MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises is changing fast – and some of its biggest developments are still to come. New ships, new destinations and major onboard changes are all on the way, with some set to transform the MSC experience completely.

But not every change will be popular. One new charge in particular could frustrate families.

Here are the biggest changes MSC Cruises passengers need to know about….

1. Even More World Class Ships

MSC Cruises isn’t slowing down when it comes to building mega-ships. In fact, the cruise line has now committed to at least six more World Class vessels, taking the programme all the way through to 2031.

The next ship to arrive will be MSC World Asia in November 2026, followed by MSC World Atlantic in 2027. But that’s only the beginning…

MSC has already confirmed another four World Class ships beyond that, with a new vessel scheduled to enter service in 2029, two ship sin 2030 and another in 2031.

The World Class ships have quickly become the centrepiece of the fleet. They’re among the largest cruise ships in the world, powered by LNG and packed with features that MSC simply couldn’t fit onto its older vessels.

World Europa introduced the concept in 2022, while World America launched in 2025 with several changes aimed specifically at the North American market.

MSC World Asia is expected to continue that evolution. The ship will carry over 6,700 passengers and feature an Asian-inspired design theme throughout many of its public spaces. She will also introduce some of MSC’s biggest family attractions yet, including an expanded Family Aventura district, new interactive game shows, a redesigned outdoor Harbour area and one of the largest pool complexes in the fleet.

Read more: New MSC Ship To Debut Huge Family Zone

For cruise fans, the bigger story is what comes next. With eight World Class ships now planned, MSC is clearly betting heavily on this design for the future of its fleet. That means more capacity, more innovation and plenty of opportunities for the line to keep refining what has become its flagship ship class.

2. A Brand-New Ship Class Is On The Way

As if eight World Class ships weren’t enough, MSC has also confirmed an entirely new generation of cruise ships.

Known as the New Frontier class, the first vessel is due to enter service in 2030 as part of a huge agreement with German shipbuilder MEYER WERFT. Four ships are already being planned, with options for two more.

What’s particularly interesting is that these ships won’t be bigger than MSC’s existing giants. Instead, they’ll focus on giving passengers more space. At around 180,000 gross tons and carrying roughly 5,400 guests, they’ll be similar in size to MSC Virtuosa but with nearly 1,000 fewer guests on board.

That could mean wider public areas, less crowded pool decks and larger accommodation options. MSC hasn’t revealed many details yet, but the numbers suggest guest comfort is a major priority.

The New Frontier project is also significant because it marks MSC’s first partnership with MEYER WERFT, the shipyard behind many ships for Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line. That fresh collaboration could bring some very different design ideas compared to MSC’s existing fleet.

Combined with the ongoing World Class programme, MSC now has one of the most ambitious shipbuilding pipelines anywhere in cruising.

Suggested read: Inside The Incredible Process Of Building A Cruise Ship

3. Yacht Club Is Expanding Across The Fleet

MSC’s Yacht Club has become one of the cruise industry’s best-kept secrets. The ship-within-a-ship concept offers suite accommodation, private restaurants, exclusive sun decks, butler service and dedicated concierge support, creating a much more premium experience without leaving a mainstream cruise ship.

Now MSC is bringing it to even more vessels.

The cruise line has confirmed that both MSC Musica and MSC Orchestra will receive Yacht Club areas during scheduled refurbishments, with work due to be completed by 2027.

That might not sound like a huge announcement, but it means every ship in the Musica class will offer Yacht Club. More importantly, it brings the concept to some of MSC’s smaller and more traditional ships rather than limiting it to newer mega-ships.

Once the upgrades are complete, Yacht Club will be available on 19 ships across the fleet.

The move reflects just how popular the concept has become. Yacht Club has helped MSC compete more directly with premium cruise lines while still offering access to the entertainment, dining and facilities of the wider ship. Expanding it across more vessels gives passengers greater choice when deciding where and how they want to sail.

And with future World Class ships also expected to feature Yacht Club, the luxury enclave looks set to remain a major part of MSC’s long-term strategy.

4. MSC Is Getting A Second Private Island

Private islands have become one of the biggest battlegrounds in the Caribbean cruise market, and MSC Cruises is preparing to make a major move of its own.

The company has announced plans for Sandy Cay, a brand-new private island destination in The Bahamas that will open in 2028.

Located close to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Sandy Cay is being positioned as a quieter and more exclusive experience. While Ocean Cay focuses on a mix of beaches, activities and environmental projects, Sandy Cay is expected to offer a more relaxed atmosphere centred around pristine beaches and natural surroundings.

The island will be available to guests sailing with both MSC Cruises and luxury sister brand Explora Journeys.

MSC says the destination takes its name from the bright white aragonite sands found throughout the area and will continue the company’s nature-focused approach to private destinations.

The launch is particularly significant because it gives MSC something very few cruise lines can match – two private island experiences in the same region. As private destinations become increasingly important to Caribbean itineraries, Sandy Cay gives MSC another way to stand out from the competition.

5. Ocean Cay Is About To Get Much Bigger

Before Sandy Cay opens, MSC has plenty of plans for Ocean Cay itself.

The cruise line has unveiled a major expansion project that will transform the private island over the next couple of years, with completion expected in late 2027.

One of the biggest changes will be a pier extension that allows two ships to dock at the island simultaneously. That’s a major operational improvement and should help support MSC’s rapidly growing Caribbean presence.

Guests will also find four new dining venues, taking the total number of places to eat on the island to seven. A new speciality restaurant is planned alongside additional buffet and food market-style options.

Families are getting plenty of attention too. Seakers Cove will be redeveloped into a dedicated family beach area featuring a playground, splash pad, ropes course and organised activities.

Adults won’t be forgotten either. MSC is creating a new adults-only beach retreat called Paradise Sands, designed as a quieter escape during the day and a sunset-focused venue in the evenings.

Perhaps most interestingly, Ocean Cay’s environmental focus will continue expanding through a new Marine Conservation Experience, allowing guests to learn more about coral restoration and marine research projects taking place around the island.

Taken together, the upgrades represent one of the biggest investments MSC has made in a private destination since Ocean Cay first opened in 2019. Combined with the arrival of Sandy Cay a year later, it’s clear the Bahamas will play an increasingly important role in the cruise line’s future plans.

6. MSC’s First Beach Club Is Coming To The Bahamas

MSC isn’t stopping at private islands. The cruise line is also planning its first dedicated beach club in The Bahamas, giving guests another exclusive place to spend a day ashore.

The MSC Beach Club will be created on a 20-acre section of the former Grand Lucayan Resort in Freeport, Grand Bahama. It’s part of a much larger investment in the area, including a major new cruise development centred around Billy Cay in Freeport Harbour.

For guests, the beach club should mean a more resort-style day ashore, with MSC able to control the whole experience from arrival to beach time. That’s becoming a huge trend in cruising, with lines increasingly creating their own private or semi-private destinations rather than relying only on traditional port calls.

The bigger picture is even more interesting. MSC Group’s wider Grand Bahama plans include a new cruise terminal complex, multiple berths, restaurants, shops, entertainment areas and transport links around the island. The new port is expected to be open to other cruise lines too, so it won’t just be an MSC-only facility.

Between Ocean Cay, Sandy Cay and now the MSC Beach Club, the cruise line is clearly making The Bahamas a central part of its future Caribbean plans.

7. MSC Is Expanding Into New Destinations

MSC is also pushing into new regions, with several big itinerary changes giving passengers more choice than ever.

The biggest new addition is Alaska. MSC Poesia began the cruise line’s first-ever Alaska season from Seattle in May 2026, sailing seven-night itineraries to destinations including Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Juneau and Victoria, alongside scenic cruising through Endicott Arm.

MSC has clearly been confident enough in the move to commit to Alaska for the longer term, with sailings already confirmed through summer 2028.

The second big move is in the Southern Caribbean. From November 2026, MSC Opera will begin year-round sailings from La Romana in the Dominican Republic. This is the first time MSC has offered a year-round Southern Caribbean programme.

Guests will be able to choose seven-night cruises or longer 14-night “butterfly” itineraries, with ports including Catalina Island, Martinique, Virgin Gorda, Antigua, St Maarten, St Kitts and Tortola.

And there’s an even bigger change coming in winter 2027-28.

MSC World Asia will move to the Southern Caribbean, sailing seven- and 14-night cruises from Martinique, Guadeloupe and Barbados. Meanwhile, MSC World Europa will remain in the Western Mediterranean rather than moving to the Middle East as previously planned.

For UK passengers, many of these cruises will also be available with Fly and Cruise packages that bundle flights, transfers and the cruise together.

Taken together, these moves show MSC expanding well beyond its traditional Mediterranean and Caribbean strongholds – while also committing much more heavily to regions where it previously had little or no presence.

8. Dining Is Getting More Flexible

Food is another area where MSC is making changes, particularly on ships sailing from the US.

MSC Seashore has recently added two new complimentary grab-and-go venues. The Chicken Man, located on Deck 18, serves chicken tenders, fries and chicken sandwiches near the pool deck. Red Cactus BBQ & Ribs, on Deck 8, offers breakfast and lunch, with dishes such as pulled pork hash, brisket, barbecue chicken, ribs, macaroni cheese and coleslaw.

The key word here is complimentary. These aren’t extra-charge speciality restaurants, but included venues designed to give passengers more casual options without heading to the buffet or main dining room.

MSC has also introduced “Dine on Your Time” on MSC Seashore and MSC Seaside. Rather than being tied to a traditional fixed dining sitting, Bella and Fantastica guests can choose a more flexible time for dinner, subject to availability.

It may sound like a relatively small change, but it represents a shift away from MSC’s traditionally structured dining model.

If the idea proves popular, I wouldn’t be surprised to see more flexible dining and complimentary quick-service venues appear on other ships in future.

9. There’s Now An AI Concierge

MSC’s next big tech change is an AI-powered concierge, built into the MSC for Me app.

The complimentary service works like a 24-hour digital concierge. Guests can ask questions, reserve restaurants, book spa treatments and excursions, check their onboard account and get personalised recommendations for activities and entertainment.

It can now do more practical things too, including submitting housekeeping requests, asking for fresh towels, changing pillow or bed preferences and checking the weather for upcoming ports.

The service is available through your own phone or tablet while connected to the ship’s Wi-Fi, and you don’t need to buy an internet package to use it. It’s also linked to your booking, so it knows things such as your cabin type, experience level and drinks package and can tailor its answers accordingly.

MSC originally launched the system after a trial involving more than 170,000 passengers and over one million messages. The trial achieved a 93% satisfaction score, and MSC announced plans to make the service available fleetwide by the end of May 2026.

It feels like a significant step up from Zoe, MSC’s older cabin-based voice assistant. Instead of talking to a device in your cabin, MSC Concierge travels around the ship with you on your phone and can actually carry out useful tasks rather than simply answering basic questions.

10. Families Are Getting Bigger, Bolder Spaces

MSC has always been a popular choice for families, but MSC World Asia looks set to take things much further.

One of the headline additions is The Spiral @ Tree of Life, an 81-metre dry slide that twists down through 11 decks. MSC says it will be the longest dry slide at sea, giving passengers a much more exciting way to travel between different parts of the ship.

The ship will introduce the Family Aventura District, bringing together several family-friendly spaces including The Clubhouse, The Harbour and Doremiland kids’ club. It’s designed as a proper activity hub rather than just a collection of separate venues.

Another huge addition is The Harbour, an outdoor family zone with an Asian-inspired design. It will include Cliffhanger, an over-water swing ride positioned around 164 feet above sea level, plus a two-level ropes course, Sky Rails, water slides, splash areas and places to grab food and drinks.

Inside, the MSC Luna Park Arena will host interactive game shows and competitions using digital floor technology. The Clubhouse will offer roller skating, bumper cars, sports sessions, LEGO family activities and junior versions of popular onboard games.

It all sounds very high-energy, but that’s exactly the point. MSC is clearly trying to build ships where families can spend a whole week on board without hearing “I’m bored” by day two.

11. Baby Care Now Comes With A Catch…

There is one family change that won’t please everyone.

MSC has quietly moved its Baby Care service from a free model to a paid one. Previously, parents could leave babies with trained youth staff during two complimentary two-hour sessions each day, usually in the morning and early evening.

Now, the service offers longer availability of up to eight hours per day, which could be useful for parents who want more flexibility. But it’s no longer included in the cruise fare.

The frustration isn’t just about the charge itself. Some guests have said they weren’t clearly told about the change before booking, which is a problem when childcare can be a major factor in choosing a cruise.

MSC hasn’t publicly listed clear pricing details either, making it harder for families to budget before they sail.

So while MSC is investing heavily in bigger and better family spaces, parents travelling with babies should check the latest Baby Care details carefully before booking. The facilities may still be useful, but they may no longer be the free perk some cruisers remember.

12. Southampton Is Getting A Different Ship

UK cruisers will see a major change too, as MSC prepares to swap the ship it bases in Southampton.

MSC Virtuosa has become a familiar sight on the south coast, but from summer 2027, MSC Meraviglia will take over the cruise line’s Southampton programme.

The ship is scheduled to operate 19 cruises from Southampton during the 2027 season, with itineraries ranging from six to 14 nights. MSC has already confirmed that Meraviglia will return again in summer 2028, with 21 Southampton sailings planned.

For regular MSC cruisers in the UK, that means a noticeably different onboard experience. Meraviglia is slightly older than Virtuosa and has its own mix of restaurants, entertainment and facilities, while still offering many of the features MSC passengers will recognise.

It’s also a strong sign that MSC remains committed to the UK market. Rather than pulling back from Southampton, the cruise line is continuing to offer a full programme of no-fly cruises for British passengers – just with a different ship at the centre of it.

Final Word

MSC has never been a cruise line that thinks small, but the scale of what’s planned over the next few years is remarkable even by its standards.

By the start of the next decade, the fleet could have grown by more than ten ships, guests will have access to multiple private destinations in The Bahamas, and entirely new ship designs will be sailing alongside the already enormous World Class vessels. Add in AI technology, expanded Yacht Club access and new itinerary options, and it’s clear MSC is investing heavily in almost every part of the guest experience.

Of course, not every change will be universally popular. The introduction of charges for Baby Care shows that expansion and innovation don’t always come without trade-offs.

Still, if you’re an MSC fan, there’s plenty to look forward to. The challenge may simply be deciding which of these new ships, destinations and experiences to try first.

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Booking an MSC cruise? Unless you’re splashing out for Yacht Club, you’ll have to pick from three packages – Bella, Fantastica, or Aurea – and your choice isn’t just a label. It affects your cabin, dining, perks, and even where you relax onboard.

Aurea is the most premium of the three… and the most expensive. But is it really worth the upgrade?

Here’s what you actually get – and whether the Aurea experience lives up to the hype.

Aurea Experience

The Aurea experience is one of several cruise packages guests can choose from when they book their MSC cruise. Of the three options (excluding Yacht Club, which is separate), it is the best option, giving guests the best choice of accommodation and various other perks.

There are a lot of reasons to choose Aurea as your cruise package, but you have to bear in mind that it does cost to upgrade – this isn’t something you’re getting for free.

So, you need to look at the various benefits you get with Aurea, and then decide whether it’s worth it or if you’d rather save money and book Bella or Fantastica.

It’s worth noting that Aurea is only available when you book a Balcony cabin or a Suite. You can’t book the Aurea experience with an Inside or Ocean View cabin.

Everything Included When You Book Aurea

The Aurea experience includes everything that the Bella and Fantastica packages include, but with better options for your cabin and dining times. It also has a host of extra perks too.

Read more: What’s Included in MSC Cruises (And How Much is Everything Else?)

You Don’t Get A Drinks Package Included Anymore

The Aurea experience on MSC Cruises does not include a drinks package. It used to include the Easy drink package, which allowed guests to enjoy a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. This benefit was removed from the Aurea experience in 2022.

Now, the only free drinks that guests get with the Aurea experience are the welcome Prosecco in their cabin and suite on arrival. Guests will need to pay for their own MSC drinks package if they want one.

Nor Do You Get WiFi…

The MSC Aurea package does not include free WiFi. The only tier that includes free internet access is the MSC Yacht Club – all other guests will need to pay for their internet package if they want to get online.

Fantastic Vs Aurea

MSC Fantastica is the mid-range experience on MSC Cruises – it doesn’t give you all the spa-related perks, and it doesn’t let you dine whenever you want to. It gives you some choice of cabin and dining time – more so than the Bella experience – but nowhere near as much flexibility as Aurea.

It’s Not A Fixed Cost

The cost of Aurea is not fixed – it depends on the cruise that you book, including the ship and the date. The price is flexible and what you pay on one cruise might be different from what you pay on another.

As a guideline, expect Aurea to cost somewhere in the region of £100 ($120) to £500 ($600) more than a Bella experience, and around £50 ($60) to £250 ($300) more than a Fantastica experience.

There may be some occasions where you try to book a cruise and Bella isn’t available. In that case, you’ll be told the Fantastica upgrade costs nothing, and the Aurea upgrade will only tell you the price difference between Fantastica and Aurea.

And on other times, you might find that Aurea is the only available option, and it costs nothing to choose it.

Don’t be fooled into thinking these are free upgrades. They aren’t. What this means is that the Bella and/or Fantastica experiences have sold out, and that Aurea is the only option left.

And the price you’ve been shown when booking your cruise already includes the upgrade fee for Aurea. You aren’t getting it for free, but it’s already been added into the fare you’ve been shown.

So just because it says “+£0” for Aurea, you are still paying for it.

Final Word

There’s no simple answer when it comes to deciding whether Aurea is worth it for your MSC cruise. It depends on a number of factors:

• How much the upgrade costs
• Where you prefer to eat during your cruise
• How much you care about your cabin
• Whether you’ll make use of all the perks

If you were looking for a cheap MSC cruise, then it’s not likely to be worth it. You’ll probably want an Inside or Ocean View cabin instead, which you can’t get with Aurea.

But if you want a Balcony cabin or a Suite, then definitely look at the Aurea prices. While you can book your own cabin of choice with Fantastica, you won’t have access to all the best locations on the ship.

The free delivery for room service is a nice perk if you’re planning on eating in your cabin or suite a lot, but it is only the delivery that’s free – you still need to pay for what you’re ordering. The spa access is probably a better benefit, but again, only for those who plan to use it.

Really, the main perks to focus on are the My Choice Dining and the ability to select your cabin location from all of the best spots. Cabin location can make a real difference in terms of the views you enjoy and your distance from facilities.

Suggested read: MSC Cabins to Avoid

And having the flexibility to eat dinner in the main dining rooms at a time that suits you, rather than one which is dictated to you, is something a lot of passengers prefer. You can plan your evening to suit you, rather than planning around when you have to eat.

In summary, you need to think about how much the Aurea upgrade costs against how much you’d make use of what it gets you. If it sounds like it’ll really improve your cruise, then go for it. Otherwise, maybe save money and choose Fantastica or even Bella.

Read more about the MSC Fantastica experience before you make your mind up.

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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.

Read more about me

If you know me, you’ll know that I’m always looking for a bargain when it comes to cruises. So much so that each week I send the very best deals I find to the people on my email list (join here if you want them).

So, when I spotted a cruise departing from Southampton that was just £99, I was all over it.

Here’s what was included in the £99:

• 2 nights in an inside cabin on MSC Euribia
• Food
• Entertainment
• Gratuities
• Port fees and taxes

Read more: Exactly What’s Included in a MSC Cruise

I also opted to add on a drinks package for another £80. Why? Well, this was a weekend cruise with my friend Hannah from Love Cruise Ships, and £40 per day for all-you-can-drink seemed like fun.

Why this cruise was so cheap

MSC Cruises are usually some of the cheapest there are. I’ve had cheap cruises before, paying just £800 for a family of four for a week on MSC Preziosa. The deals are there to be had.

Suggested read: The 7 Cheapest Cruise Lines 

MSC Cruises is different from most cruise lines because new guests can embark at almost every port of call. This cruise departed from Southampton, and the round trip was set to take three weeks. But, there was also the option to jump off anywhere you like for cheaper.

A one-way cruise from chilly Southampton to snowy Hamburg in early January is never going to be popular, and so this half-empty ship was super cheap, to try to fill at least some of the beds.

I have a whole article about why MSC Cruises are so cheap, if you’d like to know more about how this cruise line manages to keep prices so low.

I had low expectations

Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much. This was my fourth cruise with MSC Cruises, and after the last one, my husband vowed never to sail with them again. I couldn’t even persuade him to try staying in the luxury area of the ship, the Yacht Club.

Our last cruise was in the school summer holidays, MSC Virtuosa was absolutely rammed full of kids and I suspect that some of the crew may have been isolating because there were just not enough of them to be able to manage the crowds. It wasn’t fun.

But, it seems that when you take a cruise on a half-empty ship with a full crew, having five times as many crew members per guest makes a massive difference!

But, it’s not just the level of service that has improved in my eyes. This cruise was better than I expected in so many ways.

The good times started with embarkation, which was the fastest check-in and embarkation ever! We arrived at Southampton’s Horizon cruise terminal an hour ahead of our allotted time and was on the ship within five minutes. It was incredible.

The ship

We sailed on MSC Euribia, which is one of MSC Cruises’ newest ships. She’s a sister-ship to MSC Virtuosa, but with some improvements. That’s one of the things I really like about MSC Cruises, with each ship they look at what works, what doesn’t, and aim to make things better and better.

Virtuosa’s wasted space of the carousel lounge (which was always empty in the daytime) and the gimmicky robot bartender are gone. Instead, there’s a lovely lounge with wake views and a pool table, plus a wine-tasting area with interactive screens on the tables. 

Like all MSC cruise ships, MSC Euribia is stunning. She has a futuristic vibe with lots of grey leather, chrome and glitzy crystals. Unlike more traditional ships, there’s barely any wood in sight.

The central promenade, or ‘galleria’ is particularly impressive, with its huge LED ceiling that looked different every time you looked up. I loved the dolphins and whales that would make it feel like you’re underwater.

If you’d like to see more of the ship, I have a full walkaround video tour for your on my YouTube channel…

The food

In the past, I’ve talked about MSC Cruises’ small portions, bland tastes, unimaginative menus and slow service with meals that take three hours each.

Well, I’m delighted to say that we didn’t experience any of those things on this cruise. The food in the main dining room was delicious and I’m thrilled to report that MSC Cruises now offers vegan menus!

I can’t explain how happy it makes me to be able to pick something from a menu rather than ask to see tomorrow’s menu and figure out what can be cobbled together. Well done, MSC!

The buffet was huge, with pretty much everything you could want, and too my delight, there are now labels to help people with special diets know what’s suitable for them. Hallelujah!

As it was such a short cruise, I can’t comment on any of the speciality restaurants. But everything we did eat was fantastic and the waiters were really friendly and chatty.

The drinks

As we had the drinks package, I was keen to sample some of the cocktails, and they were all brilliant. 

When we first arrived, I ordered a glass of wine at lunch, and was expecting a very small glass. When it arrived I couldn’t believe my eyes, my huge glass had about half a bottle of wine in it! This picture doesn’t do justice to how big it was…

I was yet to film a tour of my cabin so I ended up a little tipsy while filming. Oops!

You can check out that video here…

Whenever we ordered drinks we would also ask for water in an effort to avoid being hungover on such a short cruise. The waiter would put two drinks and two bottles of mineral water on one cruise card, no problem.

The activities

MSC Euribia has so much to do on board that we really had to prioritise to fit everything in. Our first stop was the spa, where we enjoyed a lovely, relaxing time. The thermal area spa is huge with two large Jacuzzis, about ten different saunas and steam rooms, an ice room, lots of fancy showers and plenty of relaxation areas.

Although Hannah hasn’t cruised with MSC Cruises before, she did have quite a high loyalty status with Royal Caribbean. Thanks to the MSC Status Match Program, Hannah was gold level with MSC. Whereas I was only silver.

This meant that as one of the loyalty perks, Hannah got a free pass to the spa. As we were sharing a cabin, I could also attend for just £20 instead of the usual £80. Sold!

I wouldn’t have paid £80, but the £20 was money well spent, and it was the only extra thing we purchased on board.

MSC Euribia has a huge outdoor water park and I did brave one of the slides, even though it was zero degrees outside. It wasn’t too bad as the water was warm, but the lifeguard said that the other two slides weren’t heated so I skipped those and jumped straight into the outdoor hot tub.

The outdoor hot tubs are warm enough, but I’d suggest bringing a woolly hat and sunglasses as the cold wind on your face isn’t the nicest. There is also a lively indoor pool though with indoor hot tubs which are much better for winter cruises.

We tried the high ropes course which is quite fun. It’s much tamer than some of the ones I’ve tried on other ships such as P&O Arvia and Norwegian Breakaway. This is good for younger kids, as they can join in too.

There are plenty more things to do for an extra charge like bowling, VR games, a Formula One simulator and an arcade. And there are lots of free activities for kids in the kids clubs.

Entertainment

We saw two shows in the theatre in the evenings and both were fantastic. There are three showings every night, but I’d still advise to book your place on the app each day as the theatre does get full. 

As MSC cruises have guests of all nationalities on board, the shows feature lots of dancing, costumes, gymnasts and magic, which is great. 

You can also enjoy live music in various bars and lounges and there are also street entertainers on the promenade as well as pop-up events.

We watched a beer-drinking competition where about 20 guests raced to finish glasses of beer the fastest. This probably wouldn’t happen on a British cruise, but it was pretty funny to watch!

The first night of our cruise was White Night. We had no idea that was on the agenda and I’m still not sure how you find out if there’s a White Night on your cruise or when it will be. So you might want to just assume there will be one and pack something white to wear.

The casino on MSC Euribia is really big. Smoking is allowed in the casino, so it does smell a bit. We were excited to try it but on the second night of the cruise when we went at 9pm it was already closed. I’m not sure why that was, perhaps we were too close to land?

The Itinerary

After sailing from Southampton and spending a day at sea, we arrived in Hamburg to several inches of snow! 

There were taxis waiting outside so we jumped in one and headed straight to the airport. The taxi cost 55 euros. We could have taken the train for much cheaper, but a taxi was super convenient and it was nice to see the snowy city centre.

The flight back to London was really quick and cost about £30. People often overlook one-way cruises, but they can be a great way to get a bargain, particularly with MSC Cruises who have a lot of them available.

If you prefer a round-trip from Southampton, 7-night cruises start at around £380 per person.

The Verdict

This cruise really made me realise that you shouldn’t ever write off a cruise line based on a bad experience, particularly if your bad experience was when restrictions were in place that were out of the cruise line’s control. I wasn’t a fan of MSC Cruises before, but this cruise was a 10/10 for me.

If you are able to cruise at less popular times of the year, as well as getting a great deal, one of the perks you may get is that your ship will be much less crowded. Having a waiter come over as soon as you sit down in a bar and never having to queue for an elevator are things that you really appreciate if you’re used to big, busy ships.

Suggested read: What Is The Cheapest Month To Go On A Cruise?

I’ll have no hesitation about cruising with MSC Cruises again. Now, I just need to get my husband to read this so that he’ll come too next time!

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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.

Read more about me

Being enrolled in a cruise line’s loyalty programme is great for getting extra rewards, but the best perks are locked behind higher tiers – which means you feel like you’re locked into one cruise line.

MSC Cruises has a ‘Status Match Program’ that’s designed to attract guests who are already loyal to other cruise lines, hotel brands, or tour operators.

It acknowledges the loyalty status that you may have earned with other travel brands by offering a matching status in the MSC Voyagers Club, which is MSC Cruises’ own loyalty program.

But is it any good?

First, choose your cruise line below to see what level your loyalty status matches to with MSC Cruises

AIDA Cruise Line

Azamara Cruises – Le Club Voyage

Carnival Cruises – VIFP

Celebrity Cruises – Captain’s Club

Costa Cruises – Costa Club

Cunard Cruises – World Club Cunard

Disney Cruise Line – Castaway Club

Holland America – Mariner Society

Norwegian Cruises – Latitudes

Oceania Cruises – Oceania Club

Ponant Yacht Cruises & Expeditions

Princess Cruises – Princess Captain’s Circle

P&O Cruises – Peninsular Club

Regent Cruises – Seven Seas Club

Royal Caribbean – Crown & Anchor Society

Seabourn Cruises – Club

	Classic	Silver	Gold	Diamond
Seabourn Club	✔
Seabourn Club Silver				✔
Seabourn Club Gold				✔
Seabourn Club Platinum				✔
Seabourn Club Diamond				✔

SilverSea – Venetian Society

	Classic	Silver	Gold	Diamond
Venetian Society member	✔
Shipper Milestone				✔
Emerald Milestone				✔
Ruby Milestone				✔
Diamond Milestone				✔

Star Cruises – Resort World at Sea

	Classic	Silver	Gold	Diamond
Silver		✔
Gold		✔
Platinum			✔
Black			✔

As well as matching cruise line loyalty status, MSC Cruises also matches loyalty status with various hotels and casinos like Hilton, Marriott, Best Western and many more.

MSC Voyagers Club Levels

Once you know what status you’ll be matched to in the MSC Voyagers Club, you’ll want to know what that gets you…

All the MSC loyalty perks are shown in the following table:

	Classic	Silver	Gold	Diamond	Blue Diamond
5% cruise discount	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
10% cruise discount on advance bookings	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Email newsletter	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Personalised luggage tags	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Welcome back cocktail	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Onboard discounts	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
$50 credit on advance bookings		✔	✔	✔	✔
One hour in the thermal area			✔	✔	✔
Free gift			✔	✔	✔
Priority disembarkation by tender			✔	✔	✔
Free photo			✔	✔	✔
Birthday cake			✔	✔	✔
Priority line for embarkation				✔	✔
Free speciality restaurant dinner				✔	✔
Priority disembarkation at end of cruise				✔	✔
Bathrobe and slippers				✔	✔
Dance class				✔	✔
Diamond Party				✔	✔
Late check-out				✔	✔
Sweet chocolate gift				✔	✔
Free WiFi package					✔
Flexible check-in times					✔
Free tickets for shuttle services (select ports)					✔
Exclusive event invitations with officers					✔

You’ll notice that Blue Diamond doesn’t appear on the status match charts above. That’s because it’s a new tier introduced in November 2024 that is only achievable with MSC – you can’t get it via status match.

How To Register For Status Match

To claim your MSC Status Match perks, you’ll need to fill in a form on the MSC Cruises website.

You can ask your travel agent to do this for you if you prefer. If you’re a member of multiple loyalty programs, be sure to pick the one with the greatest benefits.

MSC Status Match usually takes around 72 hours to be completed, so don’t leave it too late before your cruise to apply. You’ll receive an approval email with your MSC Voyagers’ Club Number.

My Opinion

The aim of the MSC Cruises Status Match Program is to tempt frequent cruisers of other cruise lines over to MSC by matching the benefits that they usually get with their favourite cruise lines.

Of course, the loyalty perks should never be a reason to book a cruise, but they can offer a nice bonus. With the MSC Voyagers Club, it’s not until Gold and Diamond Level that you get any perks that are really worth having.

I’ve cruised with MSC Cruises four times, so I am a Silver Member. But I’ve never noticed any of the perks that come with that, and I don’t recall ever receiving the free cocktail either!

It wouldn’t surprise me if you need to queue at guest services to ask for a voucher to claim it or something. I don’t fancy doing that, especially if I have a drinks package!

So, if you have a high loyalty status elsewhere, then it’s worth spending a few minutes filling out the form so MSC Cruises will match that. But don’t get too excited, loyalty perks usually aren’t all that great until you reach the highest tiers.

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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.

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