On a ship carrying 6,700-plus fun seekers, it is a special treat to be cosseted among 300 or so guests enjoying the luxury, pampering and privacy of an exclusive ship-within-a-ship experience. And so it is with the Yacht Club aboard MSC’s World America, a 152-suite members-only enclave that comes with perks including butler service and 24-hour concierge service. But that’s not all.

Yacht Club members have exclusive access to the Top Sail Lounge with bar, afternoon tea service and light bites as well as a private restaurant. Here, gourmet meals are served in an intimate setting that frames panoramic ocean views and overlooks the lounge below where live piano music lilts up an illuminated staircase.

Yes, the Yacht Club is everything grand about living the good life, as I learned on my recent voyage to the Eastern Caribbean—the perfect place to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or any special occasion.

From the moment I boarded this stunning ship, which joined the MSC fleet this spring, I was smitten with my beautiful suite laden with fresh fruit basket, bathrobe and slippers plus a pillow menu, the distinctive members-only spaces including the Sun Deck with pool, whirlpool and solarium along with Grill & Bar and the calming oasis that is the Aurea Spa where I had complimentary access to the Thermal Suite. I also loved all the little extras, from 24-hour room service to the premium drinks package to the luggage packing and unpacking service and more.

FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD

World America’s nearly 20 dining venues tempt with everything from grab-and-go snacks like popcorn to empanadas to four main dining rooms, specialty restaurants and Yacht Club dining venues. I dined most nights in the Yacht Club Restaurant, enjoying the unhurried atmosphere coupled with sea views and five-star service and feeling welcome to linger over an appetizer of hummus and warm pitas, an entrée of perfectly seasoned and grilled chicken and ice cream sundae desserts.

Dining in Eataly—the only one of its kind at sea—was a treat, with a table front and center to watch the chef finish dishes like a very tender braised boneless short rib, homemade basil pesto and roasted suckling pig. From the burrata and Tuscan tomato bread compote appetizer and radicchio salad to the entrée and dessert to the perfectly balanced chianti, this four-course feast was an evening to remember. Plus, I left the restaurant having learned the proper technique for twirling pasta into a neat mound before saucing it. (And I wasted no time buying 12-inch kitchen serving tongs to re-create the dish at home.)

Similarly, dining at Butcher’s Cut, a sophisticated, moody and darkly lit restaurant, was not to be missed. As an enthusiastic sauce aficionada, I loved that my filet mignon, broiled to perfection and accompanied by a grilled tomato and loaded baked potato, arrived with a selection of four sauces (bearnaise, peppercorn, forest mushroom and—my favorite—chimichurri) and I dipped into each with relish. For dessert? The lava cake with molten bittersweet chocolate, of course.

Dining at Greek restaurant, Paxos, charmed with its color palette of bright blue and white and accents of pink flowers, but was a bit loud. The restaurant is located along World Promenade on Deck 8 with crowded outdoor seating, irresistible sea views and a well-attended evening light show and near the Lanai, where the 11-deck tall and twisty Jaw Drop deposits its intrepid riders.

The fun being had by those gathered at the base of the stainless steel slide combined with Paxos’ table-hopping trio playing live music raised the decibels. Still, the food was plentiful and flavorful. I could have been very happy sticking with the array of hot and cold appetizers (fried feta rolls, zucchini fritters, grilled veggies) and skipping the roasted chicken thighs—but it was all part of the package, and delectable to boot.

THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT

MSC has big, bold, lavish and top-caliber entertainment featuring a cast of powerhouse singers, dancers, acrobats and musicians. Cinesonic brings to life favorite movie scores—“The Greatest Showman,” “Star Wars,” “Top Gun,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Burlesque”—with state-of-the-art projections, some of moviedom’s little known behind-the-scenes fun facts and epic performances.

Belting out hits from the 1960s, the cast of the high kicking “Dirty Dancing in Concert” not only gets Baby out of the corner but has her re-creating the movie’s iconic and showstopping swan lift. Absolutely mesmerizing, “Queen Symphonic: A Rock & Orchestra Revolution!” is a celebration of the legendary British rock band’s greatest hits backed by an orchestra, and the cast’s rendition of “Bohemian Rhapsody” brought the audience to its feet. Singer Emma Lainsbury won everyone over in “Celebrating Adele,” her voice delivering a rich, soulful warmth to chart toppers, including “Hello” and “When We Were Young.”

In addition to seeing these shows, I joined the standing-room-only crowd for the passenger talent show and was blown away by the singing, sense of fun and stage presence each contender brought to his or her act. We were treated to outstanding performances of “Unchained Melody,” “Listen” and “Don’t Stop Believing,” among others, and a memorable rendition of “Fly Me to the Moon” performed by a group calling itself Red and the Spicy Girls.

SECRETS, SWINGS & MORE

Shhh . . . MSC World America brings a little something-something to the cruise party and it’s a secret, sort of! The can’t-miss bright red British telephone booth located on Deck 6 had everyone talking, but only those who receive a special token can enter and dial a number before being beckoned within.

Once inside, the speakeasy manager guides the group (some dressed in 1930s-era costumes) down several flights of steps to a door (special password required) and into a dark and cozy lounge. I found a seat near the musicians and the room quickly burst to life with jazz music, smoky cocktails and a tap-dancing gangster in spats who left the small crowd breathless with his fast and fancy footwork.

Popular gathering spots on World America include The Loft, tucked away on Deck 8 and home of the dueling pianos and the two musicians who always played to a packed house. Chocolate nirvana, Jean-Philippe Chocolat & Café on Deck 6, with its sweets, shakes, sorbets, sundaes and smoothies, bustled with a never-ending clutch of customers, and a LEGO Character Parade on the Promenade brought out the crowds.

Outside, on Deck 20 in the Family Adventura District, Cliffhanger had its own fans, waiting for a turn to whoosh out over the Caribbean on the only overwater swing ride at sea. The more than a dozen hot tubs and six swimming pools, including the lushly decorated Botanic pool, were kept busy throughout.

With so much going on aboard World America, I didn’t want to leave the ship, but the lure of MSC’s Marine Reserve and its pristine beaches lured us shoreside to Ocean Cay.

PARADISE FOUND

Part of the Bimini chain of islands in the western Bahamas, MSC’s private island boasts over a mile of pristine beachfront and holds the recipe for a perfect day, especially for MSC’s Yacht Club guests: the exquisite setting of private sandy beach lapped by waters that shimmer in shades of turquoise, navy and jewel-toned lapis lazuli.

We opted for a beachfront cabana, which offered comfortable shaded seating, champagne and snacks and butler service. We ordered a picnic lunch and whiled away an idyllic afternoon, strolling along the sand, snapping pictures, sipping cocktails and lounging about the cabana.

Like everything with MSC’s Yacht Club experience, it was utter perfection.

PLAN YOUR TRAVELS

MSC’s World America is a fully loaded, gorgeous ship with round-the-clock immersive and enriching activities and entertainment for all ages. The ship sails weekly on Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, calling at destinations including Puerto Plata, San Juan, Costa Maya, Cozumel and Roatán, as well as MSC’s private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

The ship blends MSC’s European-style design with American comfort, casually inclined sensibility and tastes, with restaurants, bars and other onboard experiences located across seven “zones,” including the Yacht Club, Family Adventura, the Promenade and the Zen area. Specialty restaurants have an upcharge, and packages of two-, three- and four-restaurant experiences are available for purchase.

For more information about itineraries and onboard amenities, visit www.msccruisesusa.com.