Sarah Bretz, ContributorFor one set price, a cruise vacation allows travelers to see multiple destinations and enjoy amenities the ship has to offer while only unpacking once. However, some dining, activities, and entertainment do come at an extra cost. To help those who are planning a cruise on MSC, we’ve put together this comprehensive piece on what’s included on MSC Cruises.
What’s Included on MSC Cruises?
When you book a cruise, there are lots of things that are part of the standard cruise fare. These include accommodations, food and drinks, onboard activities and entertainment, and more. Not everything in each category is free, though. Most cruise lines charge for various add-ons to enhance and add to the cruise experience.
While many cruisers choose to splurge on various extras, you can still have a great vacation without paying much extra at all. Here’s what’s included on MSC Cruises.
Accommodations
Your cruise fare covers the cost of your stateroom on the ship. Included with your cabin, you will have the services of a room steward who will make up your room daily.
Like most cruise ships, you are able to select from several cabin categories when choosing your accommodations. There are interior cabins with no window, oceanview (window) cabins, balcony cabins with a private veranda, and various suites. Choosing your cabin type is the main driver of your total cruise cost.
When you choose your cabin on MSC Cruises, you also choose an “experience” level. This indicates things like the type of cabin you’ll have and some perks that may be included in your cruise fare. There’s more on that towards the end of this article.
MSC ships also have the MSC Yacht Club, which is a luxury “ship within a ship” complex. It boasts upscale suite accommodations as well as additional perks like a private sundeck and restaurant. There’s more on that towards the end of this article as well.
Food and Drinks
As with most other cruise lines, you can enjoy three meals a day (with snacks in between) at the ship’s buffet. Some ships even have multiple buffets! The food there is free and unlimited for guests to enjoy.
The main dining rooms are also available to guests as part of the cruise fare. It’s open for breakfast, lunch on select days only, and dinner. MSC Cruises main dining rooms offer both flexible dining (come whenever you want during the meal hours) and set time dining (where you have an assigned dining time for dinner). Continental breakfast room service is also included in the cruise fare.
Are drinks part of what’s included on MSC Cruises?
Several beverages are included in the cruise fare on MSC. These include lemonade, iced tea, milk, drip coffee, and hot tea. A selection of juices are also available and included at breakfast. And of course, water is always available at various venues across the ship — including in the restaurants and bars.
However, soda, espresso-based beverages, and alcoholic drinks will cost extra. This is where a drink package will come in handy.
Onboard Activities
Your MSC ship is a hub of activities and events for all ages. There’s plenty to do on board that won’t cost you anything extra.
All MSC Cruises vessels have a large pool deck for guests to enjoy. Most ships have multiple pools, which could include an aft infinity pool, a pool with a retractable roof, an adults-only pool, and more. Many ships also feature a water park with things like waterslides and a splash area.
On the upper decks, guests on many ships will find a basketball and/or tennis court, mini golf, and a jogging track. Some ships even feature a ropes course, and the World-class ships feature a 11-deck tall spiral dry slide. All ships also include a fitness center with TechnoGym equipment.
Onboard events like trivia, game challenges, dance lessons, sports tournaments, and cooking demonstrations are also held throughout the cruise.
Daily Entertainment
At night, your MSC cruise ship comes alive with lots of entertainment that doesn’t cost you anything. The signature entertainment is found in the main theater, which hosts Broadway-style productions and musicals. You’ll also find comedy shows and a nightclub on most MSC Cruises vessels.
Around the ship both during the day and in the evening, guests can enjoy musical performances from vocalists and musicians. There’s also karaoke and themed parties on select nights of the cruise, like the very popular White Party.
Kids and Teens Programs
MSC Cruises ships have a number of clubs for kids divided by age group, as well as separate clubs for tweens and teens. The baby club allows parents to come in and play with their baby, and there are also time slots available where parents can drop them off. The Baby Club offers a selection of Chicco toys, as well as games, music, and rhythm activities.
Older kids have their own clubs as well, offering toys, LEGO blocks, dance and singing activities, sports tournaments, and events that the whole family can participate in.
Tweens and teens also have their own dedicated spaces, offering activities and amenities like video games, table games, sports tournaments, dance competitions, karaoke, and a variety of themed events both in the clubs and around the ship.
All MSC Cruises ships also feature a special event called LEGO Experience On Board, which is an entire day dedicated to LEGO activities for the whole family.
What’s Not Included on MSC Cruises
Now that we’ve gone over what’s included on MSC Cruises, let’s quickly go over what costs extra.
Alcoholic (And Some Non-Alcoholic) Beverages
Beverages that you either have to pay for a la carte or get a beverage package to enjoy include beer, wine, spirits, cocktails, soda, specialty coffees, smoothies, energy drinks, and bottled water.
Specialty Dining
Specialty restaurants such as the ship’s steakhouse, seafood restaurant, or Asian restaurant cost extra. MSC Cruises has a mix of both a la carte and prix-fixe specialty restaurants. Some counter-service venues also incur a charge, such as crepes and gelato at Jean-Philippe Crepes & Gelato and chocolates and other desserts at the Venchi 1878 Chocolate Bar.
Gratuities
As with most other cruise lines, guests ages 2 and older are each charged a daily gratuity for each day of their cruise. The exact amount charged varies slightly from region to region, and is also different for standard cruises vs. longer Grand Voyages. Currently, on standard sailings from North America, gratuities are $16 per person, per night for standard cabins. It’s $20 per person, per night for those staying in the MSC Yacht Club.
Some Entertainment and Onboard Activities
While most entertainment and activities for guests on board is included in the cruise fare, some things are not. Offerings vary based on the ship, but some of these things include acrobatic shows in the Carousel Lounge, the F1 simulator, the zip line, bowling, the 4D cinema, arcade games, and the Robotron ride.
WiFi
While it’s free to utilize the ship’s internet services for the MSC for Me app, if you want it for anything else you’ll have to pay. MSC Cruises has two internet packages. The first, the Browse package, allows for general web browsing; chat on messenger apps such as iMessage, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger; access to social media; and the ability to send and receive emails with images.
The second option, the Browse & Stream package, provides a much faster internet speed. In addition to the same things as the Browse package offers, this package allows for streaming music and videos, as well as posting to social media.
Spa Services and the Thermal Suite
MSC Cruises’ ships have robust spa and salon services that are available to passengers. But if you want that massage, facial, manicure, or haircut, it will cost you extra.
Inside the spa, you’ll find a thermal area that includes things like a hot tub, sauna, snow room, and more. Prices and passes vary depending on the ship, so visit the spa on embarkation day to inquire about how to get access.
Shore Excursions
While most activities and experiences are included on the ship, time spent off the ship during the cruise is a different story. The exception is MSC Cruises’ private island Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, which provides beach access and food to guests.
If you’re in port and looking to do an organized tour, head out on a boat ride, or join an ATV adventure, you’ll have to pay extra. However, excursions are not required in port. So if you want to do your own thing, a port day doesn’t have to cost anything (or much) at all. If you are looking to do excursions, though, be sure to factor them into your budget.
Other Add-Ons
- Casino play
- Photo packages
- Laundry service
- Items from the onboard shops
- Bingo games
- Room service
- Special celebration packages
- Travel to/from the cruise homeport
Does MSC Cruises have inclusive packages?
When you book a cruise with MSC Cruises, you choose between three “experiences” if you’re not cruising in the Yacht Club: Bella, Fantastica, and Aurea.
The Bella Experience is what you get when you book a guaranteed stateroom. This means you pay less for the cruise line to choose your cabin for you, vs. paying a bit more to choose your exact stateroom. The Bella Experience is the standard, and doesn’t have any extra perks or inclusions beyond what we’ve gone over above.
The Fantastica Experience is available for balcony, oceanview, and interior staterooms. This is the package you get when you choose your stateroom. It includes a discounted drink package option, free room service delivery, and one free cruise change (applicable on either the cruise dates or the destination).
The Aurea Experience is available with balcony cabins (on most ships) and suites that are not part of the Yacht Club. It includes what the Fantastica experience does, plus the ability to enjoy My Choice dining (anytime dining) in a dedicated restaurant or part of the dining room. Other inclusions are a welcome package of Prosecco and chocolate, free access to the Top Solarium and spa thermal suite, a discount on spa treatments, priority boarding and luggage drop-off, and more.
What’s the MSC Yacht Club?
For the ultimate luxury MSC Cruises experience, guests can stay in the MSC Yacht Club. This exclusive area is what the cruise industry calls a “ship within a ship” complex. It boasts suites with larger floor plans than a standard cabin. They boast luxurious interior design and a higher level of service than guests will find on the rest of the ship. Accessed by keycard only for those staying within the Yacht Club, the space includes a private restaurant, sundeck, and lounge.
Staying in the MSC Yacht Club means more inclusions with the cruise fare as well. These include priority embarkation and disembarkation and access to a dedicated 24/7 butler team. Room service and the Premium Extra beverage package are also included with the Yacht Club. Wifi access for two devices and access to the spa’s thermal suite are two more perks of staying there.
On MSC’s private island Ocean Cay, guests in the Yacht Club have exclusive access to the Ocean House Beach. It’s a calm part of the island with beachfront cabanas and a dedicated restaurant.
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