World Europa Vs. World America: Which MSC Mega Ship Is Right for You

Somehow, the idea of having to spend a week floating around with so many people seemed almost grotesque to me. Then, I cruised around the Mediterranean for a week on MSC World Europa as a Yacht Club member, and I was sold. Give me a VIP section, a personal butler, and more refined food than I could ever eat, and I’ll promptly forget about the other 6,763 passengers.

While all the luxuries thrown my way were an undeniable incentive to test out World Europa, it’s MSC’s invitation to tour its then-under-construction ship, World America, at the Saint-Nazaire, France, shipyard that tipped the balance for me.

Photo: Morgane Croissant

Because I grew up 10 minutes from Saint-Nazaire, a port city on France’s west coast, I spent my entire childhood seeing cruise ships being built. That said, it was always from afar. The road that leads from my hometown to the area’s main commercial center offers a glimpse of the ships once they’ve moved from a dry dock to a wet dock. If you make the drive regularly, you can see the progress — the ships going up one deck at a time like a Lego project.

When the ships are completed, however, you get to see them a little closer. There are usually announcements in the paper and on the radio so that we can all gather at the harbor to see them leave for good. I remember the crowds of people who attended Queen Mary II’s departure in 2004.

We don’t just assemble to be wowed by the launch of these mammoth ships. We go because the shipyard (Les Chantiers de l’Atlantique) is the biggest employer in the region, and everyone has a friend or a family member who works there — in my case, it’s my brother. It’s our way to celebrate their labor and to show pride in what the people of this industrial town can do. And when one ship leaves, we cross our fingers for more building contracts so that everyone can stay gainfully employed.

Photos: Morgane Croissant

Swiss-Italian cruise line MSC is certainly helping in that department. MSC has been trusting Les Chantiers de l’Atlantique with its ships for over two decades. Since 2003, the shipyard has built no fewer than 17 MSC cruise ships, and at the time of writing, there are four more in the works.

In November 2024, just a few days before embarking on board MSC World Europa, thanks to a press tour organized by the cruise line, I was able to make a childhood dream come true. I visited the then-unfinished MSC World America, tiptoeing about the 2,000 people with hard hats, harnesses, and toolbelts who were hard at work laying tiles, painting, and putting together light fixtures to make the ship’s delivery date.

Looking around at the masses of wires, plastic sheets, and mounds of dust, I never thought they’d be done on time, but the ship launched right at the end of March 2025, as planned. And by mid-June, I was on board, sailing around the Caribbean.

Photo: MSC

MSC World Europa, which launched in 2022, is the first of MSC’s World Class series ships. MSC World America is the second one and is therefore considered World Europa’s sister ship. Both ships are extremely similar, but not entirely. The cruise line implemented approximately 30 percent changes between the two ships. Some of it can be explained by the fact that MSC World Europa caters mostly to European travelers, while MSC World America attends to the US market, but not only. Feedback from World Europa travelers has also led to significant adjustments. MSC listens to its passengers carefully.

Because I spent seven days on board both ships within the space of eight months, I’ve been able to explore their every nook and cranny, from their restaurants to their spas, pools, shops, slides, and more. Here are the main differences to know about between the two ships.

The destinations

Photo: Morgane Croissant

The most obvious difference between the two ships is their itineraries. While MSC World Europa has been sailing the Mediterranean since its launch, MSC World America solely travels in the Caribbean Sea. However, routes will shift in 2026, when MSC World Asia launches, and again in 2027 when Z34 debuts. In the winter of 2026-2027, MSC World Europa will sail to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar, and World Asia will replace it in the Mediterranean.

One of the biggest advantages to cruising on board MSC World America instead of MSC World Europa is the stop at Ocean Cay island, the private MSC Marine Reserve. Ocean Cay, located in the Bahamas, is the highlight of any trip on board World America. A day on the island is everything you’d expect from a Caribbean vacation: white sand, turquoise water, tropical fish, lounge chairs, cocktails, and lovely food — it’s all very relaxing and luxurious, especially if you’re a Yacht Club member.

That said, it’s the only noteworthy destination on the Western Caribbean itinerary. The other stops are extremely crowded and tacky ports such as Cozumel and Roatan. There was very little local culture to be learned and room to move. If you’re a traveler whose main interests are history, local food, and cultural heritage, I would recommend MSC World Europa and its European itineraries. You’ll run into tourists, too, but you’ll have a chance to enjoy more of the authentic local offerings.

Bars, restaurants, lounges

Left: Eataly. Right: Paxos. Photos: Morgane Croissant

There are over 30 bars, restaurants, cafés, and treat venues on each ship, bringing a huge variety of flavors and atmospheres to passengers. While most of these food and drink options are the same on both ships, there are four major differences:

• Eataly at sea: World Europa’s refined Chef’s Garden specialty restaurant was replaced by the very first Eataly at sea on board World America. While I personally liked the Nordic cuisine at Chef’s Garden, I must admit that Eataly is an excellent replacement. Every single course I tried was delicate and delicious, and the drinks on offer, including Italian cola and chamomile liquor, were unique and fun. Because MSC welcomes a lot of Italian travelers on its European itinerary, Eataly would not have been a good fit for World Europa; however, it’s perfect for American travelers who are already familiar with the brand.
• A venue for sports fans: Europeans like watching sports on TV, but not nearly as much as Americans do. That’s why MSC replaced the comfy, quiet, and unremarkable Malt Lounge on board World Europa with the All Stars Sports Bar on World America. The venue plays all the important (and not-so-important) games on dozens of screens, so no matter where you sit, you can catch all the action. The drinks menu at this venue is also adapted to North American taste buds — there’s a lot of beer on offer, including the ship’s own from the onboard brewery. I spent an entire evening watching the final of the Stanley Cup surrounded by Floridians at the All Stars Sports Bar, and the atmosphere was joyous, friendly, and very celebratory once the Panthers won.
• Tea time vs. live shows: One of my favorite spots on board World Europa, Raj Polo Tea House, didn’t make it on World America. The quiet, elegant, and comfortable lounge for high-quality tea was a haven of tranquility and a lovely place to retreat to when you had enough of the crowds. On World America, it was replaced by The Loft, a venue for live music and comedy, where there’s no such thing as peace and quiet. I don’t doubt for a second that this was meant to accommodate the preferences of the North American market, but it seems a shame to me to have lost a truly unique venue for another bar.
• A vegetarian-friendly swap: During my sailing on board World Europa, I did what every travel writer worth their salt would do and tried every single one of the specialty restaurants. La Pescaderia was my least favorite of them all for the simple reason that the menu was all about seafood. During my time on board, I noticed that the restaurant was consistently deserted, so it looked like I was not the only one taking issue with the restricted options. In World America, La Pescaderia was replaced by Paxos, a Greek-inspired restaurant that serves generous, rich, and exquisite food. The decor and location of the restaurant remained the same, but the more varied menu meant that vegetarians could eat there with their carnivorous friends and family members without struggling. Paxos is probably the best change MSC carried out, and it showed in the number of passengers eating there night after night.

Fun and games

Photos: MSC

Some cruise lines are solely for adults, and others are very family-oriented, but MSC caters to everyone. Whether on World Europa or World America, if you’re traveling without kids and don’t want to have anything to do with any, your best move would be to opt for the MSC Yacht Club. That way, you can take advantage of the immense private and serene area reserved for members 24/7. If you’re traveling with young ones, however, the rest of the ship is yours. There’s age-appropriate entertainment everywhere, from arcade-game venues to slides, pools, a sportsplex, and activity-focused clubs. Despite all of that, after receiving feedback from World Europa passengers who were keen to enjoy more outdoor space for families, MSC made a few tweaks to its offerings on World America.

The biggest changes have been carried out on Deck 21. Much like on World Europa, the top deck of World America is equipped with thrilling water slides, a water park for little kids, and an impressive dry slide that spans 11 decks. And there’s more. An extensive rope course has been added for families to enjoy a safe yet adrenaline-pumping activity. But it’s the brand-new Cliffhanger that’s probably the most popular new attraction on board. The only over-water swing ride at sea is suspended 164 feet above the water and welcomes only the bravest of passengers. I did not partake, but I saw an awful lot of fearless children having the time of their lives.