Sailing on the MSC World America isn’t just another cruise—it’s an experience so rich in hidden treasures, it feels like stepping into a well-kept secret. This isn’t just a ship, it’s a floating city teeming with secret nooks, luxurious escapes, and unexpected delights that aren’t plastered all over the cruise brochures. It’s the kind of place where you could spend a week and still find something new on your last day—if you know where to look.
Photo Credit: Ivan Sarfatti
And lucky for you, I made it my mission to find those places.
So let’s dive in—not just into the pools (though you’ll want to do that too), but into the secret side of MSC World America that most people overlook. These aren’t just amenities—they’re little moments of wonder, luxury, and delight that turn a regular cruise into something unforgettable.
Secret #1 – Go for a walk and get Lost On Purpose—Yes, Really!
Photo Credit: Ivan Sarfatti
Here’s the first and most delightful “secret”: getting lost is part of the magic.
MSC World America is designed like a city at sea, broken into themed “districts” or neighborhoods that each have their own mood and energy. One moment, you’re strolling through the World Promenade—this open-air, multi-level architectural marvel with sweeping ocean views, gourmet food counters, and street performers—and the next, you’re ducking into a quiet art gallery or finding a tucked-away café with espresso that rivals anything you’d find in Italy.
The designers knew what they were doing. The ship actually encourages exploration. There are hidden art passageways, unexpected elevators, and décor that changes from one area to the next. It feels intentional, like a scavenger hunt created by someone who really loves surprises.
Tip: On your first night, leave your cabin after dinner and just… wander. Don’t bring a map. Don’t look at your phone. Let the ship show you its secrets.
Secret #2: There’s A Secret Garden in the Middle of the Ocean
Botanic Garden Pool
Now, if you think a cruise ship can’t have a botanical garden, think again.
Hidden on the Aqua Deck is the Botanic Garden. It’s a lush, glass-roofed space filled with greenery, water features(yes, there’s a pool), and hanging gardens. It sounds like trickling water and soft instrumental music, and it feels like you’re escaping into a magical place. With hanging daybeds that swing, hot tubs covered with natural cages, and a retractable roof so that no matter what the weather brings, you’ll enjoy a perfect oasis.
It’s the kind of place you wander into by accident—maybe looking for a snack or a shortcut—and you end up staying for hours, sipping on a sparkling water or your favorite drink from the Botanic Garden Bar and reading in the quiet.
If serenity had a physical form, this would be it. It was a spot where I felt truly relaxed.
Secret #3: There’s a Secret Ship WITHIN a Ship
Why not stay in the MSC Yacht Club Owner’s Suite? Yes, this is ALL yours for your cruise
I’m going to whisper this one, because it’s that exclusive. When you book your trip, consider booking a room in the MSC Yacht Club!
The MSC Yacht Club is a hidden, members-only area nestled into the ship like an upscale luxury secret. You won’t find flashy signs pointing the way. You need a special keycard just to get in. And once you’re inside? You’re not on a cruise ship anymore. You’re in a floating five-star resort.
Next time I’m booking the owner’s suite. Birthday? Anniversary?
Private restaurant. Private pool and whirlpools. Dedicated lounge. Unlimited premium drinks. 24/7 butler service (yes, butler). It’s quiet. It’s refined. It’s the ultimate way to cruise. The only downside is that you’ll be completely spoiled and won’t want to cruise any other way once you do it.
OH, and here’s the kicker—it’s not out of reach. Compared to suites on other luxury lines, Yacht Club access is surprisingly reasonable. If you’re celebrating a milestone or just want to feel like royalty, it’s worth every penny. Besides, you deserve it.
Secret #4: The World America offers a Culinary Tour of … well, THE WORLD
MSC World America doesn’t just feed you—it takes you on a world tour without ever leaving the ship.
There are over 20 dining options onboard, from sleek specialty restaurants to casual street-food-style counters. The Mexican taco? Legit. The handmade pasta at Il Mercato (yes, in the buffet)? Divine. The teppanyaki show at Kaito is part meal, part performance art.
Jean-Philippe Maury Cafe – CHOCOLATE & GELATO HEAVEN
But the real secret lies in the lesser-known gems: the Korean BBQ tucked behind the sushi bar. The French patisserie that opens early and serves espresso with freshly-made macarons. The Indian corner of the buffet, where the chef might sneak you a favorite dish that his mom used to make.
You can dine differently every night—and every night, it’s an adventure and there is a nice mixture of those included in your cruise fare and those with an extra charge (including the first full Eataly at Sea). With four smaller-sized dining rooms – Hexagon (where we dined), Esagono, Bubbles and La Foglia, all serving the same delicious menu for dinner (Esagono and Hexagon also served brunch), not one but TWO buffets (so it never felt crowded) Il Mercato and LaBrasserie. For lunch or a quick snack, you can pop into Promanade Bites (yes, it’s on the Grand Promenade) for a hot dog and (my fave) cotton candy, Harbour Grill so you can get a little sustenance with your thrills, and if you’re staying in the Yacht Club – well, you’ve got Luminae and more.
I could go on & on, but I’ll save that for the next article.
Secret #5: Not one, not two, but 6 POOLS and 11 WHIRLPOOLS
Mar Azul Pool
Remember that last cruise I wrote about? The one with the 2 pools, and one was so small that it was only used for standing in during events? Well, this won’t EVER happen on the World America, and you can forget the standard pool-at-the-center vibe of older cruise ships. MSC World America turns aquatic fun into a multi-sensory experience.
There are six pools and 11 whirlpools onboard, but it’s not the quantity—it’s the quality and variety. The Mar Azul Pool is the main gathering place for sun worshippers. The pool in the Botanic Garden (see Secret #2). The Yacht Club Pool (see Secret #3).
And then there’s the place to get your Zen on…the Zen Pool. It’s adults-only, it’s quiet, it overlooks the sea, and it feels like your own private infinity retreat. You don’t just swim here—you melt into the water.
This isn’t pool time—it’s therapy. But, for the thrill seekers and kids onboard, there are plenty of pools as well (including one at the end of a water slide that’s long and winding) and one fun “splash pad” for the littles.
Secret #6: The Entertainment is as if Broadway and Vegas Had a Baby
Dirty Dancing in Concert
Entertainment on this ship isn’t an afterthought—it’s a main attraction, because nobody puts Baby in the Corner, especially not the World America.
Queen Symphonic
There is entertainment all over this ship. And the shows? They are Broadway-caliber, no exaggeration. I caught a symphonic rock concert featuring Queen’s greatest hits, backed by the London Symphony Orchestra, that made “Bohemian Rhapsody” feel like a religious experience.
Another night, I waited for the lift at the end of Dirty Dancing in Concert (oh hell yeah). There are DJs and bands, dueling pianos, and aerial performers. Feel like seeing some great comedy? You won’t hear any clunkers here, and there were TWO comedians performing when we went. Just remember not to take a big gulp of that drink before the punchline!
7. Secret #7: If you love to shop, you’ve found the BEST Shopping on a Cruise Ship Yet.
Shopping? Yes please. They have amazing mid & luxury bags
You might think shopping on a cruise ship is all about duty-free perfume and cheesy magnets. Not here.
The boutiques on MSC World America are curated like high-end department stores. Think: boutique designer labels, artisanal jewelry, beauty brands that are hard to find stateside, and more. I (ahem) bought a Cartier watch that was LESS than I could find ANYWHERE ELSE. Plus, with it being duty-free, I really saved. I had to talk with Cartier on the phone from the store as they set up my private account, but this was the watch that I had been searching for for years and years, and has only come out in limited editions. The MSC World America had two of them…(well, not anymore), and I now own one.
I splurged!!!
There’s even a “secret shop” vibe—like the shop that sells beautiful scarves from Spain and bags from Italy. I saw MCM bags and Valentino. There were Farm Rio dresses and French chocolate shopping. From high-end to affordable, there’s shopping for everyone, and we’re not talking souvenir shopping (although there was plenty of that as well). We’re talking, I’m going out shopping, honey, and I’ll be back in time for dinner.
It’s not just shopping. It’s treasure hunting.
Secret #8: Cabins You’ll Actually Want to Stay In
I stayed in a deluxe balcony cabin.
Listen, I love a balcony cabin like anyone else, but these rooms? They’re smarter.
MSC World America’s staterooms are sleek, modern, and more spacious than you’d expect. I don’t know if it’s the way the rooms are laid out to feel larger, or what, but they just feel like they are larger. With touch control lighting, temperature, etc., everything’s at your fingertips. Oh, and there’s PLENTY of storage (even for an over-packer like me). USB + USBC ports everywhere. Some suites even have walk-in closets and full-size bathtubs (yes, on a ship!).
And if you really want to up your game, Yacht Club cabins come with panoramic windows, oversized balconies, and bathrobes so plush you’ll want to “accidentally” pack them (but don’t – unless you want to pay for them).
Secret #9 Everyone Gets a Pocket Concierge – it’s called MSC for Me
My itinerary on the MSC & Me App for 4 days
This one blew me away because it makes cruising feel effortless.
MSC’s “MSC for Me” app is like a digital concierge. You can book shows, schedule dining, find your friends on the ship, and even see your daily spending in real time.
It’s so smooth, it’s like having a personal assistant who knows your every whim. Want to switch dinner to 8:00 PM instead of 6:30? Done. Want to ditch dinner and grab something quickly because you decided to see a show at the last minute – you’ll find out what’s open and if how close it is to the show. Forgot where that lounge was? Just look at the app, and it guides you there. Curious about how late the pizza is available? It tells you.
Secret #10: The Pizza. Dear Lord, the Pizza.
Photo Credit: MSC Cruises
Okay, now we’re talking sacred stuff.
MSC World America serves what might be the best pizza at sea—and I say that as someone who’s had pizza in Rome, in Brooklyn, in New Haven, and even in Naples. The crust is a perfect mix of chewy and crisp. The tomato sauce? Bright, tangy, perfectly seasoned. The cheese? Melted just right.
It’s served late. It’s hot. It’s fast. And after a night of dancing under the stars or watching a show, grabbing a slice, and walking the promenade with the sea breeze in your hair? Pure joy. Yes, I ditched a full meal more than once on the ship just to indulge. MSC by far makes the BEST pizza at sea…it might even be one of my favorite pizza spots (definitely in my top 3).
This is no afterthought. This is culinary love.
Secret #11: Because I couldn’t do just 10
The Harbour
You have to bring your family and visit The Harbour. No, not the harbour near where the ship docked when I visited Ocean Cay. The Harbour, located on Deck 20, is a family-friendly playground for kids and adults with water slides for both young and older kids, zip line, climbing areas and a ropes course, a lighthouse playground, and an 11 deck dry slide called the Jaw Drop (yes, you enter via the mouth of a shark).
Secret #12: Even Thrillseekers Might Gasp When They Swing 160 Feet Above the Ocean
The Cliffhanger
Yes, I was told that even someone who’s been skydiving gasped when they first experienced The Cliffhanger – the only swing at sea that hangs OVER the ocean with the riders held in by a T-Bar as they swing back and forth, farther and farther out, faster and faster. Normally I am a thrillseeker (I went hang-gliding in my 60s), but on this trip, I passed I think I’ll wait until I’m with a friend who’ll hold my hand while sitting next to me (my husband would NEVER go on it), since there are two seats (and two swings – so four riders can go at once).
I Shouldn’t Have Told You My Secrets, But there are PLENTY More!
The best way to explore MSC World America isn’t with an itinerary—it’s with curiosity.
Wander. Linger. Follow the sound of live jazz or the scent of fresh coffee. Take a left when the crowd goes right. Duck behind that velvet curtain. Say yes to the unexpected.
This ship rewards the curious. And the best secrets? They’re waiting for someone like you to find them.
Bon voyage, and may your cruise be filled with magic, mischief, and more than a few surprises.
- Book your voyage today, because you deserve to be part of the secret at MSC Cruises
