It’s a brand new ship, a brand new port, and a brand new lead as MSC World America goes on sale this week—and the line is readying to help the travel advisors who took part in that growth learn about and sell the new ship.

At a press conference at Seatrade Global, MSC’s top executives thanked the travel advisors who have helped push the United States to become the line’s number-one market. This season MSC will return the favor with “a lot of fam trips onboard Meraviglia launching from New York and of course we’ll be planning some on MSC World America,” promised MSC Cruises USA president Ruben Rodriguez. Also in the works are upgrades to the MSC Book platform, to make training and booking easier, he said.

“For a brand that’s still building,” the propensity of a travel partner who sails on MSC to then book customers runs high, Rodriguez noted.

MSC also is investing in a new team to develop the MICE and charter businesses. “Our ships are modern, they have great features and an abundance of meeting space, so that has made us frankly much more competitive, much more attractive to those customers,” he said.

CEO Gianni Onorato noted that “for the first time in MSC history the United States is the first market for MSC, beating Italy—and we’re very excited. We’re a global brand with a European heritage. We try to strike a balance between the global brand attributes with something linked to everyone’s comfort zone that makes them feel at home when they are away from home.”

This summer MSC will have 13 ships and handle 2.7 times the volume of 2019 including exotic destinations like the Emirates and the Red Sea and Japan—and for the first time the world cruise will have more guests from America than any other country.

MSC World America Details

MSC World America will set sail in 2005, with exclusively seven-night Caribbean itineraries. Its brand new, state-of-the-art terminal at PortMiami is nearing completion, and will be the largest cruise terminal in North America. It will include new technologies like facial recognition and shore-based electric power into which ships can plug.
All itineraries will stop at the popular Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve that features a Bahamian village and evening entertainment. By the end of the year a new marine conservation centerthere will open, dedicated to growing and harvesting coral and then propagating it around the Bahamas.

MSC World America will have two itineraries:
•    Eastern Caribbean: Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, The Bahamas
•    Western Caribbean: Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; Roatan, Honduras; Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, The Bahamas

A brand new outdoor destination designed for kids and families to play and relax together, The Harbor, combines a water park, interactive water features, and F&B options. There’s a High Trail course and zip line, sensory play areas, the Harbor Lighthouse playground and food trucks.
The ship will span 22 decks, measure more than 150 feet wide, feature 2,626 cabins, contain more than 420,000 square feet of public space, and offer top-of-the-line features and facilities, including a re-imagined outdoor World Promenade, and World Galleria with a state-of-the-art LED and kinetic light ceiling.

Thirteen restaurants, including six specialty restaurants, four main restaurants, two buffets, complimentary Luna Park Pizza & Burger, and 20 bars and lounges. There is a sports bar, a comedy club, The Gin Project offering craft gins, a British pub with a full-scale micro-brewery, a coffee house and a chocolate shop.
An 11-deck-high dry slide, six pools and 14 hot tubs, including a spacious indoor pool with retractable roof.
And, of course, the MSC Yacht Club, with a dedicated lounge and restaurant, private pool and sun deck, and 24-hour concierge and butler service.