MSC Cruises is raising its daily hotel service charges for guests sailing in the Caribbean and Alaska, with the updated rates taking effect from 11th May 2026.
The cruise line has begun notifying booked passengers of the changes via email, while also updating pricing on its website. The adjustment follows a broader trend across the industry, with several major cruise operators introducing similar increases in recent months.
Under the revised structure, guests staying in standard staterooms will see a $1 per person, per night increase, bringing the total to $17. Those booked into the premium MSC Yacht Club suites will face a larger rise of $3 per person, per night, taking the new rate to $23.
Children under the age of two will continue to be exempt from hotel service charges, regardless of accommodation type.
What Guests Need To Know About The Changes
MSC Cruises has confirmed that passengers who have already prepaid their gratuities will not be required to pay the higher rate, even if their sailing departs after the new charges come into force.
The cruise line said: “We are happy to honor the current Hotel Service Charge for guests who have already paid, as well as those who choose to prepay before the policy change on May 11, 2026.”
While the charges are automatically applied to onboard accounts, MSC maintains that they are calculated to reflect its service standards and are not designed to be altered.
However, guests who feel service levels have not met expectations can raise concerns with the Guest Relations Manager onboard to request adjustments.
It is worth noting that MSC’s gratuity rates vary globally. The increase announced here applies only to Caribbean and Alaska sailings.
In other regions, current charges remain unchanged, typically ranging between $14 and $19 per night for standard cabins and $19 to $23 for Yacht Club suites. On many cruises from the UK there are no gratuities for guests to pay.
The timing of the increase coincides with MSC’s growing presence in Alaska. MSC Poesia is set to begin the line’s first-ever Alaska season from Seattle on 11th May 2026, the same day the new pricing comes into effect.
Cruise Lines Continue Industry-Wide Price Adjustments
MSC Cruises is far from alone in revising its gratuity structure. A number of cruise lines have implemented increases in recent weeks, reflecting ongoing cost pressures across the sector.
Margaritaville at Sea introduced one of the most significant hikes earlier this year, raising daily gratuities to $22 per person for standard cabins and $25 for suites from 1st February 2026.
Carnival Cruise Line also adjusted its rates, increasing gratuities to $17 per person, per night for standard staterooms and $19 for suites. Those changes took effect on 2nd April 2026.
Meanwhile, Holland America Line has announced a $1 per person, per day increase across all accommodation categories, although that change will not be introduced until 1st June 2026.
These incremental increases, while relatively small on a nightly basis, can have a noticeable impact on the overall cost of a cruise, particularly for families travelling together.
With additional onboard expenses such as speciality dining and drinks packages also contributing to the final bill, travellers are increasingly factoring gratuities into their overall holiday budget.
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