Symbol of the Seas is about to face serious competition.

fast growing MSC Cruises On Friday, TPG was given a sneak peek at the giant ship it’s building to fight the high-profile war Royal Caribbean It was a ship in the Caribbean and a sight to behold.

Massive waterslides, giant pool areas and an impressive indoor promenade filled with restaurants and bars were among the features TPG saw taking shape on the massive ship, which is under construction at a shipyard in France.

to be called MSC World AmericaThe largest MSC Cruises ship ever is scheduled to launch in April 2025. It will embark on week-long Caribbean cruises from Miami every Saturday, creating an epic matchup between the world’s three largest cruise ships.

In addition to Royal Caribbean’s world’s largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, Miami Carnival Cruise Line‘s largest ship, two years old Carnival Celebration.

Icon of the Seas also sails Caribbean cruises throughout the week from Miami every Saturday. Carnival Celebration operates week-long Caribbean cruises from Miami every Sunday.

TPG’s St. As he saw during a preview of MSC World America at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Nazaire, the ship is being built on a scale rarely seen in the cruise world.

Rising to a staggering height of 20 decks, MSC World America is as long as Icon of the Seas. The second ship also rises to a height of 20 decks.

However, it is slightly shorter than the Icon of the Seas and slightly smaller in overall size when measured in gross tons (a measure of internal space used by shipbuilders).

Daily Newsletter

Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter

Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides, and exclusive deals from TPG experts

At approximately 216,000 gross tons, MSC World America will be the eighth largest cruise ship in the world when it launches in April. When each berth is full, it will be able to carry 6,762 passengers, nearly setting a cruise ship record.

Relating to: The ultimate guide to MSC Cruises

Icon of the Seas is the world’s largest cruise ship at 248,863 gross tons. Carnival Celebration is the 16th largest cruise ship in the world, at 183,521 gross tons. The two ships can carry 7,600 passengers and 6,631 passengers respectively.

Like both ships, MSC World America will feature a large family entertainment area on its upper deck, featuring everything from a giant water park to a ropes course.

Called The Harbour, the complex will target families in a way MSC Cruises has never done before, with water and non-water attractions, grab-and-go food options and a lounge area.

Relating to: Epic fun! The new MSC Cruises ship will have a huge playground

Among the most impressive features of the area that TPG saw under construction on Friday were three massive water slides that stretch from the ship’s highest deck to the landing pad below. There will also be a fourth, smaller water slide for younger children, not far from the three larger slides.

Also on display during the unveiling was a two-level ropes course that is apparently nearing completion, spanning 6,210 square meters and featuring two zipline-like “sky rails.”

Touring the area with MSC Cruises executives and representatives from several other media outlets, TPG also viewed the site currently under construction for a first-of-its-kind onboard overwater swing ride to be called Cliffhanger.

A themed playground for children modeled on the lighthouse on MSC Cruises’ private island Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in the Bahamas was also among the construction works in the region.

In addition, the Harbor area was home to the shark-themed entrance to the 10-story high dry slide called the Jaw Drop. Filming, still mostly unfinished, will move downwards from Deck 20 to Deck 8. While this may seem like a 12-deck drop on the surface, it will only mean a 10-deck drop because MSC World America will not have Deck 13 or Deck. 17. In some cultures, these two numbers are considered unlucky.

The port will be one of three family-friendly areas in the immediate vicinity of the ship, together known as the Family Aventura area. The other two areas are the Doremiland children’s program zone, which will feature seven different nurseries, and the Sportsplex, a multi-purpose pavilion for bumper cars, roller skating and other family-friendly activities.

MSC World America will also feature six pools and 14 hot tubs; all of which were under construction on Friday.

The pools include an unusually long main pool located at the center of one of the largest pool areas at sea.

Like Icon of the Seas, MSC World America will feature a massive indoor restaurant, bar and shopping area, as well as an outdoor restaurant and bar area at the rear of the ship.

MSC World America’s inner area will be called Galleria and its outer area will be called Promenade.

MSC World America becomes the second ship in MSC Cruises’ new ship World class series of ships. The first ship in the series, MSC World Europa, debuted in late 2022 and is designed specifically to sail in Europe.

Although MSC World America bears similarities to MSC World Europa, executives at Friday’s preview said about 30% of MSC World America’s public areas will be different from those currently found on MSC World Europa.

Relating to: 6 types of MSC Cruises ships announced

The changes, which include the addition of a sports bar and an Eataly-branded Italian restaurant along the Promenade, were made to appeal to the specific tastes of the North American market.

The World Class ships are nearly 20% larger than MSC Cruises’ predecessors and are on the same scale as Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships, which have dominated the list of the world’s largest, most packed ships for years.

With the exception of the six ships in Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class series and its own class, Icon of the Seas, World Class ships are the only cruise ships in the world to exceed 200,000 gross tons.

The two World Class ships are larger and have more space than any ship operated by Carnival. Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises or any major cruise brand other than Royal Caribbean.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories: