Attending The Naming Ceremony For MSC World America
I was graciously invited to attend the naming ceremony for the launch of MSC World America, the company’s largest ship.
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MSC World America Naming Ceremony
As a travel agency owner, I was invited to the naming ceremony of the largest cruise ship for MSC cruises. MSC is the largest cruise line in Europe (50 ports), is privately held by the Aponte-Vago family, and has ben a new entrant to the US market in the last few years. The new “World” class ships are on par with Royal Caribbean’s Icon class, holding up to 6,762 passengers and 2,138 crew members. These are venerable cities on water, but these ships fall somewhere between a floating theme park with shopping, hotels, attractions, and premium sections of the ship. MSC falls within the “Contemporary” category of cruising or main line in the same vein as Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, and Holland America. The MSC World America is the second of four in the world class, following MSC World Europe, and preceding MSC World Asia, and MSC World Atlantic (due in 2027). It will homeport in PortMiami.
The naming ceremony, a maritime tradition, was a star-studded event Dan Marino and other former Dolphins onboard signing autographs, Marc Anthony hosting an event for his sunglass line, Gloria Estefan hosting a concert, and Orlando Bloom hosting with Drew Barrymore, the ship’s godmother.
Orlando Bloom personally shook the hands of each of the officers of the ship (on stage, below) before the ribbon cutting.
Estefan’s concert followed a drone show over the water, and the Miami native played all of her hits on the pool deck.
Besides its size and amenities, MSC World America is a modern engineering marvel and utilizes both natural gas for supplemental power and shoreside power to reduce emissions rather than running engines when in port. Ships spend about half their time in port cities, so ports like Miami-Dade where such power sources are possible dramatically reduce the carbon footprint of ships. MSC intends to be carbon neutral across their business (largest shippers in the world, among other interests) by 2050 in compliance with the global challenge to achieve net zero emissions by then.
It’s worth noting that as this was a special event, not everything was open at the time I visited. I was working while onboard so I also didn’t have time to collect everything, and this post contains around 90 photos, I’m not sure how many more would add to the understanding of the event, ship, and service.
Yacht Club Suite
I have stayed in Yacht Club before on a different MSC vessel. For our readers it’s best to think of Yacht Club as a class distinction akin to business class on an airline. Access to the Yacht Club rooms are key card-restricted from the rest of the ship. It includes a junior butler and primary butler who will walk you to events around the ship, secure reservations, press and wash clothes, and customize a guest’s stay.
There’s also access to a Yacht Club-only lounge, bar, dining room, pool, sun deck, and priority service throughout the ship.
Room
My room for this stay was just a few doors away from the impressive two-floor duplex suites and shared a balcony (behind a partition) with one such suite. I was a few doors down from one of the aforementioned stars while they prepared for their participation in the event.
My room was similar (though smaller) to Explora Journeys layout. I commend them on the use of USB-C for the bedside chargers, but plugs would have been a helpful addition. At the desk there are plenty of European and international outlets (as well as USB-A) but they are a considerable distance from the bed. The TV offered a mix of about 20 MSC-centric content from safety videos on loop, to a camera from the bridge, etc. There were another ten or so channels with live TV including international CNN. Movies, on a contemporary line like this, are on-demand at a cost.
There were many wardrobes and drawers, plenty to support a week long stay for a couple requiring both formal and casual attire.
Nespresso coffee machines were available along with a mini bar containing Toblerone, soft drinks, beer, and liquor. Butlers will stock your fridge to your preferences.
The balcony had a table with a pair of chairs.
Bathroom
My yacht club bathroom had a full size shower (uncommon on contemporary cruise ships), a single vanity, and plenty of space for toiletries.
MSC’s Med toiletry line is lovely.
Yacht Club
The Yacht Club’s dining room doesn’t require a seating time and is an elevated dining experience.
Due to the limited sailing and my other commitments, I ate just one lunch in the Yacht Club (though I was permitted to have every meal in the space if I preferred.) I ordered a Yellowtail Tartare, and Rockfish stew.
Below the Yacht Club dining room on Deck 20, is the Yacht Club lounge with indoor and outdoor seating, a private bar, and champagne on ice throughout.
Duplex Suite
I toured a Duplex suite which spans decks 16 and 17. The ground floor is a lounging area with balcony, full bathroom, and storage for additional guests. The loft floor features the primary bedroom and a second full bathroom. A beautiful window provides ocean views and floods the both floors with light.
Main Floor
Loft
The bathrooms were identical to mine above.
Food And Beverage
To feed more than 6,700 guests, there have to be an incredible amount of food venues. Some of them were restricted to meetings during this special event meaning I didn’t get a chance to try them, however, in the past, MSC restaurants have been to an on-land premium restaurant standard. Many argue that the MSC’s Butcher’s Cut is the best at sea.
Main Dining Room
I attended a dinner in one of the many main dining rooms which is a banquet experience with limited menu. I selected a crab cake and burrata to start, then a surf and turf (lobster and filet) entree, and a stuffed chocolate cake dessert.
Around The Ship
I never ate in the buffet during my sailing, but in a departure from prior models, the ship has a couple of burger and pizza restaurants throughout the ship, included in every fare. MSC is well known for their pizza, a New York-style and it really is everything you’d hope it could be.
Zest Juice Bar
In my experience I never saw the Zest Juice Bar open during my sailing but it offers fresh squeezed and custom juices for an additional charge.
Eataly
The world’s only Eataly at sea, this serves as the vessel’s Italian cuisine option.
Les Dunes
Below Yacht Club is an Aurea Spa class (think premium economy) with access to the Les Dunes restaurant (elevated but not to the same level as Yacht Club) for main dining options.
Coffee Emporium
For a cost, Coffee Emporium on the back of the ship in the Promenade section is a premium coffee shop option that also offers fine chocolates and macrons.
All-Star Sports Bar
At an additional cost, the All-Star sports bar is focused on recreating the American sports bar experience. It unquestionably achieves that goal.
Kaito Sushi And Teppanyaki
Kaito is split between a sushi bar on the eighth floor in Luna Park and a hibachi experience. These are at an additional cost.
Hola! Tacos and Cantina
Hola! offers a Tex-Mex approach to Mexican in Luna Park, also at an additional cost.
Masters Of The Sea
Masters of the Sea is a two-story (deck 7 & 8) bar with the top level focused on gin, and the main floor on beer and traditional cocktails.
Gelato And Chocolate
Replacing Venchi, Jean Phillippe is the chocolatier onboard (deck 6, Luna Park) with gelato options for an additional cost.
Fizz Champagne Bar
The champagne bar, Fizz, offers a wide range of bubbly at an additional cost (though some may be included in a drink plan if purchased.)
Paxos
On the promenade, Paxos is a Greek establishment (for an additional cost) with both sit-down and to-go options with seating indoors and on the promenade. It offers a wide selection of fish which can be selected and cooked for the guest to order.
Facilities, Amenities, Pools
There are a number of pools around the ship, many had few actually in the water, a contradiction to other similar vessels. There’s also an indoor basketball course, the Cliffhanger swing over the edge of the ship, a lego room, child care, and a ropes course along with a water park and water slides.
Fitness Center and Aurea Spa
The fitness center is massive and features treadmills over the pool. The Aurea spa was not open during my available times to view it but is typically a strong suit of the brand.
Luna Park
The middle third of the ship is a three-story enclosed space with an LCD ceiling called Luna Park. Along with the aforementioned restaurants, shopping, and Duty free, there’s a casino at the end (no photos) and an arcade.
There’s also this auspicious British red phone booth that passengers seem to disappear into. Ask an officer if you see one onboard.
Promenade
The promenade is an open-air shopping district along the back third of the ship. It offers both promenade balconies (some with views of the ocean off the back of the ship) and features an 11-story dry slide for which guests can ride from the pool decks above to the Promenade below.
A sweets shop and some shopping along with the Coffee Emporium, Paxos, and All-Star sports bar make up the promenade. Smoking is permitted off the back of the ship at the end of this area.
The Loft
The Loft offers comedy shows and live music. It was well-attended on my visit.
Ocean Cay
Ocean Cay is MSC’s private island in the Bahamas. The dock is behind expanded to accommodate more vessels, at the moment MSC World America is the largest and can be the only one in port. Ocean Cay was an industrial dumping ground for the Bahamas and has been converted into one of the best experiences at sea. There are now ten bars, several restaurants, seven beaches, and plenty of activities. Unlike Royal Caribbean which charges guests to use the facilities on its Perfect Day at Coco Cay, most of the experiences at Ocean Cay are included in the fare.
Additional charges may include premium beverages, jetskis, catamarans, and other such activities.
MSC opened its new marine care center where it showcases how the MSC Foundation is working to heal the oceans and at this site, rebuild coral. Bahamian staff lives on the island year round in colorful buildings on the center of the island.
The Yacht Club has its own restaurant (Ocean House) and private beach serviced by the ship’s butler staff.
MSC hosts a White Party (think captain shirts and hats) onboard most sailings, but on this occasion, it was held on the beach at Ocean Cay. Below you can see the start, before the end there were more than 1,000 in attendance. Each departure ends in an LCD Lighthouse show.
Royal Caribbean Icon Challenger
Royal Caribbean has a market-leading product in this space, the Icon. However, MSC World America has a very competitive product in the space in terms of amenities and options. With Yacht Club, some could say it’s an elevated alternative. That said, MSC is far more competitive on price and value than Royal Caribbean. On some sailings, the price is half the base fare. Specialty restaurants on MSC have traditionally been offered at up to (5) dinners including spots like Butcher’s Cut, for $150 – the price of just one meal in a steakhouse onboard Royal Caribbean.
I’d stop short of calling it a Royal Caribbean Icon killer, but those who try MSC World America may find that they are able to take twice the amount of vacations they would on Royal without deteriorating their experience. That may bring Icon prices down, or open up more options for families and cruisers on MSC.
Conclusion
MSC World America was impressive as was their presentation of the naming ceremony. The largest entrant into the fleet with a home in Miami, MSC stands to become a true competitor in the contemporary cruising space.
What do you think?