MSC Euribia

Passengers may snag a great cruise fare, but they shouldn’t expect anything too fancy—or cheerful. Most cabins on MSC Euribia are fairly basic with a color palette that’s chocolate brown (carpet, sofa and oversized headboard), light beige (walls and furniture), and a combination of the two (curtains and pillows). It’s also worth noting that bathrooms in all cabin categories other than suites are small for a new-build ship and MSC doesn’t provide boxed tissues or body lotion, so you’ll need to bring your own. On the upside, the beds, topped by cozy duvets, are comfy, and showers have good pressure and plenty of hot water.

On the low-end, cabins start with 183-square-foot Deluxe Interiors and 129-square-foot Studio Interiors for solo travelers. In the Oceanview category, there are 129-square-foot Junior Ocean Views (a snug fit for two guests) as well as 172-square-foot Deluxe Ocean Views and more spacious 269-square-foot Premium Ocean Views that sleep up to six guests. Solo travelers can opt for a 129-square-foot Studio Balcony, while the most common Balcony category is the 183-square-foot Deluxe Balcony.

Similarly-sized Deluxe Balcony Aurea staterooms have added amenities (welcome prosecco and chocolate, a discount on spa treatments, and access to the Top 19 Exclusive Solarium), while the three Aurea suite options—the 269-square-foot Premium Suite Aurea, the 291-square-foot Premium Suite Aurea with Terrace and Whirlpool, and the 420-square-foot Grand Suite Aurea with Terrace and Whirlpool—include those amenities plus a larger bathroom (with a tub) and a much more generous balcony.

Guests can also book MSC Yacht Club, which offers elevated amenities that include 24-hour butler service, a Premium Extra beverage package and premium Wi-Fi, as well as exclusive access to a private pool deck, restaurant and Top Sail Lounge. On Euribia, the Yacht Club features 103 staterooms and suites in five categories, ranging from 183-square-foot MSC Yacht Club Interior Suites to 624-square-foot MSC Yacht Club Royal Suites featuring a 753-square-foot balcony with a private whirlpool.

Euribia, like all MSC cruise ships, offers accessible cabins designed for guests with reduced mobility. These have added floor space for maneuverability as well as special bathroom features. They are available in Interior, Balcony and MSC Yacht Club Deluxe Suite categories.

With five complimentary dining venues (four main dining rooms and the 1,336-seat Marketplace buffet) and four extra-cost specialty restaurants, MSC Euribia does offer some culinary variety, although specialty dining is far more limited than on similarly-sized megaships from other mainstream cruise lines. Passengers staying in MSC Yacht Club have their own exclusive restaurant with special menus, but they can also dine at any of the ship’s eateries.

Guests will find the usual buffet options—plus very good pizza and pasta as well as mozzarella made fresh daily—in the Marketplace (open for breakfast, lunch and dinner) and globally inspired a la carte menus in the Aurora Borealis, Colorado River, Green Orchard, and Il Campo main dining rooms; all main dining rooms are open for dinner and at least one serves breakfast and lunch. Pizza delivery to guests’ staterooms is also available from 7:00pm until midnight.

Those willing to pay extra for a specialty dining experience can opt for Japanese/Asian dishes at Kaito Teppanyaki & Sushi Bar, which on Euribia also includes a Robatayaki grill for Japanese-barbecue-style meat, seafood, and vegetables. New aboard is Le Grill, an appealing bistro-inspired French steakhouse serving everything from dry-aged Black Angus beef to moules frites (it replaces Butcher’s Cut). Those who crave the flavors of Mexico can head to Hola! Tacos & Cantina for fast-casual street-food such as blue corn tacos, empanadas, and nachos. Also available at an extra charge is Jean-Philippe Crepes & Gelato. While one or two scoops make a satisfying sweet treat, they just don’t have the same creamy Italian authenticity of Venchi gelato, which is sold on MSC’s Miami-based ships.

Overall, the chefs aboard MSC Euribia do a solid job given the ship’s mass-market pricing. There’s something for every palate, although the cuisine in the main dining rooms is generally more memorable than the buffet selections and specialty dining is somewhat limited.

Here’s where Euribia shines, offering 21 bars and lounges, including several terrific new spaces and a beautifully reinvented one. Wine-lovers can head to Helios: Wine Maker, a new bar concept for MSC featuring 96 machine-dispensed wines (priced by small, medium, and large pours) from around the world. They can also book (for an added fee) one of four sommelier-led Master Classes around an interactive touchscreen tasting table offering insights into wine regions, varietals, tasting notes and the winemakers themselves. Pay attention: There’s a fun quiz at the end.

Also new is L’Atelier du Voyageur, a spacious and sociable lounge that fronts Le Bistro and serves a wide selection of wines and mixed cocktails. It features a colorful and quirky animated street scene in Paris that illuminates an entire wall.

But hands down, the chicest spot to grab a cocktail is the totally reinvented Carousel Lounge (see below for info on the venue’s excellent entertainment), while the wildest is during an MSC signature White Party when the Sportsplex, Main Pool deck or other area transforms into a strobe-lit dance floor. The three loftiest spaces to sip cocktails are the Sky Lounge, alfresco Horizon Bar and the Attic Club nightclub, all located on deck 18.

MSC is known for entertainment with flashy theatrics and Euribia’s 945-seat Delphi Theatre is the setting for seven different production shows. Among them: Generation Rock (songs from the Rolling Stones to David Bowie to Queen), Circus 1920 (featuring daring acrobatics), Illuminicity (a visual extravaganza set inside a video game) and Song Book—Ed Sheeran (a celebration of the millennial singer-songwriter who went from street busker to chart-topper).

Equally spectacular is the new Big Band at Sea, a 19-piece orchestra with two talented vocalists who perform three sets each evening in the reimagined Carousel Lounge. This venue has been transformed from a kitschy theater-in-the-round rigged for circus-inspired acrobatic shows (on the four older Meraviglia-class ships) into a sophisticated bar/lounge space that’s a modern take on 1940s and 1950s New York City clubs. Big Band at Sea’s dazzling performances span popular genres that include swing, disco, Broadway musicals and contemporary hits.

Other diversions onboard Euribia include a Casino with gaming tables and slot machines, a Sportplex (for complimentary court games), and an adjoining Amusement Area featuring MSC’s signature Formula 1 race simulators, an exhilarating interactive 4D Theatre, bowling lanes, and even retro Skee-Ball machines. There is an extra charge per activity. For those who aren’t afraid of heights, there’s also a complimentary deck 19 aft ropes course called the Himalayan Bridge.

MSC’s onboard Aurea Spa offers a wide range of massages and facial and body treatments priced well for a cruise ship spa, with “value” pricing that’s about 20% lower if guests book during select port hours. Guests can also buy a day pass to a spacious thermal area featuring an array or steam rooms, saunas, sensorial showers and whirlpools. The MSC Gym by Technogym is free for all Euribia guests.