Courtesy Conrad Schutt, MSC

Cruising is a big deal. Over half of Americans have either been or expressed strong interest in cruises. After all, today’s ships are bigger (and tastier!) than ever, are more affordable, and sail to over 2400 ports around the world.

What makes cruising so compelling for families and individuals alike? Your hotel travels with you, exploring different countries is as easy as scanning your “sea card,” and you never have to worry about your next meal, since the food is unlimited. I once ate four soft serves in the hot Caribbean sun because I could.

In recent years, however, newer “mega ships” that hold up to 10,000 people and are a destination to themselves can start between $200-300 per person per night. Unless, of course, you sail the new MSC World America, which starts around half of that, making it a best value for those hoping to sail the newest and biggest ships available for less. On a recent sailing with my wife, here’s what stood out:

Life onboard

MSC World America is massive with 20 passenger decks, the biggest cruise pool I’ve ever seen, plus five auxiliary pools and 14 Jacuzzis. There is a water park on board (really), ropes course, bumper cars, and two arcades. There are 19 restaurants, 18 bars (including a “secret” speakeasy), an 11-deck tall dry slide, and penguin coat-wearing butlers for passengers who upgrade to suites in the Yacht Club, which most agree is the best VIP service of any cruise line.

Despite their affordability, the rooms and bathrooms are the most spacious I’ve enjoyed in over 20 years of cruising on every major line. The 12-deck World Promenade feels as though you’re walking downtown with shops on either side. The three level World Galleria feels like a small 1980s indoor mall with chrome and white decor underneath an LED ceiling. On top of that, the ship has one of the best spas and thermal therapies I’ve ever relaxed in at sea. Both saunas have big, ocean-view windows. The “wow” factor is definitely here.

Courtesy photo

As with all cruises, ports are a large part of the draw. Currently World America sails from Miami to the Caribbean. Key ports include Roatan (Honduras), San Juan (Puerto Rico), Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic), Cozumel (Mexico), and my favorite: Ocean Cay (Bahamas). Privately owned by MSC, it’s the most relaxing private island of any cruise line. Think palm-filled heaven with eight, white-sand beaches, two buffets, one lagoon, and more chairs, umbrellas, and cabanas than anyone would ever need. It’s seriously amazing and could easily double as a soothing Corona commercial.

While the attending staff overall did an amazing job making my wife and I feel like bigger deals than we really are, we did experience some excruciatingly slow and rigid customer service on three occasions — once in the main dining room for dinner, once during sea day brunch, and once while trying to sample as many desserts as we could on our final night. On that note, the food was similarly mixed, whether at one of six complimentary restaurants and buffets, or the many specialty restaurants. Granted, you’ll definitely find some amazing dishes on board, including the best pizza of any cruise, which isn’t a surprise since MSC is owned by Italians. But overall I would argue the food was more underwhelming than I’m accustomed to on any other line.

As for the entertainment, I found it short and shallow. Those who are easily entertained will likely enjoy the bevy of daily and nightly options. But I don’t cruise for onboard shows, and I’m betting most people don’t either, so this isn’t a deal-breaker. Same goes for the MSC app, which is difficult to see, read, and navigate when it comes to discovering what’s onboard. But again, no one cruises for the app, so this isn’t a huge stumbling block.

Ordering priorities

Is MSC World America right for you? With the right priorities and expectations, it might be. It’s definitely a terrific value, exciting mega ship, and step in the right direction for rapidly expanding MSC. It’s both the most affordable and — thanks to its industry-leading Yacht Club — VIP cruise sailing today, combining a best of both world’s approach.

But if you’re not sailing on Yacht Club, you should expect some slow service. And with exception to the phenomenal fudge brownies, banana date cake, and a handful of savory dishes like the pork belly, southwest mac salad, and shakshuka, you probably won’t find many dishes worth writing home about. You won’t go hungry, though. You’ll probably come home smiling, too.

Blake Snow contributes to fancy publications and Fortune 500 companies as a bodacious writer-for-hire and seasoned travel journalist to all seven continents. He lives in Provo with his wife, five children and one ferocious chihuahua.