MSC World Asia to Debut Fleet's Largest Venchi Chocolate Experience at Sea

• 3,200 Square-Foot Venue: The largest Venchi experience at sea features a boutique, café, gelateria, and seating for over 60 guests in Deck 6's Galleria.

• Interactive Chocolate Lab: Guests can design bespoke chocolate bars using premium Piedmont hazelnuts, chocolate caviar, and digital personalisation tools.

• Exclusive "Crunchy Waves" Gelato: A new signature flavour blending vanilla gelato, hazelnut biscuit, salted toffee, and a vibrant blue spirulina ocean layer.

MSC Cruises has announced a sweet new partnership milestone with renowned Italian chocolatier Venchi. When the cruise line's newest World Class flagship, MSC World Asia, enters service in December 2026, she will feature the largest Venchi experience ever brought to the oceans.

Spanning 3,200 square feet in the ship’s bustling Galleria district on Deck 6, the multi-sensory venue seamlessly combines a luxury chocolate boutique, an authentic Italian café, and an artisanal gelateria with seating for over 60 guests.

1. Interactive Chocolate Labs and Bespoke Creations

Watch the Masters at Work

At the heart of the new Venchi venue is a live chocolate-making station where guests can observe skilled chocolatiers crafting fresh treats daily.

Designed with striking floor-to-ceiling gelato-inspired sculptures and elegant displays, the venue blends traditional Italian craftsmanship with contemporary design.

Design Your Own Chocolate Bar

For those who want to get hands-on, the onboard "chocolate lab" offers a fully interactive experience. Guests can step into the lab to create custom chocolate bars using high-grade ingredients, including coveted Piedmont hazelnuts and Venchi’s signature chocolate caviar.

Digital personalisation tools allow cruisers to add custom designs to their creations, making for a unique edible souvenir.

2. Introducing "Crunchy Waves": An Exclusive Gelato Flavour

To celebrate the expanded partnership, MSC Cruises and Venchi have collaborated on an exclusive new gelato flavour titled "Crunchy Waves".

Inspired by the concept of "sand and sea," the creation features three distinct layers:

• Creamy Vanilla Base: A smooth, rich vanilla gelato foundation.

• Biscuit and Toffee Crunch: A middle layer of crunchy hazelnut biscuit and salted toffee pieces, inspired by traditional Italian Bacio di Dama biscuits.

• Ocean Blue Spirulina Layer: A striking blue top layer that evokes the shimmering tones of the Mediterranean.

The new flavour will pop up in select land-based Venchi stores throughout August 2026 before launching indefinitely across all MSC Cruises ships featuring Venchi gelaterias, as well as on board MSC World Asia.

3. From Morning Espresso to Evening Cocktails

Daytime Indulgence and Fresh Pastries

Beyond classic chocolates, the venue caters to every craving throughout the day. Morning visitors can enjoy authentic Italian espresso, speciality coffees, freshly baked croissants, and made-to-order crêpes.

Gelato lovers can choose from rich Gelatoshakes or traditional scoops ranging from extra dark chocolate to gianduja hazelnut alongside the new signature "Crunchy Waves."

Chocolate-Infused After-Dark Cocktails

As day turns to night, the atmosphere in the Venchi lounge shifts. In the evening, the menu expands to include indulgent chocolate-infused cocktails, expertly pairing Venchi’s rich cocoa and hazelnut notes with premium spirits.

Setting Sail on MSC World Asia

When MSC World Asia embarks on her inaugural Mediterranean season on 4 December 2026, the ship will feature more than 40 bars, lounges, cafés, and restaurants.

The addition of the fleet's largest Venchi venue forms part of MSC Cruises' broader vision to offer authentic, world-class culinary partnerships across its fleet.