MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises: what makes the company stand out

MSC Cruises is an international cruise company with Mediterranean roots that combines a European onboard atmosphere, a wide range of itineraries, and a broad price range. Its schedule includes both short cruises for a few nights and longer journeys between continents, as well as around-the-world routes.

The company is especially well-suited for families with children, couples, and travelers who want plenty of opportunities for rest within a single ship. The base price of most cruises includes accommodation, full board in the main restaurants and buffet, theatrical shows, part of the entertainment, pools, sports areas, and kids’ clubs. Drinks, Wi‑Fi, shore excursions, specialty restaurants, SPA, and some attractions are paid separately if they are not included in the chosen fare or package.

At the same time, MSC Cruises is a large international company, so you shouldn’t expect the same program, set of services, or language support on all ships. What’s included in a cruise depends on the ship, region, season, and the booked cabin category.

MSC Cruises fleet

MSC Cruises operates 23 cruise liners. In December 2026, MSC World Asia- a new World-class ship- is scheduled to begin sailings, expanding the company’s fleet to 24 liners.

The fleet is divided into six main generations:

• Lirica Class - MSC Armonia, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Opera and MSC Lirica. These are more compact liners with a more intimate onboard atmosphere and simpler navigation.

• Musica Class - MSC Musica, MSC Orchestra, MSC Poesia and MSC Magnifica. They are larger than the Lirica-class ships, yet still convenient for travelers who don’t want to vacation on a mega-liner.

• Fantasia Class - MSC Fantasia, MSC Splendida, MSC Divina and MSC Preziosa. It is with this generation that the MSC Yacht Club concept appeared- a private premium area, “a liner inside a liner.”

• Meraviglia and Meraviglia Plus - MSC Meraviglia, MSC Bellissima, MSC Grandiosa, MSC Virtuosa and MSC Euribia. These are large modern liners with covered promenade areas, numerous restaurants, bars, and tech-based entertainment.

• Seaside and Seaside EVO - MSC Seaside, MSC Seaview, MSC Seashore and MSC Seascape. Their architecture is oriented toward seaside relaxation: open decks, panoramic areas, pools, and outdoor space.

• World Class - MSC World Europa, MSC World America and MSC World Asia. These are the company’s largest and most technologically advanced liners, offering a wide variety of areas, restaurants, pools, family spaces, and cabin categories.

The differences between generations are noticeable. Older and more compact liners are usually simpler in terms of infrastructure, while Meraviglia, Seaside, and World Class offer more restaurants, water attractions, digital services, and accommodation options. That’s why, when choosing a cruise, it’s important to compare not only the itinerary and price, but also the specific ship.

On compatible ships, the MSC for Me ecosystem works: the mobile app helps you check the day’s program, book activities, get account information, and navigate onboard. The set of features varies depending on the ship.

New MSC Cruises ships receive more energy-efficient systems, the option to connect to shore power, and modern water treatment equipment and waste management. World Class liners use liquefied natural gas. This reduces some harmful emissions compared with traditional ship fuel, but it doesn’t make the cruise completely carbon-neutral. The company’s strategic goal is to achieve net-zero emissions in marine operations by 2050.

Main itineraries of MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises operates sailings to more than 250 destinations. The main sailing regions include:

• Western and Eastern Mediterranean;

• Northern Europe, Norwegian fjords, and the Baltic;

• Canary Islands and Madeira;

• Caribbean basin and the Antilles;

• Bahamas, including the private island Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve;

• Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, and other ports in the Persian Gulf;

• North America, Canada, and New England;

• South America;

• South Africa;

• Asia;

• transatlantic and other MSC Grand Voyages;

• around-the-world cruises.

The company is also expanding its route network: MSC Poesia offers seasonal sailings to Alaska from Seattle, and MSC World Asia cruise departures in the Western Mediterranean are planned for December 2026.

For Ukrainian travelers, the most convenient cruises are usually those from European ports: Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Civitavecchia, Naples, Messina, Venice-Marghera, Hamburg, Kiel, and Copenhagen. The best port should be chosen based on flight or overland transport cost, arrival time, and document requirements for the entire route.

Cabins and service levels

MSC Cruises liners feature several main cabin types:

• inside cabins - no window, usually the most affordable option;

• cabins with a window - with a sea view; some categories may have a limited view;

• cabins with a balcony - with a private outdoor space; on new liners there are also cabins with a view of the internal promenade;

• suites - more spacious cabins with additional benefits depending on the category;

• MSC Yacht Club - premium suites with access to private areas and enhanced service.

Many liners offer connecting and family cabins, as well as options for three, four, and more passengers. Their occupancy and configuration depend on the specific ship. For a family, it’s important to check not only the number of sleeping spaces, but also the area, layout, type of extra beds, whether there is a balcony, and the distance to kids’ areas.

Cabin type should not be confused with service level. MSC Cruises offers these main formats:

• Bella Experience - the most cost-effective option with a guaranteed cabin: the passenger chooses the cabin type, and the cabin number and location are determined by MSC Cruises closer to departure. A cabin with a limited view or not the most convenient location may be assigned.

• Fantastica Experience - allows you to choose a specific cabin and its location, and also includes additional flexibility and a range of service benefits.

• Aurea Experience - includes the benefits of Fantastica, access to the thermal area by prior booking, flexible dinner time, a welcome package, and access to a private adults-only solarium.

• MSC Yacht Club - the “liner inside a liner” concept with a separate restaurant, lounge, pool, and sun deck, priority boarding, 24/7 butler and concierge services, a drinks and Wi‑Fi package. MSC Yacht Club is not available on all ships.

The exact list of benefits may vary depending on the ship, itinerary, booking date, and the booking market. Before payment, you need to check the conditions specifically in the confirmation of the chosen cruise.

Vacationing with children

MSC Cruises remains one of the most prominent family cruise companies. Onboard, there are free children’s and teen clubs by age group:

• Mini Club - from 3 to 6 years;

• Juniors Club - from 7 to 11 years;

• Young Club - from 12 to 14 years;

• Teens Club - from 15 to 17 years.

For younger children, MSC Babytime and MSC Babycare programs are available. The participation format, minimum age, and the possibility to leave your child with club staff depend on the specific program. Most standard club activities are free, but some services, extended care, meals with animators on certain days, and some attractions may require an additional payment.

Modern liners feature family play areas, water parks, water slides, sports facilities, and interactive entertainment. The offering depends on the ship: compact MSC Lirica and the mega-liner MSC World America provide fundamentally different scales of family infrastructure.

The statement that all children always travel for free is incorrect. The Kids Sail Free promotions apply only on selected sailings and under specific conditions. Even with a zero cruise fare for a child, port charges, insurance, transfers, a service fee, and other mandatory payments may still apply. The final cost must be calculated for the specific family composition.

Entertainment onboard

MSC Cruises’ program combines theatrical productions, live music, parties, dancing, quizzes, sports activities, and family events. Theater shows and the main onboard entertainment program are usually included in the cruise price.

Depending on the ship, passengers may have access to:

• theaters, concert venues, clubs, and karaoke;

• pools, jacuzzis, water parks, and water slides;

• gyms, running tracks, and sports areas;

• rope courses and zip lines;

• bowling, Formula 1 simulators, VR games, and interactive attractions;

• casinos and slot machines for adult passengers;

• shops, photo services, beauty salons, and MSC Aurea Spa.

Some attractions are paid or require advance booking. There may also be age, height, or weight restrictions. If a particular entertainment option is important, you should verify its availability on the page for the specific ship.

Restaurants and dining

The base cruise price for MSC Cruises includes full board. Passengers can dine in the buffet and in the main restaurants. In the buffet, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late snacks are usually available, while dinner in the main restaurant is served from a menu.

The time and format of dinner depend on the chosen service level and availability:

• classic early or late seating with a fixed time;

• Dine on Your Time for part of the Bella and Fantastica bookings- seating within designated hours, subject to availability;

• My Choice Dining for Aurea - guaranteed flexible dining time within the restaurant’s opening hours.

On most liners, specialty restaurants are also available for an additional charge: steakhouses, sushi bars, teppanyaki, seafood, French, Mexican, and other venues. The number and concept of restaurants depend on the ship. Visit costs can be paid separately or you can purchase a restaurant package.

Separate menus are available for children. Vegetarian and vegan dishes are available in the main venues. You need to inform about allergies, celiac disease, kosher, halal, or other special diets during booking or within the specified MSC Cruises deadline before departure.

Drinks and drinks packages

The base fare usually includes drinks from the machines in the buffet during its opening hours: water, standard tea and coffee. Bottled water, specialty coffee, juices, carbonated and alcoholic drinks are paid separately if you haven’t purchased a package.

MSC Cruises offers alcohol packages, an Alcohol-Free Package, and a Minors Package. Names, prices, limits, and the list of included drinks depend on the region and the conditions of the specific sailing. Alcohol packages have age restrictions and a daily limit; all adult passengers in the same cabin usually must choose a compatible package.

The service fee for drinks is already included in the price of a package purchased in advance. Tips are automatically added to separate bar purchases: the amount depends on the sailing region. Buying a package before departure is usually more cost-effective, but before payment you should compare its price with your actual expected consumption.

Port excursions

MSC Cruises shore excursions are paid separately. They can be booked before the cruise or onboard if there are still spots available. Pre-booking is especially useful for popular tours and routes with a limited number of participants.

The standard tour languages are English, Italian, German, French, and Spanish; in South America, Portuguese may also be used. The availability of a specific language depends on the availability of guides and a sufficient number of participants. Ukrainian and Russian are not guaranteed.

Children under 2 years old usually participate for free, while children aged 3 to 13 may have a discount of up to 30% of the adult price. Conditions for individual excursions differ. The program, transport, meals, physical activity level, and document requirements must be checked before payment.

Onboard service languages

MSC Cruises uses six main languages onboard: English, Italian, German, French, Spanish, and a Brazilian Portuguese version. The order of announcements and the availability of materials depend on the passenger mix and the sailing region.

A permanent Ukrainian-speaking or Russian-speaking representative, or translation of menus or excursions into the corresponding language, is not guaranteed as part of the cruise. Ukrainian passengers should primarily rely on English or one of the six main languages. Cruise-Life provides advice in Ukrainian when choosing and booking a cruise and helps you understand the trip conditions in advance.

Currency and onboard payments

After boarding, all purchases are recorded on the passenger’s onboard account. You can link a bank card to it or add a cash deposit.

The account currency depends on the itinerary:

• euro - mainly in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Canary Islands, the Persian Gulf, and on some transatlantic sailings from Europe;

• US dollar - in the Caribbean, North and South America, South Africa, and Asia;

• British pound - on cruises departing from Southampton.

Before the trip, it’s worth checking the currency of the specific sailing and the bank’s conversion terms. Cash onboard is not used for every individual purchase: payment is made via the cruise card and the shared onboard account.

Internet and Wi‑Fi

Wi‑Fi is available on all MSC Cruises liners in public areas and in most cabins. Pay-as-you-go data packages are no longer used: the company offers two main formats:

• Browse Package - messengers, websites, e-mail, and image sharing without video calls and streaming;

• Browse & Stream Package - additionally supports video calls, streaming video and music, and video posting on social networks.

Both packages provide unlimited data within the fair-use policy and 24/7 access. The package is purchased for a specific number of devices. The cost depends on the cruise duration, itinerary, package, and the number of devices.

Internet at sea works through a satellite channel, so speed and stability may be lower than with terrestrial connections. Interference is possible due to weather, terrain near the port, the ship’s location, and high network load.

Smoking onboard MSC Cruises liners

Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is prohibited in cabins, on cabin balconies, and in all areas that are not marked as smoking zones. Smoking is allowed only in specially designated areas; on some liners, an exception applies in the casino while it is open for guests who are playing.

For violations, MSC Cruises may charge an additional fee, and repeated noncompliance may result in the passenger being disembarked. Country rules along the itinerary should be checked separately: in some states, importing or using vapes and e-cigarettes is prohibited.

Service fees and other additional expenses

In addition to the cruise price, you must consider the mandatory onboard hotel service fee. Its amount depends on the region, passenger age, the MSC Yacht Club category, and the booking date. In some offers, the fee is already included or paid in advance; in others, it is charged to the onboard account. The current amount should be checked when calculating the specific cruise.

Possible additional expenses also include:

• drinks packages or individual drinks;

• Wi‑Fi;

• specialty restaurants;

• shore excursions;

• SPA treatments and beauty salon services;

• paid attractions and slot machines;

• casino;

• photographs;

• laundry;

• transfers, flights, hotels, and insurance;

• local tourist or passenger fees at certain ports.

To compare two cruises correctly, you need to look not only at the initial cabin price, but at the full trip budget for all passengers.

Additional packages and services

Before departure, you can order drinks packages, Wi‑Fi, specialty restaurants, excursions, SPA, entertainment, photo services, and other add-ons. Often, pre-purchasing is cheaper than arranging it onboard.

There is no universal rule like “book no later than 14 days in advance.” Timelines, availability, and prices depend on the service and the specific booking. You should check them in your MSC Cruises personal account, in the MSC for Me app, or through a Cruise-Life manager.

Who MSC Cruises is a good fit for

Consider MSC Cruises if you:

• are traveling with children and want well-developed family infrastructure;

• want a wide range of itineraries from European ports;

• value an active international atmosphere, shows, and entertainment;

• would like to choose between an affordable inside cabin, a balcony cabin, a suite, or the premium MSC Yacht Club;

• are ready to decide in advance on drinks packages, Wi‑Fi, and other additional services.

The company may not be suitable for those looking for a small ship with an intimate atmosphere, expecting fully included drinks and excursions, or needing guaranteed Ukrainian-language support directly onboard.

How to book an MSC Cruises cruise with Cruise-Life

Cruise-Life will help you select an MSC Cruises cruise based on dates, budget, family composition, and the desired region. During the selection, we’ll compare itineraries and liners, explain the difference between cabins and service levels Bella, Fantastica, Aurea, and MSC Yacht Club, and calculate mandatory and additional expenses.

Before booking, it’s important to check:

1. the full itinerary and embarkation/disembarkation ports;

2. passport, visa, and transit requirements for each passenger;

3. the cabin number or type, its location, and any possible limited view;

4. payment terms, changes, and cancellations;

5. whether a service fee is included in the price;

6. the need for drinks, Wi‑Fi, excursions, transfers, and insurance.

Current sailings, cabin availability, and prices change in real time. Choose the appropriate MSC Cruises cruise on Cruise-Life or contact a manager for advice in Ukrainian.