watch movies, live TV, and a live feed from the ship’s bridge.
By the door of the cabin was a key card slot, temperature control panel, and my personal favorite: two switches to signal whether or not you want your cabin serviced.
By pressing the DND button, your cabin attendant will know not to enter your room. If you press the Make Up Room button, your cabin will be serviced promptly. I found this system easy to use and liked how it could be modified from inside the cabin.
The bathroom in my interior cabin on the MSC World Europa was small, yet it had everything you could need. I was glad the shower had a glass shower door instead of the curtains found on older ships; it felt cleaner and kept water from seeping onto the floor.
I also appreciated that MSC provided liquid hand soap in the bathroom, which is much nicer than the bar soap found on many other cruise lines. There was also a small cup to hold toothbrushes, which was another nice touch.
Additionally, the shelving in the bathroom was perfect for holding toiletries, makeup, and hair products.
While not the most luxurious cabin on the MSC World Europa, my small inside cabin provided everything I needed for the 7-night sailing. The cabin was clean and seemed more spacious than other interior rooms I have stayed in before.
At just $740 per person, the cabin was an unbeatable deal on this brand new cruise ship. There was so much to do on the MSC World Europa, from production shows to lounging at the pool, that I hardly spent much time in my cabin, anyway.
Booking a budget-friendly cabin allowed me to stretch my budget further. Instead of spending $1000 extra on an upgraded cabin, I used that money to book my flights, try innovative cocktails, and go shopping in port.
I was happy to call my tiny cabin home for the week on the MSC World Europa, and I wouldn’t hesitate to book another interior cabin with the cruise line in the future.
Jenna DeLaurentis
Jenna DeLaurentis enjoys exploring new ports of call around the world on a cruise ship, learning about new cultures, discovering beautiful landscapes, and trying diverse cuisine. She loves to get active while at port, whether cycling through mountains in the Caribbean or scuba diving under the sea.
