Don’t choose a ship by its measurement. That’s the message from MSC Cruises’ latest cruise ship, the 6,774-passenger MSC World Europa, which at practically 1,100 toes lengthy, 21 decks excessive, and 205,7000 gross tons, is at the moment the sixth-largest cruise ship on this planet.

It’s additionally a major a part of the cruise line’s plan to achieve internet zero emissions throughout the model by 2050.

Traditionally, cruise ships haven’t been mannequin residents for sustainable journey, so it’s honest for individuals to boost an eyebrow once they hear a mega ship is striving to be extra sustainable. MSC World Europa, nevertheless, is the primary of 4 ships in MSC’s latest technology of vessels, which is able to run on greener, different types of gas.

Anthony Devlin/Getty Photographs for MSC Cruises

The MSC World Europa’s inaugural voyage kicked off in Doha in December 2022, shortly after the FIFA World Cup in Qatar (the ship served as a floating resort for followers in the course of the video games). By April 2023, it will likely be circling the Mediterranean, the place it is going to stay for the remainder of the 12 months. AFAR was in a position to get a primary take a look at the ship in November—and these had been our most important takeaways.

The place to search out the most effective delicacies, cocktails, and brews on board

The MSC World Europa has a whopping 13 eating places and buffets, so it’s straightforward to get a bit overwhelmed by alternative. Essentially the most memorable meal our group had in the course of the inaugural celebration was on the Chef’s Backyard Kitchen, the place lots of the herbs and greens used within the dishes are grown in a hydroponic backyard in the course of the eating room. It’s helmed by Niklas Ekstedt, a Swedish chef (whose restaurant Ekstedt garnered a Michelin star), TV character, and writer. He advised us that the menu is supposed to bridge conventional Nordic delicacies and fashionable strategies. When you go, do your self a favor and get the scallop ceviche and the almond cake (the latter of which, Ekstedt stated, is his mom’s recipe).

One other idea new to MSC is the seafood restaurant La Pescaderia, which evokes a Mediterranean fish market. Entire fish are on show, and visitors can select which they’d prefer to have ready for them.

There are additionally 20 bars and lounges on the ship, together with the Espresso Emporium, which presents cups of java made with totally different brewing types (like Italian, Turkish, or Moroccan—I went with Turkish, as a result of the barista stated it might be the strongest). The Rajo Polo Tea Home presents excessive tea (an effective way to chill out and unwind within the afternoon), whereas the Fizz-Champagne Bar has an intensive bottle choice. The Gin Challenge boasts greater than 70 craft gins from around the globe (served straight, with one among its myriad craft tonic waters, or as ingenious cocktails comparable to tropical tackle a Gin Fizz); and on the Elixir-Mixology Bar, you’ll be able to order off the menu or give the bartender some taste elements (like “floral” or “fruity”) and so they’ll craft one thing distinctive for you.

MSC World Europa can be dwelling to the primary brewery at sea the place the beers are made with desalinated water. Brewmaster Teo Musso (who opened Baladin Farm Brewery in Italy in 1996) created three signature craft beers, which shall be completely offered on the ship. They embody a pilsner, a bitter, and a wheat beer. As a licensed beer choose, I personally thought the pilsner was crisp, with delicate natural notes and that it excelled above the others.

A mixture of enjoyable and rest

When planning the vessel, it was necessary to have a wholesome steadiness of leisure choices as properly facilities to assist individuals chill out, MSC CEO Gianni Onorato advised AFAR in the course of the maiden crusing.

With that in thoughts, MSC World Europa options totally different neighborhoods the place comparable facilities are grouped.

Many of the specialty eating places, bars, and boutiques are present in an inside promenade referred to as the World Galleria on decks six by means of eight. The ceiling is roofed with a LED “sky display screen,” which modifications all through the day—some shows present humpback whales swimming or the celebs above. The aft of deck eight is dwelling to an open-air quarter centered across the longest dry slide at sea—a corkscrewing, enclosed descent that travels down eleven decks—referred to as Venom Drop @ The Spiral. (I didn’t have the prospect to attempt it, as there was at all times a line, however my journey companions did and stated it was surprisingly enjoyable.)

Courtesy of MSC Cruises/Ivan Sarfatti

There’s the Household Zone, which homes all children services (with particular areas for every age group), in addition to bumper automobiles, a curler skating rink, an arcade, a Components 1 simulator (a racecar recreation with {hardware} that mimics the actions of an F1 automotive with spectacular realism), and a Lego Room (actually full of million of Legos and units).

On the highest decks are six swimming pools (together with two which can be adults solely), 14 sizzling tubs (sure, 14—extremely beneficial are these by the Zen Pool with swapping views off the aft), and the kid-focused Aurora Borealis Aquapark, which features a devoted pool for toddlers.

For these in search of a little bit of quiet, the ship’s 10,000-square-foot Balinese-style Aurea Spa is a zen-inducing retreat. Its therapy record consists of all of the necessities, like massages and facials. It additionally boasts a thermal space with a hydrotherapy circuit that features saunas, steam rooms, chilly plunges, sizzling tubs, and even a room the place visitors can sit in snow (which seems like being inside an igloo).

A variety of staterooms and suites

Courtesy of MSC/Ivan Sarfatti

MSC World Europa has 17 courses of staterooms and suites. Essentially the most primary is an inside stateroom, which measures 160 sq. toes, comprises a wardrobe and toilet with bathe, a double mattress that may be transformed into two singles, and a mini bar. Essentially the most opulent is the MSC Yacht Membership Proprietor’s Suite, which is simply over 1,076 sq. toes, has a balcony with a seating space and a non-public sizzling tub, eating and lounge areas, a walk-in closet, a rest room with a separate bathe and tub, a bar, and an espresso maker.

How “MSC World Europa” practices sustainability

When experiencing a ship of this measurement and scope, one has to surprise—how is that this a greener vessel than its predecessors? First off, MSC World Europa is MSC’s first vessel powered by liquified pure fuel (LNG).

Utilizing LNG as an alternative of diesel will assist to cut back the ship’s whole emissions by 25 p.c, in accordance with Linden Coppell, MSC’s vice chairman of sustainability and environmental social governance.

“LNG is a step ahead; it’s not the last word objective,” MSC CEO Onorato advised AFAR. “It permits us to enormously cut back the consumption of fossil fuels and consequently the emissions.”

As a complete, the cruise business is pushing for internet zero emissions by 2050, although it’ll take important developments in know-how and provide to satisfy that objective. MSC considers LNG a transitional gas, Coppell stated in a press briefing. It’s not going to get them to internet zero alone. However it is going to “future-proof” MSC World Europa and her sister ships by enabling them to begin utilizing new fuels, like biofuel or artificial gas, as quickly as they turn out to be available. As a result of MSC World Europa is already outfitted with the suitable infrastructure for different fuels, it will likely be in a position to swap extra seamlessly—whereas ships that run on diesel would should be retrofitted to accommodate greener fuels.

One other ingredient on MSC’s street to emissions neutrality is the usage of stable oxide gas cells. It’s a know-how that creates electrical energy to energy and warmth the ship not by combustion (how vitality is often created on cruise vessels) however by an electrochemical response, which Coppell stated is someplace between 25 and 30 p.c extra environment friendly.

Collectively, these and different sustainable applied sciences, like utilizing shore energy the place potential (which means the ship is ready to plug into the native energy grid at ports, permitting the vessel to show off its engines), superior wastewater therapy protocols, and an underwater radiated noise administration system to attenuate the sound affect on marine life, make World Europa MSC’s greenest ship.

Coppell stated her staff believes World Europa has the “lowest emissions per passenger of any ship at the moment crusing.”

Crusing the Center East and the Mediterranean

From January by means of late March, World Europa is crusing across the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. On the finish of March, it is going to begin its repositioning crusing to the Mediterranean, making stops in Doha in Qatar, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai within the UAE, Muscat in Oman, and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, earlier than crusing by means of the Suez Canal and later arriving in Naples, Italy, on April 10. (Friends can get on the ship at any level within the itinerary.) For the remainder of the 12 months, it is going to run fixed loops between ports in Malta (Valletta), Spain (Barcelona), France (Provence), and Italy (Genoa, Naples, and Taormina). Itineraries for 2024 and past haven’t been finalized. Pricing begins at $179 per particular person for a two-night cruise.