MSC World Europa culinary experiences revealed ahead of Dubai season

MSC Cruises has announced that MSC World Europa will feature more than 30 different international and immersive food and beverage concepts when she launches in Dubai later this year.

The new MSC cruise ship, the largest ever built for the cruise line, and the second-largest class of cruise ship in the world after Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class, will also feature several new-to-the-line concepts.

These include a healthy Zest – Juice Bar, a Malt Lounge for fine cigars with a wide choice of whisky or cognac, and Sweet Temptations, a gelato and frozen yoghurt bar where kids can build their own frozen yoghurt and magnum ice cream bars.

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The ship will offer 13 restaurants and 20 bars and lounges, many of them signature features of MSC Cruises’ latest ships, such as the Masters of the Sea English pub that debuted on the Meraviglia class cruise ships, and the American-style steakhouse Butcher’s Cut.

“The food and beverage experience on board MSC World Europa – much like the ship itself – has been designed with the future in mind, from sustainable sourcing and fresh farm-to-ocean ingredients, we have pulled out all the stops to offer a varied and unabridged dining offering for the next generation cruiser,” said Jacques Van Staden, Vice President of Food & Beverage, MSC Cruises.

“Each new concept aims to go beyond what traditional venues achieved in the past and focus on crafted, artisanal and immersive experiences that will revolutionize the place dining holds in the overall cruise experience,” he added.

Notable bar and lounge venues aboard the new ship include the Coffee Emporium, the questionable Raj Polo Tea House, The Gin Project, the Elixir – Mixology Bar, the Fizz – Champagne Bar and of course Masters of the Sea.

Coffee Emporium is a sleek and modern coffee house offering a signature blend roasted on board and Rainforest Alliance Certified Lavazza Tierra for Planet Lavazza, one of the world’s leading coffee roasters. The coffee shop will offer indoor and outdoor seating.

Raj Polo Tea House is described as being themed around turn-of-the-century India, offering a convergence of Indian and English tea traditions in a tropical setting. It’s a controversial nod to the British colonisation of India. The British East India Company oppressed a plethora of Indian communities through the international tea trade of the 19th century.

Masters of the Sea is MSC Cruises’ signature English pub, but aboard MSC World Europa will be two decks high, with live music and drinks, and a full-scale onboard micro-brewery serving MSC signature beers.

The Gin Project will offer 70 craft gins, with classic cocktails expertly prepared by gin-tenders along with a vintage Crawley’s shaker, where guests can test their hand at shaking their own botanical cocktails.

Elixir – Mixology Bar is the ship’s edgy cocktail bar, with expert mixologists creating handcrafted concoctions, featuring delicious Fever Tree mixers. This space also offers an outdoor terrace to enjoy pre- and post-meal beverages.

Fizz – Champagne Bar will be the ship’s most upscale bar, serving a range of sparkling wines in the heart of the ship’s bustling Galleria indoor shopping and entertainment promenade. 

Some of the most notable new dining venues aboard MSC World Europa include Chef’s Garden Kitchen, La Pescaderia, Luna Park Pizza & Burger, and other specialty restaurant favorites, such as the American-style steakhouse Butcher’s Cut, fun and flavourful Asian-inspired Kaito Teppanyaki & Sushi Bar, and the newly launched Latin American street food-inspired Hola! Tacos & Cantina.

Chef’s Garden Kitchen will focus on flavorful, seasonal farm-to-ocean cooking, with hydroponic microgreens grown and harvested directly onboard. The microgreens and lush greenery serve as the ultimate backdrop, set against an open chef’s table kitchen and complete with al fresco dining options.

La Pescaderia offers a selection of seafood in a market-style setting, complete with a fresh fish display, where guests can choose their whole fish or a selection of takeaway options. 

Luna Park Pizza & Burger will be a casual buffet that offers an interactive experience including family games and a fun menu with classic American fare from “coney dogs” and salted pretzels to funnel cake.

The ship’s main restaurants will be Bubbles, La Foglia, Esagono, Hexagon Restaurants, Il Mercato Buffet and La Brasserie Buffet. Aurea guests will also enjoy exclusive access to Les Dunes Restaurant.

MSC World Europa is due to homeport in Dubai from November 2022 until March 2023, following her weeks-long deployment in Qatar as a floating hotel during the FIFA World Cup 2020. She’ll sail week-long cruises out of Dubai roundtrip to Abu Dhabi, Muscat in Oman, Doha in Qatar, the cruise destination island Sir Bani Yas and Damman in Saudi Arabia.

She’ll then reposition to the Mediterranean for the summer, sailing 7-night cruises calling at the Italian ports of Genoa, Naples and Messina, as well as Valletta in Malta, Barcelona in Spain and Marseille in France.