For my 10th cruise, I sailed on a new-to-me cruise line: MSC Cruises. Having sailed on other lines such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Princess, Celebrity, and Disney, I was eager to see what sets MSC apart from its competitors, especially since it is a European-based company.
Overall, I loved my time on the brand-new MSC World America. As the line's newest ship, it was packed with innovative features and new dining options.
However, there were pros and cons to cruising on MSC World America. I planned my time well and enjoyed nearly every aspect of the cruise, but there's one thing I'd skip on a future sailing.
Yacht Club was worth every penny
My partner and I booked a suite within MSC's exclusive Yacht Club. This "ship-within-a-ship" concept was unlike any other cruise experience I'd ever had.
Those who have cabins within the Yacht Club can access private dining rooms, pool areas, and lounges, and the benefits that we received during the cruise were well worth the higher price tag compared to standard staterooms.
Upon arriving at the cruise terminal, we were escorted to a special embarkation lounge where we were served cookies and champagne. Security was fast and easy, as we had a Yacht Club butler guiding us through the process.
After waiting for another group, we were escorted onto the ship, to our muster stations, and then to the Topsail Lounge for a welcome aboard party with snacks and complimentary drinks.
Our stateroom was easily the biggest I have ever stayed in. It had a spacious bathroom, an extremely long vanity, plenty of storage space, and a gorgeous balcony.
We met our butler and junior butler, and they were nothing short of amazing. They walked us through the benefits of the Yacht Club, all the areas we had access to, and the services they could provide us with.
A huge perk was the Yacht Club Restaurant. They had a different menu from the main dining rooms, but I learned they are not limited to that. Because I have alpha-gal syndrome, I cannot eat red meat, and they were able to accommodate that very well.
The last night of the trip, I asked if they could prepare two dishes that were not on the menu (a shrimp cocktail and chicken parmesan), and they were happy to do so. The food itself was incredible, and the service was the best I've ever had on a cruise ship.
I enjoyed the Yacht Club-only areas since I am not a huge fan of big crowds. MSC World America, having a capacity of 6,700 paying guests, felt very crowded at times. The Yacht Club spaces helped provide areas where we could comfortably relax, move around, and experience a more low-key environment.
The specialty restaurants were delicious
While aboard the ship, my partner and I walked around to check out some of the specialty restaurants on board. We usually opt to eat at at least one specialty restaurant during our cruises, and MSC World America was no different.
Almost immediately after dropping our things off in our cabin, we went to make reservations for Eataly and Kaito Teppanyaki. Since we were planning on dining at two specialty restaurants, we decided to purchase the 2-night dining package. We paid $99 per person to eat at two specialty restaurants of our choosing, which seemed like a fair deal.
Our two dinners were fantastic, and I would highly recommend this package to anyone looking to try out specialty dining at a lower price.
I was very excited to try the only Eataly at sea and was not disappointed. I ordered the fried seafood platter, which was just the right amount of crispy. For a main course, I opted for rigatoni with tomato sauce, which was also superb. The supervisor personally came up to me to guide me through what I could eat and what I couldn't eat because of my dietary restrictions, which I really appreciated.
At Kaito, you won't leave hungry. The vegetarian sushi platter was tasty and was followed by miso soup, noodles, fried rice, and teriyaki chicken (I had requested a few substitutions). Everything was perfectly cooked, and the portion sizes were great. I was nervous that it would be too much food since the hibachi restaurants on other ships I have eaten at have had rather large portions. Still, it was enough to leave satisfied without needing a late-night snack.
Plus, the service at Kaito could not have been better. The waiters, Felmar and Neil, were incredibly accommodating when it came to substitutions due to my allergies and made me feel reassured that I would not experience any accidental contamination, which I had previously experienced in my life. The chef was also very funny and lively!
I could have spent the entire cruise in the spa's thermal suite
The Thermal Suite attached to the Aurea Spa was, in my opinion, one of the best perks of the Yacht Club, and I could’ve gone every day! I am a huge fan of all things self-care, and when I found out we had access to the Thermal Spa with our Yacht Club suite, I was thrilled.
Not only do they have two dry saunas in their thermal suite, but they also have several different treatment rooms. My favorite was the Salt Room. The loungers were heated, which made the experience even more relaxing.
The thermal suite also featured something called the Walking Kneipp, a unique hydrotherapy experience with six small rectangular pools alternating between hot and cold water. Supposedly, this treatment helps improve the circulation in your feet, and it felt great!
There was also a Mediterranean bath, a steam room, and a Ganbanyoku Room with heated stone beds. The thalassotherapy pool was in the heart of the thermal suite and had submerged beds that felt incredible on your muscles. I was upset that the snow room was out of service for our entire sailing.
Read more: MSC Thermal Spa Review: What To Expect, What It Costs, And Is It Worth It
I'm so glad we were able to secure tokens for the invite-only speakeasy
I love a hidden gem inside any establishment, including themed speakeasies. When my partner and I heard there was a speakeasy on MSC World America, we were determined to get an invite. Luckily, we formed great relationships with crew members and were able to get the special tokens.
The process was incredibly fun and secretive, which made it feel extra exclusive! I won’t reveal the process of obtaining these tokens or getting into the speakeasy itself, but let’s just say there’s a phone booth on Deck 6 that isn’t just a phone booth!
After checking in, we were escorted to a prohibition-era bar. The secretive nature made it feel like we were in the 1920s and were risking being arrested for drinking alcohol!
The staff members were dedicated to their roles and created a realistic environment. The live music and drinks were a plus as well.
Something to note is that the drinks are not included in any drink package and can be rather pricey. I ordered two drinks and they came out to $51.25, but they were well worth it!
MSC World America has tons of fun activities
Being a large, family-friendly ship, MSC World America had a lot of options for activities. There was a sportsplex, 3 waterslides, a dry slide, bumper cars, an over-the-water swing, a LEGO activity room, and more. I wish I had carved out time for all the activities, but we participated in a great deal of them!
My favorite was the Cliffhanger, a swing-style machine that extends off the edge of Deck 20. It can be nerve-wracking for those who are afraid of heights (like my partner), but it was a great experience! The views of the ocean are spectacular from up above!
This is a paid experience at $9 per person. You can book a time or walk up, although the lines can get very long! I'd recommend signing your activity waiver at the kiosk on Deck 20 on embarkation day. That way, you can make reservations for the activities directly through MSC's app.
We also tried all the water slides, which had no extra charge. One is a VR experience that simulates the rider going through a jungle! If you are in a two-person tube, only the back rider can use the VR headset. The other slides were racer slides that timed how fast you went.
MSC World America also has a massive dry slide that descends from Deck 20 to Deck 8. Halfway through the ride, the slide becomes see-through, and you can watch as you zoom past each deck. It was a cool experience that was also free! Like with the Cliffhanger, you should reserve a time through the app to bypass the long lines.
The most disappointing thing about MSC World America was the entertainment
Although not everything was bad, I was not impressed with the entertainment available during our sailing. We saw two good shows, but others weren’t as great.
If you are sailing on World America, I would recommend "Dirty Dancing in Concert" and "Queen Symphonic." The Dirty Dancing experience was lively and exciting, with the movie playing in the background the entire time. Talented singers and dancers would perform during parts of the movie without much conversational dialogue, essentially bringing the movie to life.
"Queen Symphonic" was an homage to the famous band Queen, which happened to be one of my mom’s favorites. The singers were absolutely incredible and knew how to draw in a crowd. Expect popular hits like "We Are The Champions," "Bohemian Rhapsody," and "Don't Stop Me Now."
Two other shows were disappointing and not worth our time. "Momentous" was the first one we saw that fell flat. The illusion show wasn't as good as I hoped. A lot was going on at all times (from special effects to blaring music), making it hard to focus on the actual illusions without feeling overstimulated.
"Hall of Fame" was another show that did not live up to my expectations. There were a number of singers who covered well-known songs. The vocalists were pitchy, and it was very hard to hear over the instruments.
They were shouting “MSC World America!” during their songs more than they were singing. My partner and I ended up walking out halfway through, which we have never done on a cruise.
I'd happily sail on MSC World America again
Overall, many things about MSC World America lived up to my expectations. The Yacht Club experience was incredible; the activities were fun and plentiful; the thermal spa was relaxing; the specialty dining was a must; and the speakeasy was a highlight.
That said, I wouldn’t have spent as much time watching the entertainment as I did if I had known the shows would fall flat compared to other great parts about the ship.
Instead, I wish I had done more of the activities, such as the bumper cars and Formula One simulator.
Sarah Cinq-Mars
Sarah is a 5th-grade teacher based in North Carolina. When she isn't teaching or being taught the latest slang by her students, she's catching up on the latest true crime podcast, playing with her 12-year-old dog, or checking out the area's newest restaurants.
Since she began cruising in October 2023, she has hit the high seas 10 times. Her favorite ship has been Celebrity Ascent, and her favorite itinerary was a 7-night voyage to Norway.
