Last Updated on 10/04/26 by Rose Palmer
MSC World America has a big secret activity that, somehow, isn’t all that secret. If you know, you know!
I learned about the hidden world behind the English phone booth on deck 6 from a YouTube video tour of the MSC World America. A little more Google research and I got a few more details – enough that I could figure out how to get in once I was on the ship.
The hidden MSC World America speakeasy
The phone booth on deck 6 is a fun photo spot, but it’s not all it appears to be. In the back, there is a secret entrance to a hidden speakeasy that is not shown on the World America deck plans.
I had read that to get into the speakeasy, you need a special coin with a QR code. To get one of these coins, you have to ask someone who is wearing stripes on their shoulder (in other words, an officer).
Since I was staying in a Yacht Club cabin, I asked my butler about getting into the Speakeasy. He said he would take care of it, get me a coin, and make the necessary reservation. Easy, peasy, Speakeasy!
I chose to go on the first sea day, which also happened to be Gala Night – a great way to cap off the special evening. When I went back to my cabin that afternoon, the coin was waiting on my nightstand.
After dinner, 30 minutes before the entry time, my butler escorted me to deck 6 and to the space in front of the phone box. I was the first one in line, but as I waited, the line behind me grew long very quickly. So, clearly, this was not that secret.
At the appointed time, the back of the phone booth opened, and I was waved in. The door closed behind me, and an imposing gentleman in a top hat and tails crossed my name off a list and motioned me to go further down the hallway (no photos allowed in this space). Then another couple was brought in; the door closed, formalities followed, and they stood behind me. This happened about seven times until the hallway was full.
Then another Speakeasy representative guided us along the hallways and down staircases until we reached the special speakeasy door. After knocking three times, our group was allowed in and guided to our seats.
I am not old enough to know what a real speakeasy looked like, but this space looked very much like I imagine it might have looked. There were a few rooms with lots of mismatched chairs, tables, and benches. The lighting was low and sultry, and in one corner, a bar was ready to prepare our special drinks for the evening.
The wait staff efficiently took our drink orders and then delivered them with lots of pomp and ceremony. These unique cocktails weren’t available anywhere else on the ship, and they also weren’t covered by any of the drink packages.
We didn’t have to wait long for the show to start. Two talented vocalists backed by a jazz band belted out songs and dished out banter that was clearly scripted but was still entertaining. The songs were jazz classics combined with more modern tunes that fit with this atmosphere.
It was a treat to listen to really good singers as they performed just feet away from our seats. This was not a big theater experience. Far from it. It was a fun, intimate, personal setting at its best.
Just when I thought the music was over, the jazz band was replaced by a very exuberant Italian group that had everyone dancing in their seats. Somehow they managed to sing Volare with a rock n roll beat, and it worked.
The whole event lasted 90 minutes, and was well worth the price of a fun cocktail or two.
Sign up for the behind-the-scenes tour
Once I was on board, I saw ads for a “Behind the Scenes Tour” excursion, bookable through the excursion desk with availability for a few different times during the cruise.
The group size on my tour was small, with only 8 of us participating. The tour started on the bridge, where one of the officers explained the different stations and how the ship was steered. From the bridge, we headed down a few decks to the engineering control room. Again, one of the staff on duty described the many screens and panels.
The tour was quite interesting. Note that no photos were allowed and no one was allowed to carry a cell phone. We were all screened with a wand before starting the tour.
The Thermal Spa had a snow room
The Thermal Spa, which is part of the Aurea Spa, had many different types of heated spaces. For hot water lovers, there was the hydrotherapy pool and a large jacuzzi whirlpool. The Experience Showers were multi-sensory rain and bucket showers with variable temperature and lighting effects. One interesting room was the Kneipp Walk with alternating hot and cold foot baths meant to boost circulation.
There were also a variety of heated spaces. Heated loungers by the hydrotherapy pool offered a tiled, warm chaise space to unwind and relax. The Salt Relaxation Room was a peaceful, enclosed resting room lined with salt elements designed for respiratory and mental relaxation.
A traditional Steam Room provided a high-humidity environment infused with eucalyptus to help clear sinuses. An alternative was the Mediterranean Bath, which was a mild thermal room bridging the gap between a dry sauna and a steam room, while the Ganbanyoku Room was a quiet Japanese-style room featuring heated stone or tile beds.
There was also a traditional, high-heat dry Finnish Sauna and a Soft Sauna room with its gentler, lower-temperature sauna experience. To cool off after a sauna, the Snow Room provided a snowy cold-room experience designed to cool the body down after heat treatments and stimulate circulation.
MSC matches other cruise lines’ loyalty levels
I learned that MSC matches loyalty levels to many other companies, including other cruise lines, hotels, and casinos. I have cruised many times with Princess and have reached Elite level, which is their highest loyalty level.
I filled out the information on the MSC Voyagers Status Match page before the cruise and, after a few days, received an email acknowledging my MSC Voyagers diamond level. The MSC Voyagers page lists all the benefits for each level
Use the La Brasserie buffet
The Il Mercato Buffet on deck 18 was the main, very large buffet that served food most of the day. I discovered that the much smaller La Brasserie Buffet on deck 19 was less crowded and had many of the same selections as the big buffet. Note that the La Brasserie Buffet was only open for breakfast and lunch. For dinner, this became a specialty restaurant for Yacht Club guests.
You can make reservations for shows up to two days before
The major production shows and concerts performed in the World Theater and the Panorama Lounge require reservations. I quickly discovered that these performances appear in the MSC app about two days before they’re scheduled. This made it easy to reserve and attend the shows I was interested in.
The MSC World America was a big ship with lots of fun spaces, which I describe in my full review, MSC World America Review – A Beautiful Ship With Something for Everyone.
Please note that my cruise was hosted by MSC. All content and opinions are my own.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose