MSC Cruises’ newest flagship has made an immediate impact with passengers, while one of its long-standing favourites has suffered a sharp fall in the latest annual ship rankings based on customer reviews.
Newly compiled data for 2026 shows MSC World America entering straight into second place despite only launching in 2025, an unusually strong debut for a ship still in its early months of service.
At the same time, MSC Divina has dropped dramatically from fourth place last year to 17th, marking the biggest fall of any vessel in the fleet.
The rankings are based on aggregated review scores from Cruise Critic, Cruiseline.com and TripAdvisor, offering a broad snapshot of passenger sentiment across MSC’s 23-ship fleet.
New Ship Makes Immediate Impact
MSC World America’s high placement stands out as one of the most notable developments in this year’s rankings.
Brand-new ships often take time to climb review tables, as early sailings can expose operational teething issues while crew and onboard systems settle. However, early feedback for MSC World America has been largely positive, with guests praising the ship’s modern design, wide range of entertainment and overall value.
The ship, built with the North American market in mind, features large-scale venues, water attractions and a resort-style layout. While some passengers have pointed to crowding and occasional food quality concerns, these criticisms have not prevented the vessel from achieving one of the highest scores in the fleet.
Its strong debut suggests MSC may be refining how it launches new ships, particularly compared with earlier vessels that initially struggled before improving over time.
MSC Divina’s Sharp Decline Explained
In contrast, MSC Divina’s fall from fourth to 17th place highlights a shift in how passengers are rating some of the cruise line’s older ships.
While still described as a solid all-rounder, recent reviews point to growing dissatisfaction in several areas. Feedback frequently mentions inconsistent food quality, overcrowded buffet areas and a general sense that the ship is beginning to feel dated compared with newer additions to the fleet.
Recent sailings in late 2025 and early 2026 reinforce this mixed picture. Some guests continue to praise the ship’s value, friendly crew and enjoyable itineraries, particularly during holiday cruises.
However, others describe operational issues, including disorganised processes, long waits and poor communication during embarkation and disembarkation.
Dining remains one of the most commonly cited concerns. Reviews highlight meals being served at inconsistent temperatures, limited variety and difficulties navigating busy buffet layouts. Entertainment has also drawn criticism from some passengers, with complaints about limited variety and underwhelming performances.
Operational shortcomings have also been noted, including reports of understaffing affecting service levels, as well as issues with onboard communication and app usability. Crowding is another recurring theme, with some passengers describing congested public areas and long queues for services.
Despite this, MSC Divina still attracts positive feedback from repeat cruisers who value its pricing and traditional cruise atmosphere. However, the ship appears to be losing ground as MSC continues to introduce larger, more modern ships with broader facilities.
Newer Ships Driving Changing Perceptions
The contrasting fortunes of MSC World America and MSC Divina reflect a wider trend across the MSC fleet.
Newer ships, particularly those launched in the last decade, are dominating the upper end of the rankings, offering more attractions, updated designs and features tailored to families and international markets. Meanwhile, older vessels are increasingly judged against these newer standards, even when they continue to offer good value.
This year’s rankings also show that while MSC’s newer ships attract strong interest, they are not without criticism. Larger ships frequently receive complaints about crowding and service levels, suggesting that scale remains a challenge for the line.
Overall, the latest results underline how quickly passenger preferences can shift in a rapidly evolving fleet, with new ships setting higher expectations and older favourites struggling to keep pace.
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