Sneak peek: Inside the giant new MSC Cruises ship that's about to take on Icon of the Seas

16.11.2024 - 16:43 / thepointsguy.com / Royal Caribbean

Icon of the Seas is about to get some serious competition.

Fast-growing MSC Cruises on Friday gave TPG a sneak peek at the giant ship it's building to take on the much-ballyhooed Royal Caribbean vessel in the Caribbean, and it was a sight to behold.

Enormous water slides, giant pool zones and an impressive indoor promenade full of restaurants and bars were among the features TPG saw taking shape on the massive vessel, which is under construction at a shipyard in France.

To be called MSC World America, the biggest-ever MSC Cruises ship is scheduled to debut in April 2025. It'll sail weeklong Caribbean voyages out of Miami every Saturday, setting up an epic matchup between three of the world's biggest cruise vessels.

In addition to Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas, which is the world's biggest cruise ship, Miami is home to Carnival Cruise Line's biggest ship, the two-year-old Carnival Celebration.

Icon of the Seas also sails weeklong Caribbean voyages out of Miami every Saturday. Carnival Celebration sails weeklong Caribbean voyages out of Miami every Sunday.

As TPG saw during the sneak peek at MSC World America, which took place at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France, the ship is being built on a scale rarely seen in the cruise world.

Rising an astounding 20 decks high, MSC World America is just as tall as Icon of the Seas. The latter vessel also rises just 20 decks high.

That said, it's a tad less long than Icon of the Seas, resulting in a slightly smaller overall size when measured by gross tons — a measurement of interior space used by shipbuilders.

Measuring nearly 216,000 gross tons, MSC World America will be the world's eighth largest cruise ship when it debuts in April.

Related: The ultimate guide to MSC Cruises

At 248,863 gross tons, Icon of the Seas is the world's largest cruise ship. At 183,521 gross tons, Carnival Celebration is the world's 16th largest cruise ship.

Like both of the other ships, MSC World America will have a sprawling family fun zone on its top deck that includes everything from a giant water park to a ropes course.

Dubbed The Harbour, the complex will target families in a way MSC Cruises never has before, with a mix of watery and non-watery attractions, grab-and-go food options and a lounging area.

Related: Epic fun! New MSC Cruises ship will have massive play zone

Among the most impressive elements of the area that TPG saw under construction on Friday were three massive waterslides that cascaded down from the ship's highest deck to a landing area below. There also will be a fourth, smaller waterslide for young children not far from the three bigger slides.

Also on display during the sneak peek, seemingly near completion, was a two-level