Episode Details

On this episode of Big Blend Radio’s “Quiltripping Travel with Rose” Podcast, travel writer and photographer Rose Palmer of Quiltripping.com joins us fresh off the MSC World America, MSC’s newest mega ship, sailing from Miami to the Caribbean and the private island of Ocean Cay in the Bahamas. 

Rose and her best friend celebrated milestone birthdays in the exclusive MSC Yacht Club, a “ship within a ship” with its own restaurant, lounge, sun deck, pool and a personal butler. Rose compares it to flying business class: the attention of a small luxury ship with the dining and entertainment of a big one, at a fraction of the cost of Ponant or Seabourn.

In this episode:
- Life in the Yacht Club, where fewer than 300 guests share the top decks of a ship carrying about 6,500 people, and the butlers in tails and white gloves.
- Finding breathing room on a mega ship, and why it feels like business class versus coach.
- Sweet Temptations, the Jean-Philippe Chocolate Café, the craft brewery and The Gin Project, and dinner at Eataly, Paxos, Hola and La Brasserie.
- The not-so-secret secret telephone booth that isn’t on any deck plan.
- What’s included in the Yacht Club, and why this ship works for multigenerational families and solo travelers.
- Ocean Cay, MSC’s private island, transformed from an abandoned sand-mining site into a Caribbean paradise, plus the MSC Foundation’s work.
- Spa and thermal rooms, Queen and Dirty Dancing shows, and dueling pianos at The Loft.

RESOURCE LINKS:
- Read Rose’s full article and listen on the Big Blend site:
https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/msc-world-america-caribbean-cruise 
- Rose’s blog, Quiltripping.com: https://www.Quiltripping.com 
- Big Blend Radio’s “Quiltripping Travel with Rose” Podcast: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/quiltripping-travel-with-rose-podcast 
- “Quiltripping Travel” Digital Podcast Magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/quiltripping-travel-magazine