MSC World America made a splash in Miami, arriving at MSC Cruises’ brand-new cruise terminal on April 7, 2025, and then welcoming an invited group of industry insiders, travel advisors, and journalists to be the first to experience the ship on a 3-night preview cruise.

The special voyage launched on April 9, 2025, was a star-studded event featuring appearances by Gloria Estefan and Marc Anthony, to name a few, and took passengers to MSC Cruises’ private destination, Ocean Cay in the Bahamas.

From the moment guests arrived at the expansive new terminal filled with light pouring through floor-to-vaulted-ceiling glass walls, it was made clear the occasion was going to be special.

Passengers eager to board the ship first went through state-of-the-art biometrics to board the ship using facial recognition, speeding up the boarding process so that it took mere minutes from drop off to embarkation.

And once onboard, the fun began. Arriving at Deck 6, there was bound to be a little confusion at the get-go, especially on a ship that can accommodate more than 6,700 passengers when it’s full. 

The elevators, meant to move guests easily and quickly, were tucked to the left, while to the right, the ship’s bustling World Galleria began, so it wasn’t quite evident which way to turn. 

But once passengers figured out how to call an elevator by first indicating a floor and entering a specific elevator, they were taken to quieter decks to gather their bearings.

First stop? Staterooms, of course. Meant to convey a contemporary European vibe, although designed for an American audience, the rooms are set in brown tones that lend the space some darkness, especially if not equipped with sliding glass doors.

Chocolate-colored carpet and chocolate striped curtains and pillows are set against a rather beige background, with beige beach towels and chocolate-colored couches and chairs.

Even the hallways leading to staterooms are awash with brown. However, away from the guest areas, MSC World America has begun to show its flair and unique aspects.

Each restaurant – and there are 19 onboard – has its own special look and feel. The casual eatery Hola! Tacos & Cantina, for example, certainly gives off a cantina vibe and is filled with color and premade frozen margaritas at the ready.

Sushi and teppanyaki are found in a hue of warm golds and oranges at Kaito, and Paxos’ World Promenade location works well for providing both an indoor and outdoor experience that feels as if dining in Greece. 

The white-washed exterior and splashes of cobalt blue feel like stepping into a Santorini restaurant.

Of course, more color can be found at MSC World America’s attractions. From Cliffhanger’s bright red swings that take guests 160 feet above the ocean to the multi-colored waterslides for solo or double riders, the top-deck Harbor screams that it is the official fun zone.

Here, passengers can also literally enter the jaws of a giant shark as they climb in one by one to drop 250 feet in a twisting, turning slide that deposits the shaken in the World Promenade on Deck 8.

And kids and families will be drawn into spaces just for them with family and kid-only LEGO zones, and an expansive kid’s club that separates children by age into various play areas.

While most are filled with video game options during the adult-only preview, these spaces will also offer crafts, games, and other amenities for those 3 to 17.

Even babies have a space and can get some quality tummy time and stimulation as well as a quieter zone for catching their Zzz’s.

From Day to Night on MSC World America

The real treats come in the evenings, when MSC America’s lively bars and lounges come alive, including Bubbles, dedicated to, what else? Champagne; Master of the Sea, a true British-inspired pub, and the American All-Stars Sports Bar, complete with an array of beers of draft, TVs for catching the latest games, and pub games like darts and shuffleboard.

At the Panorama Stage, aptly named for featuring a wall of windows in the aft of the ship and accessible after walking through the MSC Signature Casino, screens can be lowered to create a backdrop.

This was the case during the Queen tribute performance, accompanied by a symphony, prerecorded and displayed on the backdrop as the singers danced, rocked, and performed acrobatics.

It was in this setting where MSC World America’s godmother, Drew Barrymore, and Orlando Bloom, celebrating their “Let’s Holiday” campaign, welcomed guests before Drew joined the captain and crew to cut the ribbon and officially christen the ship.

Passengers were quick to make their way to the top decks for two special celebrations taking place.

One was a poolside concert by Miami’s own Gloria Stefan and the Miami Sound Machine, while the other was a fantastic drone display that turned a pink flamingo into the ship of MSC World America in front of the Miami skyline.

MSC World America, MSC Cruises’ ship constructed for the North American market, has welcomed its first guests in Miami on April 9, 2025, for a preview and christening ceremony.

Invited aboard are Cruise Hive journalists getting a first peek at the 215,863-gross-ton vessel and all of her amenities, attractions, and features.

With 2,614 staterooms for up to 6,762 guests at full capacity, MSC World America has 19 different staterooms, 65 percent of them featuring outside cabins.

Passengers will find accommodations for all types of travel, with cabins designed for solo guests to families, as well as MSC Yacht Club Suites for exclusivity.

Studio Interior cabins, which measure 118 square feet, can accommodate just one guest in a single French bed, with Studio Ocean View rooms slightly bigger at 129 square feet and providing a porthole view of the ocean.

For couples or those in need of room for two, guests will find Deluxe Interiors and Deluxe Balconies. These feature a double bed that can be converted into two singles, with the Interior options measuring 161 square feet and the balcony versions at 182 square feet.

Balconies can range from 32 to 107 square feet, including accessible room balconies that feature a ramp for wheelchairs.

Another option is an Infinite Ocean View Aurea, which offers 215 square feet of space with a panoramic sliding window that turns into a glass balustrade when open.

For families or groups sailing together, the Premium Suite Aurea is a perfect option. Offering 269 square feet of interior space and a balcony that is approximately 43 square feet, the suite features a double bed that can be converted into two single beds, a sofa that can be converted into a double bed, and two bunk beds.

The suite also features a bathtub in the bathroom that is great for small children.

Ample MSC World America Accommodations

There are a host of other stateroom options available, including the MSC Yacht Club Owner’s Suite. This massive cabin is nearly 1,120 square feet and has a private balcony (over 500 feet) with a whirlpool. 

The luxurious suite also provides a separate living and dining area, bathroom with an imperial tub, and floor-to-ceiling windows and glass doors for uninterrupted views.

The MSC Yacht Club also has Duplex Suites that stretch across two floors. The main floor with an open living and dining room and a king bed is connected to the second-floor main bedroom, where another king bed awaits. 

There are two bathrooms in the suites, including a bathtub on the second story.

Read Also: I Experienced Embarking at PortMiami’s New MSC Cruise Terminal

Aurea Suites vary in size from the 215-square-foot junior suite to the 269-square-foot Premium Suite and the 377-square-foot Grand Suite, while the rooms with balconies range from 172 to 183 square feet.

These range from Deluxe Balconies with Promenade View or both Ocean and Promenade Views, Partial View, Deluxe and Deluxe Aurea.

All rooms are equipped with a hairdryer, a wardrobe with hangers and drawers, an interactive TV, a telephone, a safe, a mini bar, and air conditioning.

Wi-Fi is available at a fee, and passengers will find phone chargers right at their bedside, as well as two types of tech chargers at the desk beside multiple outlets for bigger devices and no need for adapters.

Keep following Cruise Hive for more first looks at MSC World America, including its christening ceremony.

MSC Cruises’ newest ship, MSC World America, arrived in Miami on April 7, ready to give industry insiders a first look at the 216,638-gross-ton vessel capable of hosting up to 6,762 guests at full capacity, not to mention its 2,138 crew members.

As Cruise Hive journalists are onboard to capture all of its bells and whistles, we also got to experience the brand-new MSC Terminal, which opened on April 5, 2025, and is located at terminal AA/AAA.

From the moment of arrival in the parking lot – which can hold more than 2,400 cars – it is evident that MSC World America is big.

Greeted by terminal staff from baggage to embarkation, the boarding process took about 15 minutes in total, and that’s mostly because the walk from the parking lot and through the 492,678-square-foot terminal and the winding covered gangway to the ship takes a bit of time.

It is the length of more than 8 American football fields!

The space is so large it feels as if navigating an airport, with the standard roped off areas for lines, at which there were none upon our embarkation. It also features an expansive sitting area in case guests have to wait to embark.

Still, while the terminal can process up to 36,000 passengers per day, it moves quickly due to the use of facial recognition scanners.

Upon entering the terminal, passengers present their passports that are scanned into the system. Looking at the camera, the system scans faces and takes a photo that will be used anytime a guest disembarks and embarks.

Once through the first facial scanners, guests will move through baggage check, which features large bins and lots of space to keep bags moving.

After walking through metal detectors and collecting bags, passengers then move to the check-in desks. With the space’s vaulted ceilings and glass windows, it is overwhelming, bright, and expansive.

Upon receiving digital keys and completing check-in, passengers will walk between the nearly wall-to-wall digital display that looks like a live aquarium and make their way to a final checkpoint.

Presenting boarding passes/keys and undergoing another facial recognition scan, it’s finally time to enter the gangway, which snakes around with three curves and features a number of small “speed humps” to help keep bags and wheelchairs from moving too quickly (but which also trip up carry-on bags).

And then, there she is: MSC World America. Where crew members are ready to greet guests with a warm welcome.

Boarding MSC World America

The MSC Cruise Terminal will be home to MSC Cruises and its Explora Journeys luxury small-ship cruise line, servicing up to three ships simultaneously.

MSC World America is the largest ship outside of Royal Caribbean that will dock in PortMiami, as well as call it home. With 2,631 staterooms across 12 decks and a total of 20 passenger decks, the ship is massive.

But boarding is also streamlined using technology.

Twelve elevators are immediately near the gangway, utilizing new technology meant to minimize wait times. Rather than selecting an up or down button, guests select the floor they want to visit and then are directed to an elevator that will only stop on selected floors.

Read Also: Miami Cruise Port Guide: Terminals, Transportation and More

Inside the elevator, it will display the floors it is traveling to and drop guests. It will not visit any other floor, even if someone attempts to catch an elevator as its traveling – it’s seriously painless, although a bit tricky to understand the first time.

Also tricky, admittedly, are carpeted areas throughout the terminal and when boarding the ship that are so new and thick, it can be cumbersome to pull a bag.

The dark sky-blue carpeting featuring celestial symbols and coordinates is easier to avoid, but the brown carpeting near the elevators blends with the smooth flooring and can trip one up if toting a rolling bag.

However, these will most likely “settle” and are part of the fun of being one of the first to board. 

Keep following Cruise Hive for more first looks at MSC World America, including its exciting christening ceremony taking place on April 9, 2025.