It’s official! One of the most anticipated new cruise ships of 2025 – MSC Cruises’ MSC World America – has officially entered service as of April 12, 2025, with the embarkation of her maiden voyage.

But before those first paying passengers were welcomed onboard, my husband and I were invited onboard for a 3-day preview sailing following the official naming ceremony in Miami, Florida, on April 9, 2025.

After Actress Drew Barrymore officially christened the World-class ship, we set off on an unforgettable mini cruise to MSC’s private island in the Bahamas, Ocean Cay: MSC Marine Reserve. Along the way, we got the full run of the 6,762-guest ship at well under her maximum capacity.

While we ultimately enjoyed our time onboard – and felt honored to be a small part of cruise history – I’m going to spill everything I thought about MSC Cruises’ new addition: The pros and the cons.

The Size

It’s no secret that MSC World America is one of the biggest ships currently sailing the high seas. Coming in at 215,863-gross tons and with room for nearly 7,000 guests onboard (not counting the 2,138 crew members), this ship is not much smaller than the world’s largest Icon of the Seas.

For context, Royal Caribbean’s Icon-class flagship is 250,800-gross tons and has a maximum guest capacity of 7,600 per sailing.

Prior to this, the biggest ships I had ever sailed on were Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Dream, which has a maximum capacity of 4,000 guests, and Princess Cruises’ Regal Princess, which can accommodate up to 3,560 per sailing.

As such, I expected to be overwhelmed by the size of MSC World America. And while I was in awe of how truly massive she was, I wasn’t uncomfortable.

It’s a joke among my friends and family that I am quite directionally challenged and can get lost in a circular parking lot (which really has happened), but I was able to navigate the ship on my own by the end of the first night.

Between the MSC for Me App, which contains a map of the ship and can provide directions to your intended destination, and maps outside of every elevator bay, I had little trouble navigating.

I will say that three days was really only enough time to scratch the surface of everything this state-of-the-art vessel offers – but as she is solely operating seven and 14-day Caribbean itineraries through at least mid-2027, her guests will have a more suitable amount of time to explore.

The Crew

I’ve been on many cruises, and while the crew is always friendly, the people making MSC World America operate smoothly were truly some of the kindest I have ever met.

There was definitely an air of excitement with this being the first voyage carrying “guests,” but everyone we met was eager to assist, say hello or strike up a conversation, and had a big smile on their face.

Our room steward, whose name I so wish I had caught, was truly one of the best I had ever had. Our cabin was spotless and comfortable between two daily cleanings, but he also went above and beyond to assist us.

For example, I am recovering from an ankle injury that requires me to use a cane. When he saw me carrying my own luggage to our stateroom on embarkation day, our cabin steward instantly dropped what he was doing to offer me assistance without me asking.

The Cruise Cabins

Speaking of room stewards, I suppose I should talk a bit about our accommodations – which was a very nice balcony stateroom on Deck 11.

Our cabin was an ocean-view room, but some guests may also choose to select staterooms looking into the Promenade in the interior of the ship – which could be fun for people watching purposes or to watch the entertainment that goes through, such as the kid-friendly Lego parade (more on that later).

As we typically only invest in interior cabins since my husband and I don’t usually spend much time in our cruise cabins, having our own balcony to listen to the ocean was a nice change of pace.

The room itself was clean, the bed was firm but soft, there was a bit more closet space than I was expecting, and similarly, the bathroom had a bit more room than I have experienced in the past.

That said, not everyone had quite the same experience, as other passengers told us that one or both of their daily cleaning services were occasionally missed – likely as a result of some kinks that still needed to be worked out ahead of the maiden voyage.

You can take a look at a video tour of the cabin I was actually in:

The only real complaint we had – if you could call it that – was that we could hear the music from parties taking place on the pool deck (Deck 18) into the early hours of the morning. This was surprising to me as we were all the way down on Deck 11, but as I always pack ear plugs for emergencies, it didn’t take away from our beauty sleep.

As kind of a funny moment, there was a glitch near the end of the sailing where music was randomly playing through the speaker in our cabin – as well as several others. When we called guest services after hours of unexplained music, they already knew of the issue and were working on it.

It took several hours to resolve, but the surprise serenade did conclude well before bed time. We wrote it off as one of those inevitable learning curves that usually come when a ship first enters service.

I will also say that we could feel the movement of the ship fairly significantly in our cabin – which was located toward the aft (or back) of the ship. Considering her size, I wasn’t expecting to feel much motion at all – as bigger ships do tend to be less rocky – but I think the location of our cabin lent itself to feeling it more.

This means that for people prone to seasickness, you’ll still want to choose the location of your cabin strategically for your own comfort – ideally in a cabin that is located midship and lower, where the motion should be felt the least.

The Dining

This was my first cruise onboard an MSC cruise ship, so I truly had no idea of what to expect when it came to the dining.

A friend of mine told me that the food on MSC cruise ships had a reputation for not always being the best. After the first day on our sailing, I didn’t believe them.

Our lunch in the Il Mercato buffet after embarking was delicious, and our dinner in the Hexagon restaurant – I had surf and turf with perfectly cooked filet mignon – was out of this world.

But as the sailing went on, I started to see what our friend meant. The food was either hit or miss. When it was good, it was great. For example, we couldn’t get enough of the gelato from the Jean-Philippe Chocolat & Cafe on Deck 6.

The mixed drinks were also quite refreshing, and I say that as someone who has never really developed a taste for alcoholic beverages.

However, choosing items at both buffets – Il Mercato and La Brasserie – felt a little like Russian roulette for my taste buds. We encountered a lot of stale and overcooked food by day two, including pancakes and waffles that were hard as rocks.

We found the Luna Park Pizza & Burger on Deck 6 to be decent, but nothing special. The garlic bread was pretty good, but the pizza and burgers were just average. It was, however, a good option to get some variety from the buffets and was easy to get into during peak dinner hours.

I suspect the way to truly indulge onboard is to invest in specialty dining reservations, such as at Eataly at Sea, Paxos Greek Restaurant, and Kaito Teppanyaki & Kaito Sushi Bar. While we didn’t get to try all of these venues ourselves, we heard nothing but rave reviews from other guests who did.

With only three days onboard, there was just no way for us to get to all 19 restaurants and the nearly 20 additional bars and lounges to try them all.

Relaxing by the Pool

MSC World America has a grand total of 20 pools and Whirlpool Jacuzzis onboard – each with a different vibe. For example, the Zen Area is adults-only and feels serene and calm, while the La Plage pool had more of an upbeat, party atmosphere.

Our personal favorite swimming area, however, was the Botanic Garden Pool. True to its name, ocean views were combined with greenery that created a unique, but peaceful atmosphere.

Several of the Jacuzzis were also semi-private thanks to hut-like contraptions that went over them that seemed to be made of a mix of rope and greenery. I liked those whirlpools best because I felt like I was in my own mini oasis and got a break from the crowds.

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Another pro for the Botanic Garden Pool is that it is not in the direct sun – especially in the later afternoon – based on where it is located on the ship and how you sort of have to enter a different “pool room” to get to it. In other words, it gets shade the soonest.

While I am fully aware sunscreen exists, both my husband and I are champion sun burners, so we appreciated this option.

The Thrills

Located on Deck 21 in the Harbour zone, thrill seekers will find plenty to get their blood pumping – such as the Cliffhanger swings, the 11-story Jaw Drop slide, and the Adventure Trail ropes and zip lining course.

I was lucky enough to ride the Cliffhanger ride twice – which holds brave cruisers 160 feet over the ocean (or MSC Ocean Cay in my case) and swings back and forth. The attraction felt perfectly safe, but did get my heart beating faster thanks to my fear of heights.

But all anxieties aside, the view from the Cliffhanger swings is out of this world. Phones and cameras were not allowed on the swings for obvious safety reasons, but I wish I could have documented the picture-perfect view to share with all of you!

You can take a look at the Cliffhanger ride in action right here:

We did not try the ropes course or Jaw Drop – which drops you into the slide through the mouth of a shark – due to fears of aggravating my existing ankle injury. In my husband’s case, the enclosed nature of the themed slide was too much for his claustrophobia.

We did, however, watch many smiling people come out the other end of the slide in the Promenade on Deck 8 – and everyone seemed to enjoy the ride.

But before you rush to these attractions, keep in mind that you will first need to check in with a crew member at the bright orange kiosk (you can’t miss it!) near the entrance to the Cliffhanger on Deck 21 to sign a waiver.

Activities like the Cliffhanger, Adventure Trail, and Jaw Drop may need advance reservations during busier sailings and time periods, and Cliffhanger requires an extra payment of $5 per ride, according the crew members I spoke with. The other attractions are included in the price of your cruise fare.

As booking and ride requirements are always subject to change, make sure to check with the cruise line closer to your sailing or crew members once you get onboard for the most up-to-date information.

Performances and Entertainment

I don’t know about you, but my favorite way to end a busy day of cruising is by watching a show. I love getting to sit back and relax while enjoying the entertainment.

While onboard, we were lucky enough to see two previews of the “Dirty Dancing” Film-to-Concert experience and the “Hall of Fame” concert in the main stage venue, known as the World Theatre.

The “Dirty Dancing” concert is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a high energy stage adaptation with dancers and singers performing alongside a screening of the film – although for the previews, we didn’t see the film screening portion.

The “Hall of Fame” concert is essentially a love letter to the best singers and musical artists of all time and is full of high energy dancing and nostalgia. In all cases, the vocalists were excellent and we enjoyed the performances.

My personal favorite show, however, was Queen Symphonic in the Panorama Lounge, which featured music from the legendary Queen rock band and was a huge spectacle with flying guitarists (yes, you read that right) and aerial acrobats.

But for those who get overstimulated or have sensitive hearing, this production is quite loud – so definitely plan accordingly with ear protection or sit this one out if the volume might be too much for you. Our ears were ringing for a while after it ended.

As a word of caution, any guests traveling with seizure disorders or who are sensitive to strobe lights should also speak to ushers prior to attending mainstage shows and the performances in the Panorama lounge.

Multiple performances included flashing lights – which were enough to make our heads hurt for a minute without pre-existing conditions – and we did not hear or see any warnings before show time.

Smaller Scale Entertainment and Pleasant Surprises

There was also smaller scale entertainment to be discovered throughout the ship, such as dueling pianos and comedians in the Loft and musicians performing in lounges.

While we saw some of these scheduled performances listed in the MSC App, many were just pleasant surprises that we found while exploring the ship. On more than one occasion, we found ourselves relaxing in the lounges with a drink as we took in the tunes.

We also stumbled upon an arcade on Deck 19 across from the kid’s clubs that is home to a fun Formula 1 racing simulator and classic arcade games. We certainly enjoyed our fair share of air hockey and ski ball there!

The only entertainment we saw as a bit lackluster was the Lego Parade – which would still be a cute activity for kids. The few children around us looked like they were absolutely enthralled.

We were just expecting an actual parade through the Promenade on Deck 8 because of the name, but it was actually a lot of Lego characters standing around, posing for pictures, and occasionally doing somewhat awkward dances.

Crowding Could Be an Issue

While I left the sailing with a few negatives, I couldn’t help but think that I wouldn’t want to sail on MSC World America during peak times when she would be at her most crowded.

Though the ship is designed to hold nearly 7,000 guests, I couldn’t help wondering how it would feel when she was at capacity. Particularly in peak season, I would anticipate long lines and the need to arrive quite early for shows and performances – which was already true on our sailing to get good seats.

There are several performances of the same show so everyone can get a chance to enjoy, but getting into the show at the time you want most might be a challenge if you don’t arrive early – as neither the Panorama Lounge nor the World Theatre have enough seats for everyone at once.

The Loft – which is a hot spot for entertainment, comedy, and drinks – is also smaller than I expected. Even on our sailing, we had trouble finding a seat to watch the comedians perform – with many standing at the back, packed in like sardines.

When we did eventually get a table, an older woman approached me and asked me to give it to her. I politely explained that I got there first and that I couldn’t stand for a long time due to my ankle – I had my cane visible and with me – and she called me some choice names (that I can’t repeat here) before storming off.

Considering her anger when the cruise ship wasn’t crowded, I was left wondering how tensions might flare when she’s closer to capacity.

It’s also worth noting that even during reserved media only events, there were still long lines for attractions like the famous Cliffhanger and Jaw Drop slide. We had to wait upwards of 30 minutes to experience the adrenaline-filled swings.

The Pros and Cons of High Tech

As a new-build in our modern age of technology, MSC World America is probably the most innovative ship I’ve ever sailed on.

For example, we were able to easily communicate with the housekeeping team using light switches. All we had to do to show when we wanted to be left alone or we were ready for our cabin to be cleaned was to flip a switch in our cabin. Depending on which switch we hit, a light would shine above our door indicating our needs.

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The elevators also helped to regulate potential crowds and chaos in the sense that you pre-select your deck prior to boarding the elevator. Once you select your deck, you would be assigned to one of many elevators in the bay – which were all identified by individual letters.

No buttons were pressed once inside, and the way the system assigned guests to elevators seemed to prevent overcrowding – at least in our limited experience.

That said, I couldn’t help wondering what would happen if something went wrong with the system – such as if an elevator got stuck with guests inside. After all, technology is only effective when it’s working correctly and relying too heavily on it has always made me nervous in general.

But for the most part, everything did work well onboard. The only time we really had a problem was when the facial recognition technology went down in MSC’s new Miami cruise terminal during disembarkation – and our issue was more with the newly opened terminal than the ship itself.

While the brand new, state-of-the-art facility made embarkation a breeze, the systems going down led to extremely long lines and it felt like it took forever to make our way off the ship and through customs. In actuality, it took us a little over an hour as patrons who chose to take our own luggage off the ship.

I also noticed a bit of a learning curve with the technology for some guests. Most notably, I watched quite a few people struggle with the auto-sensing doors which could be found around the ship, such as around bathrooms.

In order to use the doors, all you have to do is touch or swipe your hand over a button – but it would take more than two hands to count the amount of people I saw trying to open the doors manually or struggling to find the sensors, which were usually really obvious.

Would I Sail on MSC World America Again?

Absolutely. Not only would I sail on MSC World America, but I would be interested in trying out more of the MSC fleet.

But because of my concerns about overcrowding, I would most likely book a voyage outside of peak travel seasons – such as around the holidays or summer break – and might consider investing in the MSC Yacht Club experience.

The MSC Yacht Club is like its own mini ship within the bigger ship that includes private lounges and pools, as well as perks like reserved seating to performances – which would alleviate a lot of my concerns about crowds in the future.

If you are interested in trying MSC World America in her inaugural season, bookings can be made online or over the phone through MSC directly or by using a reputable travel agent.