In early 2025, I took a Mediterranean cruise from Genoa aboard MSC World Europa. In this post, I’ll share my honest impressions of the ship—what I loved, what fell short, and whether it’s really worth cruising on in 2025.
I booked this cruise through the German market via E-hoi, a booking platform I really like because they often offer great deals on MSC cruises—and gratuities are usually already included in the price.
At the time of booking, the total cost was €586 per person, which included gratuities and the Easy drink package. That breaks down to around €84 per day. Without the drink package, the cruise would have been €470.
I originally booked an inside cabin, as oceanview and balcony cabins were 1.5 to 2 times more expensive at the time. The only available fare was Fantastica, which let me choose a specific cabin—but I assumed it ruled out the possibility of any upgrades. I selected a basic inside cabin on Deck 5 and thought that was it.
To my surprise, just a few days before departure, I opened the MSC app and saw that my modest inside cabin had been upgraded to a Deluxe Balcony cabin on Deck 12! And it wasn’t a promenade-facing one—it was a full sea-view balcony. So yes, these kinds of happy surprises do happen.
In fact, after more than 20 cruises, this was the first time I’ve ever been upgraded to a balcony. Costa had bumped me up to oceanview cabins a couple of times, but never to a balcony. So—thank you, MSC!
Let’s start with a few cabin photos:
|
|
The cabin felt modern, clean, and comfortable, with a pleasant design throughout. Even though MSC World Europa has been sailing since 2022, there were virtually no signs of wear and tear.
In my previous cruise with TUI, I stayed in a balcony cabin as well, and compared to that, MSC’s cabin was slightly smaller—both the room itself and the balcony. However, MSC surprised me with a spacious sofa, which was actually larger than the one I had on TUI. That’s definitely a plus.
As for amenities, I missed a few things: no coffee machine, no bathrobes, and no slippers. TUI had all of that included, while MSC—unsurprisingly—did not.
Overall, the cabin was pretty much what I expected. But what truly surprised me—in the best possible way—was the food in the buffet!
I’ve sailed with MSC around 5 or 6 times, and the food has always ranged somewhere between “not great” and “just okay.” At best, it was “fine.”
So I don’t know if it’s because MSC World Europa is a flagship ship, but the buffet on this cruise offered the best food I’ve ever had with MSC.
Even after my very first visit to the buffet, I wrote in my notes: “Food is better than expected.” And that impression held strong throughout the cruise.
First of all, there was a really good variety of hot dishes—so much so that I actually wanted to try almost everything. And nearly everything I did try was genuinely good and worth finishing.
|
|
I was especially pleased with the cold options—cheeses, cured meats, and other wine-friendly appetizers. Since I had the Easy drink package, I regularly paired these with a glass of wine at dinner.
Of course, this still isn’t TUI, where the cheese selection alone could pass for an entire buffet station. But compared to my earlier MSC cruises, this was a huge step up.
|
|
There were even some things I hadn’t seen before on MSC—like sweet dessert pizzas (though those were more interesting than tasty, unlike the regular ones, which were great).
One major plus: the buffet is open almost all the time. Outside of the dead of night, you could always find something to snack on.
Also worth mentioning: MSC World Europa has a dedicated free venue on the promenade deck serving pizza, burgers, and other comfort food—open nearly 24/7.
I’m writing all this after experiencing my next cruise with Celebrity, where the food honestly disappointed me a bit. Not that it was bad—it just didn’t meet my expectations.
And that’s the difference. With Celebrity, you go in expecting a high standard. With MSC, I didn’t expect much—which made it that much easier for them to exceed those expectations.
What really shocked me on day one in the buffet was the sheer number of people. It felt absolutely packed.
Tables were close together, and although the space was large, the noise level was like an airport at rush hour. I’m not exaggerating—my wife and I sometimes couldn’t even hear each other, sitting across a small table for two.
So no, you won’t get the calm, quiet dining experience you’d find on TUI, where the only sound is cutlery tapping plates. This is MSC—and it’s loud.
I had the Easy drink package included in my fare, and based on other reviews, I already knew that the drinks were far from premium. But honestly—what do you expect for €109 per person for the entire cruise (which is exactly what I paid for the drink package when booking through E-hoi)?
From the included options, I mostly had wine and coffee, and occasionally some hard liquor like whiskey or tequila. As for cocktails, I stuck with the margarita—which was decent, though oddly topped with foam for some reason. The casino bar made a more classic version without the “experiments,” so I mostly ordered it there.
|
|
The wine was mediocre but drinkable. The coffee? Worse than Costa, but better than Celebrity or TUI.
If you think MSC cocktails are bad, wait until you try the ones on Celebrity—where they somehow manage to be worse, despite the drink package costing around $100 per day.
With the package, you can also request bottled water at any bar, which you can take back to your cabin.
Pouring wine into cups like this is just... unacceptable.
Yes, I understand they’re plastic—and plastic gets cloudy and scratched in the dishwasher over time. I’m not against plastic glasses in principle, but not in this condition.
For those without a package, free drinks in the buffet include water, tea, and coffee, available all day.
When it comes to entertainment, MSC World Europa has also made a big step forward. In the evenings, shows aren’t limited to just the main theater—they also take place in the aft lounge and an additional indoor venue.
That means you’re not stuck with just one show per night—you can easily catch two or even three different performances in different locations. And the best part? They’re all free.
Booking seats is easy too—just use the MSC app, and you’re all set.
Simplified muster drill – This was genuinely quick and easy. You just watch the safety video on the MSC app or your cabin TV, then walk to your assigned muster station and scan your cruise card. No running around the ship with life jackets, no standing around waiting for everyone else. MSC nailed it.
Friendly crew – The crew on World Europa seemed noticeably more welcoming and approachable than what I’ve experienced with TUI. Smiles, casual chats, good energy—definitely a plus.
Normal coat hangers – A small detail, but one I appreciated. None of those annoying hook-in-hole hangers where you feel like you're threading a needle. Just simple, functional, proper hangers.
Cloth napkins with cutlery – Not new for MSC, but still worth a mention. Your cutlery is always neatly rolled in a cloth napkin, unlike on TUI, AIDA, or Costa, where utensils often sit on a rack and you're left with flimsy paper napkins.
It’s only fair to talk about the downsides too—and yes, there were a few.
Crowds and constant noise – I already mentioned this in the buffet section, but it’s the cruise’s biggest drawback. The ship often felt overcrowded—in the elevators, at disembarkation, entering the buffet, even on the promenade during peak hours. It felt less like a relaxing cruise and more like navigating a busy shopping mall during the holidays.
Over-commercialization – Nearly everything onboard is an upsell: pubs, restaurants, gelato, cafés—they all cost extra. Sure, the variety is impressive, and if you're happy to spend, you’ll have options. But if you're trying to cruise without blowing your budget, you’ll find very few truly free spaces to relax. Even with a drink package, it was hard to find a central bar where you could just sit, enjoy a drink, and listen to music without a surcharge.
Mismatch of scale and space – For a ship this massive, many spaces felt surprisingly tight. Cabins, balconies, bars, even the main theater—all felt more compact than you’d expect from a vessel this wide and modern.
The Promenade (maybe both a pro and a con?) – This space is stunning. Ten stories high and open-air, it truly looks and feels like a shopping mall atrium. It's hard to say whether this belongs in the "pros" or "cons" column—it’s definitely impressive, but it doesn't feel very “cruise-like.”
|
|
I genuinely enjoyed my cruise on MSC World Europa. I didn’t expect it to be my best sailing—my previous experiences with MSC had been mixed, and many seasoned cruisers haven’t exactly raved about the ship. But in the end, it was much better than I expected. I mean—that free balcony upgrade alone was a great start!
Sure, there are downsides—but you get used to them quickly. And there are plenty of positives to balance things out.
If you’re looking for a cruise where you can truly disconnect, relax, and enjoy peace and quiet, World Europa might not be the best fit. But if you’re curious about what a modern mega-ship looks and feels like—a true feat of marine engineering—then this vessel will likely leave you impressed.
Would I sail on her again? Probably not. The itinerary was fairly repetitive for me, and I’ve already explored the ship inside and out. But who knows—maybe one day I’ll book a Caribbean cruise on her sister ship, MSC World America.
Why not?
|
|
You might also like:
The best value offers from various booking systems. Selected manually. Updated daily.
© Copyright CruisePanda 2022. Made with by CruiseTips
