If you’re looking for a cozy place to settle in with a proper pint, MSC’s English-style pubs are where you want to be.
While the pool bars bring the sunshine and the Sports Bar brings the screens, the pub venues onboard bring something different – warm lighting, wood finishes, draft beer variety, comfort food, and an atmosphere that feels closer to a neighborhood pub than a cruise ship lounge.
Depending on the ship, you’ll find these venues under names like Masters of the Sea or Brass Anchor. On World Class ships, the concept even expands into a full brewery at sea.
This guide will show you what to expect. For an overview of all bars onboard, check out our MSC Bars and Lounges Guide.
What MSC’s English-Style Pubs Are Really Like
These venues are designed to feel traditional and comfortable. Think:
- Darker wood interiors
- Bar-top seating and small tables
- A focus on draft beer and pub fare
- A place where you can linger
They’re typically calmer than the main atrium lounges and far less chaotic than the pool deck. You can actually hear your conversation without shouting.
This is the venue many cruisers quietly adopt as their “evening home base.”
Draft Beer: Where Variety Actually Lives
Across much of the MSC fleet, standard bars can feel consistent when it comes to draft options. If you’re specifically looking for more than just the default Heineken pour, the pub is usually your best bet.
While the list will vary by ship and sailing, here are common draft beers you’ll often find at MSC English-style pubs:
- Affligem
- Blue Moon
- Dos Equis Especial
- Heineken
- Lagunitas IPA
- Miller Lite
- Sam Adams Boston Lager
- Stella Artois
- Strongbow
Availability can vary by sailing and region, but the pub venues consistently offer the strongest tap lineup onboard.
World Class Bonus: Brewery at Sea
On MSC World Europa and MSC World America, Masters of the Sea includes a microbrewery concept with exclusive beers brewed onboard. You can often see the brewing tanks as part of the venue design, adding to the authentic brewpub feel.
If draft beer variety matters to you, this is the place to start your cruise.
The Food: What to Expect at MSC English Pubs
The menu you attached from Masters of the Sea is very representative of what you’ll find across MSC English-style pubs fleet-wide. While menus can shift slightly by region, you can generally expect the following pub staples.
Shareables
- Buffalo chicken wings
- Fried pickles
- Chips ‘n’ dip
- Scotch eggs
Mains
- The Pub Burger
- Fish and chips
- Filled jacket potato
Dessert
- Bread and butter pudding
These items are typically a-la-carte, meaning they are not included in your cruise fare. Think of this as a casual specialty dining experience rather than complimentary buffet food.
The portions are usually designed for sharing, but they work just as well as a solo late-night meal after a show.
Masters of the Sea vs Brass Anchor
MSC uses two primary pub names across the fleet.
Masters of the Sea
This is the most common English pub concept across newer ships and is often the more beer-forward venue. On World Class ships, it includes the onboard brewery element.
Brass Anchor
Found on certain ships like MSC Meraviglia, Brass Anchor delivers the same English pub feel, but without the full brewery integration seen on World Class vessels.
Both serve similar pub-style menus and focus heavily on draft beer and casual comfort food.
Which MSC Ships Have an English Pub?
Here’s a full breakdown of ships that feature either Masters of the Sea or Brass Anchor.
World Class
- MSC World Europa – Masters of the Sea (Brewery & Pub)
- MSC World America – Masters of the Sea (Brewery & Pub)
The World Class has the Masters of the Sea on Deck 7 overlooking the World Galleria. The venue also has an upstair area that contains the Gin Project.
Meraviglia Class & Meraviglia Plus
- MSC Meraviglia – Brass Anchor
- MSC Bellissima – Masters of the Sea
- MSC Grandiosa – Masters of the Sea
- MSC Virtuosa – Masters of the Sea
- MSC Euribia – Masters of the Sea
On the Meraviglia Class, the Brass Anchor or Masters of the Sea is on Deck 7 overlooking the promenade area. We have a guide specific to the Meraviglia Class’s English Pub venue.
Music, Trivia & Pub-Style Events
MSC’s English-style pubs are not just about beer and burgers. They’re often one of the most consistent small-event venues onboard.
These spaces frequently host:
- Trivia sessions
- Small group games and themed contests
- Acoustic guitar sets
- Solo singers or duos
- Low-key sports viewing gatherings
The vibe is usually more interactive than the atrium lounges but less chaotic than the main pool deck. Trivia in the pub, in particular, tends to draw a loyal crowd and can feel more intimate than larger game show-style events held elsewhere on the ship.
When live music is scheduled here, it’s typically acoustic or small-scale — think guitar-and-vocals rather than a full band. That makes it a comfortable place to stay for a full set without feeling overwhelmed.
If you’re looking for something social but relaxed — where you can actually participate rather than just watch — the pub is often the right call.
When to Go
These venues shine:
- Late afternoon before dinner
- After shows when you want something casual
- Port day evenings when the ship feels quieter
Peak times tend to be trivia nights, live music sets, or major sporting events. If you want the best table near the taps, arrive early.
Final Takeaway
MSC’s English-style pubs are the most reliable place onboard to get:
- A broader draft beer lineup
- Classic pub food
- A comfortable, low-pressure hangout space
If the pool deck feels too loud and the Sports Bar feels too intense, this is your middle ground.
For beer lovers especially, this venue can quietly become your favorite spot on the ship.