Major cruise ship reveals new ‘open air’ theme park with overwater swings, waterslides and kid clubs
A MAJOR cruise line is launching a new ship later this year and it will have a first-of-its-kind outdoor theme park onboard.
MSC World Asia is the third ship in the ‘World Class’ series, and will start sailings in December.
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Called The Harbour, the ‘open air’ theme park will be found on the top deck in the Family Aventura District – and it’s the first ship in Europe to have one.
Here is where guests can try out the Adventure Trail rope course and the longest dry slide at sea.
It will also have Europe‘s first over-water swing called Cliffhanger which will hang over the ocean.
Families can also try out both the Twin Racer dueling waterslides and U Drop too.
For younger guests, there’s the a new playground called The Play Deck which is a relaxed space with comfy seating.
Rides can be enjoyed well into the evening as when it’s time for sunset as The Harbour lights up in the dark.
Luna Park is an interactive area with immersive game experiences – which isn’t found on any other MSC cruise ship.
It has three original game shows, Code Breakers, Labrinth and Chart Toppers.
The Family Aventura District also has The ClubHouse and Doremiland, a 10,000-square-foot kids club with dedicated spaces for each age group.
Inside Doremiland are two rooms dedicated to LEGO and another that’s Formula 1-themed.
MSC Cruises Vice President of Entertainment Steve Leatham said: “As a family-owned company, MSC Cruises knows what it takes to keep the whole family happy on holiday, with tailored family entertainment activities and facilities for guests of all ages.
“On board MSC World Asia, family entertainment will reach new heights – bigger, bolder and more innovative than ever.
“Featuring our widest range of programs yet, alongside immersive, interactive and personalized experiences for everyone from toddlers to teens, families can expect truly extraordinary moments at sea.”
MSC World Asia is expected to enter service in December 2026, offering 7-night itineraries to Mediterranean destinations across Italy, France and Malta.
Around the ship will be seven themed neighbourhoods, like the AquaDeck, Family Aventura, Galleria, MSC Yacht Club, Promenade, The Terraces and Zen Area.
On the Aqua Deck will be seven pools and 13 whirlpool baths, including two newly designed pools; the outdoor Manila Bay pool and the indoor Coral Cove pool.
MSC World Asia is part of the ‘World Class’ series – the first two ships were MSC World Europa, delivered in 2022 and MSC World America in 2025.
MSC Cruises is the world’s third-largest cruise line with 23 ships that sail across five continents and over 300 destinations.