This cruise was a "first" for me in several respects: my first solo cruise, my first non-English speaking cruise, and my first cruise on a "super size" ship. Having cruised mainly ships whose passengers are mainly American or English speaking, I was curious to try the MSC line, which is an Italian cruise line and caters more to the European crowd. I look for good value on a cruise, which for me, is about the cruise fare itself, the ports of call, the cabins, the entertainment, and the food. I have friends who have cruised some of MSC's smaller older ships at bargain prices, and had a mediocre experience.

After serving as a hotel ship in Doha during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, MSC's World Europa took her maiden voyage from Doha to Dubai in December 2022. It's sleek and glamorous neon-lit interior did not disappoint, and I was struck by the improvement in design concepts that the newest ships have achieved. The Europa features an "open avenue" type design on decks 6 through 8, which means a wide open area for passengers to stroll, with shops, photography and internet services, small pubs and restaurants/ice cream shops, etc. on either side. There are also winding stairs taking one to balcony levels on either side, featuring more shops and amenities. Deck 8 has a unique design at the aft end, which features an outdoor promenade and neon "fan palms" with atrium, and a winding tubular slide that orginates from one of the upper decks and ends at the deck 8 level. (Even some adults were seen checking out this activity!) There are multiple dining rooms located on Decks 5 and 6 to accommodate the large passenger load, and unlike smaller ships, you must stick to your assigned time and dining room. There are several specialty dining venues, which are available as an upcharge, and you must make advance reservations for them. My only criticism of the ship is the crowds at the breakfast buffet and lack of places to sit. However, this is a drawback of every ship I've ever been on, and there is probably no way around it, shy of assigning people specific times, which would be totally untenable, given that everyone is trying to eat and leave on a morning excursion!

The main entertainment productions are available every night of the cruise, in two different showrooms at opposite ends of the ship. In order to accommodate the large crowds, you must make a reservation for them, but you will be able to see the shows you want, just maybe not on the dates and times of your choice. I enjoyed the shows, which were singing and dance mainly, and the talent of some of the entertainers was impressive. I would rank the caliber of the productions as similar to what you would see on Norwegian cruise lines or Royal Caribbean. My overall impression of the ship was that it was family oriented, so entertainment in some of the smaller pubs and gathering areas was very limited, compared to what I've experienced on NCL and other ships. Read more