Diplomacy

This past week, a brand new mega cruise ship, MSC World America, began sailing from Miami, Florida.

Just before the ship’s maiden voyage, MSC Cruises held a three-day preview sailing for members of the media and travel agents. The cruise line invited me on the preview cruise to experience everything that this new ship has to offer.

After a couple days on board MSC World America, I walked around with one main thought. This just might be the ultimate cruise ship for families. I kept thinking how much my son would love to cruise on this ship.

You can take a photo tour of the ship here:

So why is MSC World America the ultimate ship for families? Let’s take a look at everything this new 215,000 gross ton ship has to offer.

• Indoor basketball court (MSC Sportplex)
• Bumper cars
• Family Adventura District
• MSC Luna Park Arena
• Water park
• Ropes course
• LEGO parade
• Two LEGO building rooms
• Awesome kids clubs (Doremiland)
• Several arcades
• Food options in World Galleria
• Indoor pool

Embarkation

MSC World America uses the world’s largest cruise terminal that just opened in Miami. It was one of the smoothest embarkation experiences I’ve ever had and I’ve been on nearly 100 cruises.

If you’ve ever boarded a cruise ship with kids, you know that easier and faster is best. Terminal AA in Miami is just that, it’s massive and can move guests quickly through the terminal.

You can see photos of the new terminal here.

World Galleria

When it comes to the main promenade on cruise ships, they are usually geared towards adults. While most of the features in the World Galleria (main promenade on MSC World America) are geared towards adults (restaurants, comedy clubs, bars and lounges etc.), there are several just for families.

One of them is Pizza & Burger, a great place for families to have a casual meal together. It has MSC’s famous pizza to go along with burgers and fries. They also have mac & cheese, hot dogs, chicken fingers, fries etc. It’s perfect for kids and when families want a quick, casual meal.

Right across from Pizza & Burger is an arcade and MSC Luna Park Arena, a new area just for kids.

LEGO Partnership

MSC Cruises has new LEGO activities on MSC World America that families will love.

There are two LEGO building rooms, one is in the kid’s club and the second is the second floor off to the side of the indoor basketball court. The one in the kid’s club is massive.

The LEGO parade also debuted on this ship and kids are going to love it.

Family Adventura District

The Family Adventura District is located on deck 20 (Ocean Cay) and has waterslides for all ages, a ropes course and Cliffhanger. Cliffhanger is the world’s first swing on a cruise ship that takes you over the water.

There are waterslides for older kids and a waterpark with two wading pools for younger children. This is going to be a really popular area on sea days.

MSC Sportplex is also here and Jaw Drop, an 11-story dry slide that takes you down to the World Promenade.

World Promenade

The World Promenade is the split aft section of the ship, similar to Royal Caribbean’s Boardwalk on their Oasis class ships.

After spending a couple days on board, I liked this area better than what Royal Caribbean offers.

For one, the area seems more open and has a lot more deck space. The slide isn’t all the way in the back of the ship blocking the best view when you are at sea.

The Lanai was my favorite spot here and offers a wide open area in the back, perfect for sailaway. It was also a great spot at night to hang out and watch the palm tree light show in the World Promenade.

As an added bonus, the main coffee shop is here and has outdoor seating. It’s the perfect location for it.

Smoke Free Casino

MSC Cruises did something different on MSC World America that every single cruise line should do. The main casino is no smoking while the side casino (with doors) allows it. It is usually the opposite way around.

Since you have to go through the casino to get to the Panorama Lounge where shows take place, families will really appreciate this design.

You also don’t have smoke pouring out into the World Galleria, an added bonus.

Price

If families want to cruise on a brand new cruise ship with tons of features for kids, it can often be quite expensive.

Prices for cruises on MSC World America start at less than $100 per person, per day. And that includes all taxes and port fees.

MSC Cruises also often runs specials where kids can cruise for free, making it an even better deal for families that want to take a cruise but are on tighter budgets.

MSC World America is sailing seven-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean from Miami.

All cruises visit the cruise line’s private island in The Bahamas, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. You can see prices on the ship here.

Cruise bloggers and YouTubers are popping up all over the place these days as the cruise industry continues to grow in demand.  But along with all this extra content, sometimes the truth of the matter can be harder to find.

Carnival’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, just posted a video on his Facebook page to correct some YouTubers about a beverage policy rumor that had been spreading online.  But he only addressed part of the issue, leaving some still wondering.

Rumors Prompt Carnival Response

Heald started his three-minute video this morning addressing what he called a “fire” ignited by some YouTubers regarding the availability and cost of juice on Carnival ships.

In a candid and direct way, Heald clarified recent reports to make sure Carnival cruisers have the accurate facts.

“Really just one thing to talk about today and this is another fire that I have to put out that seemed to become a blaze over the last few days,” Heald began, addressing the rumors head-on. He specifically called out “a few of the youtubers,” some good and some not so good, who “seem to have expanded on something” regarding Carnival’s juice offerings.

The Issue: Dining Room and Lido Juice

What was the main issue?  Heald said that some content creators were claiming that Carnival was charging for orange juice in the main dining room and had removed some of these juice offerings from the Lido deck.

Heald emphatically stated, “What these youtubers have said is incorrect.”

To clarify the cruise line’s policy, Heald explained, “if you purchase a juice from the bar of course there is a charge.” However, he reassured viewers that “if you go to the dining room for breakfast, brunch, or dinner, you will be able to have as much complimentary orange juice as you wish.”

Heald further explained the beverage policy in the dining room that was the main point of contention with some cruisers.

“What we are doing is charging the same in the dining room for grapefruit and pineapple and tomato juice,” he stated. “If you have orange or apple juice that’s complimentary in the dining room but those three—grapefruit, tomato, and pineapple as we do in the bars, we charge in the dining room for that.“

It should be noted that grape juice and cranberry juice also carry an extra charge.

Dismissing another piece of misinformation, Heald confirmed another juice option would be available for free: “We have not removed the very popular guava juice.”

He urged viewers to “please please ignore” the incorrect information, humorously adding, “the same as I ignore smoothies and juices and kale and tofu and most green things– I got called glutton bucket last week brilliant that really made me laugh.”

But Here’s What Passengers Are Actually Talking About

While Heald tackled the orange juice rumor, the comments on his Facebook post painted a slightly different picture. Lots of passengers chimed in to say that the real story wasn’t about orange juice at all.

Instead, they were talking about how Carnival had started charging for other juices – like pineapple, tomato, grapefruit, and sometimes cranberry – that used to be free during breakfast and brunch in the main dining room.

This change has left some cruisers feeling like Carnival is cutting corners. They see it as another way the cruise line is adding extra charges while the overall cost of a cruise stays the same or even goes up. 

One passenger put it this way: “Carnival have now decided to charge for juices that used to be free in the dining room for breakfast, except for orange or apple. The u-tubers I have heard have pointed out we still get free apple and orange juice. I am sorry John but that is really disappointing…”

Another comment was even more direct, telling Heald, “None of them I saw said anything about orange juice. What they did say that you failed to say is that the other juices were free in the MDR for brunch and you took them away…”

Plenty of people specifically mentioned missing the free pineapple and tomato juice, with some pointing out these were their usual choices. There was also a sense that Carnival hadn’t clearly communicated these changes beforehand.

What About Drink Packages?

Heald did briefly touch on the Cheers! and Bottomless Bubbles drink programs, acknowledging that passengers have asked if smoothies could be included or if the Bottomless Bubbles package could be upgraded.

Currently, the Bottomless Bubbles drink package only includes sodas and juices.  Some have been pushing for things like coffees, smoothies, and mocktails to be added to the package.

He said there aren’t any immediate plans for this, but Carnival is aware of these requests.

So, while Carnival addressed one rumor about orange juice, it seems the real buzz among passengers is about the other juices now costing extra in the main dining room. This shows that sometimes, the stories that get the most attention online might not always reflect the full picture of what cruisers are actually experiencing and talking about.

When you’re looking to book a cruise, you might notice that newer cruise ships typically cost a lot more.  The biggest reason for this is the higher demand to check out all the new bells and whistles a new cruise ship offers.

And because of this demand, cruise lines know they can charge more and try to recoup the cost of building their latest vessel. 

Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas cost an estimated $2 billion to build.   They have to get that money back somehow, right?  Tanner, from Cruzely, put together a great breakdown of how much Icon will earn from each passenger, with an estimated $3.4 million per day in revenue.

As a sidenote, I did recently find that the newer Star of the Seas actually has some cruises that are cheaper than Icon if you look at certain dates.  You can check that article out here.

On a new ship there’s better technology, updated venues and amenities, and some “fixes” to other ships in the fleet, based on passenger feedback. 

But does newer mean better?  Not always.  Some of the best cruises I’ve taken were on ships considered to be old, 15 years or older.

Here are several reasons an “older” ship could give you a better cruise.

Newer Ships Often Have a Few Kinks to Work Out

This is especially true if you take one of the first sailings on a new ship.  Don’t expect everything to be up and running at 100%.  I’ve been on some new ships that were a bit behind in the construction process and the sounds of power tools could be heard throughout.

The crew are still learning about the ship as well.  So, some new venues will not be operating smoothly yet or will require more patience on your part. 

Older ships have been through it all, and like a good cheese, are often aged to perfection. Sure, they might not have the latest equipment, but if they are maintained well, they are consistent in what they offer. They might not do it all, but what they do, they do well, and the crew are very familiar with the ship.

Read more: 8 reasons older ships are better than new ones

Older often Means Smaller, Meaning Better Itineraries

I know saying “better itineraries” is somewhat subjective.  But the fact is that smaller ships are able to visit ports and regions that the mega ships of today simply can’t.

And yes, most older ships are definitely smaller.  Many ships built in the early 2000s averaged 2,000 to 3,000 passengers at most with a gross tonnage of 80,000 to 110,000.  Modern ships often boast 6,000+ passengers with a gross tonnage over 200,000.

Whether it’s exploring the Greek Islands, visiting the Caribbean’s hidden gems that are often overlooked, or sailing through the fjords of Norway, smaller/older vessels can bring you closer to those off-the-beaten-path areas.

Smaller Crowds and Easier Disembarkation

Along with the last point, when you are visiting a port of call, it’s a lot easier when offloading a thousand or so passengers as opposed to 3,000 or 4,000 passengers—not everyone gets off the ship.   This makes it easier and quicker to explore that quaint port of call and feel a little less like herded cattle.

And with excursions having limitations with how many people they can take, it makes it more likely that you can book that unique “thing to do” while in port.

Nostalgic Charm

Maybe you’re not a nostalgic person, but for me, there’s something special about the maritime history and heritage of a cruise ship from what seems like a bygone era.  It’s something I appreciated in some Holland America sailings and also on ships like Celebrity Constellation that I booked a few years ago.

The décor might seem dated to some, but there’s a timelessness to it as well.  That main atrium view is something missing on many new ships.  I even have a fondness for Carnival’s Fantasy-class ships and the quirky design inside.

Royal Caribbean’s Enchantment of the Seas is a great example of this as well, and even the design of the buffet area has a certain nostalgia for me.

Tradition and Personalized Service

You aren’t guaranteed to have better service on an older ship.  That’s not my point.  And there were some articles I read a few months ago questioning the dining service on older ships as being subpar.  I’m sure this varies across the board.

But many older ships make up for the lack of bells and whistles with consistency and tradition.  This can be seen in the service, shows, and all kinds of other aspects.

Additionally, with fewer people on board it’s easier to talk to someone at guest services without a crazy long line, and if you want to speak with the cruise director about something it’s a little easier as well.

I’ve found most of my cruises on older ships to have great personalized service, but again, this is a subjective point no doubt.

Renovations Keep Things Fresh

Older ships need a refurbishment from time to time, but this just makes the ship feel fresh without adding to its size or detracting from its classic appeal. 

These updates can bring modern amenities to key areas like cabins, dining venues, and even add some newer features without the overwhelming scale of a brand-new build. 

Older vessels have tons of cruise fans who like to sail on the same, familiar ship, and an update along with a new itinerary or homeport revives those nostalgic memories.

Cheaper Means More Cruises

As I stated at the start of this article, older cruise ships are much cheaper than booking new ones.  This means you can go on more cruises for the same amount of money. 

If you’re on a limited budget and want to find some last-minute deals, it’s easier to do on an older ship as well, since demand is usually lower. 

If you have a flexible schedule, keep an eye on cruise fares with a cruise price alert tool on an older vessel, and save even more money.