This European Cruise Line’s Newest Ship Was Made for Americans at Sea

This wasn’t just any cruise. My first voyage aboard World America, the newest vessel from MSC Cruises, also happened to be the ship’s first expedition.

World America almost sounds like a new Avengers movie, but you’d be surprised how apt the name is for this ship’s purpose. World America’s debut marks a new chapter for MSC Cruises, the Swiss-Italian ship line (MSC stands for Mediterranean Shipping Company) aiming to reel in the famously cruise-enthusiastic American audience.

How does the ship capture the American audience? It all starts with two words: Drew Barrymore. Part of my inauguration from non-cruiser to cruiser was discovering the lore — on a maiden voyage, a godmother must be present to christen the ship.

To conjure MSC’s vision of a European brand adopting US culture, American sweetheart Drew Barrymore joined the journey along with Orlando Bloom, European charmer to the masses. This celebrity pair established the foundation for World America’s official motto: “European style meets American comfort.”

First impressions: Checking in aboard World America

My first impression of cruising was the overwhelming preparation. I received several emails with pages of instructions, including a requirement to print luggage tags and an embarkation form (yes, print, in 2025). But when it came time to board the ship, the process was way simpler than boarding a plane.

Despite the whopping capacity of 6,000-plus passengers and 2,600-plus staterooms (cruise lingo for guest rooms, I learned), I whisked through MSC Cruises’ Miami port terminal in 15 minutes max. Never in a million years could you make it through Miami International Airport’s boarding process in 15 minutes. Not to mention, the cruise staff was refreshingly friendlier and more courteous than TSA.

As soon as I stepped inside the ship, I was convinced I’d teleported to a futuristic mall, finding myself surrounded by metallic and glass decor alongside tons of restaurants, cocktail lounges, luxury storefronts, and an old-school barbershop and arcade. And all of that was just on Decks 6 and 7.

The real shocker was on Deck 8, where I stumbled upon an outdoor courtyard called World Promenade, filled with pretty eateries like a Mykonos-coded bistro and a gigantic twirling slide descending from Deck 20 (where there are more slides as part of the ship’s Aquapark). Looking up may give some vertigo and leave others in awe. I felt like I was in a scene from a modern take on 2001: A Space Odyssey.

After a self-guided tour through various attractions that began to explain the ship’s American lure — like the arcade, water park, indoor multi-sport court, and suspended obstacle course — I headed to my stateroom on Deck 11. I was hoping for a slide entrance there, too, but settled on a killer ocean view from the balcony.

The cabin itself felt like a standard hotel room, with all your basic needs met plus a balcony that hovers straight over the ocean. The idea of entering what looks like a conventional hotel room and then pulling back the curtain to see nothing but the open seas really embodies the appeal of cruising: You’re not really paying for the room like you would for a hotel but rather everything beyond it — in World America’s case, the dining options (19 total), bar selections (18 total), fun activities, live entertainment, and half dozen swimming pools (not to mention 14 hot tubs).

The Christening: Experiencing a cruise ship’s maiden voyage

After settling in, it was time to schmooze. My first day was filled with events commemorating the maiden voyage, all culminating in the official naming ceremony featuring newly reigning godmother Drew Barrymore and Orlando Bloom as her sidekick. Before the duo stepped on stage, MSC executives, naval officers, music performers, and the mayor of Miami-Dade County all took center stage to celebrate this new chapter for the cruise line.

There’s an inherent campiness to cruises that was completely captured here. As someone foreign to the industry, I found the rituals around this ceremony eccentric and whimsical: a handful of corporate marketing presentations broken up by a Dirty Dancing revival (a new musical theater show aboard World America) and a diva extraordinaire belting out Katy Perry’s 2010 hit Firework as three pre-teens danced behind her in matching outfits. Does it make total sense? No. But it doesn’t have to — you’re on a gargantuan vessel at sea, and Drew Barrymore is about to cut a ribbon hanging from the ceiling as Orlando Bloom smolders in the background.

Other than seeing Drew Barrymore’s endearing sweetness in real life, the ceremony’s highlight was understanding the vision behind World America: blending European sophistication with American comfort.

One way the ship manifests this theme is through food. Buffets are an American staple, a la Las Vegas and mega hotels. I discovered four separate buffet entrances on the ship, all serving the same options but guaranteeing more than enough for everyone on board. There are also quick bite spots — offering comfort foods like pizza, burgers, and ice cream — and more refined options, offering Japanese, Mexican, and Greek culinary selections at sit-down restaurants.

Part of World America’s strategy is to keep the all-American family entertained. The idea is this: While the adolescent son goes down water slides at Aquapark, his teenage sister can traverse the obstacle course on the same deck, dad can be next door enjoying a beer at the adjacent sports bar, and mom can be getting a pedicure at the spa a couple of decks down. The ship is essentially designed to keep the American family occupied, engaged, and entertained.

Oh yeah, and then there’s the private island.

Off the ship: Exploring World America’s artificial island

When I first heard this cruise was headed to The Bahamas, it was an easy sell. With famously turquoise waters and a tropical climate, The Bahamas are among the closest Caribbean islands to Miami (two hours by plane and two to three hours by boat). Little did I know that the particular island on the cruise’s itinerary, Ocean Cay, is not only a private MSC-owned island but also human-made one.

Ocean Cay was built in the 1960s to mine white aragonite sand (a popular choice for setting up aquariums). MSC Cruises took over in 2015, officially naming it Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, and the rest is history.

We reached the island overnight, and I awoke to cheering from staff welcoming guests ashore. Once again, I was shocked by the ease of getting on and off the ship. All I carried was a beach towel, sunscreen, and my “cruise card” (your on-board ID), and I was good to go after passing a quick identity checkpoint.

As someone easily overwhelmed by crowds, I was pleasantly surprised by how Ocean Cay’s massive size disperses the masses aboard. From my balcony, I could spot four to five separate beaches, not to mention multiple eateries, bars, and shops on land. It was one of the only times I’ve ever been on a paradise-esque beach without unsavory overcrowding.

World America anchored at Ocean Cay for slightly over 24 hours, giving guests ample time to explore the island, which I’m sure came in handy for passengers making use of unlimited booze the night prior. Considering the island’s history as an industrial site, it was a cool spin to learn that MSC Cruises now leads conservation efforts on the island, a significant priority for the company according to the presentations I saw the previous day.

At the island’s Marine Conservation Center, guests can learn about coral restoration efforts, dedicated to cultivating corals that can withstand environmental stressors and building more resilient reefs using scientific advancements.

Final thoughts: Bidding farewell to my first cruise

The final full day of the voyage, we left Ocean Cay and lingered at sea. It’s a gnarly scene to sip on a Miami Vice slushy (half strawberry daiquiri and half piña colada) on a pool terrace surrounded by nothing but aqua waters. Even my slushy seemingly paralleled World America’s vision, with daiquiris being of European origin (Spanish) and piña coladas hailing from the Americas (Puerto Rico, specifically).

Would I do it again? I’m not sure. No one prepares you for the occasional vertigo at sea (that I guess only some of us lucky ones have the glory of experiencing), and my fight-or-flight response was somewhat triggered by the reality of being confined to a ship for a few days. But I came to understand the value of cruising and why some people exclusively travel this way.

What you’re really paying for is the convenience of having everything on board. If there are several port stops, you don’t need to worry about hauling luggage or figuring out transportation each time. If you don’t want the stress of spending money as you travel, you can stick to the complimentary buffet, bars, and on-board experiences like the pools, water park, arcade, and theater shows.

In that sense, MSC Cruises really does capture the American essence with World America — everything is at your fingertips; all you have to do is swipe that credit card one time.