MSC Cruises on Thursday, May 19, unveiled details about the line's first World-class ship.
MSC World Europa, a 6762-passenger newbuild, has 22 decks and the longest dry slide at sea, named Venom Drop@The Spiral. It is expected to span 11 decks and plunge riders into the 250-ft drop.
The slide will be available in the World Promenade, what MSC calls "the beating heart of the ship." Opening out to the aft, the World Promenade will offer al fresco dining and entertainment.
The Promenade continues indoors with the 3200 ft2 World Galleria, topped with an LED and kinetic dome ceiling. The site will be lined with restaurants, bars, shops, and boutiques.
MSC World Europa will feature the largest kids' area in the MSC fleet, with 8200+ ft2 of interior space specially designed by Lego & Chicco, including 7 rooms dedicated to different age groups.
The liner's entertainment venues will feature the original productions at the 1153-seat World Theatre, bumper cars, a roller disco, and Luna Park Arena - a multifunctional spot for game shows, movies, themed parties, and kids' activities.
The first ship of the new class is also introducing the biggest-in-class Aquapark, with slides and a kids pool. Elsewhere, the main pool has a 37,000-ft2 pool deck area. A botanic garden pool has a retractable roof, lounge area, and tropical bar.
The Zen pool area at the aft is adults-only and includes 2 pools, a shady lounge area, a solarium, and sea views. Other pool spaces include the whirlpool, private pool, and sundeck in the MSC Yacht Club.
In all, the ship has 7 swimming pools and 13 whirlpools/large outdoor jacuzzies.
The new cruise ship is introducing 2 new restaurant concepts, such as the Chef's Garden Kitchen, a hydroponic garden at sea with herbs, greens and garnishes grown onboard. MSC Cruises is also introducing the Mediterranean fish restaurant, La Pescaderia. The Europa will include a total of 13 dining venues, of which 6 specialty restaurants.
MSC World Europa's 20 bars & lounges will include the company's first onboard microbrewery, a cocktail bar honouring the art of mixology, and a new gin bar.
The Yacht Club on MSC Europa will feature a larger outdoor area/new suite designs.
The ship will offer 7 new cabin designs for 19 cabin categories. MSC's first World-class ship has 2026 staterooms of which ~65% are balconies - more than any other ship in the fleet, and more suites have private sundecks with whirlpools.
The Infinite Ocean View staterooms will have a panoramic window sliding down to form a glass balustrade when open.
The ship's Arabian Gulf deployment (December 2022 through March 2023) is based on a 7-day itinerary leaving roundtrip from 3 homeports - Dubai UAE (Port Rashid), Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Doha (Qatar).
- The itinerary's call ports include Sir Bani Yas Island (UAE), and Dammam (Saudi Arabia, port to Al-Ahsa Oasis). Prices for the 7-night roundtrips started from EUR 815 (USD 995 / GBP 700) per person with double occupancy.
- The ship's Maiden Voyage departs on December 20, 2022. The 9-night cruise is a Doha roundtrip visiting Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas, Dammam, ending in Doha on Dec 29. Prices started from EUR 1280 (USD 1565 / GBP 1100) per person. The "Inaugural Cruise" was also offered as a 4-night Doha-Dubai voyage.
The "Arabian season" ends on March 25, 2023, with the 19-day repositioning cruise to Europe (Dubai to Genoa) with call ports Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas, 1 seaday, Muscat (Oman), 4 seadays, Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Suez Canal transit (April 6-7), 2 seadays, Naples, Civitavecchia-Rome, Genoa (April 12).
The ship's Mediterranean itinerary program is based on 7-night roundtrips from homeports in Italy (Genoa, Naples, Messina Sicily), Spain (Barcelona) and France (Marseille), all visiting Valletta (Malta).