Unveiling the MSC World Europa: An Exquisite Journey Aboard T+L’s Cruise Adventure!

The last occasion I visited Las Vegas, my well-placed friend managed to arrange our group a VIP table at a lively nightclub. Swaying into the crowd to dance, then retreating to the serene allure behind the velvet rope gave me a sense of enjoying an indulgence.

I recently relived that fortunate lifestyle (along with a hint of the guilt associated with it) when my family and I journeyed on the MSC World Europa, the largest ship in the MSC fleet. With the ability to host almost 7,000 visitors and over 2,000 crew members, World Europa ranks as the eighth-largest cruise liner currently navigating the seas, a notch smaller than giants like Icon of the Seas from Royal Caribbean International.

However, my family and I were not traveling alongside the throngs: we were accommodated in the MSC Yacht Club, the brand’s upscale, ship-within-a-ship section. It represents a premium tier of travel — think business class versus economy — that provides guests with access to exclusive zones of the vessel designated solely for Yacht Club patrons. Here, members-only entrances open with a wristband tap, reserved premium tables are managed by a dedicated concierge, seating is available for typically fully booked events, and an array of items you would usually pay extra for are included.

As you would anticipate from a vessel this enormous, the 22-deck behemoth is staggering in size and spectacle. The sensory overload, coupled with the vast number of passengers, is an amalgam of everything simultaneously, which made the Yacht Club an even cozier refuge. It’s unsurprising that large-capacity cruise lines are fully committing to similar private enclaves on their mega-ships. Our Yacht Club encounter permitted us to relish all the amenities of a grand ship — and wow, there are numerous — all while providing the seclusion and exclusiveness typical of a significantly smaller ship.

I will discuss World Europa in greater depth below, but initially, I want to elaborate a bit more on our experience in the Yacht Club, where we easily spent over half our time.

Our voyage commenced in Marseille, France, where we were guided through a swift, expedited check-in. Before long, we were led onboard, and bubbly and snacks swiftly followed. As our luggage was delivered to our cabin, we were pointed towards the Top Sail Lounge, a private bar, lounge, and tea area specifically for Yacht Club patrons. A dazzling Swarovski spiral staircase led us to the loft-like Yacht Club Restaurant, a similarly exclusive dining venue devoid of a buffet line. We enjoyed breakfast, the majority of our lunches on board, and some dinners there during our week-long cruise.

Both the lounge and restaurant are situated at the ship’s bow, as is the Yacht Club Grill and Bar, a laid-back outdoor dining area linked to the private Yacht Club pool and sun deck. (We did not dine there, as the November weather was slightly too brisk and windy for outdoor seating.) About halfway through our voyage, we uncovered that the ship’s Brasserie Restaurant, a large buffet establishment during breakfast and lunch, featured table service dinner strictly for Yacht Club patrons. The Brasserie’s international menu was more extensive, spicier, and more diverse than that of the Yacht Club Restaurant, and we enjoyed several of our favorite meals there.

In-room amenities for Yacht Club patrons comprise a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine, nightly turn-down service with a plate of chocolates or other confections, complimentary minibar drinks, daily replenished bottled water, and complimentary Wi-Fi. Additional advantages include unlimited access to the Aurea Spa Thermal Suite, around-the-clock butler service, concierge support, and VIP boarding and disembarking at all ports of call. Another benefit we appreciated, especially because there are no complimentary guest laundry facilities aboard this vessel, was the complimentary ironing service for up to four garments.

A significant advantage: MSC’s premium beverage package is included with all Yacht Club rates and is applicable in all bars, buffets, main dining venues, and specialty restaurants. This package would otherwise be priced at approximately $50 per person each day. Although my husband and I may not have indulged in $100 worth of beverages daily, it was reassuring to know that we could have if we chose, without the concern of accumulating a bar tab.

That ease of “not having to think about it” is what truly characterized the luxury of MSC Yacht Club. We did not need to fret over drink costs, which dinner time slot to choose, whether to purchase Wi-Fi or not, or how soon we’d need to access the MSC for Me app to reserve spots for evening entertainment. The Yacht Club concierge organized our reservations for World Europa’s specialty venues. Whenever we wished to catch a show, there were always seats reserved for Yacht Club patrons.

We spent a considerable amount of time in the communal areas of the vessel, yet we consistently looked forward to returning to the laid-back, uncrowded spaces of the Yacht Club: someone was perpetually available to take our drink order, present a snack, or provide a pool towel. Mega-ship experiences can be fun, but they aren’t always effortless or stress-free. However, on a ship that was nearly operating at capacity, our Yacht Club advantages made for a seamless journey.

Now, here’s an overview of the rest of the amenities, dining options, staterooms, and additional services featured in every MSC World Europa voyage.

The Staterooms

There are 2,633 cabins aboard World Europa, with entry-level choices that encompass single-bed interior cabins and ocean-view staterooms featuring porthole-style windows. Over 1,000 cabins fall within the deluxe balcony category, accommodating up to four guests. An extra 200 balcony cabins overlook the World Promenade, the striking seven-story open-air atrium. A boon for larger families: flexible arrangements permit up to three cabins to be connected to house groups of up to eight.

Cabins reserved in the Aurea Experience category grant access to the Aurea Spa Thermal Suite (typically incurring a surcharge), spa discounts, use of a private solarium with jacuzzis, and a specialized restaurant.

Following that, the subsequent tier is the Yacht Club. Our 269-square-foot Yacht Club Deluxe Suite was among 152 Yacht Club staterooms. Except for a handful of interior cabins, all Yacht Club accommodations include balconies of no less than 50 square feet — the priciest staterooms boast larger balconies with whirlpool baths and are uniquely situated at the front of the ship.

Our room boasted a queen bed with a high-quality mattress so comfortable that I pulled back the sheets to check the label — Dorelan, an Italian brand — along with a sofa bed for our daughter. The color palette was a subtle if unremarkable assortment of taupes and grays, which, in hindsight, provided its own relief from the vibrant experience elsewhere on the vessel.

Bars and Restaurants

It requires numerous dining establishments to serve nearly 7,000 travelers, and World Europa boasts 33 spots for eating and drinking. Thirteen of these consist of restaurants that range from a takeaway pizza and burger eatery to buffets to more refined dining options with table service and nightly themed menus.

Besides the Yacht Club restaurants, we sampled four of the ship’s five specialty dining venues. Hola Tacos & Cantina stood out as our favorite casual meal — in part because we reside in Italy, where finding a decent taco can be challenging. Our top meal overall occurred at the more upscale Butcher’s Cut steakhouse.

It appears there’s a bar situated around every corner. On the Deck 7 Promenade, Masters of the Sea is one of the ship’s most favored, featuring a pub-like atmosphere and an extensive craft beer selection, including three brewed at the ship’s own brewery. One deck above is the Gin Project, a more intimate cocktail bar with a remarkable spirit selection.

And I’ll share a little secret: World Europa has a clandestine, invitation-only venue known as the Speakeasy Bar. It’s not publicized, and if you inquire with a crew member, they’ll deny any knowledge of its existence. There’s no guaranteed method of obtaining a coveted invitation, but if fortune smiles upon you, a friendly bartender may discreetly offer you a token to be used at the British-style phone booth on Deck 7. After that, you’ll be guided down to the depths of the ship and into a dimly lit, vintage-style nightclub with exquisite cocktails, live swing music, and a wonderfully alluring atmosphere. It’s undoubtedly the best drinking establishment on board — provided you can uncover it.

Where MSC World Europa Sails

At present, World Europa operates a year-round circuit around the Western Mediterranean, with ports of call in France (Marseille), Italy (Genoa, Rome, Palermo, and occasionally Messina and Naples), Malta (Valletta), and Spain (Barcelona). These regular itineraries allow passengers to select their embarkation point — a rarity in the cruise travel world. On our voyage, guests would depart or board for the first time at every port.

Shore Excursions

We arranged two shore excursions, one in Palermo and another in Barcelona. Both were walking tours, part of what MSC refers to as Protectours. These are small-group, culturally focused excursions intended to lessen the impact of large vessels like World Europa descending upon a destination and delivering thousands of tourists. I appreciated both experiences and favored being in smaller groups, avoiding lengthy bus rides, with engaging guides who maximized our limited hours together. In several cities that World Europa visits — Genoa, Palermo, and Valletta, for example — the ship docks conveniently close to the city center, making independent exploration easy.

Amenities

An extensive array of amenities is available on board World Europa, many of which we didn’t utilize due to the chilly conditions in November. Others, we simply lacked the opportunity to experience — even within a week’s time.

In total, this vessel features seven swimming pools and 13 hot tubs. Due to the breezy climate, most families with children gathered at the indoor Botanical Pool. We decided to remain on the cruise ship while at Rome’s Civitavecchia port and in Malta, both locations we are quite familiar with, and were gratified with temperatures just warm enough to experience the four water slides, including a trapdoor slide that fortunately wasn’t as terrifying as I had expected.

Our daughter briefly enjoyed the small Yacht Club pool located on Deck 22 before concluding that the hot tub was a more appealing option. The remainder of our hot-tubbing occurred in the Top 20 Solarium, a serene, adults-only zone conveniently situated close to our cabin on Deck 20. (Even though our daughter was technically too young for this area, no one seemed to mind.)

The World Promenade serves as the ship’s central hub, hosting numerous shops, arcades, and services, alongside many dining and drinking establishments. The rear section of the promenade opens out to the ocean; to be honest, it is one of the few communal spaces on the ship where one feels genuinely “at sea.” Also situated there is the start of the Venom Drop, an 11-story, dry, spiral slide that stands as a hallmark of World Europa. It’s less intimidating than it appears, and our sole grievance was the lengthy, slow-moving queue to get on it.

There are two theaters where we attended numerous musical performances, along with a third theater that we didn’t find time to explore. My husband was tempted by several slot machines while we strolled through the Vegas-themed casino, but we didn’t actually spend much time — or funds — there.

We both underwent amazing Balinese massages in the Aurea Spa but otherwise perceived the area as somewhat congested, lacking a certain tranquility. There was frequently a line of patrons waiting for their treatments, as well as access to saunas, whirlpools, a salt sanctuary, and additional spa facilities. Enforcing spa etiquette can be a challenging endeavor anywhere, and I would surmise that on a warmer-weather voyage, when guests are more likely to be out on the main decks, the spa environment would be more serene.

Family-friendly Offerings

My 13-year-old daughter, who has previously only experienced expedition-style cruises, was thrilled with World Europa’s offerings tailored for children, featuring multiple arcades, virtual reality attractions, and F1 racing simulators that were, truthfully, enjoyable for us adults as well. The ship is also equipped with bumper cars, roller skating, the previously mentioned water slides, two chocolate boutiques, custom cupcakes, and numerous other facilities geared toward kids and teens. I may never persuade her that whale-watching from a Zodiac beats the experience of being on this ship.

There are clubs for kids, tweens, and teens aboard, and we attempted to take her to the tweens club on several occasions. However, for some reason, there were never any other children there. In contrast, another traveler sailing with her seven-year-old son remarked that the kids club was bustling — and that their little one was delighted to spend hours playing and even dining there.

Accessibility

There are 65 ADA-compliant cabins on World Europa, and the majority of public spaces are accessible to wheelchairs and electric scooters. During our cruise, we observed many guests with mobility challenges.