- MSC World America Catering Overview
- Our main restaurant La Foglia
- Quality of dinners
- Waiting times in the restaurant
- Breakfast in the buffet restaurant
- Lunch, buffet and brunch tour
- Pizza & Burgers on Deck 6
- Promenade Bites at the World Promenade
- Specialty restaurants on the MSC World America
- Paxos Greek Taverna
- Eataly
- Butcher's Cut
- HELLO! Tacos & Cantina
- Kaito Sushi and Kaito Teppanyaki
- Why we didn't book a specialty restaurant
- Gastronomy and 7-night rhythm
- Digital menus and MSC for Me app
- Who is the MSC World America's dining experience suitable for?
- Our tips for dining on the MSC World America
- Our conclusion regarding the gastronomy on the MSC World America
- More information about the MSC World America
- Frequently Asked Questions about MSC World America Dining
- Is the food on the MSC World America good?
- Do you have to book specialty restaurants?
- Are the menus repeated on the MSC World America?
- What are the meal times in the restaurant with table service?
- What is the breakfast buffet like?
- How are pizza and burgers?
- Are the specialty restaurants full?
- Which restaurants are included in the cruise price on the MSC World America?
- Are there German menus?
The dining options on the MSC World America quickly demonstrate how tailored the ship is to the American cruise market. The selection is extensive, diverse, and distinctly international. We spent a total of 14 nights on board in April 2026 and primarily used the restaurants, buffets, and snack areas included in the cruise fare.
First off: The included dining options were perfectly adequate for us throughout the entire trip. Therefore, we didn't book Eataly, Paxos, Butcher's Cut, HOLA! Tacos, or Kaito – not out of disinterest, but because the sit-down restaurant, buffet, and snacks already offered plenty of variety.
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This gastronomy report is based on: We spent a total of 14 nights on the MSC World America in April 2026. We paid for the trip ourselves. MSC Cruises had no influence on our review. We describe the restaurants and food as we experienced them during our trip or as we saw them on board.
MSC World America Catering Overview
The MSC World America offers a wide variety of restaurants, including à la carte options, buffet restaurants, snack bars, and specialty restaurants. This diversity perfectly suits the ship's concept: large, vibrant, international, and more resort-like than classically understated.
For guests, this means you can almost always find something to eat on board. The selection ranges from classic dinners in the sit-down restaurant to buffets, pizza, burgers, brunch options and small snacks, as well as paid concepts like steakhouses, sushi restaurants, teppanyaki restaurants, Greek tavernas, Mexican cantinas and Italian restaurants.
Overview table for restaurants
| Restaurant / Area | Deck | Type / Kitchen | Status | Our classification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SERVICE RESTAURANTS AND BUFFETS INCLUDED IN THE TRAVEL PRICE | ||||
| La Foglia Restaurant | Deck 5 | Full-service restaurant, international cuisine | Including | Our regular evening restaurant; good food, friendly service, sometimes longer waiting times at the beginning of the week. |
| Bubbles Restaurant | Deck 6 | Serving restaurant | Including | Part of the main restaurant concept; relevant for guests with a different table assignment. |
| Esagono / Hexagon Restaurant | Deck 6 | Serving restaurant | Including | Large full-service restaurant; not our usual restaurant, but part of the included evening concept. |
| Les Dunes Restaurant | Deck 8 | Full-service restaurant / Special use | Included, depending on usage | For our back-to-back service, this is the meeting point; for regular dinner, it is not our restaurant. |
| Il Mercato Buffet | Deck 18 | Buffet restaurant | Including | Large selection, often busy; outdoor seating can significantly ease the situation. |
| La Brasserie Buffet | Deck 19 | Buffet restaurant | Including | Additional buffet area; particularly useful if you are looking for more seating. |
| Pizza & Burger | Deck 6 | Pizza, burgers, soft ice cream, cake | Including | Very convenient for a quick bite; pizza is good, burgers taste okay, but are often only lukewarm. |
| La Boca Grill | Deck 18 | Poolside grill / snacks | Including | Short walk from the pool area; selection not always identical to pizza & burgers on deck 6. |
| Promenade Bites | Deck 8 | Small snacks at the World Promenade | Including | Simple snacks like popcorn, cotton candy and hot dogs for in between meals. |
| SPECIALTY RESTAURANTS AT AN EXTRA CHARGE | ||||
| Paxos Greek Taverna | Deck 8 | Greek-Mediterranean cuisine | Surcharge | Very nice location on the World Promenade; visually appealing, not consistently crowded during our trip. |
| Paxos on the Go | Deck 8 | Greek snacks / street food | Surcharge | Interesting for small meals if you don't want to book the full Paxos menu. |
| Eataly | Deck 8 | Italian kitchen | Surcharge | Beautifully designed, large windows, high-quality atmosphere; we visited it, but did not test it. |
| Butcher's Cut | Deck 7 | Steak house | Surcharge | An obvious choice for guests specifically seeking a steakhouse experience. |
| HELLO! Tacos & Cantina | Deck 7 | Mexican, Tacos, Burritos | Surcharge | Relaxed, colorful, and more bistro than fine dining; good for added variety. |
| Kaito Sushi Bar | Deck 7 | Sushi and Japanese cuisine | Surcharge | Open location at the World Galleria; the seats further back seemed quieter. |
| Kaito Teppanyaki | Deck 7 | Japanese show kitchen | Surcharge | More of an experience than a classic restaurant, as the preparation is part of the concept. |
| EXCLUSIVE AREAS | ||||
| MSC Yacht Club Restaurant | Deck 20 | Exclusive full-service restaurant | Yacht Club Only | Not used by us; it's part of the secluded yacht club concept. |
| MSC Yacht Club Grill & Bar | Deck 20 / 21 | Grill and bar at the Yacht Club | Yacht Club Only | Not rated by us, as the area was inaccessible to us. |
La Foglia was our regular restaurant during the trip.
The buffet restaurants offer a wide selection, but are very busy during peak hours.
Our main restaurant La Foglia
Our assigned table was in the La Foglia restaurant. Dinner was offered in three seatings: 17:30pm, 19:30pm, and 21:30pm We had the late seating at 21:30pm, which was a bit too late for us. A dinner time around 20:45pm would have been more suitable.
On the first evening, we were given an inconvenient table in a corner right next to a busy service door. Waiters were constantly walking past. We asked for a different table and from the following evening onwards, we got a much better spot. After that, the location was perfect.
The service at La Foglia was friendly, attentive, and very helpful. The waiters were responsive to requests and tried to resolve problems quickly. However, it was also noticeable that the team was under considerable pressure on the first few evenings of each 7-night trip.
The restaurant La Foglia was our regular table-service restaurant during our trip.
The dinners at La Foglia were generally good and mostly well-seasoned.
Quality of dinners
Overall, we had a positive experience with dinners in the à la carte restaurant. The dishes were mostly tasty, well-seasoned, and offered a good selection. We only rarely encountered truly disappointing meals.
The quality of higher-end meat dishes, such as beef fillet, varied somewhat. This isn't entirely surprising in a large, included full-service restaurant. Those expecting steakhouse-quality food should try Butcher's Cut instead. However, those looking for a good dinner included in the price of their trip will generally be satisfied with the full-service restaurant.
After a week, the menus started repeating. The ship is clearly geared towards 7-night cruises to and from Miami. This pattern is noticeable on a 14-night voyage. It wasn't a major issue for us, as the menu offered plenty of alternatives.
Many dishes in the full-service restaurant were well-seasoned and neatly presented.
Prawn cocktail as a starter was part of the standard selection.
Waiting times in the restaurant
The biggest weaknesses of the sit-down restaurant were not the food, but the processes. Especially on the first few evenings of each 7-night cruise, the kitchen and service staff were under considerable strain. This meant longer waiting times for orders to be taken and courses to be served.
As the week progressed, things became noticeably quieter, presumably because more guests opted for the buffet, snacks, or specialty restaurants. However, a word of advice for the dine-in restaurant: on some evenings, patience is required.
Breakfast in the buffet restaurant
We ate breakfast exclusively in the buffet restaurant, although sit-down restaurants were also available for breakfast. The buffet offered a wide selection and was well-suited to the predominantly American mix of guests on board.
Besides European breakfast items, there were many American offerings such as pancakes and hot dishes. We particularly liked the omelet station, where omelets were freshly prepared to order. Salmon was also available, although not very prominently displayed.
The avocado salad was a particularly pleasant highlight. The rolls and bread were fine, but not the strongest element of the breakfast. Overall, we were satisfied with the selection and quality of the breakfast buffet.
The buffet was almost always busy, but we usually found a seat without much trouble. The outdoor areas were particularly helpful: many guests stayed inside, so there were often free tables outside.
The buffet restaurant offers special outdoor seating above the World Promenade.
Breakfast in the buffet restaurant of the MSC World America
Lunch, buffet and brunch tour
At lunchtime, we mostly used the buffet for lighter meals. The selection was large enough to quickly find something suitable. The outdoor seating was particularly convenient if you didn't want to sit in the lively indoor area.
On certain days, the restaurant offered a special deal called "Tour de Brunch," featuring brunch specialties from various regions. Seating was more flexible, and the offer ran until early afternoon.
For guests who don't want to eat at the buffet every lunchtime, such a brunch offer is a welcome change. It also works well on sea days or later shore excursions.
Indoor seating at the buffet restaurant on the MSC World America
The Tour de Brunch provided additional variety.
Pizza & Burgers on Deck 6
Pizza & Burgers on Deck 6 is one of the simplest food options on board. They offer pizza, burgers, apple pie, soft-serve ice cream, and other basic dishes. It's especially convenient for a quick snack.
We liked the pizza. The apple pie and soft-serve ice cream were also good for a quick break. We were torn about the burgers: they tasted decent, but they were pre-made in large quantities and were therefore sometimes lukewarm.
We were disappointed. We would have preferred to wait a few minutes and get a fresher burger. Similar burgers were also available at the pool area on Deck 18. While the walk from the Zen Pool was shorter, the selection wasn't always the same.
La Boca Grill, located near the pool, complements the snack options. For us, this area was convenient when we didn't want to walk all the way from the Zen Pool to Pizza & Burger on Deck 6.
Pizza & Burger is practical for a quick snack.
The burgers tasted decent, but were often left out for too long.
Promenade Bites at the World Promenade
Promenade Bites is a small snack stand on the World Promenade. During our trip, they mainly offered popcorn in various flavors, cotton candy, and hot dogs.
Promenade Bites is very convenient as a quick snack between meals or in the evening on the promenade. We enjoyed the popcorn and cotton candy.
Promenade Bites offers simple snacks such as popcorn, cotton candy and hot dogs.
Specialty restaurants on the MSC World America
The MSC World America offers several specialty restaurants for an additional fee. These include Eataly, Paxos Greek Taverna, Butcher's Cut, HOLA! Tacos & Cantina, Kaito Sushi, and Kaito Teppanyaki.
We didn't use any of these restaurants during our 14-night stay. The reason was simple: the included meals were perfectly adequate for us. Besides, we didn't want to pay extra every evening when we already had a good selection included in the price of our trip.
This is important for context: We do not evaluate the specialty restaurants based on our own tastings. We primarily describe their location, concept, visual appeal, and price structure during our trip.
Restaurants offering extra charges are conspicuously located on central pedestrian routes.
The outdoor seating makes some specialty restaurants visually very appealing.
Note regarding prices: The prices quoted are from our trip in April 2026 or from the MSC app on board. They are subject to change at any time. Additional charges for gratuities or service fees may apply.
Paxos Greek Taverna
Paxos Greek Taverna is beautifully situated on the World Promenade. The restaurant struck us as particularly appealing visually. It boasts an attractive interior, a lovely outdoor area, and a fish counter that perfectly complements its Greek-Mediterranean concept.
During our trip, Paxos wasn't consistently busy. At times the restaurant seemed quite full, while at other times it was rather empty. Those who enjoy Greek food and would like to sit outside on the World Promenade might find this a suitable addition to the included meal plan.
In the MSC app, we saw, among other things, a Paxos menu and special offers such as a seafood platter for two. However, for us personally, the extra cost wasn't attractive enough, as we were satisfied with the included dinner.
We perceived Paxos on the Go more as a supplementary snack option. It wasn't a major factor for us, but it shouldn't be omitted from the overview because it expands the Paxos concept at the World Promenade.
Paxos Greek Taverna is attractively located on the World Promenade.
The outdoor area makes Paxos particularly appealing, even though the terrace is visible from the outside.
Eataly
We also really liked the look of Eataly. The restaurant is elegantly furnished and has large windows overlooking the sea. The fresh herbs and decorative elements, which give the room a modern Italian feel, were particularly striking.
The concept is well-suited to guests seeking Italian cuisine in a more relaxed setting. Compared to a bustling buffet or a typical dine-in restaurant, Eataly feels more exclusive and deliberately curated.
Again, we didn't eat there. However, purely in terms of ambiance, Eataly was one of the most interesting specialty restaurants on board.
Eataly has a high-quality feel and offers large windows with sea views.
The herbs and the bright decor give Eataly a modern Italian character.
Butcher's Cut
Butcher's Cut is the onboard steakhouse. It caters to guests who are consciously seeking a higher-quality meat dish, a classic steakhouse menu, or a special dinner.
For those who experience inconsistent quality with their beef fillet or steak at the included restaurant, Butcher's Cut offers a convenient alternative. During our trip, the menu was significantly more expensive than the included option; therefore, it's particularly appealing to guests specifically seeking a steakhouse experience.
We haven't tried Butcher's Cut ourselves. Therefore, we are not evaluating the quality of the steaks, but only the restaurant's role within the overall dining concept.
Butcher's Cut is aimed at guests who are specifically looking for a steakhouse experience.
HELLO! Tacos & Cantina
HOLA! Tacos & Cantina is more colorful, relaxed, and less formal than many other specialty restaurants. The concept feels like a Mexican bistro for a quick bite.
For guests who enjoy tacos, burritos, guacamole, or Mexican-inspired dishes, HOLA! can be a convenient alternative. For us personally, it was more of an option for added variety than a necessity.
HOLA! Tacos & Cantina has a colorful and relaxed feel.
HOLA! appears colorful, relaxed, and more like a bistro for a quick bite.
Kaito Sushi and Kaito Teppanyaki
Kaito Sushi and Kaito Teppanyaki are located on the inner promenade. Kaito Sushi is visually appealing, but its open layout also makes it somewhat busier. The tables at the back seemed quieter than those directly adjacent to the main walkway.
At Kaito Teppanyaki, guests sit around the cooking area. The concept thrives not only on the food but also on the preparation as a show element. Those who enjoy such evenings will likely have a more memorable experience here than in a traditional sit-down restaurant.
Since we did not try either sushi or teppanyaki on board, our assessment remains limited to atmosphere, location and concept.
Kaito Sushi is located in an open area on the inner promenade.
Kaito Teppanyaki thrives on food and showmanship at the table.
Why we didn't book a specialty restaurant
On a ship with so many paid options, it's easy to get the impression that you have to book additional restaurants to eat well. Our experience was different. The included dining options were sufficient for our 14 nights.
We actually found it pleasant not to have to plan an additional culinary program every day. On a cruise, you generally eat more than you would in everyday life anyway. If the regular restaurants are good, there's no need to pay extra for every option.
Specialty restaurants can still be a good option. They are particularly suitable for birthdays, special evenings, true foodies, or guests who are looking for more variety during a 14-night stay.
Gastronomy and 7-night rhythm
The MSC World America is heavily geared towards 7-night cruises departing from and returning to Miami. This is also noticeable in the dining. Menus and certain routines repeat themselves after a week.
For guests on a standard 7-night cruise, this isn't a problem. However, those combining two cruises should expect that menus, entertainment elements, and some procedures will be repeated.
This bothered us less than expected during meals. The selection in the dine-in restaurant and the buffet was large enough that we could choose different dishes after a week.
Digital menus and MSC for Me app
Many menus, including the evening menu, were only available via the MSC for Me app. Anyone using their own mobile network in between had to switch back to the onboard Wi-Fi to view the menu – turning what should have been a practical digital solution into an unnecessary detour.
Digital menus save paper and are easy to update. However, we would have liked to have a choice at dinner; at least a printed menu should be available upon request.
Who is the MSC World America's dining experience suitable for?
The dining options are particularly well-suited to guests who appreciate variety, flexibility, and international cuisine. Families, couples, and groups with diverse preferences benefit from the wide range of dining options available on board.
Those expecting classic European cruise cuisine in a tranquil atmosphere should prepare for a different environment. The ship is large, American-style, and often lively in its main areas. This is reflected in the dining options.
On the plus side, despite the size of the hotel, you're not dependent on paying for restaurants. The included amenities make the trip very worthwhile.
Our tips for dining on the MSC World America
- Book Fantastica or higher if having more control over mealtimes is important to you.
- Check your table in the restaurant with table service immediately on the first evening.
- Please politely request a table change if the location is not suitable.
- Expect longer waiting times on the first few evenings of any 7-night trip.
- If you prefer to sit outside, look specifically for the outdoor seating above the World Promenade at the buffet. Many guests seemed to prefer the indoor seating during our trip.
- Use pizza and burgers for a quick snack, but don't expect burgers to be freshly cooked and individually prepared.
- Only include specialty restaurants in your plans if you specifically want to try out a unique concept.
- For a 14-night stay, you should expect recurring menus.
- Don't rely on printed menus being available.
Sweet Temptations at the World Promenade
Even without a specialty restaurant, we found enough variety in our food.
Our conclusion regarding the gastronomy on the MSC World America
For us, the strength of the restaurant lies not in individual spectacular dishes, but in the breadth of the included offerings. Breakfast, buffet, à la carte restaurant, pizza, burgers, and small snacks provided enough choice that we managed 14 nights without needing a specialty restaurant.
It wasn't perfect: at the beginning of the week, some dinners dragged on, burgers were sometimes only lukewarm, and digital menus dominated more than we would have liked. After seven nights, the menus also started repeating.
Ultimately, we wouldn't automatically reserve our food budget for restaurants with extra charges. Those who fancy a steakhouse, sushi, Eataly, or Paxos will find additional options; it wasn't necessary for us.
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More information about the MSC World America
Further your planning with our additional reviews of the MSC World America.
Frequently Asked Questions about MSC World America Dining
Is the food on the MSC World America good?
Yes, our overall impression was positive. We were particularly impressed by the dinner in the à la carte restaurant, the varied breakfast buffet, and the selection of simple snacks.
Do you have to book specialty restaurants?
From our point of view, no. We didn't use any specialty restaurants during our 14 nights because the included menu was sufficiently good and varied.
Are the menus repeated on the MSC World America?
Yes, on our 14-night cruise, the menus repeated themselves after a week. The ship is clearly geared towards 7-night itineraries to and from Miami.
What are the meal times in the restaurant with table service?
During our trip, there were three sessions at 17:30 pm, 19:30 pm, and 9:30pm. The 9:30pm session was a bit too late for us personally.
What is the breakfast buffet like?
The breakfast buffet was varied and heavily influenced by American cuisine. We particularly enjoyed the freshly prepared omelets and the wide selection. The rolls and bread were decent, but not outstanding.
How are pizza and burgers?
We enjoyed the pizza, apple pie, and soft-serve ice cream. The burgers tasted decent, but were often only lukewarm because they were pre-prepared in large quantities.
Are the specialty restaurants full?
During our trip, the specialty restaurants didn't always seem full. We saw Paxos particularly often, sometimes busy, sometimes rather empty.
Which restaurants are included in the cruise price on the MSC World America?
Included in the cruise price are the main restaurants, buffet restaurants, Pizza & Burger, La Boca Grill, and Promenade Bites. Specialty restaurants such as Eataly, Paxos, Butcher's Cut, HOLA! Tacos, Kaito Sushi, and Kaito Teppanyaki are available for an additional charge.
Are there German menus?
Yes. The digital menus in the MSC for Me app were also available in German during our trip. This was also true for most of the menus and information we accessed there.