MSC World Europa Offers Sneak Peek at MSC World America

MSC Cruises boldly calls MSC World Europa “the future of cruising,” and after spending a week aboard the vessel in early March, we can attest that the boast isn’t just marketing hype.  As the line’s largest ship yet – and the first of MSC’s World class to debut – the 5,252-guest (double occupancy) LNG-powered megaship, now sailing year-round in the Mediterranean, builds on, and improves upon the line’s previous Seaside-class vessels with enhanced features, convenience, and functionality. 

World Europa’s breakthrough green technologies, including water recycling, shore-to-ship power, wastewater treatment, and underwater noise mitigation represent forward-thinking strategies and procedures, but its creature comforts impress equally. In fact, World Europa sports a stylish look-and-feel that takes its predecessors’ design to another level. 

Conveniently for travel advisors, World Europa provides a window into what sister ship MSC World America – currently under construction – has in store for guests when it reaches North American shores in spring 2025. 

Looking back across the company’s history of newbuilds, World Europa essentially takes the modern Italian design of MSC Divina and meshes it with the flash of MSC Seascape, creating a sexy, stunning vessel that turns heads inside and out. The ship’s interior design, enhanced by rich finishes and fine fabrics, feels more upmarket than the average fares would suggest. 

There is, however, a noticeable lack of Swarovski Crystal staircases – an iconic feature on previous MSC vessels – in the main atrium.  Meanwhile, a curvy, wave-like design, evoking the ocean, predominates aboard, from the ship’s striking superstructure to numerous interior architectural elements. 

Global village
If a cruise ship could evoke the image of the mythical “global village,” where nationalities and cultures mix easily and amicably, World Europa would come close to reaching that ideal.  On a recent seven-day Western Mediterranean itinerary, Italian, Spanish, French and German guests predominated, while North Americans were in the minority. Expect that ratio to reverse, however, when MSC World America begins sailing from Miami.  

And precisely because of the “global village” ambience onboard World Europa, with announcements in five languages and a Mediterranean-focused culinary program this isn’t a product for ethnocentric, incurious Americans.

Instead, for slightly more sophisticated clients seeking an immersion in European culture and gastronomy, this vessel provides exposure to a world that few of us get to experience aboard U.S.-focused cruise products.  But MSC now has the advantage of years of experience operating in the U.S. market, thus allowing the line to tailor the onboard product – and transition it – to North American standards without losing the European flavor that is ultimately at the heart of the brand. 

Managing the masses by design  
In order to reduce crowding during peak mealtimes in the buffet area (an issue that plagues Seaside-class ships when sailing at capacity), World Europa instead features two nearly-identical buffet venues, one deck apart. On our heavily-booked voyage (6,434 guests), both buffet venues were packed during peak mealtime hours, but the crew did an admirable job of cleaning tables and refilling serving trays on the various lines. Food quality and variety were impressive here, and the excellent pastas (four variations daily), pizzas (four types), and complex demi-desserts like fruit tartlets, Napoleon, eclairs, and chocolate pot de creme served to distinguish MSC’s buffet offering as the best in its competitive set. Meanwhile, main dining room menus featured a tasty array of soups, Mediterranean dishes, and pastas that also stood out, but service in these venues was inconsistent.

In a casual dining enhancement, the line’s excellent pizza-by-the-slice is now available at a self-service, diner-style outlet on Deck 6, so guests no longer have to navigate the buffet for a slice.

The Chef’s Garden Kitchen, so named because of its onboard hydroponic garden, grows microgreens and other vegetables used here and in other shipboard eateries. Featuring a sophisticated menu developed by Michelin-starred, Swedish chef Niklas Ekstedt, the eatery is a rare example of a true gourmet restaurant aboard a mass-market ship. Of the other specialty restaurants, the Greek-themed La Pescaderia was notable for its nightly, fresh fish display in a market-style setting along with patio dining.

Larger Yacht Club, expanded al fresco dining
The MSC Yacht Club, the line’s popular ship-within-a-ship luxury product, continues its refinement on World Europa. The two-level Yacht Club Lounge and Restaurant is similar in design to the Seaside-class ships, but the suite inventory is enlarged and enhanced with 152 total units – including 7 duplexes – spread over six decks.

The World-class platform also features an enlarged Yacht Club Pool and Sun Deck, and the Yacht Club Grill and Bar is a stunning, sunlit space overlooking the bow, featuring full-service breakfast and lunch, with no buffet option.

And in a first for the line, the casual La Brasserie is a new alternative dinner restaurant for Yacht Club passengers featuring a globally inspired menu of small plates and shareable mains, served family style. We dined there on two evenings in order to sample the large and diverse menu, and were impressed both times.

New balcony category, World Galleria impress
Also new to the World Class are inward-facing balcony cabins that overlook the outdoor World Promenade along the open spine of the ship, reminiscent of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class vessels, but without all the noise and activity typically experienced by guests in that brand’s Boardwalk balcony cabins.

Also new is the drop-dead gorgeous, three-deck, indoor World Galleria, located in the heart of the ship, which epitomizes the predominant Italian design. Serving as both a navigational aid and a social hub for guests, the World Galleria rivals any upscale shoreside mall with restaurants, bars, shopping, and entertainment – and some of the best people-watching at sea.

Of the 20 bars and lounges aboard, two interesting venues will also be coming to MSC World America: The Gin Project and Masters of the Sea. Spirit-specific lounges are a relatively new phenomenon in the cruise industry and The Gin Project, serving myriad varieties of gin-based cocktails, is further proof that cruisers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their beverage tastes. Meanwhile, an attached onboard brewery produces craft beer. There’s no word yet on whether the ingeniously designed – and well-hidden – 1920’s-era, secret speakeasy will reappear on MSC World America.

Inside activities rival top deck options
Upper-deck amusements – now a requisite on contemporary megaships – include a massive aquapark, waterslides, seven swimming pools, and a solarium. But the fun doesn’t stop inside either, where bumper cars, a 5D cinema ride, roller skating, and what MSC calls the longest dry slide at sea beckon kids of all ages.

MSC’s main showroom entertainment has always been first-rate, and that trend continues aboard MSC World Europa, featuring musicals with superior production values, top-tier vocal talent, creative themes, and circus acrobats to add excitement.  And the troupe that provides nightly entertainment in the lovely Panorama Lounge is equally talented.

The company’s World Class platform represents an upgrade from the Seaside class, and applies lessons learned in a new, practically-designed, and beautiful platform. Travel advisors can expect MSC World Europa’s beauty, style, and hospitality highlights to be replicated aboard MSC World America, but recast and reshaped for North American travelers, while still maintaining the product features that make MSC Cruises unique among its competitive set.