Why MSC World America Is Worth a Try: A Personal Cruise Experience

Why This MSC Cruise Felt Completely Different

I have to admit, I wasn’t always a fan of MSC Cruises. A few years ago, we did a Red Sea cruise on MSC Splendida — visiting incredible places like Egypt (we even saw the pyramids) and Petra. While the ports were amazing, the onboard experience left a lot to be desired. The entertainment was underwhelming, announcements blared constantly in five languages (even inside the cabins), and the ship kept stopping at every port for people to get on and off, which really broke up the cruise vibe.

Fast forward to now: we just sailed on the brand-new MSC World America, and I can honestly say MSC redeemed themselves in a big way.

A Whole Different MSC Experience

The moment we boarded MSC World America, it felt like a completely different cruise line. The constant multilingual announcements? Gone (and even when they made announcements, they didn’t blast into your room anymore, which made a huge difference).

Just to be clear — there’s nothing wrong with a cruise line being multilingual; that’s one of the things that makes MSC unique. But for some American cruisers, it can feel a little overwhelming, especially when you’re looking to relax. On World America, they clearly tailored the experience more for the U.S. market.

Another big change: everyone embarks and disembarks together from Miami, like a traditional cruise. No more people getting on and off mid-sailing! It made the ship feel like one big floating resort instead of a moving bus.

Even though World America is massive (similar in size to Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class ships), it never felt crowded. Whether we were hanging out at the pool, grabbing a snack, or walking through the beautiful World Promenade, it felt lively but never jam-packed.

Honestly, the layout reminded me a lot of Royal’s Oasis-class design — balconies overlooking the promenade, outdoor shows, and colorful light displays at night — but with MSC’s own twist.

Entertainment That Truly Surprised Me

One of the areas where MSC World America really stepped up was entertainment. On my last MSC cruise, I wasn’t impressed with the shows at all. This time? Completely different story. Every night had something new and exciting, and the shows actually felt like something you’d find on Royal Caribbean — but at a lower price.

Here’s what we personally saw:

• Hall of Fame – A music celebration honoring iconic artists — energetic, familiar, and had the whole theater singing along.
• Queen Symphonic – A symphonic rock tribute to Queen’s greatest hits. Definitely a highlight if you’re a Queen fan!
• MP Art Duo – Aerial artistry that was absolutely jaw-dropping. Athleticism and elegance combined.
• Cinesonic – A visually immersive show blending famous movie soundtracks with live performance. Super creative and fun.
• 90’s Country featuring Tae Lewis – A tribute to ‘90s country hits, led by The Voice alum Tae Lewis. Great energy and vocals.
• Whitney – The Voice of a Generation – An emotional, powerful tribute to Whitney Houston. Gave me chills!

We missed the show with Patricia (wish we had caught it!), and we did see the comedy show — which was hit or miss depending on your sense of humor. But honestly, just having a dedicated comedy show was a huge plus compared to older MSC ships.

I even put together a quick video featuring some of the shows if you want a better idea of what the entertainment is like:
👉 Check out my MSC World America Entertainment Video here

A Cruise Director That Brings the Fun

One of the secret weapons of this sailing was the cruise director, Dr. E (aka Reverend Dr. E, aka Emerson).
He was absolutely amazing — personable, energetic, and hilarious. He really brought the ship to life, and you could feel the positive energy everywhere he went. One night he hosted a “Marriage and Love” show that was not only funny but perfectly matched his lively personality. It’s clear he’s a huge part of why the ship feels so fun and welcoming.

Food and Crew: Way Better Than Expected

The food also felt noticeably more Americanized compared to our past MSC experience — in a good way. Plenty of variety: juicy burgers, crispy bacon, Tex-Mex, BBQ nights, and of course, pasta and pizza (it’s still an Italian line after all). It was clear they had designed menus with American palates in mind, without losing their European flair.

And the crew? Genuinely friendlier. Service felt much more personal and warm than it did on our Red Sea cruise. From stateroom attendants to bar servers, everyone seemed excited to be there and it made a difference.

A Few Cultural Notes

Even though MSC is an Italian cruise line, World America feels very U.S.-focused. For example, during the naming ceremony, they played the U.S. National Anthem (not the Italian anthem, like they sometimes do on their other ships).
That’s something some American cruisers will definitely appreciate — but just know, Europeans looking for a purely European cruise feel might notice the shift.

Final Thoughts: MSC World America Is Worth Another Look

MSC clearly listened to feedback — and it shows.
If you tried MSC in the past and felt it wasn’t for you, World America might change your mind like it did mine. The ship never felt crowded, the entertainment lineup was better than some Royal Caribbean cruises I’ve done (for less money), the food hit the spot, and the crew made the whole experience feel extra welcoming.

I boarded World America as a skeptic… and I disembarked already wondering when I could cruise MSC again.
If you’re on the fence, give it a shot — it might just surprise you too.