Dueling Pianos, Dart Boards, And 'dirty Dancing': This Is Msc's Most American Ship Yet

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• MSC World America, the newest ship from MSC Cruises, caters to U.S. travelers with new features like a sports bar and comedy club.
• The ship offers a variety of amenities, including numerous dining options, pools, and an outdoor activity park.
• MSC World America sails seven-night Caribbean cruises from Miami, with stops at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

On the last night of an MSC Cruises’ sailing earlier this month, passengers were sending their trip off with a singalong.

Inside The Loft, a comedy club aboard the line’s newest ship, MSC World America, one of two dueling pianists performed “Toxic” by Britney Spears with a chorus of background vocals from the audience. The other musician followed it up with Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Great Balls of Fire” – another crowd-pleaser – and attendees seated at small round tables shouted the song’s refrain throughout the cozy space on Deck 8.

The Loft is one of several new onboard spaces designed with U.S. guests in mind. While it’s not the line’s first ship based in America, the vessel celebrates its U.S. home base and marks a new chapter in the Geneva, Switzerland-based company's stateside expansion.

“We're a global brand, but at the same time (with) this ship, we very much wanted to lean into our U.S. guests,” Lynn Torrent, president of MSC Cruises North America, told USA TODAY on board during a preview sailing. Here’s what guests should know about MSC World America, which embarked on its maiden voyage on Saturday.

The ship is the second in MSC’s World Class, following sister vessel MSC World Europa, which is fittingly based in Europe. World America retains many familiar elements, but in addition to The Loft – which hosts dueling pianos along with stand-up comedy and karaoke with an in-venue bar – there are multiple additions geared toward U.S. customers based on consumer research.

Those include the All-Stars Sports Bar at the ship’s aft, which serves American fare and beer on tap, with in-person dart boards and televised sports on wall-mounted screens. "Dirty Dancing in Concert" debuted at sea on World America. The ship also boasts the only Eataly location at sea, and the new restaurant Paxos, which offers shareable Greek dishes and live tableside music with an accompanying fast casual offshoot, Paxos on the Go.

Torrent said the line expects 50% to 60% of World America’s guests to be from North America, while the rest of its passengers will hail from countries around the world. “So we wanted to definitely lean more into the U.S. guests’ preferences, but also make us attractive and enjoyable no matter where in the world you are,” she said.

With that in mind, Torrent said the cruise line used the ship’s transatlantic voyage ahead of its debut to do “deep training” with the ship’s crew – many of whom have previously sailed in the Caribbean – on the nuances between American and European passengers. U.S. guests like ice in their water, for example, and expect more eye contact.

“I think the basics are all the same, but those subtle things really make a difference,” she said.

American iconography was on display during the preview cruise, from a chandelier lit up red, white and blue in the World Galleria, to chocolate sculptures of a bald eagle and breakdancing Lady Liberty at Jean-Philippe Chocolat & Café.

The 22-deck ship can accommodate 6,764 guests.

In total, the vessel has 19 dining venues, 18 bars and lounges, six pools and 14 hot tubs, an onboard spa, an outdoor activity park, and more. These are divided across seven distinct districts, from the kid-friendly Family Aventura near the top of the ship to the open-air World Promenade with views of its wake.

The ship sails seven-night cruises from Miami, alternating between the Eastern and Western Caribbean. Guests will visit ports such as Roatan in Honduras; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic; and Cozumel, Mexico.

The vessel will also stop at the line’s private Bahamas island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, where passengers will find loungers overlooking aquamarine water; dining venues and bars; shore excursions like kayaking and jet skiing; and more. The island is the site of scientific work, as well, and features the new MSC Foundation Marine Conservation Center that includes a lecture hall and land-based coral nursery.

According to the line's website, available cruises on MSC World America start at $689 per person based on double occupancy, including taxes and fees. MSC fares include accommodations, many meals on board, entertainment and more.

The reporter on this story received access to this event from MSC Cruises. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.