MSC Cruises is perhaps one of the most controversial cruise lines at sea. Let's just say that its reputation when it comes to food is not the best.
If you browse Reddit, you'll see warnings like, "MSC has the worst food of any cruise I've been on" and "I can assure you the buffet is horrible."
Although I had previously sailed with MSC Cruises in Europe, I wasn't sure how their newest ship would stack up, especially sailing from Miami, Florida, where American cruisers have different expectations for cruise dining than Europeans.
Maybe it's because I had low expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised by the food onboard MSC World America. Don't get me wrong, there were a few misses, but overall, the meals were flavorful, well-presented, and diverse.
Fair warning: MSC's food isn't the same standard cruise fare you'll find on American lines. However, I think that's why I enjoyed it so much more. In fact, this was one of the only cruises I've ever been on that I haven't disembarked feeling icky and bloated.
Here's my honest review of the food on MSC's newest cruise ship, and why I think you shouldn't be afraid to give it a chance, especially if you're tired of the repetitive options on lines like Carnival and Royal Caribbean.
Pizza & Burger wasn't fancy, but I loved the variety
For a long time, Carnival was the only cruise line that got fast-casual dining right. However, as more and more cruisers place a greater emphasis on quick, quality food options, other lines have started to increase their offerings.
Pizza & Burger is one of the complimentary restaurants on MSC World America. It isn't fancy, but the variety was impressive. Everything from freshly made pizza to chicken tenders, build-your-own nachos, cheeseburgers, mac & cheese, and even buffalo chicken wings was available.
The chicken tenders quickly became one of my favorite grab-and-go options onboard. They weren't life-changing by any means, but they were consistently hot and crispy. I compared them to theme park chicken tenders (in the best way possible).
As the name implies, another highlight of Pizza & Burger was the pizza. Cruise ship pizza doesn't always have the best reputation, but after sailing with MSC Cruises twice, I think it's definitely one of the better options.
It's evident that, as a European cruise line, the pizza quality aboard their ships isn't an afterthought. That said, it still doesn't come close to NY pizza, but it's better than lines like Royal Caribbean and Celebrity.
The menu options were a bit different than what I'm used to, but I never struggled to find something that I liked
When I think of cruise ship dining, I think of shrimp cocktails, tasty French onion soup, strip steaks, lamb chops, and desserts like crème brûlée, chocolate cake, and tiramisu. That's not to say there aren't other options, but they're typically relatively basic.
In the Yacht Club Restaurant, I noticed many dishes that might not appeal to the average American, especially those expecting normal cruise fare. For example, one evening we tried the mixed seafood salad. Although the shrimp was tasty, the octopus's visible suction cups weren't appealing to me.
Other dishes in the Yacht Club ranged from veal osso buco to the twice-baked blue cheese soufflé, pumpkin risotto, asparagus-stuffed tortelli, and duck and chicken terrine.
Overall, it's evident that the menus showcase MSC's European roots. As such, it's a great time for more adventurous eaters to try something different.
In many cases, the selections were elevated takes on familiar dishes — think cabernet-brasied short ribs, pistachio-crusted lamb, and seared scallops with a ginger lime butter sauce.
As such, the Yacht Club menus really did appeal to a variety of tastes and preferences. I never struggled to find something that sounded good or that I was willing to try.
In fact, I'd argue that the cabernet-brasied short ribs were some of the best I've ever had on a cruise ship. The meat was so tender, and the creamy gorgonzola polenta was bold without being overpowering.
Whenever I glanced at the ship's main dining menus, I noticed they weren't as adventurous and were more predictable. Familiar dishes like southern-style fried chicken, BBQ pork ribs, and fettuccine alfredo were listed.
The food was always warm, never lukewarm
Something that really, really impressed me was that our food in the Yacht Club Restaurant was always served warm. This may sound like a small detail, but I've sailed on ships where I've been lucky if I have been served one or two lukewarm meals.
I can't attest to the main dining experience, but the level of consistency in Yacht Club was greatly appreciated. Every dish, from eggs Benedict during breakfast to fresh pasta served for dinner, was served quickly and at the right temperature.
Even the food in the buffet was consistently warm. That said, we only went to the buffet for breakfast and once for lunch, so it may have been different during dinner.
Even still, I noticed that the food at Pizza & Burger was also served hot and fresh. It may have been because of its popularity, though. They needed to constantly prepare fresh chicken tenders and pizza to serve everyone!
The fresh pasta on MSC Cruises is a highlight
If you love pasta, MSC Cruises is the cruise line for you. Whether you're eating in the main dining rooms, the Yacht Club Restaurant, or at the buffet, you'll find a wide variety of freshly made pasta options.
On embarkation day, my partner ordered the penne arrabbiata, and it became one of her go-to dishes throughout the week. Looking back, I think she had it at least five times — and it was always as good as the last time.
One day, I tried the rotating pasta of the day at the Yacht Club Grill. Although I found the bolognese to be a little runny, the taste was spot on. I also thought that for a casual poolside lunch, the presentation was surprisingly good with fresh herbs sprinkled on top.
Even the buffet had freshly made pasta that was leagues above other lines' pasta stations. One afternoon for lunch, I got the carbonara, and it definitely didn't taste like typical buffet pasta. It was something you'd be more likely to see in the dining room on another line.
Affordable but quality specialty restaurants
As someone who cruises at least 10 times per year, I like to splurge on specialty restaurants to elevate my onboard experience. This time, my partner and I purchased a 2-restaurant package for $99 each, which was a fair deal.
We're both self-proclaimed hibachi lovers, so we knew that we needed to try Kaito Teppanyaki. The experience was a little different from standard hibachi restaurants, though. For example, there were three different preset menus to choose from.
Each began with a selection of sushi and sashimi. Then, everyone got miso soup, followed by a seasonal teppan salad, seafood course, garlic fried rice, a second protein (either chicken or beef), and dessert. There was also a vegetarian option.
We noticed that they were willing to work with us to accommodate our personal preferences. Neither my partner nor I, for instance, eat raw fish. Instead of the preset sushi and sashimi selection, they brought us the vegetarian sushi. Moreover, they allowed us to substitute the seafood course for garlic noodles.
Each course was served separately, rather than piling food up on a single plate. There also weren’t the usual stir-fried hibachi vegetables like zucchini, onions, and carrots served with the rice and protein.
That said, the portions, although still massive, were far more reasonable, and we didn't feel like we were wasting as much food as we usually do. However, the food was delicious. My filet was perfectly cooked, and my partner could not get over the juicy teriyaki chicken.
Another must on my list was Eataly, as MSC World America is the only cruise ship in the world with an Eataly at sea. Like Kaito, we did not leave disappointed.
Everything from the burratta to fried seafood platter, massive freshly made rigatoni, and tiramisu was better than expected.
The star of the meal was the rigatoni, with the guanciale giving it the right amount of crunch. Our server brought the most impressive block of Parmesan cheese to the table and generously shaved as much as we wanted on our pasta!
However, I'd be remiss not to talk about the tiramisu. The presentation was unique, with the server placing a sealed jar in front of me and slowly pulling it up to reveal the layered dessert covered with a pillowy layer of mascarpone cream and a dusting of cocoa powder.
Overall, I was impressed with the food on MSC World America
I rarely think a cruise ship has more hits than misses when it comes to food. However, MSC World America constantly exceeded my expectations. Everything from the freshly made pasta to the warm Yacht Club-exclusive cookie skillet and grab-and-go chicken tenders was tasty.
Still, there were a few things that weren't as good as others. For example, I wasn't a fan of the lobster roll served at the Yacht Club Grill. The mayo wasn't very flavorful. I think they wanted to let the freshness of the lobster shine through. Unfortunately, the lobster was also pretty bland.
My partner also ordered a disappointing turkey club from room service one evening. The deli meat was overly slimy, and the lettuce was limp.
That said, the majority of the meals were memorable. I didn't think the food was nearly as bad as others had said. The key is to not expect what's served on American mainstream lines like Royal Caribbean and Carnival. If you go in with that mindset, you won't enjoy the culinary experience on MSC Cruises.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
