I went on a $1 billion cruise ship and was left dangling over the ocean 50 metres below

I’ve always considered myself a person who’ll never step foot on a cruise, with it simply just not being my cup of tea. But it’s true when they say, don’t knock it until you try it.

I was recently invited onboard MSC Cruise’s brand new $1.25 billion ship, World America, and I found myself eager to see what the fuss is all about as, after all, cruise ships are all the rage at the moment.

Whether that be all-inclusive ‘round-the-world’ cruises, or even the notorious ‘spicy nude cruises’ (it’s a no from me), there’s no doubt that holidays out at sea are more popular than ever - especially for younger people.

Long gone are the days when cruise ships were just a floating oasis for the retired, as they now cater for everyone and anyone - something I experienced first-hand onboard MSC World America.

My first impressions of MSC World America

The state-of-the-art ship, which can carry a whopping 6,174 guests and 2,138 crew members on journeys to the Caribbean, was officially unveiled last week at its home port in Miami, Florida, with godmother Drew Barrymore being there alongside Pirates of the Caribbean star Orlando Bloom to mark the celebratory occasion.

With this being my first ever experience aboard a cruise ship, I packed my bags and set off for the US not quite knowing what to expect.

After a pleasantly smooth boarding process at PortMiami’s new MSC terminal - which MSC Cruises claims is the largest cruise terminal in the world - I was taken aback by the sheer size of the ship’s entrance alone, which resembles more of a high-end shopping centre than a ship.

As it says on the tin, MSC World America was designed by the Swiss-Italian cruise giants with 'the American guest in mind', which was certainly evident by the atrium's LED ceiling proudly bearing the American flag upon my arrival.

This impressive ceiling changes its visuals regularly, incorporating themes of marine life and the ocean - very fitting with the recent launch of the MSC Foundation's Marine Conservation Center, which will support the marine research and coral conservation work its flagship Super Coral Programme carries out.

As someone with a shocking sense of direction, I admit it took me a while to get my bearings and navigate the ship, which is made up of 22 decks and ‘seven districts’.

But this was made much easier with the ship's high-tech lift system and handy array of maps on every deck.

Cruise cabin surprises

As someone whose only experience onboard a big ship was on a ferry for the boozy Dutch Dash from Hull to Amsterdam (if you know, you know), I didn’t have high hopes for my cabin.

MSC World America offers a variety of cabins to stay in, ranging from cosy interior cabins to luxury ocean-view suites, so there’s something for every budget.

I was lucky enough to stay in a balcony Aurea room on deck 11, which consisted of a comfortable double bed (with soft and firm pillow options, spot on for picky sleepers like me), an en suite, great wardrobe space, and a wide range of amenities such as a hair dryer, bath towels, beach towels, a safe for valuables, USB ports, an interactive TV, a telephone, a stocked mini-bar and easy-to-use air conditioning.

The balcony was a stunning addition, which made those early alarms much less painful when waking up to the sound of the ocean. It's also a great spot to dry off towels after a long day on the beach (you're welcome for the hack).

What does MSC World America have to offer?

Perhaps what surprised me the most about my first cruise was how MSC World America's ‘districts’ provided something for everyone.

There’s the luxurious MSC Yacht Club - a ‘ship within a ship’ - which offers guests who are after a bit more privacy an exclusive VIP experience.

There’s also an endless amount of entertainment to enjoy, such as the first-ever at-sea Dirty Dancing in Concert, The Loft comedy club and karaoke nights… they must have known us Brits were coming.

For those who fancy lounging by the pool with a few cocktails, there are seven pools, 13 whirlpools and thousands of sun loungers and beds, as well as dedicated ‘adult only’ zen areas for that extra bit of peace and quiet.

Another thing that surprised me was seeing the volume of space available - considering the ship can carry over 6,000 guests, I was worried it would be constantly crowded in these areas.

But I was reassured to see there's plenty of space to fit everyone, whether that be by the pool, up on one of the top open decks, or inside by the gin bar.

There's also a fully equipped gym, shops for some retail therapy, and the ship’s very own Sportsplex with bumper cars and a roller rink.

Thrills onboard MSC World America

Now, this is when we get to the really good stuff.

Visiting the ship’s Family Aventura district squashed my initial ‘there’s not much to do on cruises’ ideology and instead made me realise I was walking upon a floating playground.

Housing three water slides, an 11-storey-tall spiral slide, a LEGO room, and the High Trails Rope Course, this district of the ship was definitely a highlight during my stay, with it being the perfect addition for families and young people.

But the pièce de résistance is definitely the Cliffhanger.

The ‘only over-water swing ride at sea’, the Cliffhanger gave me an adrenaline rush I did not expect to experience onboard a cruise.

Made up of two swings that can seat four people at a time, the ride uses powered arms to lift you over the ship’s edge, leaving you dangling 50 meters (164ft) over the ocean as it then begins to swing with a surprising speed - cue the sweaty palms.

I strolled over to the Cliffhanger feeling absolutely no nerves, with me being a self-confessed rollercoaster lover. But the minute it got going, I'm not shy in admitting that those nerves wasted no time in kicking in.

This is one hell of an experience, and it is absolutely worth the $5 fee to ride.

Take a look at it in action below:

My misconceptions of cruise dining

OK, I’m going to be honest here.

I’ve always imagined the food onboard cruises to consist of beige and very uninspiring-looking buffet spreads… but this turned out to be one of my favourite elements of the ship.

The all-inclusive buffet onboard MSC World America is available for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and I was pleasantly surprised with how much choice there is - ranging from omelette stations, fresh fruit, picky deli bits, grilled meats and fish, and food from all around the world, including some cracking desserts.

There’s a total of 19 dining spots, including the four main dining rooms that serve a set Italian-style menu, an on-brand American sports bar and diner, and a vibrant handful of speciality restaurants - special shout-outs go to the Kaito Teppanyaki & Kaito sushi bar, and Paxos Greek restaurant.

And as for the bevs?

There are 20 bars, lounges and cafes serving up cocktails, mocktails, wines, smoothies, fresh juices, teas and coffees; though I must note that drinks packages must be purchased beforehand.

Frozen piña coladas by the pool? Completed it, mate.

Piña coladas in the Caribbean sun... perfection (LADbible)

MSC World America’s stunning itinerary

The only port stop that was made during my time aboard World America was at MSC’s private island in the Bahamas, Ocean Cay Marine Reserve.

This idyllic little island, which is partially man-made, is included in of all of MSC World America’s itineraries that span across the East and West Caribbean, which also includes stops in places like the Dominican Republic, San Juan in Puerto Rico and Costa Maya in Mexico.

I took time to explore the new Marine Conservation Centre - which was unveiled just last week - sunbathe on one of the island’s eight beaches and take part in a range of fun excursion activities, such as wave running, paddleboarding and snorkelling.

While what’s on offer onboard a cruise ship is one of the most important aspects of holidays like these, where you get to visit is absolutely the main highlight and MSC World America’s itineraries give a great opportunity to explore such a beautiful part of the world.

Does this mean I now enjoy cruises?

It does indeed, and I feel confident that I'll soon be booking my next holiday out at sea.

My time onboard opened my eyes to the true potential of cruise ship holidays - though admittedly, my standards are now very high - and how the many assumptions I had about them weren't true.

There's so much to do and see, both onboard and off the ship, and I really think there's no better way to explore this beautiful part of the world than stepping aboard a ship like MSC World America.

Interested in cruising with MSC World America?

Sailing only from her home port in Miami, MSC World America is now doing seven-night and 14-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

With a number of cabins and packages on offer, prices can range from £600pp to over £2,000pp, so if you're a first-time cruiser like me, it's important to do your research and consult a travel advisor to find the best deal.

Or you can visit MSC Cruises' site for more information here.