The ship is packed with exciting family features, and has proven popular in the years since she debuted. I’ve made a list of some of the most fun MSC Virtuosa activities for families to enjoy on board.
1. Interactive Splash Park
MSC Virtuosa has one of the most exciting water parks at sea. Kids will love the water guns, huge tipping bucket and multiple interactive water elements in the Savannah Waterpark. It’s the perfect place to cool off on a hot day.
2. Bowling Alley
The entertainment area on MSC Virtuosa has a full-sized bowling alley with two lanes. Here, you’ll also find lots of arcade games providing fun for all the family.
3. Galleria Virtuosa
This 100-metre long indoor promenade has a long domed LED ceiling. This space features eleven shopping boutiques as well as several bars and restaurants. It’s the perfect place to wander and socialise, whatever the weather.
4. MSC Starship Club
More than just a bar, The MSC Starship club will transport you to another world! It features a humanoid bartender by the name of Rob, who will make you cosmic cocktails and tell you jokes.
MSC Virtuosa has five swimming pools and one of the biggest waterparks at sea. The Tropical Pool has a retractable roof and four large hot tubs, which means that even if it’s raining you can still enjoy a day drinking cocktails by the pool.
6. Himalayan Bridge
Me on the Himalayan Bridge
If you’re feeling brave, have a go on this high ropes course which is located up on Deck 19, an incredible 80 metres above the ocean.
7. Water Slides
The MSC Virtuosa water park is the Savannah Aquapark, and kids and adults love the three twisting waterslides including a fun bowl slide that spins you round and round.
8. Kids’ Clubs
MSC Virtuosa has five dedicated kids clubs for ages from 0 to 17 years old with over 98 hours of kids’ activities each week. Kids can be entertained all day long with games, arts and crafts, competitions, parties and more!
Some of the features introduced for the MSC Virtuosa kids club include a silent disco and a Junior Detective game where they must solve puzzles in search of the truth.
New updates as of summer 2024 also include some exciting Guinness World Record quiz challenges and some conservation-themed learning. Plus the teens hours are now extended so you can leave them there from 3 pm until midnight!
9. Formula One Simulator
Climb into the driver’s seat of an F1 racing car and get your adrenaline-pumping with a virtual reality race.
10. Sportplex
Sporty types young and old can take part in all sorts of tournaments including tennis, football, basketball, table tennis and table football.
11. Swarovski Crystal Staircases
MSC Cruises ships are incredibly glamorous with thousands of Swarovski crystals used to make the staircases in the main atrium.
12. LEGO Experience
MSC Cruises has partnered with LEGO to create LEGO and Duplo-themed experiences, challenges and competitions for kids. There are over 64,000 LEGO bricks on the ship and kids may even be able meet life-sized LEGO people on board.
13. Le Grand Theatre
The theatre on MSC Virtuosa has 945 seats where guests can enjoy live performances every evening with three sittings per night.
14. Baby Club
MSC Cruises’ Baby Club has activities that parents and under-threes can enjoy together. There’s also the option to leave your toddler in the care of qualified childcare professionals while you relax.
15. Carousel Lounge
In the Carousel Lounge, you can enjoy spectacular entertainment up-close on the round stage as well as stunning sea views.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Ever fancied spending time on a private tropical island? It’s a dream that’s normally out of reach, but book a cruise to Ocean Cay and you’ll get pretty close to the experience. Technically it is a private island, even though you’ll be sharing the experience with a couple of thousand others at the same time.
Still, it’s a fantastic destination that’s really popular with cruise passengers, despite only being open for a couple of years. Let’s look at some of the key facts and secrets about Ocean Cay, so that you make the most of your time at the island.
1. Ocean Cay is Exclusive to MSC Cruises
The only cruise line that visits Ocean Cay is MSC Cruises, as they own the island. There are seven different MSC Cruises ships that include Ocean Cay as a port of call. These are MSC Divina, MSC Magnifica, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Poesia, MSC Seascape, MSC Seashore and MSC Seaside.
MSC Cruises bought the island and renovated it specifically to be their own private cruise destination. No other cruise lines can visit, nor can any other holidaymakers. It’s only by booking one of the cruise breaks sailing from either Port Canaveral or Miami that you can visit the island.
Despite some cruise itineraries including a two-day visit to Ocean Cay, you aren’t allowed to stay on the island overnight. You must return to the ship for the evening. There are no hotels on the island, so you are not legally able to stay ashore at night.
Some people might be tempted by the idea of hiding away to enjoy a slice of private island life, even just for a night. You’ll get in a lot of trouble if you do. Just enjoy the late-night show then get back to the comfort of your cabin.
Ship docked at Ocean Cay overnight
3. It Cost Around $200 Million to Renovate the Island
When MSC Cruises bought the island of Ocean Cay, they spent $200 million to make it fit for purpose as a cruise destination. This included building the cruise pier and adding facilities for guests to eat, drink and relax on the island.
Ocean Cay before the renovation in 2019
The work on restoring the island began in 2016, and was held up by Hurrican Dorian just as it was getting close to completion in September of 2019. It was able to open in December 2019 despite the setback.
In August 2023, the next phase of development was announced, with another $100 million investment. The island was closed for six weeks between April and May 2024 as a result, and work is continuing. It is expected to be completed by the end of the winter 2024-25 season.
4. There Are No Swimming Pools on Ocean Cay
There are no swimming pools on Ocean Cay, although if you want to swim then there are secluded lagoons that are safe. They don’t have a strong current and they have gentle slopes, including shallow waters that are suitable for young children.
Ocean Cay Lagoon
The waters around Ocean Cay are really clear and clean, which makes them really pleasant for swimming. You’ll see some marvellous wildlife too. There’s no need for a pool when the lagoons are this pristine.
5. You Don’t Need Your Passport To Visit the Island
You won’t need to take your passport with you when you disembark at Ocean Cay. The island is privately owned, so isn’t classified as a foreign territory despite it being in the Bahamas. You will need to take your cruise card to sign out of the ship and to sign back in.
This is handy since there’s no risk of losing your important ID documents, but you will need to keep the keycard safe.
Some cruise lines offer itineraries that only sail to their own private islands. For those, you don’t need your passport at all for the entire cruise. A birth certificate will suffice.
That’s not the case with MSC Cruises. Their itineraries will always visit at least one other destination, so you will need your passport to board the ship.
6. Ocean Cay is a Man-Made Island
Ocean Cay is an artificial island that was built in the late 1960s by dredging, with the purpose of mining Aragonite sand. It’s now considered a Marine Reserve with conservation status. As part of the renovation, MSC Cruises has preserved the ecosystem.
Ocean Cay is man-made
Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve is located in the district of Bimini in the Bahamas, around 20 miles south of the Bimini islands. Ocean Cay is actually much closer to Miami than it is to Grand Bahamas, Nassau and the other Bahamas islands.
The cruise line has plans to build a Conservation Center. This will serve as a research base for scientists studying local coral and other wildlife, and will welcome guests to learn about the island and the surrounding waters (Source).
7. Ocean Cay Has Decent Wi-Fi
There is Wi-Fi access available across parts of Ocean Cay, although if you wander to more remote areas, you will struggle to get service. Access to the Wi-Fi on the island is included if you’ve bought an internet package on the ship.
A lot of people prefer to use a private island as a technology detox. But if you can’t resist posting your photographs online as soon as you’ve snapped them, then you’ll be able to.
8. Drinks Packages Carry Over Onto The Island
If you’ve bought a drinks package on your MSC cruise, it will carry over to any visit to Ocean Cay. This means you can enjoy the same drinks that you would on board at the venues on the island.
One of the bars on Ocean Cay
Some cruise lines treat their private island as a separate entity, meaning you have to pay for your drinks even if you’ve got a drinks package. So it’s good that MSC allows you to enjoy the same drinks at Ocean Cay as you would if you’d stayed on your ship (Source).
For a little extra privacy, you can rent a private cabana on Ocean Cay from $249 for the full day, although some cabanas cost more. Each cabana includes beach chairs and a shaded area where you can escape the sun, and they can accommodate six guests.
Cabanas on Ocean Cay
You’ll also be given fresh water to help you cool down. Towels are provided, so you don’t need to take your own ashore if you plan on swimming or snorkelling. More expensive Ocean Cay beach cabana packages include lunch and snorkelling equipment too.
10. Food Is Included During Your Visit to Ocean Cay
Most food on Ocean Cay is included in your cruise fare, including the buffet and food trucks. There are some excursions which may include food, such as picnics. These incur the extra charge that you pay for the excursion.
The buffet at the food court includes traditional Bahamian dishes alongside classic favourites, and there’s also an ice cream parlour for guests to enjoy. Plus, some of the dining venues on the ship remain open while docked at Ocean Cay, so you can eat on board if you prefer.
11. There Are Eight Different Beaches You Can Enjoy
There are eight different beaches open to guests on Ocean Cay. North and South beaches have calm waters and are suitable for families, as is the Seakers Family Cove and the Family Lagoon Beach. Watersports are available at South Beach, while Ocean House Beach is only available to MSC Yacht Club Guests.
One of the beaches on Ocean Cay
Not every beach is monitored by a lifeguard, so you’ll need to be careful if you choose to swim at one of the unprotected ones. However, finding a quiet spot to relax should be easier with so many beaches to choose from.
12. You Can Rent Various Watersport Equipment
There are a lot of watersports you can enjoy on Ocean Cay, including snorkelling, kayaking and paddle boarding. These activities come with an additional cost, either to rent the equipment or as part of a guided excursion.
Kayaking and paddleboarding
One of the more interesting excursions is a glow-in-the-dark experience available in the evening. You’ll be given a paddleboard with LED lights on the underside. These cast a gentle glow into the waters, attracting some interesting wildlife. Definitely one to try if you have the chance (Source).
13. Ocean Cay Isn’t Very Big
Ocean Cay isn’t a large island. It covers 95 acres and has around 1.5 miles of beachfront. You can walk from one end to the other in around 20 minutes. The size of Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve is very similar to that of Royal Caribbean’s private island, Coco Cay.
Ocean Cay is two to three times as long as a cruise ship
14. There Are Bikes and Golf Carts For Hire
If you want to travel faster around Ocean Cay, you can hire a bicycle. You don’t have to be excluded if you have mobility issues or find walking long distances difficult. So consider hiring a golf cart if you want to experience all that Ocean Cay has to offer without pushing your walking limits too far.
15. The Ship Can Dock Directly At The Island
Most private islands require cruise guests to take a water shuttle boat to shore, but Ocean Cay has its own cruise pier where the ship can dock directly. As soon as you walk off the ship, you are on the island.
Cruise pier
The pier was built as part of the $200 million renovation. It makes it much more convenient to travel back and forth to the ship if you want a break from the island, or have forgotten something essential in your cabin.
16. The Casino Remains Open on the Ship During a Visit
When a cruise ship docks in port, it normally has to close the casino due to national gambling regulations. However, because Ocean Cay is privately owned, it is considered to be international waters and so the casino can remain open.
So don’t worry if you’ve been itching to enjoy a few casino games, as you can wander back and forth between the island and the casino as you like. Plus it’s likely to be a quieter time since most people will be ashore, which is good if you don’t like crowds.
17. You Can Book a Special Picnic
One of the evening excursions available on Ocean Cay is the Sunset Evening Beach Picnic. This isn’t so much an excursion as the chance to enjoy your own picnic under the stars. It includes a basket with a blanket, a bottle of sparkling wine, and various foods and desserts.
It’s a lovely way to end your day on the private island. If you can find a quiet spot (which shouldn’t be difficult), then it can be a really romantic, memorable moment.
18. There’s a Lighthouse You Can Climb
Ocean Cay has its own lighthouse, and you can pay to climb it. There are three levels with a total of 165 steps if you want to go all the way to the top, where there is a 360-degree viewing platform. The tour is guided, and you’ll learn about the island as you climb.
Lighthouse on Ocean Cay
It’s one of the more popular excursions on the island, so book early if you can. You’ll get amazing views across the whole of Ocean Cay. The whole thing only takes 30 minutes, so you’ll still have plenty of time to enjoy the rest of the day (Source).
19. The Lighthouse Plays a Part in Special Evening Shows
With ships staying late at Ocean Cay, there are often evening shows including the popular Evening Lighthouse Show, where the lighthouse is lit up in an impressive demonstration. Live DJs will provide an atmosphere, and fire pits add to the tropical escape feel.
There are other evening events you can enjoy too, including a Luna Libre Party or a romantic Sunset Champagne cruise. The fun isn’t just limited to the daytime on Ocean Cay.
20. Parts Of The Island Have a Dark Sky
Although parts of Ocean Cay will be lit up for the evening shows and as part of the lively atmosphere, there are plenty of secluded spots with a dark sky if you want to go stargazing. You’ll get an amazing view of the night sky from a peaceful beach location, away from the crowds.
Ocean Cay after dark
There are also dedicated stargazing excursions if you’d prefer to be shown everything by an expert. You’ll be able to use state-of-the-art telescopes as part of the excursions, some of which are tailored specifically to children who have a passion for space.
21. You Can Get Married On The Island
Guests can choose an all-inclusive wedding package if they want to get married on Ocean Cay. Staff will arrange all the paperwork, so you just need to book it and turn up. There’s a special Wedding Cabana overlooking the ocean where ceremonies take place.
If you’re already married and feel like you’re missing out, then don’t worry – you can also renew your vows at the cabana in a private ceremony (Source).
The Wedding Pavilion
22. Spa Treatments Are Available On The Island
At The Spa Ocean Cay, you can enjoy massages and gentle yoga classes while surrounded by the pristine marine reserve scenery. All skincare products used at the spa are eco-certified, so you can relax and enjoy a soothing treatment that befits the conservation theme.
Ocean Cay Spa treatment room
You can even combine yoga and paddleboarding for a unique experience. Don’t worry, it isn’t as difficult as it sounds! (Source)
23. The Snorkelling Is Excellent
Many cruisers say that snorkelling is one of the best activities to enjoy at Ocean Cay Marine Reserve. The water is crystal clear, and you can see lots of colourful fish as well as turtles and other marine animals.
Snorkelling at Ocean Cay
You can snorkel right off the beach with your own equipment or hired snorkels and masks. For the very best experience, book a guided Ocean Cay snorkelling safari excursion.
24. You Don’t Have To Spend a Penny If You Don’t Want To
A visit to Ocean Cay includes food and some non-alcoholic drinks. There’s live music and entertainment for free, and sun loungers and beach chairs are all free of charge. You can bring your own snorkel, or just enjoy swimming in the ocean or the lagoons.
You really don’t need to pay for anything. But if you want to rent a floating water mat, inflatable ring, kayak, bicycle, pedalo, paddleboard, snorkel or even a cabana, then you can do so by charging it to your cruise card.
Otherwise, the Ocean Cay excursions prices can vary, and you’re best checking for your specific sailing.
Ocean Cay Rental Price List:
Cabanas – $249
Deluxe Cabanas – $349
Inflatable family raft – $25
Floating beach mat – $15
Paddleboard – £29
Kayak – £29
Umbrella – $12
25. Ocean Cay Has a Schedule of Organised Fun
Think you’ll get bored with sunbathing all day? Don’t like to swim? Fear not. Ocean Cay offers lots of organised activities that will keep the whole family entertained.
You can sign up for all kinds of fun things such as scavenger hunts, sandcastle building competitions and even the Ocean Cay Olympic Games.
26. There Are Excursions From Ocean Cay
To really make the most of your time at Ocean Cay, you can book an excursion. Popular options include:
Ocean Cay WaveRunner tour
Night-time stand-up paddleboarding
A boat ride to a shipwreck for snorkelling
Guided kayak tour
Catamaran ride with rum
Sunset Champagne boat cruise
Beachside stargazing
Deep-sea fishing
Scuba diving
Sunset picnic
Stingray adventure
Family catamaran tour
Shipwreck snorkelling excursion
To Conclude
There is an extraordinary number of things you can see and do on the custom-designed island of Ocean Cay, including some wonderful excursions and secrets to uncover.
You’ll no doubt discover your own special surprises and moments during your cruise to the island. Feel free to get in touch via the comments below, and help me expand this list with even more ideas when you do!
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
MSC Cruises has been making waves (pun intended) in the world of cruising with some ambitious plans.
The cruise line has outright stated that it wants to become the biggest in the world, which would be some feat if it did manage to overtake established leaders Royal Caribbean and Carnival.
Yet the aggressive expansion strategy is well underway. In addition to five ships launched within just three years since cruising returned after the shutdown, there are another three ships planned – plus a whole new sub-cruise line!
Let’s take a look.
The newest MSC cruise ships sailing now
1. MSC Euribia – 2023
MSC Cruises newest ship is the final ship in the Meraviglia Plus Class, joining the MSC Grandiosa and the MSC Virtuosa.
MSC Euribia isn’t be the largest ship in the fleet – the World-class ships are bigger – but she is still mightily impressive, with a maximum guest capacity of over 6,300.
I’ve cruises on MSC Euribia and had a fantastic time! You can read my MSC Euribia review here.
Along with many of the other newer MSC ships, she is significantly more friendly to the environment than older cruise ships. She’s powered by LNG, which is a cleaner fuel, and she has advanced water treatment and energy efficiency systems to minimise waste and ensure only the fuel needed is burned.
A ship this big is obviously packed with things to see and do, including five pools and a waterpark. She will also be home to the Galleria Euribia, the largest LED dome at sea in the indoor promenade.
MSC Euribia sails a variety of itineraries around Northern Europe and the Med from Southampton, making her one of the biggest ships to call the port home.
2. MSC World Europa – 2022
The MSC World Europa debuted in 2022 and quickly established herself as one of the most impressive ships currently sailing.
At the time of her launch, she was the first ship outside of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class to have a volume above 200,000 gross tonnes, slotting her into the number six position for biggest ships in the world. This of course means she is the biggest ship in the MSC fleet.
It’s not just about size with MSC World Europa though – the ship has a stunning modern design with futuristic attractions including the Luna Park Arena which hosts game shows, various kids’ activities and movie screenings.
Luna Park
She was the first ship in the MSC fleet to be powered by LNG, and she hosts the current longest dry slide at sea which travels for 11 decks on the ship.
The MSC World Europa sails the Mediterranean during the summer months, and the Middle East in the winter, with Grand Voyages (cruises between regions) also available.
The MSC Seascape launched in 2022 as the second of the Seaside EVO ships for MSC. The Seaside EVO Class is an expansion of the original Seaside Class, quite literally – they are around 10% bigger than the two Seaside-class ships.
MSC Seascape pays tribute to New York City in her design, with the retail area of the ship named Times Square featuring a projection of the Manhattan skyline, and an impressive three-metre-high replica of the Statue of Liberty as the centrepiece of the casino.
She is full of interesting attractions and features, along with beautiful artworks – the primary one being the Incando del Mare glass sculpture which rises from Deck 5 through to Deck 8. She has a real focus on outdoor spaces, including a fantastic Infinity Pool where guests can relax with stunning views.
MSC Seascape is based in the Caribbean year-round, sailing out of Miami. Itineraries typically call at Ocean Cay, the private marine reserve destination for MSC Cruises.
4. MSC Seashore – 2021
The first of the Seaside EVO ships, MSC Seashore debuted in 2021 and so remains one of the newest and best ships in the whole fleet.
She is an almost identical twin of her newer sister ship MSC Seascape, even down to the New York City theming, although her glass sculpture is unique and is named Danza del Mare.
Like her sister ship, she is packed with fantastic attractions including quality theatre shows, an expansive casino area, and extensive family-friendly areas, with some of the best kids’ clubs at sea.
She is also packed with environmentally-friendly tech to reduce emissions, recycle waste and ensure she is as efficient as possible, and therefore needs less fuel to move.
Unlike MSC Seascape, the MSC Seashore doesn’t have a permanent home. Instead, she offers cruises in the Caribbean and around South America during the winter months (again, with port visits to Ocean Cay) but during the summer she relocates to the Mediterranean.
5. MSC Virtuosa – 2021
The MSC Virtuosa launched in May of 2021 and became the second ship in the Meraviglia Plus Class. Similar to the Seaside and Seaside EVO classes, the Meraviglia Plus Class is an expansion of the original Meraviglia ships.
The MSC Virtuosa was, when she launched, the largest ship in the fleet, being around 6% larger than the Seaside EVO ships. She has a host of impressive features, including the Galleria Virtuosa with its LED dome, and the MSC Starship Club – the first robotic bar at sea with a humanoid robot bartender (unlike Royal Caribbean’s first robot bar at sea with two standalone arms).
MSC Virtuosa hosts many of the best signature features of the MSC fleet, including the MSC Aurea Spa and the MSC Yacht Club – a special area of the ship with dedicated lounges and a private pool just for those who book a Yacht Club cabin.
New MSC cruise ships on order
MSC World America – 2025
The MSC World America is set to be the next ship to join the MSC Cruises fleet. She will be the second World-class ship to launch for the cruise line, following the recent addition of MSC World Europa in 2022.
It’s more than just a name – this super-ship will be based in the US, and will offer sailings around the Caribbean when she launches in 2025. We don’t yet know if the plan is to remain there year-round or if she will follow the plan of many other cruise ships and travel to Europe during the warmer summer months.
MSC World America is expected to be very similar to MSC World Europa – typically, MSC ships don’t vary too much in terms of structure or features within a class.
So if you want to know more about the MSC World America, I’d recommend taking a look at the features and deck plans of the MSC World Europa, at least until more information is revealed on this ship. I also have an MSC World Europa review that you may be interested in.
MSC World Asia (2026) and an unnamed World ship (2027)
There are two more ships planned for the World Class for MSC Cruises, to follow in 2026 and 2027. Or I should say at least two more – with MSC Cruises’ plans to expand rapidly, and the early success of MSC World Europa, we may see more added to the schedule.
We don’t know much about these two ships yet with their debuts still some time away, but as soon as more information is revealed I’ll let you know.
If we’ll already have MSC World Europe, MSC World America and MSC World Asia, what do you think for the last one? MSC World Africa?
Explora Journeys
Only a quick mention here since the Explora Journeys aren’t technically part of the MSC Cruises fleet – but instead, a brand new cruise line launching that will be owned by the MSC parent company.
MSC Cruises is very much a mainstream cruise line with a lot of family activities. The newest ships are beautiful and modern, but they are aimed at a wider cruising market. So it makes sense for the MSC parent company to expand out into a more luxury cruise line.
Explora Journeys is that line, with smaller ships and a focus primarily on destination experiences. The first ship – Explora I – made her debut in 2023 while there are at least 5 more ships planned to set sail between 2024 and 2028.
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To conclude
It’s a really exciting time if you’re a fan of cruising with MSC. There have been a lot of new ship launches in the last couple of years – more than with any other cruise line – and there are plenty more on the horizon.
MSC isn’t a cruise line for everyone, but it has a lot of great features, especially for families. And with so many new ships expanding the capacity of the fleet, who’s to say they can’t challenge the likes of Royal Caribbean and Carnival in future?
From a cruise passenger perspective, it’s always good to have plenty of choice.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
But what about MSC Cruises? Who owns MSC Cruises, and what other cruise brands do they own?
Read on for some super-interesting insights into the company behind the MSC Cruises brand…
MSC Seaside in Nassau
Just who are MSC Cruises?
MSC Cruises is a global cruise line based in Geneva, Switzerland. It was founded in Naples, Italy in 1989. MSC Cruises employs over 30,000 people and has 19 cruise ships, making it the fastest-growing global cruise brand.
MSC Cruises is part of the Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (MSC) – the world’s second-largest container shipping operator with 570 container ships.
The Mediterranean Shipping Company has the following divisions:
MSC Cruises – Holiday cruises
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) – Cargo shipping
Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV) – Ferries
Società Navigazione Alta Velocità (SNAV) – Ferries
MSC Shipmanagement Limited – Onboard and shoreside crew
Terminal Investment Limited (TIL) – Port operations
MEDLOG – Inland logistics
The MSC Cruises arm of the business is owned by Italian billionaire Gianluigi Aponte and his family, including wife Rafaela, son Diego and daughter Alexa. Gianluigi Aponte is the founder, chairman, and MSC Cruises owner, while his family members all have key roles in the business.
With a net worth of around $17.7 billion in 2022, Gianluigi and Rafaela Aponte are some of the richest people in the shipping industry and the 94th richest people in the world according to Forbes.
The largest privately owned cruise company
This all means that MSC Cruises is the world’s largest privately-owned cruise company. While other cruise lines are publicly traded and owned by shareholders, MSC Cruises is privately owned by the Aponte family.
Because MSC Cruises is privately-owned, it doesn’t have stock. It’s not possible to buy shares in MSC as you can do with Carnival, Royal Caribbean or Norwegian Cruise Line.
The CEO of MSC Cruises is Gianni Onorato, an Italian with 30 years of experience in the cruise industry. He has been the CEO of MSC Cruises since 2013. Prior to that, he was the president of Costa Cruises from 2004 to 2013.
So that’s what MSC stands for!
The ‘MSC’ in MSC Cruises stands for Mediterranean Shipping Company. This is because the MSC Cruises brand is part of the same shipping company that transports cargo around the world.
Shipping containers in Southampton – Can you spot the MSC one?
The timeline of MSC
MSC Cruises was founded in 1988. However, the Aponte family’s involvement in the shipping industry dates back much further. Take a look at the timeline below to learn about the history of MSC Cruises…
1675 – First record of the Aponte family’s involvement in shipping to and from Naples
1970 – Gianluigi Aponte purchases a single ship and founds the Mediterranean Shipping Company
1988 – MSC enters the cruise business with the purchase of the first cruise ship, Monterey
2003 – MSC Cruises invests €5.5 billion on12 new ships to build the world’s most modern fleet of cruise ships
2014 – MSC Cruises invests €5.1 billion on seven new cruise ships and the enlargement of four existing ships
2016 – A further €3.9 billion is invested to build four World-class ships
2017 – A further €2.6 billion is invested to build three more ships
2019 – MSC Cruises’ private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, welcomes its first guests
2020 – MSC Cruises is the first major cruise line to restart thanks to its industry-leading health and safety protocol
Fun fact: Gianluigi Aponte financed the purchase of his first cruise ship, Patricia, without a loan.
An Italian cruise line, but with international flair
MSC Cruises Cruises is an Italian cruise line. It was founded in Naples, Italy in 1989, although it’s now registered in Switzerland with headquarters in Geneva and operations offices in Naples, Genoa and Venice.
MSC Cruises offers cruises all over the world. The cruise line caters to many different nationalities with many languages being spoken on board. Announcements are often made in English, Italian, French, Spanish and German. Entertainment is mainly based around music or visuals such as acrobats and dancers, rather than comedians or lecturers.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
MSC Cruises can be some of the cheapest that you can book – but you need to understand exactly what that cruise fare then gets you. It’s no good assuming that you’re getting a bargain if it then turns out that you’ve got loads more that you need to fork out for.
What complicates matters even more is the fact that MSC offers three different ‘experiences’, all of which comes with different costs and different inclusions.
It can get a little confusing, but with this guide, I’ll make it clear what you get, and what you need to pay for, for each cruise fare you can choose.
And then you’ll know what counts as a real bargain cruise with MSC, and what actually isn’t as good a deal as you thought.
What’s Included in an MSC Cruise and What Costs Extra..?
1. Accommodation
As with any cruise line, your cruise fare covers your accommodation costs. It’s one of the main things that you’re actually paying for.
And as you’d expect, you have the typical range of cabin options available:
Inside cabins with no view
Ocean View cabins that have a window
Balcony cabins with a private balcony space
Suites, offering the most space and a range of extra perks.
However, as I’ve already said, there are different cruise fares you can book with MSC, called ‘Experiences’. And the experience that you choose will determine which cabin types you’re able to book.
Experience
Cabins You Can Book
Choose Your Specific Cabin?
Bella
Inside, Ocean View, Balcony
No
Fantastica
Inside, Ocean View, Balcony
Yes
Aurea
Suites
Yes
If you book the Bella experience, you only get a Guarantee cabin – one where the cruise line will pick your room for you, and you’ll only find out where you’re staying a few days before you sail.
You’ll also get the worst locations on the ship – the ones that are furthest from the restaurants or leisure amenities or those with an obstructed view.
Also, if you book a cabin for 3 or 4 people, there’s a chance that you could be split between two cabins instead, if there isn’t a larger room available.
This might be a good thing, but if you’re travelling with kids it could make things difficult, especially since there’s no guarantee the cabins will be next to each other. They will be on the same deck and same side, but there could be several cabins between them.
If you choose Fantastica, you’ll get to pick where on the ship your cabin will be, and if you choose Aurea you can book one of the suites.
This includes a range of normal suites, and the option of booking in the MSC Yacht Club, an exclusive part of your MSC ship that features on most newer MSC ships. These come with a range of additional perks such as a pillow menu, access to exclusive lounge and sun deck areas, and a welcome package with Prosecco and chocolates.
Regardless of whether you choose the cheapest Bella Inside cabin or the fanciest Aurea suite, you’ll always get a minibar, a TV, a safe, a hairdryer, air-con and a telephone. But you won’t always get a bed!
As with other cruise lines, MSC offers a wide range of food at no extra cost for your cruise fare.
You can enjoy the Main Dining Room or the buffet, along with a small range of other casual venues for items like burgers or pizza, and you won’t have to pay anything.
But each MSC ship also has a range of speciality restaurants. These include steakhouses such as Butcher’s Cut, a variety of Asian restaurants such as the Kaito Sushi Bar or Oriental Plaza, and various other international venues including the Hola Tapas Bar, or the Indochine Restaurant. The specific venues will depend on which ship you choose.
For these restaurants, you’ll either need to pay a fixed price to dine there, or they will offer an a la carte menu, with the costs added to your account that you’ll need to settle at the end of the cruise.
MSC also offers the option of paying for a dining package. You can choose between one to five meals, and by paying in advance you can save up to 40% of the cost of paying for each meal individually when you’re on the ship.
So, that’s another way you can budget in advance and still enjoy all the experiences of your cruise ship.
3. Drinks
On an MSC cruise, there are a small selection of drinks that you’ll be able to enjoy at no extra charge – tap water, basic coffee and tea, ice tea, and juices at breakfast. But for everything else – sodas, bottled water, and alcoholic drinks, you’ll need to pay.
You can pay for drinks individually, if you want. A glass of soda costs around $2.25, a beer will cost around $6, and a cocktail can vary between $7 and $16 depending on how fancy a drink you’re looking for.
If you’re someone who likes to drink a lot (not just booze, but soft drinks too) then it’s worth considering a drinks package. With these, you’ll pay in advance for the duration of the cruise and then be able to enjoy unlimited drinks within your package.
There are three packages that include alcohol – Premium, Easy Plus, and Easy. There’s also an alcohol-free package that covers sodas, bottled water, speciality coffees and even soft-serve ice cream, and there’s a Minors package for younger guests.
The cost for the packages will vary depending on where you’re sailing and how long you’re cruising – British guests will pay between £64 and £77.05 per day for the Premium Extra package, for example.
Never jump into buying a drinks package without doing some basic budgeting first, as you might overpay if you don’t drink much each day. My drinks package calculator can help you work it out.
One thing to be mindful of is that the mini bar costs extra, even if you have a drink package. The only way you get to enjoy your mini bar for free is if you stay in the Yacht Club.
4. Room Service
On every MSC cruise, guests are welcome to enjoy room service on those occasions where they would rather dine in their room, or they just want a snack.
If you’ve booked the Fantastica or Aurea experiences, then room service is available 24-hours a day and there’s no charge at all for delivery. Some free items are available on the menu, but there are some that have a charge – you just won’t pay for the delivery.
If you’ve booked the cheaper Bella experience, then there will be a $4.99 delivery fee. This is per order, not per person, so you’ll only pay the single fee even if you’re ordering food for everyone in your cabin. You might also want to add a tip on for your budget, so bear that in mind.
5. Entertainment
MSC cruise ships offer a range of entertainment every evening, in the main theatre but also in some other venues around the ship. This can include singers, dancers, acted performances and more. Comedy isn’t too common, just because of the multi-lingual nature of the ships.
None of this entertainment costs anything to enjoy – it’s all covered by the cost of the cruise fare.
It’s a nice way to pass the evening but make sure you head to the venue as early as you can if you want the best seats. The venues aren’t always designed very well and it’s not uncommon to be stuck behind a pillar, or for a venue to become very crowded.
6. Activities
MSC’s ships are packed with fun things to do during the day, but not all of them are covered by the cost of your cruise fare.
The waterparks are free, so you can swim or ride the slides as much as you want, but pretty much everything else will have a fee that you’ll need to pay. Some examples include:
Bowling – typically £25 for 30 minutes
Flight Simulator – £15 per go
Formula 1 Simulator – £12 per go
Arcade games – between £1.50 and £5
4D Cinema – £8
Those prices can quickly add up. But there is a way you can save – you can buy a Fun Pass.
The Fun Pass works differently depending on which ship you’re cruising on – for some, it offers all-inclusive activities, while on others, it gives you a set amount of bonus credit. So if you paid £100, you’d get £40 extra free to spend on the activities on the ship.
Paying for a Fun Pass doesn’t just save you money, it also makes it easier to budget for the activities. You can set a rule where, once the Fun Pass is spent, that’s the activities budget done.
MSC Cruises has some excellent kids clubs onboard, and is one of the few cruise lines to properly cater for babies. So it’s an even bigger relief to know that the kids’ clubs on the ship are available at no extra charge.
You can even enjoy free babysitting for babies and toddlers during the day in one-hour slots, so that you can enjoy your lunch and dinner in peace if you want to. You just need to make sure you’ve booked using the registration form.
Group babysitting is also available for children late at night, if you want to enjoy the nightlife on your ship. It’s available for children aged 3 and up, provided they are potty trained, and it costs $6 per child for the first hour, or $10 per child for the full three hours. The service is offered between 11 pm and 2 am.
8. Service Charges
As if the different experience fares you can book with MSC weren’t confusing enough, there’s one more quirk of MSC that can make budgeting a little tricker – daily gratuities. And that’s because sometimes they’re included, and sometimes they aren’t.
If you’re cruising from the UK, then the tips will be included. If you’re cruising from the US, then they won’t be, and you should expect to pay up to $14 per person, per day on your cruise.
For cruises in Europe it can vary but the cost will be similar if they aren’t included – make sure you check.
You’ll also want to remember other tips that you might want to pay – such as the luggage porters at port. It’s custom to give them a small tip and it helps to make sure they look after your bags for you.
9. WiFi
WiFi internet access is almost never included as standard with a cruise fare, and with MSC that’s no different – if you want to get online, you’ll need to pay extra.
The good news is that MSC’s packages are very well priced, with some of the lowest WiFi charges of any cruise line.
And, you aren’t forced to pay for the full duration of your cruise if you don’t want to – you can pay by the day, though it does work out a lot cheaper to pay for a full week.
There are three packages you can pick from:
Social – grants access to popular social media apps such as Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn, WhatsApp and Pinterest, but you won’t be able to use them for video calls
Surfer – everything in the Social package, but access to the web/emails
Streamer – full access to the internet including video and audio streaming.
WiFi Package
Cost Per Day
Cost For A 7-Night Cruise
Social
From €3.90
From €14.90
Surfer
From €9.90
From €29.90
Streamer
From €19.90
From €59.90
If you don’t want to pay for the WiFi, you can usually find free WiFi while you’re in port – chain restaurants, some bars and hotels are good places to try. Just make sure your phone is on airplane mode at other times, as roaming charges (especially at sea) can be astronomical.
10. Laundry
If you’re on a shorter MSC cruise, you’ll probably never need to use the laundry services, but for longer cruises, it can be more cost-effective to have some clothes washed instead of buying a whole holiday wardrobe.
MSC doesn’t offer self-service laundry unlike some other cruise lines, which means you have to use the laundry service. You can pay per item, or you can pay for a laundry package.
On a per-item basis, expect to pay around €3 per t-shirt or €9 for a dress. Packages start at €15 which gets you 10 items – so you can save a lot buying a package instead of paying for everything individually.
11. Flights and Transfers
One thing that isn’t included with an MSC cruise fare as standard is your flights. It’s possible to book a package through the cruise line, but most of the fares you see advertised will be cruise only.
Often you can save by booking your flights separately, either yourself or by using a travel agent to put together a package for you. You just need to be aware that, if something happens to your flight, the cruise ship won’t wait for you.
Give yourself plenty of time to get to your embarkation port, and make sure you have insurance. If you can, it’s best to fly the day before and book an overnight hotel so that you’re guaranteed to make the ship in time.
Don’t forget transfers, too – you need to get from the airport to the cruise port after all, and that’s another cost to factor in.
And if you’re sailing from Southampton (or from a port that’s in your own country) then you’ll need to still think about how you’re getting there. If you’re using public transport, budget for those costs, and if you’re driving, you’ll need to think about parking.
Shore excursions aren’t included in your cruise fare, and depending on the type of excursion, they can be pretty expensive if you book through the cruise line.
You have alternative options – in some ports, you might not need an excursion, and you can just wander off on your own to explore.
In others, look for local bus services or book excursions with a third party. You can often save a lot doing this, but the downside is that there’s a risk the ship will leave you behind if your excursion delays you in any way.
You could, of course, just stay on the ship – nobody’s forcing you to get off an explore, and this is a great way of keeping costs down.
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To Conclude
MSC Cruises can be very cheap, though for the lowest fares, you might end up with a cabin in a less-than-ideal location. You also need to think about drinks prices, and the activities you want to enjoy around the ship.
Look into the extra packages that are available. You can make your MSC cruise all-inclusive (or as good as) if you pay for a drinks package and a Fun Pass, but only if you’ll definitely make use of them.
With a bit of planning, and working out how much you’re likely to spend on extras, you can make sure you’ve budgeted for a great cruise with MSC.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
MSC Cruises offers a cross between American and Italian-style cruising, with a fleet that’s growing rapidly. Across the 22 ships currently in the fleet, there are some amazing experiences to be had. But it can all go a little bit wrong if you book the wrong cabin.
The thing is, the MSC ships are all quite different. The smallest ship in the fleet is around 30% the size of the biggest – that’s quite the difference. And the accommodation options across all those ships are pretty inconsistent, too.
Normally, when I write these cabins to avoid guides, like the Carnival cabins to avoid, or for individual ships like Wonder of the Seas cabins to avoid, I’ll say the same thing – there aren’t really any “bad” cabins, just ones that are suited to certain cruisers, and less so to others.
But with MSC, there are a couple of cabins that arguably are outright bad, and you might not be aware of them when you book.
Most of the cabins on this list are subjective, so relax – you’ll normally have a great time regardless, with maybe a minor issue that only slightly dampens the cruise.
Still, it’s good to be prepared, so here are the cabins to avoid on an MSC cruise.
1. Bella Balcony Cabins with metal fronts
When you book a cruise with MSC, you have the choice of three different cruise fares (though you may not be offered all three, if some of the fares have sold out). There’s Bella, Fantastica and Aurea.
Bella is the lowest rate, and part of the deal is that you get rooms in less desirable locations. You also don’t get to choose your cabin – it’s assigned to you by the cruise line.
If you book a Bella Balcony Cabin, there’s a high chance you’ll get one of the balconies that have a metal railing rather than a glass one. You can see what these look like in the photo below…
A metal railing is hardly the end of the world, but it’s a minor inconvenience that you’d rather avoid – it means that, when you’re sat on a chair on the balcony, you can’t see out – you get a lovely sky view, but you want to see the sea.
If you just want the fresh sea air, then a Bella Balcony is fine, but if you want to be able to enjoy the sea view without being stood at the railing, I’d recommend booking at least a Fantastica room.
I booked a Bella balcony on MSC Virtuosa, but when I saw what it would look like, I paid £160 extra to upgrade to a Fantastica balcony so I could pick my own cabin number.
As we were cruising with small kids, I wanted them to be able to see through the glass on the balcony. If they couldn’t, my fear was that they would be more likely to climb up to see over it.
The locks on the balcony doors are so low down that my six-year-old could easily open it, so we couldn’t take our eyes off them for a second.
2. Junior Aurea Suites that just aren’t worth it
Some of the newer MSC ships (MSC Seaside, MSC Seaview, MSC Seashore, MSC Seascape, MSC World Europa) have a suite option called the Junior Aurea Suite.
It’s similar in style to Junior Suites on other cruise ships – intended as a sort of entry point into suite-level accommodations, though without all the fancy bells and whistles that a better suite would get you.
Junior Suite on MSC World Europa
However, a Junior Aurea Suite isn’t quite the upgrade on a Balcony Cabin that you’d hope it would be. The only real difference is that the balcony itself is larger – potentially by as much as 11 square metres, sure, but is that worth a potential extra £500 per person or more?
The stateroom size is identical – 17 square metres for both a Junior Aurea Suite and a Deluxe Balcony Aurea on MSC Seashore, as an example. And you don’t get any of the suite perks you’d get for booking a better suite.
As one past guest discovered, you can actually end up paying more for a worse position if you upgrade – and then MSC will try to charge you more again if you want to reverse your decision:
If you were looking at booking a Junior Aurea Suite, I’d consider saving yourself the money and picking a Deluxe Balcony Cabin instead, especially when you consider which side of the ship you want to cruise on as that passenger did. Or, splash a little extra to choose a higher suite class.
3. Accessible Cabins that aren’t really accessible
On pretty much every cruise ship sailing for the major cruise lines, a handful of rooms are converted for wheelchair and scooter users, designated as Accessible rooms. They can be any class – cruise lines tend to offer a small variety of inside, oceanview, balcony and suite options so that guests with accessibility needs aren’t limited in choice.
However, some of the accessible rooms on MSC ships aren’t actually very well designed. Technically, they are accessible – they will have the necessary bathroom adjustments, and they will be big enough for a wheelchair or scooter to manoeuvre through, but only just.
It seems like no thought has been put into making the rooms comfortable or easy to use.
Check out this video from MSC Virtuosa to see what an Accessible Balcony looks like – the wheelchair barely fits down the end of the bed, the fold-down bed on the wall makes it hard to get past, and the ramp that’s been fitted to the balcony isn’t flush to the floor so gives quite the bump.
It’s not the only video review I’ve seen complaining about the comfort of these rooms, which seem very much like an afterthought on some MSC ships. Sister ship MSC Grandiosa has the same issues.
Here’s another from MSC Meraviglia too:
But on some of the newest ships, the rooms seem to have a much better layout. The thing is, if you book a wheelchair-accessible room, you need it to be accessible, right? There’s just no excuse for such poor design here.
4. Cabins without a bed!
If you were to list off the essentials for a cruise cabin – something that all cabins should have as a bare minimum – I’m fairly certain that “a bed” would be very close to the top of the list.
And yet…
If you choose selected Studio Solo Inside cabins on MSC Meraviglia, designed for one passenger, you might find that instead of a bed, you get a single sofa bed.
Sofa beds in cruise cabins are a pretty common feature, but as a second bed – they always have a proper bed for the first guests. Not so in these rooms, though, as my friend Fraser demonstrates…
It appears to be a particular design quirk of MSC Meraviglia only. I’ve checked other deck plans and there don’t seem to be the same rooms – even on Meraviglia’s sister ship the MSC Bellissima.
Here’s the MSC Meraviglia deck plan – check the light pink rooms 10003 and 10004 at the front of the ship, and 10074 nestled among the other inside rooms:
And here’s the same deck on sister ship Bellissima:
5. Cabins next to crew stairwells
MSC Cruises’ ships are generally ‘busier’ than most other cruise ships – and it’s not because they cram more people onto each ship, or because they build massive ships.
It’s because MSC runs itineraries a little differently to other cruise lines. Instead of every cruise having a set embarkation and disembarkation port, many actually have extended sailings with different start and end ports.
So, your cruise might begin in Southampton, but then when you reach Barcelona, your cruise is only half-complete but other people are boarding the ship to start their cruise.
This can mean that, on some itineraries, there are people boarding and leaving the ship almost every day. And this can cause issues if you get a cabin next to a crew stairwell.
See, every night, guests who are leaving the ship will place their suitcases outside their stateroom door, and the crew then move them ready for disembarkation. And that’s not a quiet job, with cases being lugged downstairs every night.
That means that MSC’s crew-stairwell-adjacent rooms tend to suffer much more disturbance than they would on a regular ship, as is explained in this video…
To avoid these rooms, you should look for cabins that are adjacent to a stairwell or a blank space on the deck plan – as sometimes the crew stairs aren’t marked on the deck plan. Instead, try to book a cabin surrounded by other cabins.
Here’s the MSC Preziosa deck plan with the cabin featured in that video (cabin 12079)
6. Cabins that run parallel to corridors
Another point that the video above makes is about cabins that run parallel to corridors, instead of perpendicular. By that, I mean the long cabin wall is next to the corridor, rather than just the doorway.
Examples in that MSC Preziosa deck plan image include 12064, 12076, 12079 and 12091. You’ll find rooms in similar locations on MSC Divina, MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia, and in other locations on the rest of the fleet.
If you choose one of these cabins, you’re much more likely to suffer from noise disturbances whenever people are moving around. Instead of them just passing by your door (which is one of the better soundproofing parts of a room), they’re walking all the way along most of the wall.
So, if your ship happens to have a lot of early risers, or late-night party animals, or just plain rude people who don’t keep quiet in corridors, then you’re going to hear them a lot.
7. Connecting cabins (if you don’t need them)
Connecting cabins are found on many cruise ships. It’s where you have two adjacent cabins with a door between them that remains locked throughout your cruise. However, if your party books both rooms, you can have the door unlocked and turn two cabins into one, larger shared space.
The problem comes if you only book one though. The connecting door isn’t the thickest material and does a worse job of soundproofing than a regular wall. If you end up with noisy neighbours, you’ll hear them much clearer and louder than you would in a non-connecting room.
And, of course, if you’re loud during your cruise, it means they’ll hear you, too.
These are great cabins if you need both together, otherwise it’s best to look elsewhere on the ship.
8. Cramped Oceanview Cabins with barely any light
Some of the Oceanview cabins on older Lirica-class MSC ships are particularly small at around 13 square metres or 140 square feet, and feel even smaller if they’re rooms that can sleep up to four guests.
Oceanview cabin on MSC Armonia (Expect similar on MSC Sinfonia, MSC Lirica and MSC Opera)
The Pullman beds in these rooms are the fold-down options, rather than those hidden in the ceilings, so even when they aren’t in use, they take up quite a bit of space.
When you then add in the fact that the rooms have a picture window, you end up with a cramped space that, at times, might not get much light. You’ll get some, sure, and it’s better than a porthole, but you should be prepared for a room that might feel a little claustrophobic if you prefer to have lots of space to get ready.
You may prefer to just get a cheaper Inside room and save a little money.
It’s not so much an issue on newer ships – even the Musica-class (MSC Musica, MSC Orchestra, MSC Poesia and MSC Magnifica) have bigger Oceanview cabins.
9. Obstructed view cabins
Most cruise ships have rooms with an obstructed view – or as MSC calls them in the deck plans, “Cabins with a partial view”.
This is where either your window or balcony view will be obscured by something – either a part of the ship’s structure or, quite commonly, the lifeboats outside the ship.
Balconies behind a lifeboat on MSC Virtuosa
These aren’t bad cabins, since you’ll often be able to get them at a discounted rate. But think about whether they’re worth booking anyway, and what you want from the view.
If you are booking a balcony to be able to look out to sea, would it maybe be better to choose a cheaper Oceanview cabin that isn’t obstructed?
10. Cabins that can be worse for seasickness
If you’re prone to motion sickness, then you may suffer from seasickness when you’re on a cruise ship. There are ways to prevent seasickness, and one of those is choosing a cabin in the right location.
The higher you are on a ship, the more you’ll feel the movement of the waves. The same also applies to how close you are to the front (forward) or rear (aft) of the ship.
MSC Divina
A high forward or aft cabin on your cruise ship could therefore be one of the worst options, if seasickness is a concern. Instead, choose a cabin that’s on a lower deck, as close to the mid-ship as possible.
Aim for a room with a view too – either an Oceanview, Balcony, or Suite. Focussing on the horizon can help, as can fresh air, so a room with a balcony could be ideal.
11. Overlooked Balcony Cabins
Privacy is not always guaranteed when you book a Balcony Cabin or a Suite on an MSC Cruises ship. Many of the ships have a design that includes a wider central section, which results in a handful of rooms having larger balconies.
Here’s an example of the MSC Seaside deck plans…
If you look a little closer, you’ll see how rooms like 10071 and 10075 have larger balconies, but that means they overlook the balconies in rooms 10065, 10067 and 10069.
The problem is worse from higher decks too – so 11071 would have an even better view into those 10th-deck rooms from above.
On some ships, the lower balconies jut out from the ones above, so anyone looking down will see straight on these, like this…
With any balcony, always check the deck plan for the design of the ship – this will help you identify where other balconies could overlook your own, if you would rather avoid having someone else being able to see into yours.
12. Cabins with ‘private’ whirlpools
Many of the modern MSC ships are advertised as having a private whirlpool on the balcony for guests to use, which is a really nice feature. The whirlpools are a decent size too, with enough space for a couple to share in comfort.
The problem with them is that they aren’t very ‘private’. Because of the shape of these balconies, they’re also overlooked by guests with other suites nearby.
It might not be that important to you, but a lot of people will want to enjoy a whirlpool in their swimwear in a little more privacy – otherwise, you might as well just head to the public whirlpools on the pool decks.
13. Rooms below the pool deck
The most common advice when choosing a cruise ship cabin on any ship is to try to book one with cabins above and below you. Even if you are on a ship with a particularly rowdy crowd, ‘people sounds’ tend to be the quietest on a ship.
Choosing a room below the pool deck can be one of the worst locations, especially if you like a lie-in each morning. That’s because the sound of loungers being dragged across the wooden deck will really reverberate through your ceiling and sound pretty nasty.
Of course, if you’re going to be one of those early risers who want to secure their lounger, then the closer to the pool deck, the better.
After all, crew members don’t enforce any rules about reserving loungers on MSC ships. So if you don’t get up at the crack of dawn and put your towel down, your other option is to move other people’s stuff when you want to sit down.
14. Rooms under the buffet
The buffet restaurants are another area of MSC ships that seems to be particularly noisy. Not just from the guests, but the kitchen spaces for these restaurants can be quite loud, and is often heard through the ceilings of the rooms below.
It’s not a huge issue, since the buffet isn’t open super-late, but it’s another one to bear in mind if you want a good night’s sleep.
15. Rooms above the theatre
A room above the theatre is always one to avoid on any cruise ship, MSC Cruises included. The reason for this is that they can be very noisy, not only during performances, but during rehearsals.
The shows on MSC Cruises can start very late, and often go on well past 11 pm. So if you like to go to bed early, then a room directly above the theatre will certainly be one to avoid. Be sure to check the deck plan for this.
16. Shaded balconies
If you like to sit on your balcony and enjoy the sunshine, then you’ll want to avoid any balconies that an under an overhanging canopy, like this…
As mentioned earlier, many of the ships have wider and narrower sections. If your balcony is higher up and in one of the narrower sections, then you can expect to not have any sun shining on it at all.
This could be an advantage if you prefer the shade. And if it’s rainy on your cruise, it can be great too, as you can sit outside without getting wet!
Final word
Whether you’re booking a cruise on the oldest MSC ships, such as MSC Armonia, or one of the newest, like MSC Euribia, there are a few key cabin types you might want to avoid.
Some aren’t going to be an issue on every ship, but with this guide, you should know what to look for when you check the deck plans.
If you’re concerned about your room, I’d recommend booking a Fantastica or Aurea cruise fare, since you’ll get to choose your cabin number – if you opt for the cheaper Bella rate, you could end up with something you really don’t like.
Links to MSC Cruises Deck Plans:
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
MSC Cruises is a really interesting cruise line that seems to split opinions. Some people think it’s one of the worst cruise lines going, and really don’t enjoy their time on board. Others love MSC, especially the low prices.
It’s the same with the ships – they all have mixed reviews. But which ones score highest, and which are the worst? In this guide, I’ll rank them all.
How I gathered the data
I’ve been on several MSC cruises, but I certainly haven’t experienced all 22 of the ships, so it wouldn’t be fair for me to rank them all based on my opinion.
Plus, that’s super-subjective – I might’ve had a really good or really bad experience on a ship that wasn’t normal.
So instead, I’ve ranked these ships based on the average review scores from three of the biggest cruise review websites – Cruise Critic, Cruiseline.com and TripAdvisor.
I’ve done these guides for other cruise lines in the past including ranking the Royal Caribbean ships and the Carnival ships. And I always state that “worst” is to be taken with a pinch of salt because the lowest scores are still what you’d consider to be above average.
With MSC, that’s still sort of the case, but not quite as clearly. The lowest-ranked ship on this list scores 2.8 out of 5. Bear in mind you can’t score ships as 0 out of 5, so a pure average would be 3 out of 5.
So a 2.8 out of 5 isn’t great, and also the best ship only scores 3.57 out of 5 – hardly setting the scoring chart alight.
When I tell you that the worst Royal Caribbean ship scored an average of 3.77 out of 5, and only two Carnival ships scored lower than MSC’s best score, you get a clearer idea of how people view MSC’s ships…
The best MSC ship is…
According to customer reviews across three major websites, the best MSC Cruises ship is MSC Bellissima, which launched in 2019 and was the second of the Meraviglia class. The worst cruise ship according to reviews is the MSC Seascape, also one of the newest ships in the fleet.
1. MSC Bellissima
MSC Bellissima is the second ship in the Meraviglia class, and having launched in 2019 she’s one of the newer ships in the fleet. Described as a “big, bold and boisterous” ship in an expert review, she really is packed with features, a lot of which are tailored towards families.
Highlights of the ship include two Cirque at Sea shows and an impressive kids club, but part of the ship’s charm is also her downfall – she’s so busy that finding spaces where you can enjoy a bit of peace and quiet time is often a challenge.
2. MSC Seaside
MSC Seaside launched the Seaside Class of ship in 2017 – a ship that was designed to be smaller than the recent Meraviglia Class, aiming to provide a calmer atmosphere.
While she does have water slides, a kids club and other family features, there’s more of a focus on spaces to relax.
Positive reviews focus on how attractive the ship is, and the variety of food, although there are also a lot of negative reviews about the food quality being lacking (including some criticisms that the food is too Italian-focussed – be aware this is an Italian cruise line!)
While she may have scored high in terms of reviews, unfortunately, this ship didn’t score quite so highly on its hygiene inspection. MSC Seaside failed an inspection by the CDC, meaning that it’s level of cleanliness had dropped below the acceptable level.
3. MSC Euribia
The newest ship in the MSC Cruises fleet, MSC Euribia has clearly done well since she launched, appearing high on this ranking list.
She’s beautifully modern, has some great dining venues and lots to entertain guests so I’m not surprised she’s one of the more popular MSC ships.
4. MSC Sinfonia
It’s telling that, despite almost half the fleet of MSC ships launching since 2017, MSC Sinfonia is the fourth most popular ship in the fleet even though she is the second-eldest, having first set sail in 2002.
Like the rest of the Lirica Class, she’s much smaller than the most recent ships, and positive reviews focus more on the attentive service and the quality of itinerary rather than how much there is to do onboard.
If you want a simple, cheap cruise then MSC Sinfonia could be an ideal choice.
5. MSC Seaview
MSC Seaview is the sister ship to MSC Seaside, and she offers a very similar experience. Guests enjoy the fact that she’s a slightly smaller ship than the very largest ones, although she is still much bigger than older ships in the fleet, giving a good balance of space and features.
A lot of the positive reviews also talk about the Yacht Club and the speciality restaurants – bear in mind these both mean paying more, so you might want to look at other ship options for a budget cruise.
6. MSC Meraviglia
MSC Meraviglia is the sister to MSC Bellissima, and her average review score is only 0.2 lower, so you can expect a very similar experience – tons of things for the family to do, a huge kids club, and a very lively atmosphere throughout your sailing.
Points are lost because of the quality of the food in the main dining restaurant, but that’s a common thread across the cruise line. Some reviewers have also said that things can feel a little disorganised or even chaotic, since the ship is so busy.
7. MSC Musica
MSC Musica is a mid-sized ship – around 50% larger than the smallest ships in the MSC fleet, but also only around half the size of the biggest ships.
And based on reviews, she definitely splits opinions – one of the best-reviewed features is the crew, but they also attract some of the biggest criticisms. You can’t please everyone.
She’s a little more dated than other ships in the fleet, and would be a little more boring for families compared to the newer feature-packed ships, but she has good food, a relaxing atmosphere and a fun atmosphere that is very international.
8. MSC Divina
MSC Divina is the first of the Fantasia-class ships to appear on this list, and when she debuted she offered a few modifications on her earlier sisters, making her slightly larger.
She launched with luxury decor but in the 10+ years since that now looks a bit more dated to some guests’ taste – it’s a lot of red and gold, although the atrium still sparkles.
She is a good ‘overall’ MSC ship – positive reviews touch on everything, including the service, the food, and the evening entertainment. A reliable choice if you want the MSC experience.
9. MSC Preziosa
MSC Preziosa is very similar to her sister ship MSC Divina and it’s no surprise that they are back-to-back in this list. Indeed they have identical averages so Preziosa could’ve been placed higher.
The more positive reviews really focus on how the ship is excellent for the price you pay, while negatives tend to focus on the atmosphere being a bit too loud – not just from the crowd but from the various bars and entertainment venues playing music at high volumes.
10. MSC Grandiosa
The MSC Grandiosa launched in 2019 as the first Meraviglia-Plus ship – designed to be similar to the Meraviglia ships, but bigger and better. So why does she rank below both of them?
People love the variety of things to do, but the negative reviews all talk about how service feels poor on this ship – it’s too big, too busy and it hasn’t been thought through, so there are often long lines, or the overall quality of service just isn’t as good as on smaller ships.
11. MSC Splendida
MSC Splendida is a Fantasia-class ship that launched in 2009, so in terms of both the age and size of the ship, she’s very much in the average of the fleet. For her size there’s a lot to do on-board, but not so much that you can’t find quiet spaces to relax either.
Unfortunately, the biggest letdown seems to be the food – the free options aren’t the best quality and there aren’t too many choices for speciality restaurants when you want to upgrade to something a bit fancier.
12. MSC Armonia
MSC Armonia is the oldest ship in the MSC fleet, and is almost identical to her sister ship MSC Sinfonia. Sinfonia is the outlier – it’s not as much of a surprise that Armonia is lower since compared to other ships in the fleet she is older and has less to do on board.
While the daytime facilities may be lacking, her evening entertainment still gets positive feedback and the crew are praised for their attentive service – no doubt helped by the fact it’s a smaller ship that tends to be quieter.
13. MSC Virtuosa
MSC Virtuosa is one of the newest ships in the MSC fleet, and as the second Meraviglia-Plus Class ship she is also the third-largest (MSC Euribia, another Meraviglia Plus ship, is slightly larger). This means she is packed with exciting things to do day and night, and she looks amazing. So why is she in the bottom half of reviews?
Again, she’s a victim of poor planning. The biggest criticisms all focus on just how busy the ship constantly feels – long queues for food or entertainment, crowded spaces, and a lack of quiet locations where you can take things easy.
I’ve cruised on MSC Virtuosa twice. The first time I had a great time and the second, not so much. But this was just as cruising was returning in 2021, and the guest-to-crew ratio certainly varied a lot at that point.
MSC’s largest ship, MSC World Europa, was marketed by MSC as the future of cruising. She has some exciting features, including a lot of tech-infused attractions aimed at giving families thrilling memories.
The theme of reviews seems to be that she’s very much a work-in-progress. We know that MSC’s biggest ships often suffer with service and wait times, and while it’s early days for MSC World Europa, she’s suffering from similar criticisms. Things may improve once the crew are more experienced with the ship.
MSC Fantasia is starting to show her age a little – she’s over 15 years old, and while she has been well-maintained she doesn’t have the same contemporary look and feel that many of MSC’s newer ships do.
Having said that, if you want a classic MSC cruise – good Italian food, a lively international atmosphere and plenty of fun evening entertainment, all for a low price – then she’s as good a choice as any other ship on this list.
16. MSC Seashore
MSC Seashore was the first of the Seaside EVO Class ships to launch for MSC, enhancing the design of the two Seaside-class ships. Her main improvements over the Seaside-class ships are behind the scenes, making her more environmentally friendly, although she does have more outdoor spaces too.
The recurring criticism of MSC ships feeling too busy repeats itself with this ship (with one review I spotted asking if cruise ships can be overbooked!) – again, guests just feel like they aren’t getting the service they deserve, even with the low cruise fares.
17. MSC Poesia
MSC Poesia is part of the Musica class, and similar to MSC Musica she’s a good choice if you aren’t looking for an overwhelming crowd or an extensive range of features – if you’re happy lounging by the pool during the day, provided there’s good entertainment at night, then Poesia is worth your attention.
Reviews even describe her as a good “old school” ship, and beyond the lack of daytime facilities the main criticisms are around the food choices, but most people acknowledge she is a budget cruise ship and that the food is fine for the price you pay.
18. MSC Magnifica
MSC Magnifica was the last of the Musica-class ships to be built and while she is slightly larger than her three sister ships, the experience is relatively unchanged. Expect a comfortable ship that isn’t super-modern but is well-maintained and plenty of space to relax during the day.
Negative reviews talk about the food again, and the lack of things to do during the day, but a lot of the feedback seems to be from people who’ve cruised with other lines, and are surprised that this cheaper ship isn’t at the same standard.
19. MSC Lirica
MSC Lirica is another Lirica-class ship, actually, the third to launch in 2003. Being over 20 years old, she is definitely showing her age in some places – she’s generally well maintained but don’t expect the same modern look and feel as the latest ships in the fleet offer.
She’s not a great choice for families with teens or anyone who enjoys a lot of daytime activities, but for that relaxing smaller ship vibe at a lower price bracket, she’s a good choice if you enjoy quiet days by the poolside.
20. MSC Orchestra
MSC Orchestra is a twin of MSC Musica and she enjoys similar praise and suffers similar criticisms as that ship. People who know what to expect from an MSC cruise enjoy the relaxing atmosphere and the friendly crew, while those choosing MSC Orchestra after experiencing other cruise lines are often disappointed with the food and the lack of things to do.
She’s a good ship for younger families, especially on busier itineraries where you can enjoy the fun kids club or the days in port, but older teens will likely be bored by the lack of excitement during the day.
21. MSC Opera
MSC Opera is the final Lirica-class ship and she offers a very similar experience – not a whole lot to do during the day, but some wholesome entertainment at night, good service and a decent selection of food even if the actual dining venues themselves are limited.
Criticisms of the ship focus on her being a little tired, and having a design that’s not always easy to navigate, but she gets a lot of positive talk too from guests who know what to expect from an older MSC ship.
22. MSC Seascape
I was surprised that MSC Seascape – a newer ship launched in 2022 – finished bottom of this list. She has so much to see and do, her design is gorgeous and families would typically have a great time on-board.
But, considering how new ships often score low due to teething problems, and seeing the wider issues for MSC with its larger ships as I’ve detailed above, it’s not as shocking as I first thought. Expect reviews to improve in time, but also don’t choose this ship if you want a quiet, calm cruise.
There’s no single answer on which is the best MSC ship for everybody because the ships are all different. Even the lowest-reviewed ships will actually better suit some people. It always depends on what you want from your cruise ship, which is why it’s important to research your options before you book.
The newer ships are packed with more to do during the day, but as you can see from the reviews and the rankings above, that often means they feel really busy, and the service can suffer.
If you’re looking for a more relaxing cruise, you’re better off choosing one of the older ships that is smaller and tends to have more focus on outdoor space.
While all of the MSC ships to have launched in the last few years are beautifully decorated and feature attractive artwork pieces, the MSC Seaside is regarded as one of the nicest ships in the fleet – she is very stylish, not too large, and very comfortable.
The best MSC cruise ship for families is the MSC World Europa. The largest ship in the fleet, she is packed with features to keep everyone entertained, including water slides, virtual reality experiences and more.
If slides are important, then it’s worth noting that the MSC Fantasia, MSC Splendida, MSC Divina, MSC Preziosa, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Bellissima, MSC Grandiosa, MSC Virtuosa, MSC Seaside, MSC Seaview, MSC Seashore, MSC Seascape and MSC World Europa are the ones that have slides. Some older ships have small slides for children only.
And if you want a luxury experience then the MSC Yacht Club – a “ship within a ship” luxury suite club, is available on MSC Bellissima, MSC Divina, MSC Fantasia, MSC Grandiosa, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Preziosa, MSC Seascape, MSC Seashore, MSC Seaside, MSC Seaview, MSC Splendida, MSC Virtuosa and MSC World Europa.
The bottom line
Cruising with MSC definitely isn’t for everyone, but the cruise line is determined in its goal to become the biggest cruise company in the world. So expect them to keep building shiny new ships, and doing everything they can to make their current ships as popular as possible.
I think what’s clear from the reviews is that, if you go on an MSC cruise and you know what to expect from a cheap cruise line, you’ll enjoy it. But if you go with expectations that are higher than the cruise line maybe warrants, you’ll definitely be disappointed.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Taking a look at the MSC drinks menus before your cruise can be a good way to know what drinks are available on board, how much the drinks cost, and whether to buy a drink package or not.
If you’ve not yet decided whether to get a drinks package or which one to get out of the five different packages that MSC Cruises offer, then be sure to take a look at my MSC Cruises Drink Package Guide.
That will give you all the info you need to easily work out whether the drinks package is worth it or not.
In this guide to the drinks menus on MSC Cruises ships, you’ll be able to see photos of the drinks menus from each of the bars, lounges and restaurants.
MSC’s drink prices
Here’s a quick summary of what you should expect to pay for drinks on an MSC cruise:
Drink
Cost
Beer & cider
£7.50 to £9
Glass of wine
£8 to £10
Bottle of wine
£31 to £79
Cocktails
£10
Premium cocktails
£14 to £17
Spirits
£8 to £14
Soft drink
£3 to £3.50
Mocktails
£7
Energy drinks
£5.50
Mineral water (still or sparkling)
£2.50 to £3.50
It can be tricky knowing whether you should buy drinks individually, or pay for a drinks package, but I can help.
My drinks package calculator will give you an estimate of how much you’ll spend on drinks, and whether it would be better to pay for a package.
Just drop your email below and I’ll send it to you.
On MSC cruises, cocktails are always a popular choice, especially when sitting by one of the swimming pools.
All drinks served outside or by the pool are served in plastic glasses. They are nice plastic glasses, however, particularly the tall cocktail glasses. All of the drinking straws on MSC Cruises are biodegradable.
On MSC Cruises ships you cannot take your drinks into the pools or hot tubs as you can with other cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean.
Fruit Smoothie and Miami Vice
Here’s a closer look at what’s on the menu…
MSC Cruises’ cocktail bar menu is the one that you’ll find in most of the indoor bars and lounges such as the Sky Lounge.
As well as cocktails, you’ll find as a large selection of beers, wines, spirits, and hot drinks.
Jamaican Paradise and Ultimate Mai Tai
Here’s a closer look at what’s on the menu…
The British Pub on MSC Virtuosa is called Masters of the Seas. On other ships it has a different name such as The Brass Anchor on MSC Meraviglia.
If you love beer, this is the place to be as you’ll find 12 different beers on draft as well as a huge selection of bottled beers and beer-based cocktails.
Beer Mojito and Black Velvet
Here’s a closer look at the menu…
In the Main Dining Rooms, each of the lunch and dinner menus has a section headed ‘Sommelier Recommends’ where you can choose from a selection of wines of the day.
Here a closer look at that…
However, you can also order anything from the full wine list. If you have a drink package, it makes sense to order by the glass as wines by the bottle are not included in any package.
When you order by the glass, some of the serving sizes can vary quite a lot! This is a photo of a glass of rose wine that in ordered in the Main Dining Room on MSC Virtuosa last year. (No, I hadn’t drank any before I took the photo!)
And below is a photo of a glass of rose wine that I ordered in the main dining room on sister ship MSC Euribia this year. It’s about three times as big!
Below is a closer look at MSC Cruises wine menus so you can see what else is available…
In the Marketplace Buffet restaurant on MSC Cruises, there is a simple drinks menu with beers, wines, soft drinks and coffees.
At breakfast, if you ask for coffee or fruit juice in the buffet, it will be given to you from the machines. These drinks are free for everyone, with or without a drinks package, and they’re not the best.
However, if you do have a drink package then you should ask for freshly squeezed juices and a latte or cappuccino. These are included in the package but you won’t get them unless you ask specifically.
On MSC Virtuosa, there’s a robot bartender called Rob who makes drinks for you in the Starship Club.
You can order a drink from Rob using the touchscreens that are located in the bar. There’s a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to choose from, or you can create your own.
Drinks made by Rob the robot cost £18 for alcoholic drinks and £10 for non-alcoholic drinks. They come in a souvenir cup which you get to take home in a box.
Drinks made by the robot aren’t included in the MSC drinks packages, but you can order from a human server instead if you want the free drinks.
Minibar Price List
Each cabin on MSC Cruises ships has a refrigerated minibar that is refilled daily.
Drinks from the minibar are not included in the standard drink package are may be included in some upgrade drinks packages or in Yacht Club Suites.
MSC Cruises ships each have a variety of indoor and outdoor bars, lounges and restaurants. Oftentimes, you’ll see that the same menu is used in more than one venue.
For example, the Pool Bar Menu will be found in all of the outdoor bars as well as the Tropical Bar which is by the indoor pool. Most of the cocktail bars will have the same Cocktail Bar Menu.
There are, however, some drink lists which you can only get in one venue – such as the Champagne bar or the Starship Club.
Me in the Champagne Bar on MSC Euribia
Online and paper menus
MSC Cruises uses online menus wherever possible. On each table, there’s a sign with a QR code which you can scan with your mobile phone and it will take you to the menu.
You’ll need to be connected to the ship’s wifi to see the menus. You don’t need a wifi package to do this, so it won’t cost you anything.
If you don’t have a mobile device or don’t feel comfortable reading menus on one, paper menus are always available. Just ask one of the waiters for one and they won’t mind at all.
How to order drinks
Although the menus are online, you cannot order drinks online on MSC Cruises ships. Instead, you just tell a waiter what you would like.
Wherever you’re sitting, even if it’s on a sunlounger, the servers will come over regularly to ask if you would like a drink.
In the buffet, some ships have a button you can press that will call the waiter over, which is great!
To conclude
MSC Cruises drinks prices are broadly similar to other cruise lines. The cocktails aren’t particularly strong and the glasses of wine can be fairly small, so you may drink more than you expect to.
If you’re wondering whether to buy a package or not, be sure to take a look at my MSC drink package guidewhich has information about the various packages and also lists the drinks that are always free or charge with or without a drink package.
Don’t forget about my drinks package calculator too!
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
When you book a cruise with MSC Cruises, as well as deciding all the usual things such as which is the best ship, which cabin type to go for and whether to buy the drinks package, you’ll have an extra decision to make…
MSC Cruises offers three different ‘experiences’ which are named Bella, Fantastica and Aurea. Each has different benefits and a different price, so you can decide whether you want a budget-friendly cruise, or to pay a little more for lots of added extras.
If you’re trying to decide whether to go for the Bella experience, the Fantastica Experience or the Aurea experience for your next cruise, read on and I’ll help you to make the right decision based on your preferences…
We upgraded from Bella to Fantastica
MSC Cruises changed what’s included in the Bella, Fantastica and Aurea packages from 2023 onwards. This guide has all the latest info – some of the info you find from other sources may not be up to date.
Benefits
Bella
Fantastica
Aurea
Make changes to your booking
For a fee
Free once
Free once
Choose your own cabin
No
YES
YES
Free continental breakfast in your cabin
Delivery fee applies
Free
Free
Discounted drinks package when you book
Yes
YES
YES
Free delivery for room service (24-hour)
No
YES
YES
Access to the Thermal Area
No
No
YES
Welcome Prosecco & Chocolates
No
No
YES
Choose your dining time
No
No
YES
Access to the Top Exclusive Solarium
No
No
YES
Spa discounts
No
No
YES
Priority boarding & luggage drop-off
No
No
YES
Available in cabins
Balcony and below
All
Balcony and Suite
MSC Bella Experience
MSC Cruises’ Bella experience is the standard cruise package with no extra cost. You’ll get everything that you would expect on a cruise – accommodation, meals, entertainment and use of the kids’ clubs and leisure facilities.
The Bella experience includes the following…
Accommodation
With the Bella experience, you don’t get to choose your cabin, and it’ll be located somewhere in the less-desirable areas of the ship such as right at the front, right at the back or somewhere noisy like right above the nightclub.
If you choose a Bella balcony cabin, it may have a metal rail rather than glass, which means that you would have to stand up to enjoy the view. Bella balcony cabins sometimes have obstructed views or they may be in locations that are prone to being windy or shaded.
As you can see from the following photo, the Bella balconies have metal fronts, so if you have kids aged about six or under, they won’t be able to see out. This could make it more tempting for them to climb on furniture, so I’d avoid these balconies with young kids.
That said, not all Bella cabins are bad, some of them are actually just as good as Fantastica cabins. So check the deck plan before you decide.
If you want to change your Bella stateroom or your booking, you’ll be charged an admin fee.
When I stayed in this inside cabin we had the Bella experience
Food and drink
With MSC Cruises’ Bella experience, you’ll be able to dine in the buffet or one of the main dining rooms at no charge, as well as having the option to eat in the speciality restaurants for an extra fee if you wish.
You can submit a preference for an early or late sitting, but there’s no guarantee that your request will be met as the first choices are given to guests who have booked the Fantastica or Aurea packages.
You’ll also be able to book a drinks package with a discount when you book your cruise. If you don’t book it when you book the cruise, you won’t get the discount.
Activities
With the Bella experience, you’ll be able to use the ship’s pools, gym, sports facilities and see shows in the theatre at no charge. Your children can attend sessions in the kids club each day for no extra cost.
Loyalty points
Whichever experience you choose, you’ll earn MSC Voyagers Club points which will give you discounts and perks on future cruises.
Not available with suites…
You can select the Bella experience when you book any Interior, Ocean View or Balcony Cabin. You can’t select the Bella experience if you want to stay in a Suite.
MSC Fantastica Experience
The Fantastica experience is an upgrade to MSC Cruises’ standard package. For an extra cost, you’ll enjoy a range of perks such as a cabin in a better location, the first choice of dinner sittings and more flexible booking terms.
The Fantastica experience includes…
Accommodation
When you upgrade to the Fantastica experience, you get to choose your own cabin, and you’ll have more choices of where to book your room, but you still won’t be able to select from the most desirable areas of the ship – that’s reserved for Aurea.
The wider choice of accommodation means that you may have the option of a sofa bed for kids, rather than a Pullman bed.
Our Fantastica Balcony Room on MSC Virtuosa with sofa bed
If you make the wrong choice with your cabin, you’ll be able to change it for free. If MSC Cruises have to change your cabin number for operational reasons, they will give you an upgrade.
If you wish to change your cruise dates or destination, you’ll be able to do this once for free. However, you’ll need to do it at least one month before departure and the new date must be within three months of the original. You should also note that it doesn’t state that you’re allowed to change the ship, just the date and destination.
Food and drink
As well as dining in the buffet and main restaurants, if you choose MSC Cruises’ Fantastica experience you can also enjoy breakfast delivered to your cabin at no charge.
For a little while they did remove this benefit, but now it’s back.
If you choose the Fantastica experience, you’re allowed to request your preferred dining time, but it’s subject to availability. So you aren’t guaranteed it still.
And in 2022, another benefit was added for Fantastica guests so they now also get a 20% discount on a dedicated speciality restaurant pre-paid package.
Activities
Just the same as the Bella experience, you’ll be able to use the ship’s pools, gym, sports facilities and see shows in the theatre at no charge. There are no longer any extra activities like cooking classes and foreign language classes for kids staying in Fantastica accommodation.
Services
Last year, a photographer would circle around the main dining room on Mediterranean Night taking photos and you could collect a printed photo for free from the photo counter. This is no longer a perk for Fantastica guests so if you do want any photos, you’ll have to pay for them.
Loyalty points
Whichever experience you choose, you’ll earn MSC Voyagers Club points which will give you discounts and perks on future cruises.
Fantastica’s available with any cabin type
You can upgrade to the Fantastica experience when you book any cabin type, including Interior, Ocean View, Balcony and Suite.
Bella Vs Fantastica – what’s the difference?
When you upgrade from Bella to Fantastica you will get:
Choice of cabin location
Free room service at breakfast time
Choice of dinner sittings (subject to availability)
Opportunity to change your cabin, cruise date or destination for free
The Aurea experience is MSC Cruises’ top package. For an extra cost, you’ll enjoy benefits like access to exclusive areas of the ship, priority boarding and discounted spa treatments. However, MSC Cruises no longer offers free drinks for Aurea guests.
The Aurea experience includes…
Accommodation
One of the main MSC Aurea benefits is that it lets you choose from the best locations for Balcony cabins and Suites. You’ll also get a bathrobe and slippers in your cabin, and a pillow menu so you can get the best night’s sleep.
Food and drink
In previous years, the main benefit of the Aurea package is that you would get a free Easy drink package. This would entitle you to free draught beer, house wines, selected spirits and cocktails, soft drinks, fruit juices, bottled water and classic hot drinks.
You also get a ‘welcome package’ with prosecco and chocolates in your room on departure day.
The MSC Aurea experience also gives you the option to enjoy My Choice dining in a dedicated restaurant or area as well as a 20% discount on a prepaid speciality dining package. Plus you get free delivery on room service 24 hours a day, but you need to pay for the actual things you order (except for breakfast, which like Fantastica is free).
Activities
The Aurea experience gives adults access to an exclusive sundeck on your ship. You’ll also get a Wellbeing package which includes access to the Thermal Area of the spa throughout your cruise where you can visit the sauna, steam room and jacuzzi.
From 2022, Aurea guests will no longer receive the free ‘Well Being Package’. This did include a welcome cocktail in the spa, a private MediSpa doctor consultation, a 50-minute massage and a tanning booth session. Instead, you’ll now get a 40% discount on a dedicated spa prepaid package or a 10% discount on any other spa treatments.
Services
Aurea guests get priority boarding on embarkation day with luggage drop off. There’s no VIP line at guest services or any other priority treatment during your cruise.
Loyalty points
Whichever experience you choose, you’ll earn MSC Voyagers Club points which will give you discounts and perks on future cruises.
The sauna on MSC Seaview
Only available in the best rooms…
The MSC Aurea experience is only available for guests staying in Balcony cabins or Suites. If you want an Interior or Ocean View cabin, then you will have to choose either a Bella or Fantastica experience.
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Fantastica Vs Aurea – what’s the difference?
When you upgrade from Fantastica to Aurea you will get:
Choice of the best Balcony cabins and Suites
Welcome prosecco and chocolates
Pillow menu
Dining in a dedicated restaurant or area at flexible times
Access to Thermal Area of the spa and the Top Exclusive Solarium
Which MSC experience is best depends on how much value you place on each of the added extras and the cost of the upgrade.
The price to upgrade from Bella to Fantastica or Aurea varies from cruise to cruise and can also change over time. It also depends on the cabin type, so you might find that upgrading to Fantastica could cost £140 extra for an Inside cabin, but only £30 extra for an Ocean View cabin, as an example.
The price of upgraded experiences is payable per person, but it usually only applies to the adults in your cabin.
Are the Fantastica or Aurea Experiences Worth It?
On a seven-night cruise, let’s say that the Fantastica experience costs £50 per person extra and the Aurea experience costs around £100 per person extra (the actual prices may be different on your cruise)
So, you would need to look at the perks and decide if they are worth it for you…
MSC Fantastica perks:
Choice of cabin locations
Free room service at breakfast
Choice of dinner sittings (subject to availability)
20% discount on a prepaid speciality dining package
Flexibility to change your room, cruise date or destination
MSC Aurea perks:
All of the Fantastica perks
Welcome prosecco and chocolates
Pillow menu
Dining in a special area with flexible times
Access to Thermal Area of the spa and Top Exclusive Solarium
Discounted spa treatments
Priority boarding
MSC Cruises Perks That You Can No Longer Get (Removed in 2022)
Free drink package for Aurea guests
Free tanning booth and cocktail for Aurea guests
Free delivery of room service outside of breakfast time
Extra activities for kids
ZOE virtual assistant
Free photo
Here’s when you should upgrade
The Fantastica package can be worth it…
1. If you’re not happy with the choice of Bella cabins
Take a look at the cabins you’re offered with Bella. If you don’t like any of them, you should probably consider upgrading to Fantastica for more choice.
2. If your dining time is important
On MSC Cruises, the second dinner sitting usually starts at around 8.30 pm, meaning that your meal is unlikely to be finished until well after 10 pm, possibly as late as 11 pm. If you’re cruising with kids, you’re unlikely to find this to be acceptable.
While you can speak to the maître d on the first evening and request an earlier dining time, there’s no guarantee that they’ll be able to do this for you, even if you have young kids.
Choose Aurea if…
1. You hate fighting for sunloungers
On some MSC Cruises ships, you’ll find that other guests reserve sun loungers with towels all day. Which means that there aren’t enough loungers for everyone else. If you have access to the exclusive sun deck for Aurea guests, this should be less of an issue.
It’s important to note though, that kids aren’t allowed in the spa or the private sundeck. If you have kids with you, you’ll only be able to use these areas when your little ones are in the kids’ club. You need to be child-free to really make the most of the Aurea experience.
2. You like to dine at different times each day
One day you might like to dine at 6 pm right after your excursion, another you might like to lay in the sun until 8 pm, get ready for an hour and then eat at 9p m. The Aurea package allows you to do this with the flexible dining option.
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To conclude
If you’re cruising on a budget, the Bella experience will be the best one for you. However, depending on your circumstances and the cost, it might be worth upgrading to Fantastica or Aurea.
If you’ve not cruised with MSC Cruises before, I’d recommend that you read my next article ‘Why Are MSC Cruises So Cheap?‘ to get an understanding of how MSC Cruises compares to other, more expensive cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and P&O Cruises.
If you want special treatment on your cruise above and beyond what you get from Aurea, I recommend that you look into the MSC Yacht Club instead.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
If you’re looking for a fun-packed cruise on a mid-to-large ship, but you don’t want to pay top dollar, then you’re probably going to land on either Carnival or MSC Cruises as your cruise line of choice.
Both of these cruise giants offer exciting destinations, modern ships, and a wide range of dining options, and usually at a great value price.
But is there one which is cheaper? Which has better facilities? Which is the best option for your cruise?
That’s what we’re going to answer in this guide, where I compare both cruise lines side-by-side across all the factors that matter…
Ships
The Carnival and MSC fleets are very similar in size – both in number and the actual size of the ships.
Carnival’s fleet is marginally bigger – it has 26 ships, with one more to be added in 2024.
MSC has 22 ships currently sailing for the fleet, and another three being built, so it is closing the gap.
Carnival Ships
Carnival has nine different classes of cruise ships:
Excel Class – three ships that can carry around 5,300 guests
Venice Class – two ships accommodating 4,200 guests
Vista Class – three ships accommodating 4,000 guests
Dream Class – three ships accommodating 3,700 guests
Splendor Class – one ship accommodating 3,000 guests
Conquest Class – five ships accommodating 3,000 guests
Spirit Class – five ships accommodating around 2,200 guests
Sunshine Class – three ships accommodating 3,000 guests
Fantasy Class – two ships accommodating 2,100 guests
The oldest ship in the Carnival fleet is the Carnival Sunshine, which first launched in 1996 as the Carnival Destiny before a rebrand in 2013.
World Class – the biggest ships in the fleet, capable of accommodating almost 6,800 passengers
Meraviglia Plus Class – three ships accommodating 6,300 passengers
Seaside EVO Class – two ships accommodating 5,900 guests
Meraviglia Class – two ships accommodating 5,600 guests
Seaside Class – two ships accommodating 5,200 guests
Fantasia Class – four ships accommodating 3,900 guests
Musica Class – four ships accommodating 3,200 guests
Lirica Class – four ships accommodating 2,700 guests
The oldest ship in the MSC fleet is MSC Armonia, which first launched in 2001 – so not quite as old as the eldest in the Carnival fleet.
The newest ship is the MSC Euribia, which is part of the Meraviglia Plus Class. She launched in 2023 also, though a little earlier than Carnival Jubilee.
Honestly, there’s not a lot of difference between the ship sizes or ages when comparing the two cruise lines.
MSC does have the bigger ships with the World Class, but the difference between that and the Excel Class for Carnival isn’t going to be noticeable once you’re onboard – still expect loads of dining options and activities, and plenty of busy poolsides too.
Neither fleet has small cruise ships, but they do have smaller options if you want something more relaxing.
Destinations
Carnival and MSC are global cruise lines – rather than focusing on just one or two regions, you’ll find the ships sailing to destinations all over the world.
There are some differences between the destinations offered though, so this could have an impact when deciding which cruise line you prefer.
Carnival
MSC Cruises
Alaska
19
0
Africa
0
8
Australia & New Zealand
36
0
Bermuda
7
5
Canada & New England
1
5
Caribbean & Bahamas
254
122
East Asia
1
19
Europe
24
342
Hawaii
9
0
Mexico & Latin America
40
0
Middle East & South Asia
0
12
Panama Canal
24
0
South America
0
42
South Pacific
24
0
Transatlantic
9
0
Transpacific
5
0
World Cruise/Grand Voyages
0
77
Carnival Destinations
Carnival has a relatively small choice of embarkation ports, with 21 options, though that’s still plenty of variety. Most of these are situated in the United States, with the Florida ports proving popular, but there are also plenty of options in Texas, New Orleans, Washington and California.
Carnival doesn’t have a ship homeporting in the UK for extended periods. While some cruises depart from the UK, there aren’t many to pick from, so your options are limited.
Carnival’s private islands and resorts, Princess Cays and Half Moon Cay, offer plenty of fun experiences for guests to enjoy. You’ll typically visit one or the other on a Bahamas cruise.
MSC Destinations
MSC has more departure ports than Carnival, with a whopping 66 to choose from. Unlike Carnival, MSC’s cruises don’t stick to one starting and ending point. Instead, they run longer trips, and you can pick most ports from the route to begin and finish your cruise.
For example, a ship doing a 21-day tour of the Med might let you hop on for a 7-day stretch from Southampton to Barcelona, but someone else might join the ship halfway through that for a Lisbon to Rome cruise.
While this gives you lots of choices, it means the ship is always buzzing with people getting on and off.
MSC’s got a private island in the Caribbean too, called Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. They’re putting a bunch of money into it in 2024, making it a serious rival to the best spots offered by Carnival, and it has a conservation centre too if you want your trip to feel educational.
MSC also offers a wider selection of cruises from the UK than Carnival, though not all of them are round-trip sailings and you may need to fly home afterwards.
Which to Choose?
Destination choice is actually one of the areas where Carnival and MSC differ most. Carnival has much more of a presence in the Caribbean, while MSC is one of the best cruise lines if you want to explore European cities.
There are other regions that you may wish to cruise to that could limit your options as well. Carnival doesn’t offer cruises to Africa, the Middle East and South America, while MSC isn’t the cruise line for you if you want to try Alaska, Australia and New Zealand, Hawaii or Mexico.
MSC is a good choice if you want longer cruises, though. The vast majority of Carnival sailings are limited to 7 nights at most, whereas MSC has Grand Voyages that cover multiple regions of the world. If you’re looking for an extended cruise, MSC would be the better option.
Staterooms and Suites
For most guests, the accommodation options on each respective cruise line are unlikely to make you sway one way or another between them.
That’s because most guests will choose between a regular inside, ocean view or balcony stateroom, or perhaps splash out on a suite. And the differences between those on each cruise line are minimal – it’s not like one has significantly larger rooms than the other.
But each cruise line does have particular themed rooms, or quirks when it comes to choosing accommodation, that could influence your decision.
It’s worth pointing out that both cruise lines only offer limited solo cabins. If you’re travelling alone, you may end up paying for two people anyway, if you can’t get a single room. And be careful with MSC, as some solo cabins don’t even have a proper bed!
There are several themed cabin options available across the Carnival fleet.
Cloud 9 Spa Rooms
Most Carnival ships have Cloud 9 Spa staterooms. These rooms are all situated close to the spa itself and have a spa theme, extra relaxation perks, and a calming decor style.
Booking one comes with other useful benefits too, like exclusive spa packages and free access to the Thermal Suite.
Designed for families, Family Harbor staterooms have classic nautical decor that makes the room feel just a bit more fun. They’re conveniently located near the Family Harbor Lounge, perfect for breakfast or snacks, and offer board games for family enjoyment.
Havana Rooms
Choosing a Havana stateroom or suite gives you access to the peaceful Havana area with its own pool and bar. Consider Havana Cabana rooms for an extra private cabana space in the Havana area, if you want to really splash out.
MSC Staterooms
With MSC Cruises, there aren’t as many ‘specialist’ options, but you do have to make a key decision when booking your cruise.
Bella, Fantastica, or Aurea
When booking an MSC cruise, you can choose from three fare options: Bella, Fantastica, or Aurea.
These fares determine your cabin class. Opt for the budget-friendly Bella fares, and you might end up with a cabin in less prime areas, including balconies with metal railings that limit your view unless you’re standing. You also won’t get to choose your cabin yourself.
If you go for Fantastica, you’ll have more choices, but the top-notch cabins and suites are reserved for Aurea fares. Keep this in mind as you decide on your cruise.
At the pinnacle of MSC accommodations is the MSC Yacht Club, which is called a “ship-within-a-ship” concept. Exclusive areas, such as private lounges and restaurants, are accessible only to MSC Yacht Club guests.
With the Yacht Club, you enjoy a host of perks, including butler service and complimentary drinks in both your suite and the Yacht Club venues. However, you’ll need to consider whether these extras are worth the added cost because these rooms are not cheap.
Which to Choose?
If you’re planning on booking a regular inside, ocean view or balcony cabin, then there really isn’t much to choose between the two cruise lines – there are more differences within their own respective fleets than there are comparing Carnival to MSC.
But Carnival does have some nice options for themed rooms if that interests you. MSC’s Yacht Club is also special, and while Carnival offers many similar perks with its own suites, it doesn’t quite have the luxury feel of that ship-within-a-ship region. Of course, you’ll need a hefty budget to enjoy it.
Food
Food will undoubtedly play a big part in your cruise holiday, and both cruise lines have plenty of options for you to enjoy.
Carnival Food
Carnival has a lot of choices when it comes to picking your venue for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
As with pretty much any major cruise line, you can dine in the main dining room or opt for a trip to the free buffet, while there are several speciality restaurants such as a steakhouse, an Italian restaurant, and Asian cuisine venues too.
Carnival really stands out with its more casual options though, although several of them are not included in your fare. The burgers at Guy’s, and the fried chicken options at Shaq’s, are particularly popular.
MSC Food
MSC doesn’t have quite the same range of options as Carnival, but you still won’t feel limited, especially on the bigger ships – you can still enjoy plenty of casual and formal dining venues, including the main dining rooms and buffet.
There is definitely more of a Mediterranean vibe running through the restaurants, though you’ll still find American-style burgers, Japanese cuisine and more too.
One great dining feature is the option for kids to enjoy their own buffet as part of the kids’ club, with the crew taking them there while you go and enjoy your own dinner. This lets them have a bit of independence with their new friends, while you can try restaurants that their picky tastes may not enjoy.
Which to Choose?
Both Carnival and MSC have a great range of free and paid-for restaurants that you can enjoy.
Carnival’s casual venues are more American in style, and have better theming, but MSC offers some delicious Mediterranean cuisine too. Carnival has the edge in variety overall, but in terms of quality, I’d say both cruise lines are similar.
One thing to note is the vegan menus on both ships. I’ve cruised with MSC a few times previously and sometimes had issues getting vegan options that were particularly good, but my most recent cruise on MSC Euribia was a completely different experience – the food was varied and delicious.
And while Carnival hasn’t always been the best for vegans, it did introduce a new vegan menu across the fleet in the latter half of 2023 – so options are getting better.
Onboard Activities
Both MSC and Carnival have some really fun onboard activities for guests to enjoy, including features unique to each cruise line.
Carnival Activities
On a Carnival ship, you’ll find all the typical cruise activities you’d find on many big cruise lines – bingo, quizzes, video game arcades, a casino, art auctions and more. But there are plenty of other exciting activities to try too.
Some of these are only available on the bigger Carnival ships, but they’re very exciting. The SkyRide is a pedal-powered ride that gives you amazing views out to sea, while Carnival also has the only roller coaster at sea with Bolt.
MSC Activities
MSC doesn’t have full roller coasters, but it has a roller coaster simulator on a couple of ships with Robotron – a robotic arm that moves your seats in a similar thrilling ride, whilst still giving you fantastic sea views (if your stomach is up for the challenge!)
There are other activities that you’ll find on MSC that aren’t on Carnival ships too, including:
Formula One simulators (with full-size car to sit in)
Flight simulators
MasterChef competitions (for adults and kids)
The longest dry-slide at sea on MSC World Europa
Which to Choose?
MSC and Carnival have a similar style of fun onboard, so the activities will likely only be a deciding factor if you have something specific you want to try.
If you really want to experience Bolt, or you love the idea of sitting in a real Formula One car for a simulator drive, then choose Carnival or MSC respectively. Otherwise, you’ll likely have a great time regardless of which cruise line you pick.
Entertainment
Let’s look at the entertainment on board both fleets and what you can expect to be filling your evenings with.
Carnival Entertainment
Carnival’s entertainment is excellent, with a lot of big shows in the theatre that incorporate many well-known songs as well as thrilling dance acts and incredible staging. Throughout the ships, you’ll find lots of entertainers too in the many bars where you can unwind.
Carnival also has great comedians offering family-friendly shows (as well as some just for the grown-ups), and there are licensed game shows you can take part in such as Family Feud and Deal or No Deal – yes, you can get up on stage and potentially win some big prizes!
MSC Entertainment
MSC’s entertainment options include a lot of great singers and dancers, with slick and professional shows that will wow you. There are a lot of circus-style performers too, which are a great fit for the cruise line since it’s often filled with guests who don’t all speak the same language.
On that – don’t expect to find many comedy performances on an MSC ship due to the language differences. As much of the entertainment as possible is visual, so that all guests can enjoy it.
Which to Choose?
I loved the entertainment on my most recent MSC cruise, while Carnival’s is big and bold, including those well-loved game shows. If you like familiarity then Carnival could be preferred, but MSC really won’t disappoint if you are happy to try new experiences.
Kids Facilities
Carnival and MSC are great cruise lines for families, and both have partnered with established brands to enhance the facilities they can offer.
Carnival Kids’ Facilities
Carnival has a working partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises, which means guests at the kids’ clubs onboard can enjoy meet and greets with renowned characters like The Cat in the Hat. There are also Green Eggs and Ham character breakfasts that you can book for the family.
There’s plenty for teens to enjoy too – Circle C offers a fun space for 12 to 14-year-olds, while Club O2 is a relaxed space for older teens with karaoke parties, video games and even a Carnival Prom on selected sailings.
MSC Kids’ Facilities
MSC has several different clubs for kids too, with teens getting VR gaming, karaoke and other fun activities to enjoy. Younger children will love the partnership with Lego, and the various toys and games that can be enjoyed alongside crafts and educational activities.
MSC excels when it comes to young babies, with a dedicated club just for those under 3. The cruise line has a partnership with Chicco, so babies can enjoy lots of sensory toys and activities, and babysitting services are available.
Which to Choose?
A lot of the differences in the kids’ facilities between Carnival and MSC will come down to the demographics. MSC’s kids’ clubs are multilingual, especially on European cruises, so your children will be mingling with others that may not speak their language – my kids enjoyed it, but it may vary depending on how confident your children are.
Both cruise lines have plenty of exciting activities though, so boredom will never be a factor.
Cruiser Demographics
The passenger demographics can play a part in your cruise experience, so let’s look at the guests you will likely find onboard.
Carnival Demographics
The makeup of passengers on a Carnival ship can shift based on factors like the season, specific ship, and chosen itinerary.
While it typically exudes a family-friendly vibe, particularly during the peak summer periods, some younger adults and single travellers see it as a go-to for a lively party experience, especially during Spring Break.
Be prepared for a lively ambience either way – it’s unlikely to be quiet on a Carnival ship.
MSC Cruises Demographics
MSC tends to have similar age groups to Carnival, though the young adults who are cruising are typically less party-minded – mainly because MSC doesn’t offer as many short weekend cruises to tropical destinations.
You’ll find lots of families onboard, as well as groups of friends and couples, including some older guests.
Cruises in the Caribbean will have mainly English-speaking guests, but in Europe expect a real mix of cultures onboard, which can make for a fun atmosphere as everyone mingles.
Price
Most people will base their decision for a cruise booking on the price, so is there one cruise line that’s always cheaper?
Carnival Prices
Carnival has a reputation for being a cheap cruise line, and that’s definitely true with older ships.
Newer, bigger ships aren’t extremely cheap, but they do offer good value. Just make sure you don’t base your decision on the advertised prices on the Carnival website, since they won’t include port fees and taxes until you’ve started filling in your details and you see the final price.
On a typical 7-night Caribbean cruise on one of the newer ships like Carnival Celebration, you should expect to pay between £85/$105 and £105/$135 per person, per night for an inside stateroom. You can find cruises on smaller ships that are cheaper than this.
MSC Prices
MSC’s prices are similar to Carnival’s, with the newer ships costing a little more than the older, smaller ships for a cruise.
As a guide, a 7-night cruise on one of the Seaside EVO Class ships in the Caribbean will cost somewhere between £80/$100 and £120/$153 per person, per night for an inside cabin – so marginally cheaper than Carnival, but not by much. Again, you can often find cruises much cheaper, sometimes as low as £30/$40 per night.
One other thing to consider is that MSC’s European cruises don’t have additional gratuities to pay – the daily gratuity only applies on cruises from US ports of embarkation. That’s not true of Carnival, where every cruise requires guests to pay daily tips.
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The Verdict
Carnival and MSC are great choices for a value cruise, but there are some clear differences between them.
Choose Carnival if you want more of a party cruise vibe as a young adult, since you’ll find a lot of shorter itineraries and plenty of others onboard looking for the same kind of experience. They’re also a good choice if you want themed accommodations, more American-style themed casual dining options, or you like game shows, comedians or big theatre productions.
MSC is better if you want to cruise around Europe or enjoy longer itineraries, and it’s great if you prefer a slightly more relaxed vibe. With passengers from all over the continent, the ships have a pleasant multicultural atmosphere, and the prices can be really cheap too, with more options for a cruise from the UK than you’d get with Carnival.
Both are great choices – but hopefully, now you’ve narrowed down your preferences a little.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
