MSC Cruises: the back story

About MSC Cruises: the back story

By the ULTIMATE the world’s cruise lines Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

MSC Cruises sails 23 ships across the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Caribbean and well beyond. Its newest are the World Class ships, and its signature is the MSC Yacht Club, a suite enclave with butlers on most of the fleet.

A European line

MSC Cruises feels European: an international crowd on board, the Mediterranean as its home sea and ports all around it. Its fleet of 23 ships runs from MSC Armonia, Lirica, Opera and Sinfonia to the big modern ships such as MSC Meraviglia and MSC Seaside and the World class.

The World class

MSC World Europa entered service in 2022 as the first World Class ship, with a plumb bow and a Y-shaped open stern that leads onto a 104-metre outdoor World Promenade. There you find the Venom Drop @ The Spiral, an 11-deck stainless-steel dry slide that MSC calls the longest at sea. MSC World America and MSC World Atlantic followed, and MSC World Asia begins Mediterranean cruises in December 2026, with more than 30 bars, lounges and restaurants and six speciality restaurants, among them a new Pan-Asian Street Food venue.

A yacht club on a big ship.

The MSC Yacht Club

On most of its ships MSC builds a ship-within-a-ship: the MSC Yacht Club, with suites, round-the-clock butler service, an all-inclusive offer, private venues and its own areas at MSC’s beach destinations. On MSC World Atlantic it includes the Grand Hamptons Villa, a two-deck, four-bedroom suite for up to eight guests.

An island turned reserve

In the Bahamas, MSC’s private island is Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, with more than two miles of white-sand beaches, food trucks, beach bars, a spa and, recently, more restaurants, upgraded family and adult beaches and the MSC Foundation’s ‘Shifting Perspective’ marine conservation experience.

Who it is for

MSC is a good choice for families, especially in Europe: the kids’ club activities are included, and for UK bookings the service charges are already in the fare. Drinks packages are best booked online before you sail.

Our advice: in Europe, choose a World Class ship for the most to do; if you want quiet and space, book the Yacht Club; and on a Caribbean cruise from Miami, make sure Ocean Cay is on the itinerary.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with MSC Cruises: the back story before you go.