Family cruise onboard MSC World Europa
We sailed onboard MSC World Europa, a brand-new ship with a great selection of restaurants and facilities, suitable for families. I booked a balcony cabin with drinks package and a speciality dining package. It was a 5-day cruise from Naples to Marseilles with stops at Messina in Sicily, Malta and Barcelona. We spent a number of nights beforehand in Rome and then took the high-speed train (1 hour) to Naples, where we had a few hours to eat pizza and explore the city before boarding our cruise ship. Before departure I downloaded the MSC for me app. It has a countdown to your cruise, which the kids loved.
Our first impression was that the ship was huge! We could not get over the scale of it. My 6-year-old daughter asked if there was a city onboard when she seen it! Our stateroom had bunk beds for the children and felt more spacious than I had anticipated. The bathroom and wardrobe space were small, but with the bags stored under the bed, it didn’t feel cramped. Our balcony had a table, 2 chairs and fabulous sea views.
There was so much to see that we didn’t get off the ship at Messina on our 2nd day! I was outvoted. The kids were so excited and wanted to explore and experience everything onboard. There is a kids club (plus teens club) with activities throughout the day plus a sports centre with football, roller skating and even bumper cars! The Aurora Borealis Aquapark is suitable for small children and there are water slides for older children and adults plus a number of swimming pools (one with a retractable roof) and hot tubs, with plenty of sun loungers. This ship also features the Venom Drop, an 11-deck high stainless-steel slide which you enter through a snake’s mouth and arrive at the Promenade below.
The promenade is an outdoor area with coffee shop, restaurants and a bar as well as street performers. It runs along the centre of the ship and opens out to the back of the ship. It was lovely to sit outside the bar here on comfy seats and enjoy live music and a drink while we sailed out of port. The indoor promenade called the World Galleria has an LED roof which changes design. It has a number of shops, restaurants and bars in this area. We found that even though the ship was huge, it was so easy to get around. You are only ever a few minutes away from anywhere onboard.
There are a number of theatres and entertainment venues. The shows were excellent. You do need to prebook them onboard on the MSC app or on the screens throughout the ship. There is a gym and a spa onboard plus a number of games arcades including VR, Formula 1 etc. I would recommend that you buy an entertainment pass on the MSC app before your holiday. It costs €80 total, but gives you €140 in credit to use onboard for the arcades, bumper cars etc. There’s plenty of activities around the main La Plage pool and a more chilled out vibe inside at the Botanic Garden Pool. There is also an adults-only Zen pool.
As a family, we preferred the buffet restaurants to the main dining room. As part of our speciality dining package, we had dinner at the Sushi bar, the steakhouse and Chefs Garden Kitchen overseen by Michelin chef Niklas Ekstedt, with a first-at-sea hydroponic garden. We also had lunch at Hola Tacos and Cantina speciality Mexican restaurant. This was great value at just €17 per adult for all you can eat. All were fantastic.
There are a number of bars to choose from, including Masters of the Sea pub, Fizz champagne bar, Elixir mixology bar and Gin Project, as well as bars by the pools. There is also a speakeasy onboard (by invitation only and not included in drinks packages). I didn’t get to visit the Raj Polo tea house, but it looked lovely and also serves afternoon tea. There is also a chocolate bar and shop onboard where you can design your own chocolate bars. The kids loved this.
Which type of accommodation should you book?... There are many options to choose from. An interior cabin is the best value. This would mean that you have no natural daylight, which you may be happy with if you plan to spend very little time there. The next category up is an ocean view. We chose a balcony cabin and would highly recommend it, especially for a special holiday or a Honeymoon. I ordered room service for our breakfast in Malta and we sat out enjoying the view, which was fabulous. Some cruises have different balcony cabin options. MSC World Europa have a ‘balcony with partial view’ which overlooks the promenade.
If you wish to elevate your stay, you can upgrade to the MSC Yacht club. This gives you more spacious suite accommodation, 24-hour butler service, luggage packing and unpacking, 24-hour room service, an exclusive area of the ship including a Panoramic lounge, a private pool deck with sunbathing areas, an outdoor bar and whirlpool, an a la carte gourmet restaurant with anytime dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Whilst at Ocean Cay (MSC Cruises private island in the Bahamas), yacht club guests can enjoy added extras including a private beach, access to cabanas, towel service, concierge service, a restaurant, unlimited drinks and more.
Overall, we had an amazing holiday. It exceeded our expectations. We loved the facilities onboard and found that there was so much to see and do. The service and the standard of food etc. was excellent. We would definitely book another cruise holiday.
I would highly recommend a cruise for a holiday or a Honeymoon. As you have read above, it is a fantastic option for families. It would a great option for people with walking difficulties / wheelchair users, as there is plenty of space and it is so easy to get around the ship. For an adults-only holiday or a Honeymoon, you may want a more peaceful adults-orientated experience and to therefore choose a cruise which has no facilities for children, so the likelihood of there being any onboard would be minimal and/or to travel during school term.
It is important to choose the correct cruise company and ship. This is where I can help. If you would like to plan and book a cruise holiday, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
