MSC World Asia to Debut Largest Venchi Experience at Sea

MSC World Asia is getting another new dining experience, and this one is for chocolate lovers.

When the ship begins sailing in December 2026, it will debut the largest Venchi chocolate experience at sea. The new 3,200-square-foot venue will combine a chocolate boutique, café, lounge, and artisanal gelateria all in one space.

The venue will be located in the Galleria district on Deck 6 and will have seating for more than 60 guests. It will also mark Venchi's first appearance aboard one of MSC Cruises' World Class ships.

But this isn't just going to be a bigger version of the Venchi counters found on some other MSC ships. The new venue sounds much more like a full chocolate experience, with live chocolate-making, custom chocolate bars, fresh pastries, gelato, specialty drinks, and even chocolate-infused cocktails in the evening.

Guests Will Be Able to Make Their Own Chocolate Bars

One of the most interesting additions is a live chocolate-making station where guests can watch Venchi's chocolate experts at work.

Guests will also be able to step into a "chocolate lab" and create their own custom chocolate bars and slabs using premium ingredients like Piedmont hazelnuts and Venchi's signature chocolate caviar. Digital personalization tools will even allow guests to create custom designs for their chocolates.

I think this is what really makes the new venue stand out. Venchi is already popular on MSC ships for its gelato and chocolates, but turning it into an actual interactive experience makes it feel like much more of a destination onboard.

The venue itself will also feature floor-to-ceiling gelato-inspired sculptures and displays filled with Venchi's chocolates and other creations.

Gelato, Crêpes, Croissants, Coffee and Chocolate Cocktails

Of course, there will be plenty to eat and drink too.

During the day, guests will be able to order Italian espresso and specialty coffee drinks paired with Venchi chocolates. Freshly prepared croissants and crêpes will be available from breakfast through the afternoon.

The gelateria will serve a selection of artisanal gelato flavors, including classics like extra dark chocolate and gianduja hazelnut. Guests will also be able to order Gelatoshakes.

Then, in the evening, the venue will shift slightly with a selection of chocolate-infused cocktails pairing Venchi flavors with premium spirits.

With coffee and pastries in the morning, gelato during the day, and chocolate cocktails at night, it sounds like MSC is designing this as a place guests can keep coming back to throughout their cruise rather than visiting just once.

MSC and Venchi Are Also Launching a New Gelato Flavor

To celebrate the partnership, MSC Cruises and Venchi have also created a brand-new gelato flavor called "Crunchy Waves."

The new flavor has three layers designed to create a "sand and sea" effect. It starts with a creamy vanilla gelato base topped with crunchy hazelnut biscuit and salted toffee pieces inspired by the traditional Italian Bacio di Dama biscuit. It's then finished with a bright blue spirulina layer meant to represent the colors of the Mediterranean Sea.

Crunchy Waves will first be available at selected Venchi stores around the world from August 1 through August 31, including locations in the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Italy.

It will also be available beginning in August aboard MSC Cruises' Seaside Class ships that have Venchi gelaterias before arriving on MSC World Asia when the ship enters service in December.

Another New Experience Coming to MSC World Asia

This is the latest in a growing list of new dining and entertainment experiences coming to MSC World Asia.

Just earlier this month, MSC revealed a completely new Pan-Asian dining concept that will combine a specialty restaurant, bar and lounge, and a complimentary grab-and-go street food window in one venue.

Now, the largest Venchi experience at sea is joining the lineup too.

Personally, I like that MSC isn't just making every new World Class ship identical. MSC World Asia will share plenty with MSC World Europa and MSC World America, but new concepts like the Pan-Asian Street Food venue and this expanded Venchi experience are giving the ship more of its own identity.

MSC World Asia is scheduled to begin sailing in the Mediterranean in December 2026.