As TPG's cruise team lead, Gene Sloan oversees the site's cruise content and also writes many of TPG's main cruise guides. He has spent nearly 30 years writing about cruise ships and cruising, and he is one of the world's best-known authorities on the topic.
March 11, 2026 • 40 min read
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Editorial note: TPG's Gene Sloan accepted a free trip from MSC Cruises to experience MSC World America. The opinions expressed below are entirely his and weren’t subject to review by the line.
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Quick summary
MSC World America is a massive, Miami-based cruise ship offering affordable Caribbean sailings with extensive onboard amenities and entertainment.
The ship features a wide range of restaurants, bars, pools and family-friendly attractions, rivaling the largest vessels in the industry.
Entry-level fares are notably lower than comparable megaships, though extra charges apply for specialty dining, select activities and gratuities.
MSC World America is best suited to travelers who enjoy lively, bustling environments rather than quiet or intimate settings.
What to consider
Expect additional fees for many specialty restaurant dishes, certain attractions and onboard services such as Wi-Fi and laundry.
Automatic daily service charges and bar gratuities are added to your bill, with no option to adjust service charges onboard.
Cabin selection can be complex due to numerous categories; exclusive suite areas offer extra perks but at a premium price.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed breakdown of the ship’s standout venues, entertainment options, cabin types and practical tips for maximizing your cruise experience.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Looking for a Caribbean cruise that is as affordable as it is a blast?
MSC World America may be the answer.
The massive, Miami-based vessel, which TPG just named the best new cruise ship of the year, is a ship built on a scale only before seen with a handful of Royal Caribbean vessels — notably the line's hugely popular Icon Class and Oasis Class ships. And like those vessels, it's loaded with so many deck-top amusements, entertainment venues, eateries and bars that you'll never get bored.
But unlike the newest of those Royal Caribbean ships, MSC World America boasts starting fares that make it accessible to vacationers on even the tightest of budgets. On some seven-night sailings, entry-level cabins on MSC World America start at around $600 to $700 per person — half as much as Royal Caribbean's newest ships sailing out of Florida.
As I saw during a recent seven-night sailing on MSC World America out of Miami, the lower price makes it a great choice for vacationers looking for a megaship experience in the Caribbean that won't break the bank.
The biggest caveat to picking this ship: You have to be OK with crowds. MSC World America carries a lot of people, and it's a very lively and at times loud vessel. If it's intimacy and quiet you want in a cruise vacation, this isn't the ship for you.
Overview of MSC World America
MSC World America. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
MSC World America was the world's eighth-largest cruise ship when it debuted in 2025, and although one other new vessel (Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas) has since surpassed it in size, MSC World America remains one of the true giants of cruising.
MSC Cruises built MSC World America on a massive scale — at 216,638 gross tons, it is the biggest MSC Cruises ship ever — not to set a size record but to ensure there was room for a large range of onboard activities and venues, as that's what many cruisers want these days. On that goal, it delivers at an impressive level. As you'll read about below, MSC World America has more restaurants, bars, showrooms and deck-top fun zones than just about any resort anywhere at sea or on land.
Notably, in the world of big-ship cruising, only Royal Caribbean has vessels of a similar size that are loaded with a similar number of onboard activities and venues. All eight of the cruise ships that currently surpass MSC World America in size are Royal Caribbean ships.
Like those vessels, MSC World America is designed to hold a huge number of people. Rising 20 decks high, it can carry an astounding 6,762 passengers with every berth filled. Add in its 2,138 or so crew, and you're looking at a ship that often sails with around 9,000 people on board — an unusually large number even by land resort standards.
Still, like Royal Caribbean's biggest ships, MSC World America has a thoughtful layout that spreads passengers around in a way that eases congestion.
It's also an easy-to-navigate ship. As is quickly evident once you board, the majority of MSC World America's restaurants, bars, shops and entertainment venues sit along a three-deck-high interior promenade that is easy to find and maneuver around. Called the World Galleria, it's on an even bigger scale than the Royal Promenade areas found on Royal Caribbean's Icon Class and Oasis Class ships.
An outdoor extension of the World Galleria at the back of the ship called World Promenade, meanwhile, offers even more eateries, a coffee bar and shops.
The major public zones of the ship also include extensive top-deck areas with multiple pools, waterslides and other amusements.
In its layout and amenities, MSC World America has quite a bit of overlap with Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class and Icon Class ships — and that's not by accident. The vessel is part of a new class of MSC Cruises ships designed to compete head-to-head with Royal Caribbean's biggest ships in what is shaping up as an epic battle for the megaship lovers.
What I loved about MSC World America
The amazing array of things to do
GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
MSC World America is home to so many deck-top amusements, bars, eateries and shows of all types that you'll never have time to do it all. And that applies to travelers across all ages and budgets. Whether you're young or old, traveling with or without kids, or on a budget of big or small proportions, you'll find lots of options on this ship.
The family-friendliness
From a water park area with four giant waterslides to the first swing ride at sea, MSC World America is loaded with family-friendly attractions. It's not quite as packed with family-focused venues as Royal Caribbean's new Icon Class ships. (There are no surfing simulators or ice-skating rinks, for instance.) However, it definitely reigns among the top vessels for families in the Caribbean, where it is based year-round.
What I didn’t love about MSC World America
The extra-extra charges at restaurants
Many of the best dishes at MSC World America's extra-charge restaurants come with extra charges in addition to the supposedly flat-fee pricing for the eateries. At the ship's seafood-focused Greek restaurant Paxos, for instance, only six of the 18 fish dishes available on the menu are included when booking one of the ship's flat-fee dining packages (which start at an already hefty $44.75 per meal for a four-restaurant package). The rest come with an extra $20 charge. If you want a fish cooked whole instead of in fillet form (the best option on the menu, in my opinion), you'll pay yet another $20 on top of that initial $20 charge. And that doesn't include an automatic 18% gratuity.
MSC World America cabins and suites
GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
MSC World America has a mind-boggling number of cabin and suite categories — 31 in all. But finding the right cabin category for you isn't as complicated as it might at first seem. Many cabin categories on MSC World America are essentially the same, with the exception of room locations.
For instance, there are six categories of outward-facing balcony cabins that are all basically the same in size and decor. The only differences among them are where they are located around the ship and whether they have clear or obstructed views.
Four more categories of balcony cabins that are all similar in layout face inward over the World Promenade area.
Other room categories include five types of ocean-view cabins (a cabin with a window but no balcony) and three types of windowless inside cabins. There are more differences among these categories, so it pays to study their layouts before booking.
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A Yacht Club Deluxe suite in the MSC Yacht Club. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
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MSC Yacht Club suites come with personal espresso drink makers. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
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Yacht Club Deluxe suites are larger than standard cabins at 323 square feet. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
Then there are the ship's 13 categories of suites, where there is more differentiation. In some cases, these suites are part of an exclusive, seven-deck-high suite area at the front of the ship called the MSC Yacht Club that has its own private restaurant, lounge and outdoor pool area — something found on most MSC Cruises vessels.
My cabin was within this MSC Yacht Club area, and the exclusive private areas that came with it really were wonderful. I particularly loved my special access to the Top Sail Lounge, a stylish space with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the bow. Filled with curvy sofas in comfortable boucle and velvet fabrics, as well as its own bar, it served as a quiet escape from the ship's bustling public areas.
One deck up, a private restaurant for MSC Yacht Club guests offered elevated cuisine in an intimate setting. The two decks above that were home to the exclusive MSC Yacht Club Sundeck and Bar — a serene oasis for outdoor lounging with its own pool, whirlpool and an outdoor grill open for breakfast and lunch. Like the rest of the MSC Yacht Club complex, it felt a world away from the ship's public areas.
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The Top Sail Lounge, overlooking the ship's bow, is open exclusively to passengers staying in the MSC Yacht Club. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
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The bar at the Top Sail Lounge. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
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The MSC Yacht Club Sundeck is a quiet oasis for outdoor lounging. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
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The MSC Yacht Club Sundeck has its own pool and whirlpool as well as plush lounge chairs. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
Dubbed a Yacht Club Deluxe suite, my room measured about 323 square feet, including its balcony area. That's unusually large for a cruise ship cabin. It was spacious enough to contain everything I could want for a week at sea: a king bed that could split into two single beds, a large built-in desk area, a seating area with a sofa and table, and lots of built-in closet space.
I was generally happy with my Yacht Club Deluxe suite on MSC World America. While it wasn't inordinately high-end in its finishings, it had a clean-lined, contemporary look that felt modern. It also came with all sorts of extra perks that you don't get with most MSC World America cabins, including access to the ship's fastest Wi-Fi service (up to two devices per person), a premium drink package, access to the thermal area in the ship's spa and 24-hour butler service.
One area of the room that was less fancy than expected for a suite was the bathroom. It featured relatively basic tile flooring and inexpensive composite wall paneling. That said, it was updated and bright, with a thoughtful layout that made the most of its space.
I particularly liked the large size of the bathroom's walk-in shower and the ample shelving space for toiletries.
Yacht Club Deluxe suite bathrooms have a modern look. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
If my Yacht Club Deluxe suite had a flaw, it was in the narrow balcony. It wasn't wide enough to really use as a space to lounge in the sun or sit with a companion.
One detail of the room I loved was the placement of nightstands with large drawers on each side of the bed where I could hide all my electronics and their cords. Not all nightstands on new ships these days come with such drawers — an effort, no doubt, to save space. On the downside: There was only a single USB-A port on each side of the bed, with no traditional outlets or fast-charging USB-C ports like many lines are building into bedside areas these days.
Other MSC World America cabin tidbits:
Every cabin has a hair dryer that works with the ship's current.
Rooms have wide personal safes that can hold a big laptop.
Cabin televisions offer movies on demand, which is great. However, there's a hefty charge of $12 per movie to watch one. Our advice: Skip the TV movies and watch movies for free on your smartphone. If you have the high-speed Wi-Fi, it'll work fine.
The Yacht Club Deluxe suites are the smallest suites in the MSC Yacht Club area, and I consider them the sweet spot when it comes to the higher-end accommodations on MSC World America. They get you all of the exclusive perks and access that come with MSC Yacht Club rooms but at a lower price point than the many bigger suites in the area.
That said, if you're looking for the ultimate cabin experience on MSC World America, you'll find it in four categories of much larger suites within the exclusive MSC Yacht Club area.
The best suites on MSC World America
The two largest MSC World America suites, called MSC Yacht Club Owner's suites, measure an astounding 1,636 and 1,539 square feet, respectively — roughly five times the size of my basic Yacht Club suite. These are truly swanky accommodations that feature large bedrooms with walk-in closets, separate dining and living areas, and huge balconies with private whirlpools.
Smaller but still quite massive are the ship's four MSC Yacht Club Royal suites, which each measure around 1,000 square feet. Located at the front corners of decks 16 and 18, they have balconies that wrap around the front and side of the ship as well as private whirlpool tubs.
Also impressive are the nine two-deck-high Duplex suites that are part of the MSC Yacht Club area, which range in size from 560 to 829 square feet. Double-decker suites are a rarity in the cruise world, and these are among the most alluring of the small number of double-decker suites out there. They feature an open living and dining room on their lower level with a large bedroom on their second level. Some of the larger Duplex suites come with balconies with their own private whirlpools.
There also are some suites as large as 872 square feet that are not part of the MSC Yacht Club complex. Known as Grand suites, they are less pricey than similarly sized MSC Yacht Club suites but come with fewer amenities.
As is typical for the world's biggest cruise ships, MSC World America is loaded with restaurant options — some included in the fare, some that cost extra. It also has a huge number of bars.
In fact, there are so many dining and drinking venues on the ship (more than 30 in total) that you'll have trouble visiting them all on a seven-night sailing. We don't recommend you even try. Just pick a few favorites and save the rest for another sailing.
Restaurants
At the core of the dining scene on MSC World America are five main dining rooms where passengers eat most of their meals; these are included in the fare. But don't expect to eat in all five of them. You will be assigned a table at just one of the five eateries for the duration of your cruise.
The five main dining rooms on MSC World America include the side-by-side Esagono and Hexagon restaurants, both near the back of the ship on Deck 6. Together, they can hold 1,076 passengers at a time — a very large number. Just beyond them on the same deck is the equally enormous 546-seat Bubbles restaurant. The even bigger 816-seat La Foglia restaurant is one deck below.
Hexagon, one of five main dining rooms on MSC World America. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
These four large eateries, which together can hold nearly 2,500 passengers at a time, are where most passengers will find their assigned tables.
There's also a much more intimate, 162-seat main restaurant called Les Dunes on Deck 8 that is reserved for passengers in higher-end cabins and suites — but not MSC Yacht Club suites. (As noted above, those passengers have their own private restaurant.)
Don't worry too much about which main dining room you are assigned. They all serve the same array of dishes each night. As you might expect, with meals being made for thousands of diners at a time, it's nothing overly gourmet. But it's a table-served, multicourse experience.
In addition to the above, MSC World America is home to two casual, included-in-the-fare buffet eateries (La Brasserie and Il Mercato). They sit one on top of the other near the ship's main pool and are essentially the same buffet venue spread across two decks.
The Il Mercato buffet on MSC World America. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
The larger of the two casual buffet eateries (Il Mercato) offers a wide mix of dishes, including (as one might expect given MSC Cruises' Italian roots) an assortment of yummy pasta dishes for lunch and dinner as well as a mix of international and Asian cuisine.
Il Mercato also offers homemade mozzarella — an MSC Cruises signature — and made-on-site pizza that is better than what you find on most ships. (Pizza, alas, is often disappointing on cruise ships.) It's one of several places on board where you'll find quality handmade pizza.
Our biggest gripe with the buffet areas is the crowding around the food station areas during peak times — something that is a problem with the buffets on all big, mass-market ships.
Pizza & Burger serves its namesake dishes and other quick-serve items. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
In addition to the above, MSC World America has two more included-in-the-fare casual venues — La Boca Grill on the pool deck, and Pizza & Burger along the World Galleria. Both serve grab-and-go burgers, pizza and other quick bites.
In addition to these included options, MSC World America is home to six extra-charge dining venues serving everything from high-end Italian cuisine to sushi.
The most laid-back (and least expensive) option is Hola! Tacos & Cantina, a sit-down Mexican eatery serving tasty tacos, enchiladas, burritos and homemade guacamole for an all-you-can-eat price of $24.99 per person, not including drinks. (You also can order individual items at a la carte prices.)
Hola! Tacos & Cantina is the place for tacos. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
For a more high-end (and pricier) experience, your top choices are Eataly (serving Italian cuisine), Butcher's Cut (the ship's steakhouse) and Paxos (a seafood-focused Greek restaurant).
I tried all three during my week on board, and my favorite, hands down, was Paxos. It offered lovely fish, including whole fish cooked to order. (You just pick one from the display, and then order a round of Greek starters such as grilled octopus and moussaka while you wait for it to be ready.) The staff at this restaurant was wonderful and helpful, and the setting felt just like being out at a classic Greek restaurant on one of the Greek islands. My only complaint was all the extra charges, as noted at the top of this guide.
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Paxos is the first Greek restaurant on a mass-market cruise ship. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
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Paxos offers a seafood-heavy menu where you can pick your fish from a display at the front of the restaurant. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
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GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
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Appetizers at Paxos include a Greek moussaka. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
I also enjoyed my night at Eataly, which is the only at-sea version of the brand. It serves up lovely homemade pastas, main courses such as braised boneless short rib and a seared whole branzino, and Italian desserts such as tiramisu. But here, too, I was taken aback by the many extra charges for what, in theory, is a fixed-price, $55-per-person menu. That branzino will set you back an additional $20, and you'll also pay an extra $20 if you want to order a pasta dish to come before your main course. That last part felt particularly excessive. At $55 a person, it could at least throw in a side of pasta with a main course, if only so everyone gets the full homemade pasta experience.
Butcher's Cut, which is a staple of MSC Cruises ships, is the place for a juicy New York strip or dry-aged tomahawk, with all the usual sides. However, I found it uneven on the night I visited — both in terms of service level and food quality. My $18 absinthe-infused cocktail was uninspired in presentation, and my medium-rare rib-eye steak was so tough to cut that I almost gave up on it (a problem that was exacerbated by a noticeably dull steak knife).
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The Eataly restaurant on MSC World America. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
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Appetizers at Eataly include bigeye tuna tartare. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
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Main courses at Eataly include roasted suckling pig with a sage butter jus. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
You also will find Japanese cuisine on MSC World America at Kaito Teppanyaki and Kaito Sushi. Located along the World Galleria, they are essentially two restaurants in one, with the hibachi eatery just behind the sushi eatery. You'll pay a flat fee of $55 and $40 per person, respectively, for the two outlets. The sushi eatery also offers a la carte pricing that'll make more sense if you just want to order a few items. My bill for two large rolls and a couple of nigiri pieces came to $25.
Kaito Sushi serves sushi and other Japanese dishes. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
MSC World America also has one hidden eatery that only a handful of the ship's passengers get to experience: the MSC Yacht Club restaurant. Open only to suite guests staying in the exclusive MSC Yacht Club, it serves higher-end fare than what you'll find in the main dining room in a more intimate setting.
Bars
The Fizz Champagne Bar. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
There is at least one and often several drinking spots in nearly every area of the ship. That said, there are a few such venues that really stand out.
One of my favorites for its elegance is Fizz Champagne Bar, which, as its name suggests, is all about Champagne. You'll find all sorts of Champagnes (such as Moet & Chandon and Veuve Clicquot) by the glass and bottle, sparkling wines, and bubbly-infused cocktails at this venue. You also can order non-Champagne drinks, though this isn't necessarily the place for, say, a Negroni.
If a Negroni is what you're after, you'll want to head to my very favorite drinking spot on the ship, The Gin Project. It has dozens of specialty gins and all sorts of tonics and garnishes that you mix and match to create the perfect drink for you. Or if you're a Negroni-lover like me, you can just order the house version of this classic gin drink, which, unlike at the bars on most cruise ships, comes in a proper lowball glass with one single large ice cube, as it should.
The Gin Project. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
Both Fizz Champagne Bar and The Gin Project are along the top level of World Galleria — the three-level restaurant, bar and shopping zone that runs down the middle of the ship. It's the coolest part of the ship to go bar-hopping, as it's also home to the clubby, craft cocktail-serving Elixir Mixology Bar.
Elixir offers a fabulously eclectic menu of spritzes made with homemade bitters, vermouth drinks infused with all sorts of herbs and spices, and creative cocktails — all served in a stylish setting.
Also along the World Galleria is Masters of the Sea, a British-style pub. Sitting just below The Gin Project (with a spiral cast-iron staircase connecting the venues), it has its own brewed-on-site beer as well as other beers from around the world on tap and in bottles. Plus, there's a pub menu with burgers, fish-and-chips and the like alongside live music every night.
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The Elixir bar. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
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Smokey Bacon Old Fashioneds at the Elixir Mixology Bar come with chocolate-dipped bacon in the glass. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
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The Dolce Vita Bar. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
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Masters of the Sea is a British-style pub serving craft beers. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
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A spiral stairway connects the Masters of the Sea pub to The Gin Project bar just above it. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
Other signature drinking spots on MSC World America include The All-Stars Sports Bar — a sports bar complete with TVs showing live sports, bar games such as darts and a wide range of beers on tap. You'll find it at the back of the ship in the World Promenade area.
There's also the midship Dolce Vita Bar, which is not so much a bar as a venue for around-the-clock trivia games, talent shows, dance classes and other lively activities.
You'll also find bars at the ship's casino (the MSC Signature Casino Bar), the MSC Sportplex (the Box Bar), the indoor Botanic Garden pool (the Botanic Garden Bar) and the back-of-the-ship showroom known as the Panorama Lounge. None of them have special drink menus, but they serve a full range of classic cocktails, beer and wine.
The MSC Signature Casino Bar. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
There are also several bars on the ship's outdoor decks, including the main pool area (La Perla Bar) and the adults-only Zen Pool area (the Zen Bar). The Zen Bar is my favorite of the bunch for its relative tranquility and ocean views.
For coffee lovers, the Coffee Emporium on the World Promenade serves up espresso drinks made with Lavazza coffee. There are also espresso drinks at Jean-Philippe Chocolat & Cafe along the World Galleria. Plus, there's a list of chocolate-infused drinks, desserts, homemade gelato, sundaes, smoothies, milkshakes and crepes so long that your cruise may end before you finish reading the list.
Jean-Philippe Chocolat & Cafe. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
Note that if you have a drink package, you won't pay for the coffee drinks at the Coffee Emporium. But you will pay for coffee drinks at Jean-Philippe Chocolat & Cafe, which is not included in the drink package. So if it's just coffee you want, skip the latter.
Health-focused drinkers will also find the Zest Juice Bar near the spa. It serves up made-to-order juices and smoothies for an extra charge (unless you have the drink package).
And 1 secret venue
While all the official bars are listed above, there is one more spot that you have to know about — and even then, you might not get the chance. Called the Speakeasy Bar, it's a speakeasy in a secret location down in the crew quarters.
Psst! Don't tell anyone about this place. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
It offers live music and handcrafted drinks that often have a theatrical flair — one arrived in a smoke-infused glass box, another in a military gas can that opened to reveal secret compartments. How you get in is as much of a secret as the bar itself, and media types like me have been asked not to give too much away.
Four giant waterslides sit atop MSC World America. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
As is common for big, bustling megaships, MSC World America is loaded with amusements of all sorts, from a seriously large water park to a bumper car pavilion.
The most over-the-top attractions are clustered together at the very top of the ship on Deck 20. In addition to the water park (The Harbour Aquapark), you'll find a first-of-its-kind-at-sea swing ride called the Cliffhanger and a challenging ropes course called the Adventure Trail.
The water park is the area's biggest crowd-pleaser, with four giant waterslides as well as kiddie splash pools. But you're also in for a thrill with a ride on Cliffhanger, which doesn't look all that terrifying from below but packs an adrenaline-firing punch when you're on it due to the sensation of swinging out over the sea. (If you're afraid of heights, this one maybe isn't for you.)
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The family-friendly Harbour area features a two-story-high ropes course. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
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Dubbed the Adventure Trail, the ropes course is loaded with swinging bridges, rope ladders and other challenges. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
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The Cliffhanger ride swings passengers out over the sea. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
Adventure Trail, to me, is just good, old-fashioned family fun, with two levels of rope bridges, planks, steps and beams that you have to navigate high above the deck. (Don't worry, you're safely strapped in with a safety harness in case you slip.)
Not far from all this is yet one more scream-inducer, the shark-themed Jaw Drop @ The Spiral slide. Dropping 10 decks to the World Promenade area below, it's a dry slide (that is, there is no water in this one, unlike the slides at the nearby Harbour Aquapark), and it looks truly scary. I just couldn't summon up the courage to give it a try.
The Jaw Drop @ The Spiral slide drops 10 floors. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
Also in this same general area is the indoor MSC Sportplex, a multipurpose, arena-like space that's used for such activities as bumper cars, roller skating and basketball. If you're familiar with the SeaPlex pavilions on Royal Caribbean's Odyssey Class ships, you'll have a sense of what this is. Just know that it's significantly smaller than the Royal Caribbean version.
Other indoor amusements near the MSC Sportplex include a Formula 1 race car simulator (a signature of MSC Cruises ships) and an arcade space called the Hall of Games.
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The MSC Sportplex is part of the family play zone atop MSC World America. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
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The MSC Sportplex features a multipurpose arena that can be used for bumper car sessions, basketball and other diversions. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
Note that while many of the above activities are available for free, you'll pay $7 per ride to experience the bumper cars and $12 per person to experience the Formula 1 simulator. You'll also pay $10 per ride for the Cliffhanger attraction. To save a little money, you also can buy a "fun pass" that gives you discounted credits to use for rides on these and other extra-charge attractions.
There's no charge for experiencing the waterslides, ropes course or Jaw Drop slide.
In addition to all of the above, the same general area of the top of the ship is home to Doremiland, a complex of indoor playrooms. Each age group of kids, from babies to teens, has its own space, and there's a Lego playroom, too.
All in all, there is an impressive array of family-focused activities, though they are maybe not quite as wow-inducing as what you'll find on some of Royal Caribbean's biggest ships. There are no surfing pools, ice-skating rinks, miniature golf courses or zip lines on MSC World America, for instance.
Pool areas
The main Mar Azul pool. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
MSC World America's top decks feature three pool areas and oodles of hot tubs. The main deck-top pool, Mar Azul, looks truly huge, thanks to some trick of the eye. It's actually two pools placed one in front of the other with a ring of shallow water enveloping the whole thing, creating what looks like an enormously long single pool.
A second pool area, the Botanic Garden Pool, is indoors but covered with a retractable glass roof (known as a magrodome) that can slide open on warmer days. It allows for pool-area fun even on chilly or rainy days.
A third pool area, the Zen Pool, is at the back of the ship and open to adults only. It has two pools as well as hot tubs and loungers.
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The glass roof-covered Botanic Garden Pool. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
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The Botanic Garden Pool is an indoor-outdoor space that rises two decks. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
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Large hot tubs overlooking the sea flank the sides of the Botanic Garden Pool area. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
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The Botanic Garden Pool area has its own bar on the second level. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
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Foosball games also can be found in the Botanic Garden Pool area. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
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Garden-themed hot tubs in the Botanic Garden Pool area. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
As noted above in the cabin section, there's also an exclusive fourth pool area at the top of the ship that is open only to passengers staying in the MSC Yacht Club suite complex.
Other onboard activities include dance classes and trivia and other games in the Dolce Vita Bar.
For those who like gaming, there’s a large casino at the back of the ship on Deck 7. Note that, unlike on some cruise ships, smoking is not allowed in the casino.
The MSC World America casino features lots of slot machines and table games. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
For pampering, the MSC Aurea Spa on Deck 8 is the place. It offers a full array of spa treatments (massages, facials and more) and salon services, as well as a spectacular thermal area. The latter, which you can visit for an extra charge, is home to multiple saunas and steam baths, a snow room, experience showers, a pool, water and salt caves, and a Kneipp walk water therapy room.
A separate fitness center at the top of the ship offers stunning views alongside a wide range of Technogym exercise equipment and yoga and Pilates classes (for an extra charge).
MSC World America shows
The film "Dirty Dancing" is the inspiration for one of the shows on MSC World America. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
MSC Cruises ships are known for lively shows, if not the sort of big-name Broadway productions you'll find on Royal Caribbean vessels. MSC World America is no exception. In fact, it has one of the best arrays of shows of any MSC Cruises ship.
The vessel's biggest productions, including "Dirty Dancing: The Celebration" and "Odyssey," take place in the two-deck-high World Theatre, which can hold 1,153 passengers at a time.
As is typical for MSC Cruises shows, these are flashy productions with lots of music, dancing and elaborate costumes but not a lot of plot. MSC Cruises has traditionally shied away from shows with a storyline — at least those requiring speaking roles — due to the fact that the line often draws passengers who speak a wide range of languages.
The World Theatre. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
Related to the above, most of the shows you'll find in the World Theatre are designed to last just 35 minutes; when there's not a complex story, they don't need to be long.
At one end of the World Galleria, the World Theatre is just one of three major entertainment venues on MSC World America.
A second sizable theater space, the Panorama Lounge, is at the opposite end of the ship, just beyond the World Galleria and the ship's casino. Holding up to 462 passengers at a time, it's a high-tech venue rigged for aerialists and featuring an LED screen floor that offers showy song-and-dance performances.
The Panorama Lounge is at the back of the ship facing the sea. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
During the day, the Panorama Lounge is a more relaxed lounge space with stunning views through the soaring glass wall at its back. You'll sometimes find classes and seminars in this space, too.
Rounding out the three major entertainment spaces on MSC World America is the two-deck-high MSC Luna Park Arena, along the World Galleria. This versatile space serves as the ship's late-night disco and also offers interactive dance shows with performers and themed parties.
Dueling piano shows are among the entertainment offerings at The Loft. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
MSC World America's around-the-clock entertainment also includes sometimes hilarious karaoke nights, comedy shows and dueling piano shows in a versatile lounge called The Loft. It's also along the World Galleria. Additionally, a light show plays out across the tree-like pillars and ceiling of the outdoor World Promenade multiple times every night, and you'll also occasionally find late-night silent disco parties in this area.
This is in addition to live music in quite a few of the drinking venues mentioned in the bar section above.
MSC World America itineraries and pricing
MSC World America sails year-round out of Miami, operating alternating seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries that depart every Saturday.
The Eastern Caribbean itineraries feature calls at San Juan, Puerto Rico; Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Bahamas. The Western Caribbean itineraries visit Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; Roatan, Honduras; and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.
As of the publishing of this guide, these seven-night sailings on MSC World America were available for as little as $645 per person, based on double occupancy, for a windowless interior cabin. Outward-facing cabins with windows, known as "ocean-view" cabins, and cabins with balconies typically started at a few hundred dollars more. Suites typically cost twice as much or more.
World Galleria is an interior promenade lined with eateries, bars and shops. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
For an upcoming sailing in October, for instance, the starting rate for an interior cabin at the time this guide was published was $645 per person, based on double occupancy; ocean-view and balcony cabins started at $935 per person, based on double occupancy. The starting rate for a suite was $1,845 per person, based on double occupancy.
Fares for cabins in the ship's exclusive MSC Yacht Club suite area for the same sailing started at a much higher $3,435 per person.
MSC Cruises also offers a second tier of pricing for basic cabins on the ship that is typically a few hundred dollars more per week; it includes extra perks such as a drink package and Wi-Fi. These extra perks are included in the fare for those booking MSC Yacht Club cabins.
As is always the case with cruises, you'll pay more for sailings over holiday weeks and other prime travel times.
What to know before you go
Required documents
Since MSC World America operates "closed-loop" sailings from a U.S. port, U.S. citizens can board the ship without a passport as long as they have another form of proof of citizenship, such as a U.S. birth certificate or U.S. naturalization certificate, along with a valid government-issued ID. That said, the line prefers a passport, and it's a safer bet. If you have to leave the ship early for some reason at a foreign port, you will need a passport to get back home.
If using a passport, be sure it is valid for at least six months. Also, the name on your reservation must match the name on your passport or other official proof of nationality. Double-check this if you've recently gotten married or use a different version of your name.
Gratuities
Adult passengers will find an automatic service charge of $16 to $20 per person, per day, depending on the cabin category, added to their final bill. Children ages 2 to 11 pay half that rate, while those under the age of 2 pay no service charge. Unlike on the ships of some competing lines, passengers cannot adjust these service charges while on board if they are unhappy with the service.
In addition to the above, a 15% gratuity is added to bar bills. You should not feel pressured to add an additional tip.
MSC Cruises offers two levels of Wi-Fi service on all its ships, including MSC World America. The entry-level Browse package allows basic browsing without streaming at a cost of about $16 per day for one device. The upgraded Browse & Stream package adds the ability to stream video and music and to access video chats for a cost of around $20 per day for one device. Multidevice packages also are available for both levels of Wi-Fi service that cost less on a per-device basis. Certain suite guests receive complimentary Wi-Fi, so be aware of your included perks before you sign up for a package.
Unlike some cruise lines, MSC Cruises does not let passengers bring their own alcohol on board.
Smoking policy
Smoking (including e-cigarette smoking) is allowed only in designated outdoor areas. It's forbidden in cabins, on cabin balconies and in all other indoor areas of the ship, including the casino. Passengers who violate this rule could face disembarkation.
Laundry
Unlike some lines, MSC Cruises does not build self-service launderettes on its ships, so you won't find any on MSC World America. The ship offers extra-charge laundry, pressing and dry cleaning services.
Electrical outlets
You'll find North American-style 110-volt outlets and European-style 220-volt outlets in cabins, along with USB ports.
Currency
The onboard currency is the U.S. dollar, which is different from many MSC Cruises ships. But you won't need cash while on board. All MSC Cruises ships operate on a cashless system, with onboard purchases posting automatically to your onboard account. You'll receive a keycard that you can use to make charges, and MSC Cruises will charge your credit card at the end of the sailing to settle the balance.
While on board, you can check your balance through the MSC Cruises app, at Guest Services or via your in-cabin television.
Drinking age
You must be 21 to consume alcohol on MSC World America, as it visits ports in the U.S. This is different from the majority of MSC Cruises ships based outside of the U.S., where the drinking age is 18.
Dress code
During the day, there is no specific dress code, and people dress casually. If it's a sea day and you're bound for the pool deck, that means looking like you're going to the beach — T-shirts, shorts and bathing suits (with a cover-up to go inside) are just fine.
There is no official dress code during the evenings, but the line suggests a more polished look when dining in the main dining rooms and specialty restaurants or heading to the theaters, bars and lounges. Collared shirts, tailored pants or shorts, skirts and dresses will fit the bill.
MSC Cruises also holds occasional Gala Nights when passengers are encouraged to dress up, though there's no requirement. The line says you'll be just fine whether you're out on those nights in a tuxedo or evening gown, or in your best jeans and a polo shirt.
That said, the line does prohibit swimwear in any formal dining venue for any meal, including breakfast and lunch. Shorts, flip-flops and tank tops are not allowed on Gala Nights in the main dining rooms, specialty restaurants or the MSC Yacht Club.
Among the world's newest, biggest megaships with the most features on board, MSC World America is unique in its affordability, making it a great choice for budget-conscious vacationers looking for a megaship experience. Based year-round in the Caribbean, it offers a wide range of deck-top amusements, entertainment venues, restaurants and bars that make it a great choice for a megaresort-type vacation in that region at a starting price of about $600 to $700 per person, per week for some sailings (not including extra charges for things like Wi-Fi access on board and gratuities).
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