Day 7 and the final report from MSC World America brings us to the last stop on this Eastern Caribbean cruise, MSC’s private island, Ocean Cay Marine Reserve in The Bahamas. As I do with all my final day reports, I’ll wrap things up at the end with my overall thoughts on the cruise including embarkation, the stateroom, dining, entertainment, fellow passengers, and the rest of it. But first, let’s talk Ocean Cay.
Ocean Cay is not your typical cruise line private island, and that’s exactly why I like it.
If you’re expecting giant waterslides, a massive pool, zip lines, swim-up bars, and all the over-the-top amusement park nonsense you’ll find at Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay, Norwegian’s Great Stirrup Cay, or Carnival’s Celebration Key, you’re not going to find that here. Ocean Cay is a very different animal. Here, the focus is on the island itself, the beaches, the water, and MSC’s whole marine reserve and conservation angle rather than trying to turn the place into a theme park.
Now, that doesn’t mean Ocean Cay has always been this laid-back tropical beach day people see now. In fact, it was quite the opposite.
This island used to be an industrial sand excavation site. It was a working industrial site used for aragonite sand mining, and when MSC took it over, there was a lot of cleanup and a whole lot of work that had to happen to turn it into what guests see today. It took years to transform it, and even now it still feels like a place that is constantly being added to, adjusted, and improved. For those of you who want to take a look at just how this island was transformed from an industrial wasteland to what it is today, a whole documentary was made about it called “Building Paradise Island” and is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video and other platforms.
Last year around this same time, when MSC World America first started calling here, MSC opened Boho, a second buffet-style BBQ spot to help supplement Seakers, the original buffet, which on its own was never going to survive the lunchtime rush from a ship carrying this many people. They also finally opened Seakers Family Cove, which had sat there roped off and unused since the beginning. Both of those additions made a lot of sense, especially with World America now regularly dumping thousands of passengers onto the island.
And the work hasn’t stopped.
Construction is still very much visible around the island. More employee housing is going up, even after they just finished expanding housing. There are other enhancements in the works too, and if you’ve been following along on the site, you already know MSC has a habit of treating Ocean Cay like a living project rather than something that’s ever fully done. That continues with the Marine Conservation Center now open, more upgrades underway, including an expansion of the pier so two ships can dock at once, and of course a new man-made island called Sandy Cay coming in 2028.
MSC Ocean Cay Upgrades: A First-Hand Look at the 2027 Enhancements
So yes, Ocean Cay is beautiful, but it’s also still evolving.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, I’d rather see them continue to improve the island in ways that make sense than go dropping in some giant waterpark and pretending that’s what this place needed all along. Ocean Cay works because it feels different. It feels more natural, more spread out, and a lot less like you’re being shoved into a giant mall.
However, Ocean Cay is not for people who need constant stimulation. It’s for people who want a beach day, a pretty place to walk around, some decent food options, and a break from all the craziness found on the ship during a sea day.
MSC World America docked at Ocean Cay around 8:00 a.m. and guests were cleared to go ashore shortly after. One of the nice things about arriving here is just how easy the whole setup is. You walk off the ship and you’re immediately in the welcome area. Trams are sitting right there for anyone who doesn’t feel like walking, the shore excursion desk is right there too if you have a tour to meet up for, and of course the shops are nearby as well in case you feel like getting separated from your money within the first 30 seconds of being ashore.
The Different Beaches at Ocean Cay
From there, Ocean Cay is laid out in a way that makes it pretty easy to spread out. The island has several beach areas, and they all have a little bit of a different feel.
The first and most obvious one is Lighthouse Beach, because it’s basically right there when you get off the ship. It’s one of the most popular spots for that reason alone, and it gives you great views back toward the ship. It also has chairs, umbrellas, food nearby, and easy access to drinks, which means a lot of people stop there and never bother going any farther. One thing to keep in mind though is that the seating there includes those Adirondack-style chairs rather than traditional loungers, so if your idea of a beach day involves a lounger and umbrella, you won’t find that here.
Then there’s South & North Beach, which is probably the biggest beach area on the island at the lagoon and is one of the most popular once people start spreading out. It has tons of loungers that you can rent for the day, plenty of room, and easy access to food and drinks. This is also where a lot of the cabanas are.
If you want something a little quieter, Bimini Beach, on the ocean, is usually a better bet since it takes more effort to get to, which means fewer people bother. And if you really want to get away from most of the crowds, Sunset Beach is one of the calmer spots on the island but it’s rocky and not meant for swimming.
Seakers Family Cove is the smaller family-friendly area that finally opened up last year after sitting roped off forever. It’s a nice addition, especially for people with kids who want a smaller beach area, but it’s not huge and it doesn’t have a massive amount of seating, so this isn’t the place to count on if you’re arriving late and hoping for prime real estate.
One thing worth noting about Ocean Cay in general is that the beaches are pretty, but the sand is not that soft powdery flour-like stuff some people dream about. There are shells, coral bits, rocks, and coarser patches in places, so water shoes are not a terrible idea here.
As for things to do, Ocean Cay is mostly about exactly what you’d expect from a beach day. Swim, relax, walk around, eat, drink, sit in a chair and do absolutely nothing. There are not a ton of manufactured attractions here, which again is part of the point.
Food-wise, you’ve got Seakers and Boho, the two main buffet-style lunch spots serving the same basic BBQ-type spread. Having both is a huge help now because with a ship this size one buffet would be an absolute zoo. There are also food trucks around the island with quick bites, and bars scattered around so you’re never terribly far from a drink.
Near the entrance area you’ll also find the Marine Conservation Center, which ties into MSC’s whole marine reserve message. Head there if you want to learn more about the coral restoration and conservation work they’re doing.
For the weeks leading up to the cruise, I kept checking the shore excursions list to see if any cabanas at Ocean Cay were available, and every single time, nothing. Not one. So one of my first stops once onboard was the excursions desk to see if there actually were any available and, surprise, there were. A lot of them.
So why weren’t they showing on the website or in the app?
Let’s just say MSC’s technology, when it comes to the website and app, leaves a lot to be desired. And by a lot, I mean a lot.
Anyway, I was able to secure a cabana for $299 for the day and even managed to get the one I always try to book, cabana number 26 on South Beach. Why number 26? Part of it is probably that I’m a creature of habit and I’ve had this same cabana more than half a dozen times already, but really it comes down to location, location, location. It’s not a bad walk from the ship, and it’s steps away from a pop-up bar, a large permanent bar, the restrooms, Seakers food court, one of the island’s food trucks, and the lagoon, so when the sun gets to be too much you’re only a few steps away from the water.
Now sometimes you can pick your cabana location like I did, but most of the time they’re assigned randomly and you find out which one is yours when you check in at the cabana reception area that morning. I’ve written more about the cabanas before and even put together a guide and cabana map you can use to get an idea of where you may want to spend the day if you decide to book one.
Your Guide to Renting a Cabana at Ocean Cay – With Cabana Map!
Cabanas are rented by the day, and if you’re on one of the itineraries where the ship overnights at Ocean Cay and you’re leaving after lunch, they do offer half-day rentals, which is a nice option. Each cabana accommodates up to six people and comes with four loungers, two floating mats, a cooler stocked with canned water, and seating inside.
Now that $299 price gets you exactly that and not much else. You do not get a cabana butler wandering by to check on you, and bar service is pretty much hit or miss. And by hit or miss, I mostly mean miss. During the entire day, I had a bar server come by exactly one time, and that was right after I arrived. So for the most part, if you want a drink, you’re getting up and going to get it yourself.
Still, when you compare $299 here to somewhere like Half Moon Cay, where a cabana will set you back $699 and you’re not getting all that much more for the money, this is actually a pretty good deal. It’s a great way to spend the day on Ocean Cay and gives you a nice balance of sun and shade.
One thing I do have to mention though is the Wi-Fi. Yes, it is technically available on the island. But the odds of it actually working for you are about the same as you hitting a life-changing jackpot in the casino. In other words, don’t count on it. If you’re planning on pretending to work from the beach, or you simply cannot wait to post your beach pictures to Instagram, you’re probably going to be disappointed. I really don’t know why they haven’t managed to sort this out yet by adding more hotspots around the island, because spotty Wi-Fi has been an issue here since the place opened. My guess is they just don’t see it as important enough to spend the money on.
As for cell service, yes, there is some. My phone, which uses Google Fi, was picking up ALIV, a Bahamian carrier. But while it showed LTE, it was voice service only and not actual working LTE data. So if you’re one of those people who needs to stay connected every second of every day, just know that Ocean Cay is going to force you to rough it a bit.
I spent the majority of the day out on the island and before heading back to the ship around 4:00 p.m., I did a walk around just to take in the beauty of the place a little more. Since all aboard wasn’t until 7:30 p.m., I had plenty of time to head back, freshen up, get changed into evening clothes, and then go right back out again around 6:00 p.m.
And honestly, that may have been one of the best parts of the day.
By then, most people were already back onboard, so I went out to Lighthouse Beach, grabbed a chair, lit up a cigar, and just sat there on what felt like an empty island. It was quiet, peaceful, and a totally different vibe than the busy beach day earlier on.
Back onboard, the lighthouse light show was scheduled for 7:45 p.m., but it actually started around 7:40. The only problem was that it was still too light out, so it wasn’t nearly as visible as it should have been. But you can check out the video below from one of my previous visits to get a better idea of what the show looks like once the sun has actually gone down.
Once the show wrapped up, MSC World America pulled away from the dock, made her way out through the channel, and started the trip back to PortMiami.
Dinner at Kaito Teppanyaki on MSC World America
For dinner tonight, here’s a look at what was being served in the main dining rooms and in the Yacht Club restaurant, but for me, one last night meant one last specialty dinner, and this time I headed to Kaito Teppanyaki.
MSC World America Main Dining Room Dinner Menu E
Available in Bubbles Restaurant, Esagano Restaurant, Hexagon Restaurant, La Foglia Restaurant, Les Dunes Restaurant
Available on: MSC World America
MSC World America Yacht Club Restaurant Dinner Menu E
Available on: MSC World America
This is always one of those restaurants that books up quickly because seats are limited and people love the whole dinner-and-a-show aspect of it. As you can see in the menu below, they offer three main teppanyaki packages priced according to the protein selection, though all of them come with a sushi and sashimi starter, miso soup, salad, vegetables, fried rice, and dessert.
Kaito Teppanyaki
This Japanese grill experience is dinner and a show, with chefs cooking right in front of you and bringing a little flair to every dish. Between the sizzling ingredients, interactive vibe, and freshly prepared plates, it’s one of the most fun and memorable meals onboard. (Menu updated April 2026)
Available on: MSC Bellissima, MSC Euribia, MSC Grandiosa, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Seashore, MSC Seascape, MSC Seaside, MSC Seaview, MSC Virtuosa, MSC World America, MSC World Europa
My choice tonight was the top package at $75, which included wagyu, lobster, and scallops. I asked for my wagyu to basically just be kissed by the heat, a sear on each side and that’s it, and that request was accommodated without any hesitation.
The food was cooked perfectly, and service was very good.
The only issue was our chef. He had very clearly reached the end of his day and was mentally already in bed. Since this was the last table of the night, he seemed like he just wanted to get through dinner and call it a night. Normally, teppanyaki comes with the full show: knife tricks, little jokes, clang-clang noises, tossing food, singing, the whole bit. That was definitely happening at some of the other tables around us. Ours, however, was the quiet table. No big show, no extra flair, just straight to the cooking.
Oh well. That’s the luck of the draw.
Even so, I still say Kaito Teppanyaki is an experience worth doing. You get plenty of food, the quality is there, and when you do get a chef who’s feeling a little more performative, the entertainment helps justify the somewhat hefty price tag.
Okay, now it’s time for my overall review of this cruise, so let’s get right into it.
MSC World America Review
MSC Cruises – 7-Day Eastern Caribbean
MSC World America
Dates: April 18–25, 2026
Homeport: Miami, Florida, USA
Ship Facts: 2025 build • 205,700 GT • 6,774 passengers (double occupancy)
| Date | Port | Country |
| Apr 18 | Miami (Depart 6:00pm) | USA |
| Apr 19 | At Sea | – |
| Apr 20 | Puerto Plata (Arrive 9:00am, Depart 5:00pm) | Dominican Republic |
| Apr 21 | San Juan (Arrive 9:00am, Depart 11:00pm) | Puerto Rico |
| Apr 22 | At Sea | – |
| Apr 23 | At Sea | – |
| Apr 24 | Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (Arrive 8:00am, Depart 8:00pm) | Bahamas |
| Apr 25 | Miami (Arrive 7:00am) | USA |
Embarkation at PortMiami
Embarkation on MSC World America was a tale of two very different experiences.
Getting to PortMiami was, once again, a reminder that unless you enjoy sitting in traffic, questioning your life choices, and watching your patience evaporate on I-95, just take the Brightline. What should have been a relatively easy ride from Boca Raton turned into a two-hour mess thanks to traffic and construction, while the train would have had me there in an hour. Lesson learned. Again.
Once I actually got to MSC’s terminal, though, the whole experience flipped completely. MSC’s Terminal AA is an absolute machine. It’s big, modern, efficient, and easily one of the smoothest cruise terminals out there right now. From dropping off the bags to getting inside, scanning the passport, doing facial recognition, clearing security, and stepping onboard, the whole process took less than ten minutes. It was fast, painless, and honestly one of the best embarkation experiences in the business. Other cruise lines really should be taking notes here.
Then came the actual moment of boarding the ship, and that’s where things fall flat. Instead of walking into some grand space that makes you stop and say wow, MSC World America greets you with what basically is a cramped elevator lobby full of people being barked at to keep their boarding pass out and head to their muster station. It’s chaotic, underwhelming, and a pretty lousy first impression for a ship this size and this expensive. The muster process itself was also about as bare bones as it gets. Scan your card, beep, thank you, move along. No real interaction, no explanation, no sense of welcome.
Adding to that frustration was the MSC for Me app, which was a buggy mess when it came time to watch the safety video. It kept acting like it wasn’t connected, restarting the video, and generally making something simple way more annoying than it needed to be.
So overall, the embarkation experience itself was excellent once I reached the terminal. MSC has the port side of things down to a science. But the actual welcome onboard the ship? That part still needs serious work. The terminal experience says premium and polished. The first few steps onboard are a mess of a cattle call.
Promenade and Ocean View Stateroom 15233 on MSC World America
For this cruise, I was once again in one of MSC World America’s promenade-view balcony staterooms aft on Deck 15, and while these are not the largest cabins at sea by any stretch, they are cozy, well laid out, and more functional than they may first appear. The square design is a little different from the long, narrow balcony cabins people may be more used to, but I actually like the setup. Storage was more than adequate for two people, the bed was extremely comfortable, the air conditioning worked great, and overall it was a very nice room to come back to at the end of the day.
One thing I will absolutely give the cabin high marks for is noise from neighboring rooms. I had no issues at all with hearing people next door, slamming doors, televisions, or any of the usual nonsense. From that standpoint, the room was quiet and very comfortable.
That said, if you are someone who wants a room in a totally peaceful part of the ship, these promenade-view cabins may not be for you. Because they overlook the World Promenade, you are going to hear music, crowd noise, and activity from below while things are going on. During the day, that includes the general noise of the activities oout there, and at night you’ll hear music and entertainment from the promenade area. The good news is that most of that dies down by around 11:00 p.m. to midnight, so it is not an all-night issue. But if you’re the kind of person who wants dead silence the second you go back to your cabin, this is not the room I’d recommend.
As for stateroom service, MSC still has twice-daily service, with a full cleaning in the morning and a lighter tidy-up in the evening. In theory, that’s great, especially as more and more cruise lines have cut back on service. In practice though, that wasn’t really what happened in my cabin this week.
My stateroom attendant only did the evening tidy-up two out of the seven nights. And yes, the room was available for him to enter. In fact, he did come in at times to leave papers on the bed, but that was it. No trash taken, no towels replaced, no quick refresh, nothing. Morning service was fine, but that second nightly touch-up was mostly absent.
Now, to be fair, he did mention that at the end of this cruise he was heading home for vacation, and I kind of got the impression he had already mentally left the ship a few days early. It definitely felt like he was already in vacation mode before his vacation had officially started.
So overall, the room itself was very comfortable, cozy, and a good fit for me, but the promised twice-daily service really did not happen the way it should have.
MSC World America Restaurants & Food
Main Dining Room (Free): ★★★☆☆ – I’m happy to say that MSC has really stepped up its game in the main dining room department. The two dinners I had there this cruise were both very good, with food that was hot, well prepared, and in several cases, may I say it… impressive. Portions were solid, pasta was consistently cooked perfectly al dente, and dishes like the French onion soup, beef tartare, filet, veal ossobuco, and even Italian night fare all showed that MSC has come a long way from the days when its food in the U.S. market was widely panned as being the worst in the industry. Service was not rushed, which I appreciated, and aside from the hiccup the first night trying to get a couple cans of Coke to the table, everything else went smoothly. For me, this marks a major improvement.
Buffet (Free): ★★★☆☆ – The buffet is, in a word, chaos. A complete and total hot mess. It is here where manners and politeness go to die, though more on that later when I get into fellow passengers. The food itself, however, was not the issue. At breakfast, lunch, and dinner there was a wide variety of options, and there was always enough to make sure pretty much everyone in your group could find something they wanted. Were all of those things a hit? No. But there was enough variety that nobody should be going hungry unless they’re just being dramatic. The biggest problem with the buffet is simply surviving it. You need patience. If you manage to fill a plate and actually find a table to sit down and eat at, MSC should hand you a medal on the way out.
Butcher’s Cut ($): ★★★★☆ – Butcher’s Cut remains a solid choice and one of the more dependable specialty restaurants on the ship. The food was excellent, the service was very good, and the double-cut lamb chops were huge, cooked perfectly to medium, and well seasoned. The wagyu beef tartare was also outstanding, rich, flavorful, and one of the better things I ate all week. I added shrimp to the entrée, and while shrimp are hard to screw up, they were prepared well too. The only reason this one doesn’t land at 4.5 stars is the lousy table I got stuck with outside the restaurant in a roped-off but still high-traffic area overlooking the World Galleria. It was not exactly the ideal setting for a steakhouse dinner at this price point, especially when the rude masses kept wandering straight through the dining area like they owned the place. Still, the quality of the meal itself was excellent and Butcher’s Cut continues to be one of the stronger dinner options onboard.
Eataly ($): ★★★★★ – Hands down, without question, the best restaurant on the ship. Everything about Eataly was excellent. The food, the service, the quality, the authenticity, all of it. I started with the burrata, which was cool, refreshing, and a great opener, then added on the prosciutto and Parmigiano course, which aside from one cheese, was very good. The real star of the meal though was the tagliatelle al ragù. The pasta was perfectly al dente, the sauce was loaded with meat. Yes, some people may have a hard time justifying $55 for pasta, but if you care about quality and authentic Italian flavors, Eataly absolutely delivers.
Kaito Sushi and Teppanyaki ($): ★★★★☆ – Kaito delivered very good food and a lot of it. My meal included wagyu, lobster, and scallops, all of which were cooked perfectly, and the overall quality was there. Service was also very good. The reason this one loses a half star is because teppanyaki is supposed to be dinner and a show, and at my table, the show part was definitely lacking. So the food absolutely delivered, but the energy at our table did not. Even so, I still think it’s an experience worth doing.
Paxos ($): not rated – I didn’t get back to Paxos on this sailing, so I can’t fairly rate it this time around. Based on my previous cruise though, it was one of the bigger surprises on the ship and much better than I expected.
Luna Park Pizza & Burger (Free): ★★☆☆☆ – The pizza itself, here and really anywhere on MSC, remains one of the line’s strongest food offerings. MSC pizza is consistently very good and honestly better than what some cruise lines are trying to pass off in specialty restaurants. But beyond the pizza, Luna Park Pizza & Burger is pretty underwhelming. The burgers are just okay, nothing special, mainly because those and a lot of the food sits around. It’s fine if you need a quick bite, and I will give them credit for offering fresh fruit and desserts too, but this is not a place you go because you’re craving something memorable.
All Stars Sports Bar ($): not rated – Didn’t experience it on this cruise, so no rating for this one. Although, I did go in for a self-service beer pour and the tap system wasn’t working, and when I went to the bar to order a beer, it took nearly ten minutes to get one.
MSC World America Fellow Passengers
Here’s where I have to get brutally honest.
MSC attracts a very international crowd, and while the shorter 3- and 4-day booze cruises on some of their other ships out of Miami and Port Canaveral may skew a little more U.S.-heavy, these weeklong sailings definitely draw a much broader mix of passengers. And with that comes one of the biggest negatives of this cruise.
A lot of the fellow passengers were, quite simply, rude as hell.
I’m not talking about one or two isolated incidents either. I’m talking about the kind of behavior you notice over and over again all week long. People cutting right in front of you in line without a second thought, walking directly into your path as if you’re supposed to stop for them, forcing their way into elevators before anyone can get out, ignoring personal space, and at times just acting like the rules are for everyone else. I also saw the usual balcony smoking nonsense despite the no-smoking rules, which is always a great way to make your neighbors miserable.
And if you want the best places to witness this behavior in its natural habitat, head to the buffet, an elevator lobby, or the entrance to a show. That’s where the absolute worst of it comes out.
So if you sail MSC, especially on one of these longer itineraries, pack your patience, stand your ground, and don’t let people walk all over you. Because many of them absolutely will if you give them the chance.
Now, I’m not going to turn this into some giant culture war rant, but I will say there is definitely a vibe onboard at times where basic courtesy just feels in very short supply. Whatever the reason, whether it’s just different social norms, vacation brain, or people simply being inconsiderate, it was noticeable all week.
As for the general age range onboard, this sailing felt like it skewed mostly to people in their 40s, with some younger families mixed in and then a decent number of guests 60 and older, though they definitely were not the majority. This cruise was also not sold out, and from everything I was hearing onboard, passenger count was somewhere in the 5,000s, which likely helped keep the ship from feeling even more chaotic than it otherwise could have.
Entertainment and Activities on MSC World America
When it comes to onboard activities, MSC World America does not leave you sitting around wondering what to do next. The daily schedule is packed from morning to night, so whether you want trivia, dance classes, pool games, live music, family activities, or just something to keep you from wandering to the buffet to get frustrated all over again, there is always something going on.
For families, especially, the ship does a very good job. Between all the things happening in the Harbour area, the slides, ropes course, bumper cars, arcade, sports court, and all the kid-focused programming, there is more than enough here to keep children entertained all day and night. If a family boards this ship and the kids say they’re bored, that’s probably a parenting issue and not an MSC issue.
Now, one thing that does need to be mentioned is the cruise director announcements.
They are constant.
And every single one of them starts with singing, which after a few days is enough to make a sane man consider jumping overboard and swimming back to Miami. On top of that, each announcement is then repeated in Spanish, so every announcement is really two announcements. Now, to be fair, I do remember when MSC used to do announcements in English, Spanish, French, and Italian, so getting that down to just two languages is technically progress. But still, by the end of the week, it starts to feel like the soundtrack to your own slow descent into madness.
That said, once you get past the announcements, MSC has absolutely stepped up its game when it comes to entertainment.
I remember when entertainment on MSC was LITERALLY a Pavarotti concert on the big screen at the lido and a singer with a thick Italian accent doing a Michael Jackson tribute show in the main theatre. Those days are long gone. MSC has put real effort into its production shows, live music, and entertainment lineup, and it shows.
The production shows onboard are a major improvement over what MSC used to offer and, honestly, better than what you’re going to find right now on Carnival, Holland America, and even Princess. That’s not something I say lightly. The shows in the main theater are well worth making time for, and the more intimate performances in the Panorama Lounge are also very good and give you a different kind of entertainment experience without feeling like an afterthought. Just book shows in advance through the app so you don’t miss out!
The live music around the ship was also consistently strong. In particular, the musicians performing in the Masters of the Sea pub were excellent and helped make that one of the better spots onboard to just sit, listen, and have a drink.
So overall, credit where it’s due. MSC has taken entertainment up multiple notches over the years. Between the packed activity schedule, the family attractions, the upgraded production shows, and the quality of the live music, this is a ship where there is always something to do and where the entertainment is actually worth showing up for.
Ship Condition and Upkeep
Being just a year old, MSC World America is in very good condition.
MSC, unlike some other cruise lines I could name, takes a lot of pride in keeping its ships looking sharp, and it shows. This is not a line that lets its vessels start looking tired, rusty, and neglected while pretending nobody notices. When you pull up next to an MSC ship, you rarely see the kind of exterior rust streaks and general wear that have become way too common on some Carnival ships. The same goes for inside. Crew are constantly out and about polishing, cleaning, vacuuming, wiping things down, and generally making sure the ship stays looking pristine.
And World America is no exception.
Throughout the cruise, the ship looked spotless. Public areas were clean, metal accents and railings were shining, glass was kept smudge-free, and there was always somebody nearby either cleaning, straightening, or fixing something before it had a chance to become a real issue. MSC clearly puts a lot of effort into upkeep, and on a ship this size, that’s worth noting.
That said, there is one area where MSC continues to make a choice I will never understand, and that is carpeting.
For whatever reason, MSC insists on using large areas of solid-colored carpet instead of patterned carpet that does a much better job of hiding stains, spills, wear, and the occasional mystery mess that comes with thousands of people walking around a cruise ship all week. Solid carpet may look nice when it’s brand new, but once real people start living on it, every spot, stain, and failed cleaning attempt jumps right out at you.
As you can see in the photo below, there were places where it looked like something had been spilled, somebody tried to clean it, and instead of fixing the problem they just wound up bleaching the carpet and making it even more noticeable. Is it a huge issue? No. Is it minor in the grand scheme of things? Absolutely. But these carpet issues showed up in multiple areas around the ship, and it all goes back to MSC choosing solid colors where a smarter patterned carpet would hide a multitude of sins.
So overall, World America is in excellent condition and is being maintained the way a flagship should be. The ship is clean, polished, and clearly well cared for. MSC just needs to stop making life harder on itself with carpeting choices that highlight every little imperfection instead of hiding them.
Disembarkation at PortMiami
Disembarkation on MSC World America was every bit as smooth as embarkation, which is not something you can say about a lot of cruise lines.
MSC offers the usual options, self-assist if you want to drag your own bags off, or checked luggage if you’d rather put them out the night before and deal with them once you’re in the terminal. I went with checked luggage this time and had my bag outside the room the night before. As a Diamond member, I was able to leave anytime after 7:00 a.m., which is a nice perk if you like getting off early and getting on with your day.
I left my room at 7:35 a.m., keeping in mind that staterooms have to be vacated by 8:00 a.m., and headed down to disembark. There were a few people ahead of me, but the line kept moving the entire time. There was no standing around, no bottleneck, no chaos. My card was scanned and I was off the ship almost immediately.
Once inside the terminal, it is a bit of a hike to get to the luggage area, but that’s just because MSC’s terminal in Miami is absolutely massive. The good news is my luggage was easy to find and right where it was supposed to be. From there, it was another bit of a walk over to the facial recognition scanners, where I got to smile for the camera one more time before clearing immigration.
After that, you head outside and up the escalator to the second level where passenger pickup is located.
From stateroom to curbside, the whole process took less than 20 minutes, which is kind of remarkable when you think about how much of a disaster disembarkation can be on some ships and in some terminals.
So just like embarkation, disembarkation on MSC World America was quick, painless, and extremely efficient, and a lot of that comes down to how well MSC’s new terminal in Miami works.
Final Thoughts
When I first sailed on MSC World America during the inaugural, I really enjoyed the ship. I liked the layout, I liked the energy, I liked everything going on, and at the time I said I’d absolutely sail on her again.
Now that I’ve done exactly that, I’ve changed my mind a bit.
It’s not that World America is a bad ship, because it isn’t. In fact, there’s a lot to like here. The ship is in great shape, the specialty dining is strong, the entertainment is very good, and MSC has clearly stepped up its game in a lot of areas, especially compared to where it was years ago in the U.S. market.
But for me, after sailing her twice now, I’ve come to the conclusion that I much prefer MSC’s smaller ships, especially the Seaside-class vessels.
Yes, the smaller ships don’t have all the bells and whistles, all the specialty restaurants, or all the flashy extras that come with the World Class ships. But what they do have is something I value more and more every time I step on one of these mega ships: they’re smaller, more manageable, and just feel a little more civilized. You’re not sharing the experience with what feels like an entire city, and that alone makes a big difference in how enjoyable the cruise feels day to day.
Would I rush to book another cruise on a smaller MSC ship? Absolutely, and without hesitation.
Would I do the same to come back on a World Class ship? That I’d have to think a lot harder about.
Part of that also comes down to the itineraries. World America’s Eastern and Western Caribbean runs are the exact same every other week, over and over, with no real variation to keep things fresh. That gets old quickly, especially if you sail often. On top of that, you can often score an overnight at Ocean Cay on one of the Seaside-class ships, and that’s something World America doesn’t offer. And honestly, I’d take an overnight at Ocean Cay over one more giant ship feature any day.
MSC remains one of my favorite cruise lines and one I would still choose over Carnival or Norwegian without much thought. I’m just not entirely sure that the World Class ships would be my first choice within the MSC fleet now that I’ve been on one twice.
That said, I’ve got some exciting cruises coming up on different ships and different lines through the end of the year, so stay tuned for all of that.
Thanks for following along on this latest adventure, and hopefully I’ll see you on a ship soon.
MSC World America Day 7 Daily Program
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 07:30am | Sunrise Stretch | MSC Gym (Deck 20 Mid) |
| 08:00am | We Move for Coral (weather permitting) | World Theatre (Deck 7 Fwd) |
| 08:00am | In-door Cycling (Charges Apply) | MSC Gym (Deck 20 Mid) |
| 08:00am – 09:30am | Sports: Pickleball Game (16+) | MSC Sportplex (Deck 20 Mid) |
| 09:00am – 03:00pm | Free Body Composition Analysis | MSC Gym (Deck 20 Mid) |
| 09:00am – 05:00pm | Free Spa Tours & Massage Tester | MSC Aurea Spa (Deck 8 Fwd) |
| 09:00am – 05:00pm | Free Tongue & Pulse Analysis | MSC Aurea Spa (Deck 8 Fwd) |
| 09:00am – 09:00pm | Free Skin & Hair Consultation | MSC Aurea Spa (Deck 8 Fwd) |
| 09:30am – 10:30am | Arts & Crafts: T-Shirt Creations | MSC Luna Park (Deck 6 Fwd) |
| 09:30am – 06:30pm | Free Foot and Posture Analysis | MSC Gym (Deck 20 Mid) |
| 10:00am | Ping Pong Tournament (16+) | Botanic Garden Bar (Deck 19 Mid) |
| 01:00pm | Quiz O’ Clock | Dolce Vita Bar (Deck 6 Mid) |
| 01:30pm | Sudoku Challenge 6 | Dolce Vita Bar (Deck 6 Mid) |
| 02:00pm | Guess the Song: Beyonce vs Rihanna | Dolce Vita Bar (Deck 6 Mid) |
| 02:00pm | DJ Poolside Vibes | Mar Azul Bar (Deck 18 Mid) |
| 02:30pm | Guess the Drawing | Dolce Vita Bar (Deck 6 Mid) |
| 03:00pm | Dance Class: Salsatón | Dolce Vita Bar (Deck 6 Mid) |
| 03:30pm | Quiz O’ Clock | Dolce Vita Bar (Deck 6 Mid) |
| 03:30pm | DJ Poolside Vibes | Mar Azul (Deck 18 Mid) |
| 04:00pm | Guess the Song: Mix Tape | Dolce Vita Bar (Deck 6 Mid) |
| 04:00pm | Friends of Bill W (unhosted) | Business Center 2 (Deck 6 Fwd) |
| 04:00pm – 07:00pm | Collect your EFFY charm! | Fine Jewellery (Deck 8 Mid) |
| 04:00pm – 10:00pm | Back by Popular Demand: EFFY Final Call Sale | Fine Jewellery (Deck 8 Mid) |
| 04:30pm – 11:30pm | My Sea Charms Last Chance | Shopping Gallery (Deck 6 Mid) |
| 05:00pm | #MSCKids: MSC Dance Crew | The Studio (Deck 19 Mid) |
| 05:00pm | DJ Poolside Vibes | Mar Azul (Deck 18 Mid) |
| 05:00pm – 07:00pm | Tech: VR Experience 4 (13+) (Charges Apply) | MSC Luna Park (Deck 6 Fwd) |
| 05:30pm – 08:30pm | Hospitality Desk - ITA, FRA, ESP | World Galleria (Deck 6 Mid) |
| 06:00pm | Solo Travellers Get Together | Champagne Bar (Deck 8 Mid) |
| 06:00pm | Live music with Trio Sunset & Duo Express | Dolce Vita Bar (Deck 6 Mid) |
| 07:00pm | Live music with Mark Steel Pan | World Promenade (Deck 8 Aft) |
| 07:15pm | Live music with Chris J Clarke & Diego | Masters of The Sea (Deck 7 Mid) |
| 07:30pm | Dance Class: Bachata | Dolce Vita Bar (Deck 6 Mid) |
| 07:30pm | Sunset Stretch | MSC Gym (Deck 20 Mid) |
| 07:30pm | Theater Show: Momentous | World Theatre (Deck 7 Fwd) |
| 07:30pm – 08:30pm | Collect your EFFY Charm of the Day! | Fine Jewellery (Deck 8 Mid) |
| 08:00pm | #MSCKids: Boom | MSC Luna Park (Deck 6 Fwd) |
| 08:00pm | Queen Symphonic: A Rock & Orchestra Revolution! | Panorama Lounge (Deck 7 Aft) |
| 08:00pm – 10:00pm | R&B Vibes with DJ | Champagne Bar (Deck 8 Mid) |
| 08:15pm | Palm Tree Show | World Promenade (Deck 8 Aft) |
| 08:15pm – 08:45pm | Shuffle Board Tournament | All-Stars Sports Bar (Deck 8 Aft) |
| 08:25pm – 09:15pm | Latin Atmosphere with DJ | World Promenade (Deck 8 Aft) |
| 08:30pm – 10:00pm | Be a Karaoke Superstar! (18+) | The Loft (Deck 8 Mid) |
| 09:00pm | LGBTQIA+ Get Together | Elixir Bar (Deck 8 Mid) |
| 09:15pm | Palm Tree Show | World Promenade (Deck 8 Aft) |
| 09:30pm | Theater Show: Momentous | World Theatre (Deck 7 Fwd) |
| 09:30pm | Movie Time: Formula 1 (PG-13) | MSC Luna Park (Deck 6 Fwd) |
| 10:00pm | Palm Tree Show | World Promenade (Deck 8 Aft) |
| 10:00pm | Queen Symphonic: A Rock & Orchestra Revolution! | Panorama Lounge (Deck 7 Aft) |
| 10:15pm | #MSCKids: Farewell Party | The Studio (Deck 19 Mid) |
| 10:15pm | Dueling Pianos (18+) | The Loft (Deck 8 Mid) |
| 10:15pm | Win your Shopping Back Raffle! | Shopping Gallery (Deck 6 Mid) |
| 10:45pm | Night Club After Dark with DJ (18+) | Panorama Lounge (Deck 7 Aft) |
| 11:15pm | #MSCTeens Live: Lucky Box | The Studio (Deck 19 Mid) |
| 11:15pm | Dueling Pianos (18+) | The Loft (Deck 8 Mid) |
| 11:30pm | Paradise Lotto | Signature Casino (Deck 7 Aft) |