MSC Cruises: An In-Depth Guide & Review
Not many travelers have heard of them, yet, they are the fastest growing cruise line in US, so let me go ahead and introduce you. Meet MSC Cruises. I just got back on my very first cruise them – a lovely 4 day/4 night trip to The Bahamas. I was fortunate enough to go and check them out, and as a travel agent, wanted to share my top tips, feedback, and must-know details with you to help you decide whether or not MSC Cruise Lines might be right for you.
A little history about MSC Cruises
Established by the Aponte family in 1960, MSC Cruises emerged from humble beginnings as a shipping company in Naples, Italy. Today, it stands as one of the world’s largest privately-owned cruise lines, renowned for its elegant ships, exceptional service, and immersive travel experiences.
Specializing as a European Cruise Line, MSC Cruises offers a diverse range of itineraries to destinations worldwide. From the sun-kissed shores of the Caribbean to the majestic fjords of Norway, MSC Cruises invites travelers to explore some of the most captivating destinations on Earth. MSC Cruises is committed to sustainability and environmental stewardship, ensuring responsible cruising for future generations. With a focus on reducing emissions and protecting marine ecosystems, MSC Cruises leads the way in sustainable travel practices. Now, let’s get into the “What to Know” if you are considering a cruise with MSC Cruises.
Room versus Experience: Know your Booking Details.
When booking MSC, you will notice right out of the gate that the booking experience itself is completely different from other cruise lines. You will have to choose your room AS WELL AS an experience. This can feel a little bit overwhelming for some, especially if you are also presented with some additional promotional sailing options as well. Different experiences will be attached to different rooms and may or may not include things like priority embarkation, “Your Time” dining, breakfast service in your room, Wi-Fi packages, on board credits, and discounts on additional services. Like I said – it’s a lot compared to other cruise lines that just let you pick a room, then simply add on packages.
In addition, I found the rooms themselves to be a bit different. Not all rooms have the fold down bunk or a sofa bed, and I saw some book a smaller room not understanding that they would be sharing beds. My daughter and I for example, booked a Fantastica Deluxe Balcony Room and had the beds split up into two twins. We had a sofa bed in the room too, but it was quite small. Although the system would allow us to book 4 in that room, I would most likely not recommend doing so. I may have some bias, but this is why I always recommend using a travel agent that has actually cruised on MSC Cruise Lines to book and help you fully navigate the booking process, and of course – shameless plug… as a fee-free agent, I’d be happy to help you, and it won’t cost you a dime! Request a quote here!Â
MSC Cruises: A Different Feel
Right away, I noticed a classic and beautiful feel to the ships that stood out from the other lines I had cruised on. My daughter immediately said to me that she felt like she “had boarded the Titanic”. There were no fancy big screens, no wild waterslides or coasters, no ice skating rinks or rides, just a beautiful, classic ship. While I am not sure how folks with younger, eager kiddos would feel about this calm and relaxing environment, I loved it. I constantly admired the beauty of the ship, and enjoyed the less chaotic, less wild atmosphere for a change.Â
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Although there was a simpler, more classic feel on the ship, there was still plenty to do! The shows, in my opinion as a dancer, were some of the best I’ve ever seen. I enjoyed the dance lessons, the constant live music versus a 24-hour DJ, the little games, sports competitions, etc. Don’t get me wrong, there lots of nightly DJ’s parties and a kids club filled with activities for the kiddos, but I felt that it was very balanced and manageable for folks like me who may get overwhelmed with constant stimulation and “spring break” vibes.
Embarkation & Disembarkation: What to Know
I will admit, the embarkation process with MSC was one of the EASIEST I have ever been through. We breezed right through in about 20 mins flat and were on the ship before noon. By early afternoon our room was prepared, and by late afternoon our luggage arrived. They had lunch ready at the buffer upon boarding, and we were of course prepared with personal items and swimwear in our carry on so that we could take advantage of the pool and hot tubs right away.Â
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Disembarkation was no different. Although they offered a carry-out express walk off at 7:30am, we had a late flight and big bags, so we opted for the standard walk off. Our bags were packed and tagged and left outside of the room by 11pm on the final night for them to collect. We had to be out of the room by 7:30pm on the day of disembarkation for the crew to start cleaning, and group time was 8:45am, so we simply grabbed one last breakfast before heading down and starting the process. Our bags were waiting for us in bag claim off of the ship, and we were done by 9am. It too, was just as surprisingly quick as embarkation and left me with no complaints! Just remember to keep a little bag of personal items that you will need to get ready in the morning!
Food & Beverages on MSC Cruises: What to Consider
Let me start by saying that my first love is TRAVEL, not food. I am not a foodie. I think that I have learned, throughout my travels, to be more humble when it comes to food. I see it as fuel. With that being said, I respect the foodies out there – so this one’s for you! The buffet, in my opinion, was fantastic. It always had so many options and changed frequently to keep things fresh. My daughter loved it. Folks told me that MSC was known for their pizza and let me tell you – I get it now. It did not disappoint. The dinner service however…. It was okay. There was a good variety of choices and it was a nice break from the buffet, but if it were a restaurant at home I may not go there often. I heard from other passengers that the buffet and the extra dining experiences at the restaurants (extra cost) were the winners for them. Again, everyone has a different opinion so I recommend trying them all for yourself!
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There are a LOT of options when it comes to drink packages on MSC Cruise Lines, including non-alcoholic packages, minor packages, and adult alcoholic packages. It is important to know that if you do not get a drink package, you will be stuck to the buffet beverage areas for soda, coffee, water, etc. A drink package gives you access to not just alcoholic beverages, but specialty coffees, soda, bottled waters, energy drinks, etc.Â
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Like most cruise lines, everyone in your room will need to add the same drink package (minors get a minor package) for the entire duration of the cruise. On this cruise, I got the Easy Package, which added on the minor package for my daughter. This included wine, beer, and a small selection of cocktails for me, and bottled water, soda, and energy drinks for us both. The cost for this package came out to around $80 per day. Although I may have only consumed 3-4 alcoholic drinks throughout the day, having access to the bottled water was a must for us, as we like to have a stock in the room too. While you could absolutely cruise without one, I am not sure I would want to.
Summary: Is MSC Cruises Right for You?
Now, was it picture perfect? No. I can hardly think of a cruise that ever was. We did not have towels on day one to enjoy the pool and hot tubs. Our in-room breakfast deliveries never came in quite right. The hot tubs were smaller than on most cruises with a 6-person limit, so it was sometimes tough to get in. We had to make a lot of calls down to room service throughout the cruise for menus and simple things, but they were always very attentive, and the staff was kind and wonderful. I thought that the private island, Ocean Cay, was one of the best cruise line-based islands that I had ever been to. I did not want the cruise to be over, and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I would also point out that the cost of MSC Cruise Lines is much more affordable that many other options, so it is a great option for those on a budget, larger groups with mixed needs, or those simply wanting a calm and quiet getaway that won’t break the bank. Overall, I’d say giving them a shot is worthwhile!
As always – my services as a travel agent are fee-free, so feel free to contact me here if you are looking for travel planning assistance!
As always thank you for reading, and if you have cruised MSC Cruise Lines I’d love to hear your thoughts below! Happy Travels!
