MSC Cruises

If you're on the lookout for the perfect cruise holiday, look no further than MSC Cruises! When you have 300 years of seafaring experience under your belt, you know they know exactly where the best-kept secrets of the high seas are, and with over 300 ports of call in over 80 countries to discover, you can be sure you will find the perfect MSC Cruise. Whether you're looking for a romantic getaway, a family-friendly adventure, or a solo journey of self-discovery, on the hunt for a hidden gem or somewhere new to cross off that travel-to list? You’re in the right place. We’ve teamed up with MSC Cruises to bring you a proper treasure trove of good times and good vibes, all waiting to be unlocked. Sailing to some of the world’s most desirable locations, including the Caribbean, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Western Mediterranean, an MSC cruise is like a luxury hotel, only one that can transport you to your dream destinations.

MSC Cruises prides itself on providing an unparalleled onboard experience, featuring world-class entertainment, delectable dining options, and luxurious accommodations. With more balcony cabins than any other line, their fleet of state-of-the-art ships boasts an impressive array of amenities, including sparkling swimming pools, rejuvenating spas, and exciting onboard activities for the perfect holiday

One of the standout features of an MSC Cruises is their commitment to sustainability. They've implemented a range of environmentally conscious measures to reduce their carbon footprint, including energy-efficient lighting and water treatment systems, eco-friendly cleaning products, and waste reduction and recycling programs, many of their newest ships are powered by LNG.

With our selection of exclusive MSC Cruises Smart Packages, travellers are in for a real treat, and at unbeatable prices that won’t break the bank – guaranteed.

Star Buy

Destinations

With over 209 ports of call and more than 1,600 excursions available around the world, MSC Cruises offer the kind of experiences that a traveller’s dreams are made of. Sailing year-round in the Mediterranean and Caribbean, MSC’s three centuries of maritime know-how means there’s no better way to experience these parts of the world. But the ship doesn’t stop there. Seasonal itineraries are also available in northern Europe, South America, South Africa, the Canary Islands and Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. Still not enough? Why not see the best the entire globe has to offer onboard an MSC world cruise?

MSC Cruises literally cover the globe and each port they sail to offers an array of fantastic shore excursions for you to discover, returning home with no stone unturned is practically guaranteed. Why not visit iconic sites with multi-lingual guides or go on dedicated excursions that suit everyone, from groups to families, and get those horizons well and truly expanding? And the best bit: you get all the highlights, without the stress of planning and organising them yourself! Savour every second and have the holiday of a lifetime, wherever your adventure takes you.

DAZZLING DINING

With over 140 different meals served on board every day, fine dining and excellent service in the main restaurants, casual dining at their buffets and the chance to sample some truly incredible speciality restaurants, there really is something to suit every taste on an MSC cruise. And with food that looks as good as it tastes, we reckon you’ll reach for your camera before the knife and fork.

With pizza, pasta, bread and pastries, along with signature Mediterranean dishes, all made fresh on board daily, guests can gorge on lovingly crafted fare day and night. Elsewhere, you’ll find incredible cuisine inspired by the destinations visited by your ship.

Bratwurst from Germany one day and classic Spanish paella the next? Sounds good to us. MSC’s fleet of ships are also home to a wide choice of speciality restaurants too. From the Butcher’s Cut steakhouse and L’Atelier Bistrot, a French fancy complete with its own art gallery, to Teppanyaki and Kaito Sushi Bar offering up authentic Asian flavours ready to delight all manner of appetites. Whatever you’ve got your stomach set on, a diverse range of sumptuous and exotic flavours await.

And for sailors with a sweet tooth, Italian maestros Venchi and French celebrity chocolaterie Jean-Phillipe Maury have some incredible treats in store that make for a real foodie finale to your dining experiences.

Hibernate in Style

On an MSC cruise, every wish, whim and want is catered to – right down to where you’ll be staying. And that means there’s plenty of choice for budgets of all kinds. The cabins on the MSC cruise line ships are designed with comfort and elegance in mind. They offer a range of options to suit every traveler's needs, from cozy interior cabins to spacious suites with balconies. The decor is tasteful and modern, with a focus on creating a relaxing atmosphere.

Each cabin comes equipped with modern amenities such as a flat-screen TV, a minibar, and air conditioning. The beds are comfortable, and the linens are of high quality. The cabins are well-maintained, and staff are attentive to guests every need. Whether you're looking for a quiet place to relax or a comfortable home base for your adventures at sea, the cabins on the MSC cruises are sure to exceed your expectations.

Experiences That Delight

Onboard MSC, your room is more than just a room, it’s an Experience, and all four of them are designed to make your time at sea as special as you want it to be.

And speaking of an Experience, MSC Cruises offer a whole host of options to suit the needs of all passengers and to ensure an experience of a lifetime!

Fun For All

On an MSC cruise, there’s no shortage of things you and your family can have a go at. Built to get the excitement levels going, their selection of round-the-clock entertainment features everything from pulse-racing outdoor activities and immersive 4D cinemas.

Out on deck, MSC Cruises has some of the best swimming pools at sea with slides that mean adrenaline junkies of all ages cant fail to feel satisfied. Fancy something more adventurous? How does zip-lining across the length of your ship sound? Or try traversing their Himalayan Bridge, a daring stroll that takes place 60 metres above sea level! Your adventure awaits onboard.

FEEL OHH LALA

Prefer something a little more serene on your MSC Cruise? Get some zen like relaxation in the MSC Aurea Spa, a place where your stresses slip away amidst soothing treatments, relaxing massages, and innovative new therapies. With over 20 types of authentic Balinese massage and a whole host of beauty treatments PLUS a thermal area where you can wind down before an evening of great food and show stopping entertainment, it is the perfect place for some ‘you’ time.

If breaking a sweat is your thing, then exercising at one of MSC’s sport and fitness facilities, with panoramic views surrounding you, should spur that extra mile, rep or stretch on. For those wanting to maintain their fitness regime whilst onboard, a session with one of the MSC personal trainers in the state-of-the-art Technogym® is a must!

Or if the outdoors is more your thing, then a jog or power walk around the ships open decks taking in the outstanding sea views is sure to leave you feeling that fitness high!

MSC Promotions

Discover cruise holidays for everyone with limited time spectacular MSC deals you can’t miss.

Save up to £900 with massive reductions on MSC cruises and FREE kids places on selected sailings. Plus, upgrade to premium drinks from just £28 per person, per day!

When you book with Cruise Nation enjoy additional savings of up to 15%, FREE hotel stays and flexible monthly payment plans!

*Offers valid until 31st March 2025. Offers are subject to availability, can be changed or withdrawn at any time without notice, apply to new bookings only, on selected sailings and cannot be combined with other promotional or discounted offers. Free kids valid on selected sailings on a cruise only basis, flights and hotel stay will be charged at the prevailing rate. Cruise Nation and MSC Cruises T&C's apply. E&OE.

MSC FAQs

What’s included?

Even a basic MSC cruise holiday has plenty included at no extra charge. For starters, each guest can enjoy full board dining in the buffets and restaurants onboard. Guests can also enjoy a full programme of live entertainment and work up a sweat with gym and sports activities. The cherry on top? All kids under 2 years go free!

You’ll have to pay extra for the following:

Port excursions
Drinks packages
Dining packages for speciality restaurants
Certain specialty shows
Spa and wellness treatments
Internet packages
Certain onboard activities

What is the tipping/gratuities policy?

Gratuities are included in your cruise fare, and so MSC doesn’t encourage tipping individual staff members during your cruise.

An optional service charge will be added for additional food and drinks purchased separately to any food or drinks packages you have.

How much are drinks on MSC Cruises?

Fancy one of MSC Cruises’ drinks packages while you’re on your hols? With five of them to choose from, there’s plenty of options, whatever your tipple of choice is. Here’s how much each of them costs…

Easy Package

From around £29 per day, the Easy Package includes:

Selected cocktails
Non-alcoholic cocktails and mixed drinks
Spirits including whisky, vodka, gin, rum, tequila, brandy – one brand per type
House wines including red, white, sparking, and rose
Draft and bottled Heineken
Soft drinks from the fountain, canned soft drinks, fruit juices by the glass and bottled
Bottled mineral water
Classic hot drinks (espresso, cappuccino, caffe latte, hot tea, and hot chocolate)
Beverage gratuities

Easy Plus Package

Including all beverages priced up to €9/$10, the Easy Plus Package starts from roughly £40 per day and includes the same offers as the Easy Package, along with:

Selected frozen and classic cocktails
Fresh fruit cocktails and protein shakes
Well spirits, liqueurs and cordials
Selected draught and bottled beers
Selected wines by the glass
10% discount on bottles of wine

Premium Extra Package

Including all beverages priced up to €14/$16, the Premium Extra Package starts from around £52 per day and includes the same offers as the Easy Plus Package, along with:

Selected Premium and International cocktails
Fresh fruit and protein cocktails
Premium brand spirits, liqueurs and cordials
Wide selection of fine wine by glass
Champagne by glass
Wide variety of classic and specialty hot drinks
25% discount on bottles of wine and champagne

Alcohol-Free Package

From around £20 per day, the Alcohol-Free Package includes:

Non-alcoholic cocktails
Fresh fruit and protein cocktails
Energy drinks
Sodas by glass and bottle
Energy drinks
Flavoured water
Wide range of hot drinks
Soft serve ice cream
Beverage gratuities included

Minors Package

From around £15 per day, the Minors Package includes:

Non-alcoholic cocktails
Energy drinks
Flavoured water
Soda by glass and bottle
Wide range of hot drinks
Soft serve ice cream
Beverage gratuities included

What is the dress code?

MSC’s dress code is mostly casual. By day, guests are free to wear casual clothing including t-shirts and shorts. However, swimwear must be avoided unless you’re in the pool areas.

By night, a smart casual dress code is encouraged from guests and the cruise line suggests wearing collared shirts, tailored shorts or trousers, dresses and skirts. For Gala Nights onboard your ship, it’s dress to impress! You might also need to check any other specific dress code requirements for shore excursions and formal restaurants.

What plugs are used on an MSC Cruise?

All MSC cruise ships have a minimum of 2 US and 2 European plug sockets, while cruise ships in the Meraviglia, Meraviglia Plus and Seaside class also have USB sockets available.

Are there laundry facilities onboard?

While there aren’t any self-service laundry facilities onboard MSC cruise ships, they offer several convenient laundry service packages depending on how many items of clothing you’d like to send off for cleaning. For a small single charge, you and every other guest in your cabin can use the laundry services whenever you’d like for up to 40 items per cabin per cruise.

Items will simply be collected before midday and returned within 48 hours - normally just in time for dinner that day!

Can I use my mobile from the ship?

Your mobile phone can be used from the ship, although away from shore you’re unlikely to pick up 3G or your network signal. If you’d like to connect to Wi-Fi onboard to use your device, you’ll need to purchase one of the Wi-Fi packages available.

How much is Wi-Fi on MSC Cruises?

Guests can make use of any of the following internet packages during their time at sea…

The Social Package: Perfect for people who love to keep their friends and family updated back home, the Social Package provides day and night access to popular social media sites, and starts from €3.90 per day / €14.90 for a full seven-day cruise.
The Surfer Package: Want to keep track of the latest news? Need to know how your team’s getting on? Or can’t quite switch off from your work emails? The Surfer Package is for you. Starting from €9.90 per day / €29.90 for a full seven-day cruise, it also includes the same access to social media sites the Social Package offers.
The Streamer Package: For those who want unrestricted access to the Internet all day, every, the Streamer Package provides full access to both the web and social media, along with audio and video at the highest possible quality. Prices start from €19.90 per day / €59.90 for a full seven-day cruise.

What are the onboard payment options?

MSC Cruises have made onboard payments simple and easy with the personal cruise card. This eliminates the need to carry cash or credit cards on your cruise and can be activated at any time from embarkation until 11pm the following day at any of the Cruise Card Activation points located around the ship.

Guests can also leave a cash deposit at the Reception/Guest Services to cover onboard payments. Most major credit and debit cards will be accepted for payments too.

Can I smoke onboard?

For the safety and comfort of all other guests, all forms of smoking are strictly prohibited on MSC ships except for clearly-marked designated smoking areas. If you are caught smoking anywhere else, including your stateroom, stateroom balcony or other areas of the ship that aren’t designated smoking areas, you could face a fine.

Additional MSC FAQs

How do I join MSC Voyagers Club ahead of my cruise?

The MSC Voyagers Club allows loyal customers to discover a brand new world of incredible, life-changing privileges each and every time they cruise with the line. The more points you collect, the more luxurious and exclusive the perks including discounts on onboard amenities, free gifts, priority boarding, priority boarding and whole heap more!

Want in on all this good stuff? Of course you do! To be part of the lucky few, you can become a member over at MSC Cruises’ official site – provided you’ve sailed with them since 2006 or have a confirmed booking with the line.

Why is there no deck 17 on MSC?

Been checking out the deck plans for MSC’s ships and noticed that you can’t find a deck 17 on any of them? There’s a good reason for that. Just like we consider the number 13 unlucky over here, Italians feel the same way about the number 17 – and since MSC is all about cruising Italian-style, they’ve skipped this ill-fated figure to avoid any mishaps when at sea!

What does MSC stand for?

The mystery letters in MSC Cruises stand for Mediterranean Shipping Company.

Who owns MSC Cruises?

The Mediterranean Shipping Company that MSC stands for is also the parent company which owns the line, and it’s been that way since 1988.

Can you take hair straighteners on an MSC cruise ship?

While the line previously included hair straighteners in its list of banned items along with electric blankets, clothes irons and steamers, MSC have now relaxed their stance, and guests are welcome to bring along their own hair straighteners.

Can I take alcohol on an MSC Cruise?

If you’re hoping to bring along a bottle of your favourite booze, then unfortunately, we have some bad news.

You won’t be allowed to bring alcohol onboard during embarkation. If you’re purchasing alcohol on port to bring onboard, then your items will be held for safekeeping and delivered to passengers’ staterooms on the final evening of the cruise.

If you’re purchasing alcohol from any of MSC’s duty-free shops onboard, it will also be retained until the end of the cruise.

Do MSC Cruises include flights?

If you’d prefer to fly to your cruise, then absolutely, certain MSC itineraries include flights. For more information, as well as our range of unbeatable, can’t-find-them-anywhere-else deals, check out our page on fly cruises.

Is water free on MSC Cruises?

Tap water is free of charge on MSC cruises, however bottled water will cost £2.50 for a 500ml bottle – it’s free if you’ve opted for one of their drinks packages.