We’re avid cruisers and love traveling by sea. We recently sailed onboard the MSC Magnifica and felt compelled to share some of our MSC cruise travel secrets with you! MSC Cruises is completely different from the other cruise lines we’ve sailed – Royal Caribbean, Disney, Carnival, NCL and Virgin Voyages. It’s a European cruise line and, as an American, that takes some getting used to. But that’s all part of the experience!
MSC stands for Mediterranean Shipping Company and, just as the name implies, they were originally a container shipping company. In 1988, the Aponte family got into the cruising business making MSC the largest privately owned cruise company in the world. Today, MSC Cruises is the leading cruise company in the Mediterranean, South Africa and Brazil.
MSC Cruise Travel Secrets: Tips & Tricks for Sailing with MSC
Don’t over pay – The tips start even before you sail! MSC is always offering some type of deal, so you should never pay full price for a cruise. During our recent sailing, they were offering kids sail free and two for one. We’ve found MSC to be competitively priced and a good value for the money. MSC has also been offering special rates with drinks and wifi included.
Sign up for the MSC newsletter, so you’re aware of new special offers.
Kids sail free – Look for kids sail free offers. Kids 11 and under sail free and special rates are given to kids aged 12 – 17. You’ll only pay taxes and port charges! This helped make sailing with MSC extremely affordable for families. I couldn’t feed the kids for 11 nights at home for the amount we spent for their tickets. This is not offered on all sailings, so keep a look at current offers.
Choose your experience – MSC has several experiences you can purchase to enhance your cruise. Each experience provides different benefits and also dictates which staterooms are available for booking.
- The “Bella” Experience is perfect for budget savvy travelers.
- The “Fantastica” Experience offers more ideally located staterooms, free room service, and a discounted drink package.
- The “Aurea” Experience offers access to the thermal area, access to the solarium, free room service and more. Read our review of the Aurea experience HERE.
- The MSC Yacht Club offers all-inclusive amenities and is the top tier experience for cruisers.
Take advantage of the Status Match Program – Have you achieved a status with another cruise line or hotel? MSC will offer special benefits to you with the MSC Voyagers Club card which includes a 5% discount on booking, priority boarding and more. We status matched diamond status with Hilton to get diamond status with MSC!
There are some pretty decent benefits such as complimentary thermal suite access and priority boarding. Take a look at all the MSC Voyagers Club benefits here.
Arrive early – Don’t waste a minute of your vacation! I usually suggest arriving early for your cruise. Getting onboard before everyone else is a great way to explore the ship, grab a bite to eat and swim before the crowds take over. We found this especially true sailing out of Italy. Generally, Europeans aren’t known for being early. As a result, we had almost no one in line with us when we checked in around noon.
Once you get on the ship, don’t stop in the atrium or the first bar you happen across. On the MSC Magnifica, we came onto the ship in the Tiger Bar. There were a ton of people sitting around having drinks there. Keep going to the pool deck and you should find it to be less crowded.
Don’t miss our article on the MSC Aurea Experience!
Beware of the upsell – One of the most frustrating things about MSC is the constant bombardment of crew members trying to sell drink packages, photo’s and excursions. They have enticed you onboard with the attractive cruise fare, now they need to make that money up. While other cruise lines do try to sell extras, I found MSC to be the most harassing. Even the photographers didn’t want to take no for an answer when we (and other cruisers) declined having our photo taken.
Watch for sales – Every evening your cruise program will include a sheet with the daily specials. If you’re considering a spa treatment, you may want to wait to see what is offered during the cruise. Some services were discounted up to 30% – Bali massage, manicure, haircut, color and set were some of the common spa discounts we saw on our recent sailing.
You’ll also find photography, laundry, cocktail and shopping discounts as well as excursion bundle discounts. While many of these offers didn’t make me want to part with my cash, it pays to wait for sales before making a purchase.
Mediterranean style cruising – MSC is a European cruise line with a strong Italian influence, therefore things are a bit different compared to other cruise lines we’ve sailed with. The food and entertainment is European inspired. Cruisers will notice more traditional Mediterranean dishes and shows featuring opera singers & ballet.
However, if sailing in the Caribbean or South America, you should notice the cruise tailored more toward American tastes and expectations. The currency on board will also be in USD instead of Euros.
They speak your language – There are six official languages on board MSC – English, Italian, German, French, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese. Announcements are made in several languages, English usually first followed by Italian. Don’t let this deter you! It makes for an interesting cruise and all the staff we encountered spoke English. Some crew members spoke 2 – 5 languages! Makes me feel quite inadequate my little bit of French….
Nationalities galore – Especially if sailing out of Europe, you’ll notice a wide range of nationalities onboard, but mostly Italian, French and Spanish. However, we did encounter Germans, Austrians, British, a few Americans and more. Interestingly, a lot of the kids in the teens club were from South America.
Variety of beverage packages available to suite all budgets – Save money by purchasing a beverage package. You can purchase packages with drink vouchers or all inclusive packages which include alcohol, soda, bottled water, coffee, ice cream and more. See the list of packages to choose what’s best for you. Packages can be purchased before the cruise with savings up to 15% discount vs onboard prices.
You are no longer allowed to bring wine on during embarkation. No alcoholic beverages can be taken onboard the ship. If you purchase alcohol while in port, it will be held and given back to you prior to disembarkation.
Download the MSC for Me app – You can use the app for check-in, to book extras before sailing, and have your e-ticket handy for embarkation. You also have access to daily events and activities, can track expenses, and more. Another great feature is the MSC for Me Chat where you can message directly through the app without a wifi package.
*The app is not available onboard the MSC Armonia, MSC Lirica, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Opera, MSC Orchestra and MSC Preziosa.
Stay connected while sailing – MSC offers a variety of internet packages to help you stay connected during your cruise. You can choose from Browse or Browse and Stream. Book in advance to save up to 20%. There are also promotions to purchase wifi and drink packages when booking your cruise.
Don’t forget to put your phone into airplane mode. You don’t want to end up with an exorbitant cellular bill when you return home.
Link a credit card to your cruise card for easy payment – After boarding your cruise, head to the kiosk (Cruise Card Activation Point) to link your credit card, debit card or prepaid card for all onboard expenses including gratuities. Linking a credit card is the easiest method of payment. A hold of 250€ will be placed on your credit card for initial purchases.
Having to use the kiosk to link my sea card with a card card was a different experience. I’m used to this being done pre-cruise during check-in. It didn’t take much time, but it was something else I had to do. Another step before my vacation could really begin. However, if you download the MSC for Me app, you can now add a credit card and keep track of the onboard expenses.
If you pay by credit card, your account will automatically be closed at the end of the cruise. You won’t need to go to Reception – Guest Services or worry about settling your final bill. If you paid by debit card or a prepaid card, any amount debited to your card that is not spent during your cruise will be reimbursed in cash at Guest Services on the final morning before disembarkation. This means you will have to wait in line for reimbursement.
A cash deposit is also accepted at Guest Services. However, you will need to keep an eye on your balance. Once you’ve met your deposit you’ll need to return to Guest Services to add more cash to your account. You will also be required to visit Guest Services on the final morning before disembarkation for a refund of the cash you didn’t spend.
Also, ensure you check your statement delivered to your stateroom on the last night of the cruise. We saw people turned away while trying to disembark because their account was not settled.
Look for the 4D experience on the kids club schedule – A few times during our cruise, the kids could visit the 4D Cinema with the kids club for FREE. They both had a blast and it saved us money!
Consider getting a Fun Pass – If your ship has an Amusement Area, you may want to purchase a Fun Pass to enjoy extra credits to use on board in the Amusement area. Booking in advance can save you up to 20%. Click here to see what activities are available on each ship.
Set a spending limit for kids – If you’re allowing your kids spend money during the cruise, you may want to set a limit at Guest Services. If you choose not to set a spending limit you authorize all purchases made by your child onboard.
Tipping – I found the auto-gratuity on MSC interesting. The gratuity amount and currency varies by destination. Caribbean cruises have the highest gratuity rate which is still slightly less than some of the other major cruise lines. Children pay less gratuity than adults at select destinations. A 18% gratuity for North American cruises or 15% gratuity for all other destinations is automatically added for bar and spa services.
Grab a ship map from reception – To help navigate the ship, you can pick up a map from the reception area. You’ll also find ship diagrams near all the elevators.
Insert your keycard to turn on the lights – This isn’t the first ship we’ve sailed where you need to insert a card to turn on the lights, but it’s worth mentioning for first time cruisers. Other membership type cards from your wallet will also work. Since we are a family of 4, we tend to have a lot of electronics. If you don’t have a key card in the slot, nothing will charge while you are away. On MSC, the bathroom light still worked, but I don’t remember this occurring on other cruise lines.
Ask for a washcloth if sailing out of Europe – Just like most European hotels, washcloths aren’t provided in your stateroom. Since we are used to this in Europe, we always travel with baby washcloths (they dry super fast and take up almost no luggage space). However, you can ask your room steward for a “facecloth” and they will be delivered to your room.
Eat gelato and drink coffee – Take advantage of the Italian influence and indulge in Venchi gelato and Segafredo coffee. Seriously, I can’t even count the number of cappuccino’s I consumed during the cruise. I was transported back to the little Italians cafes I love so much with each sip.
Smoking *sigh* – Not so much of a tip as a warning. Smoking is prevalent onboard the ship. They are catering to European clientele, after all. As a nonsmoker, this aspect of our European cruise bothered me the most. Smoking is permitted in the casino, the Cigar Lounge and one side of the pool deck. The inside smoking areas are the worst and didn’t have proper ventilation. Going anywhere near the casino was horrible in the evenings. We learned to bypass that area quickly.
Where’s the queue? People don’t tend to queue on the ship if traveling from a European destination. The Americans and British seemed to be driven crazy by this. It was even one of the top complaints we read prior to cruising. You just have to learn to deal with it and don’t wait around for others trying to be polite. Go with the flow and move along or you will end up last and aggravated every time. You’re on vacation. Relax, breathe and enjoy.
Bonus Tip – I highly suggest bringing a lanyard for your kids cruise card. You can get them with various characters to make it more fun. Lanyards are also common for adults as well. Personally, I don’t like the cruise line specific lanyards so save money and purchase in advance. I prefer having a generic lanyard that can be used for all cruise lines.
Overall, we enjoyed sailing with MSC. It was a good experience for the kids, a great value for the money and our ports of call were perfect. While I can’t say it’s my favorite cruise line, it’s definitely worth cruising if you’re in Europe.
What other MSC Cruise travel secrets do you suggest? Do you have any favorite MSC cruising tips?
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The Aurea package no longer includes free unlimited drinks. They stopped this months ago. Things change all the time.
How early can you board? It says I must board by 3pm for 5pm departure, but I haven’t seen anything that says how early they start. Saling from Miami.
I just booked my 2nd msc cruise for the msc seashore in Nov 2022. Does anyone know if the wristbands are included in the aurea pkg. I’ve found conflicting info on it. Also fyi aurea pkg no longer includes a drink pkg as of January 2022.
Hiya, do they do mocktails for kids onboard due to the age change from 18 (UK) to 21 (US) for alcoholic beverages?
Yep, my kiddos have ordered mocktails
How does the money work Do we convert the rand in to US befor or can you do it on the boat
Pretty sure there was an ATM on board but not sure of the fees
Should one buy Petra excursion packages from MSC on line before the cruise on on the ship?
We are on the MSC Orchestra leaving Durban on 18/04/2020.
Is it cheaper to buy the standard alcohol package before we leave or when we get onboard?
Sailing Dec 10th and it’s £27 pppn if we book online.
Thanks
You usually get better deals online in advance.
How long before departure do the tickets arrive?
You can print your tickets and luggage tags during online check-in
We had no clue you had to sign up for the shows in the theater, General seating opens 5 min before show starts. Thankfully I saw someone doing this and was able to tell all in our group about 30. They scan your card going in to see if you have tickets. Every show is definitely worth seeing. We did see the Sonor Cirque show and it was definitely worth it, we did the drink show.
I agree 100 percent with the upselling of everything, you were bombarded at every corner. We sailed
July 2019 on the Meraviglia . Another thing we were not prepared for was the inability to get off an elevator, people shoved to get in never thinking there will be more room if we let them off, and they would hit door close as soon as the doors opened, ergo skipping the floor. Nothing I have experienced on other cruise lines.
Definitely a bit of a different cruise line.
Shove your hand in the gap of a closing elevator door. It *WILL* open again.
What is the recommended tipping fees for the end of the trip
I understand it would be 15% for the drinks. But what is the recommended amount to leave for the other services.
The gratuities will automatically be applied to your shipboard account. You can expect $12.50 per person per day for ages 12+. Depending on the location and direction of your cruise, you may be charged 10€. 2019/2020 rates can be found under “service charge” https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Manage-Your-Booking/General-Information.aspx
Hi re the tipping. Can you go to reception take the tips off the end bill and pay the tips at the end to the people you want to
Yes you can. They will likely ask why you are removing the auto gratuities, but you can pay in cash if you prefer.
Honestly this really is unfair to do for ALL those that you do not see helping make your trip amazing. Only handing a few people a tip screws over the others.
Do you recommend purchasing the wristbands for kids and adults.If so would you happen to know the price of both?
$5
I personally haven’t used them. It didn’t seem worth the money to me. I know on RCCL, you still have to take the bracelets off and give them to waiters for drinks and such. I also found countless wristbands floating in the water on the islands we visited.
I’d love to learn others opinions through.
We purchased the wristbands for the kids and they worked great. They didn´t have to take them off for use and they could also use them to open the cabin door. You set a pin number for the wristband as you wold with the cruise card.
Msc bella Aurea Fantastica package Masage free?
Aurea has the massage included. Here’s our review of the package:
https://www.thetalkingsuitcase.com/msc-aurea-experience-whats-included-is-it-worth-the-cost/
hello,
we booked with a TA in Uk. we live in belgium. I am trying to book the social media internet package but the website doesnt let me. did you bought internet package too?? if yes thn how ??
thnaks in advance. 🙂
You should be able to book it online under “mange your booking”. If it’s not working, you’ll likely have to call to get assistance. Sorry I can be much help.
Hi Dimpal we had the same problem and were told by MSC to book our internet/excursions etc through our travel agent, which we did. Hope this helps
Pam XXX
Hi, we will be on the Durban to Venice cruise in April 2019. 2 questions:
1. Can you prepay gratuities on the MSC website? I cannot find it. Maybe I have to call? I purchased the cruise directly, didn’t use a TA.
2. I read that you have to ” Link a credit card to your cruise card for easy payment “. So, is this still required? On other cruises we registered our card upon check in at the dock.
Thanks, guys
The option is usually available at time of booking, but I think that may just be a travel agent option. I’d call if you’d like to prepay the gratuities.
There wasn’t an option when we cruised to link our credit card at the registration desk. You had to use the kiosk. It wasn’t difficult, just an extra step.
we are going a cruise on msc magnifica 19 may we have to fly from aberdeen to manchester then to venice for ship we dont have times for plane leaqving manchester to venice same coming home 26th iv phoned 3 times still cant get times there is 7 of us going dont know if we will have to stay the night before going or coming home has anyone been on this trip and can tell me times of planes leaving manchester to venice and back
If you booked through MSc, they should send all that info to you. I understand how frustrating it is if they haven’t informed you of the times. Does your reservation have any mention of days or an airline? Are there several flights going out on those days so you can see possible flight times online?
You usually fly out the same day if booking with the cruise line.
we are going on the Dubai cruise in January. we got all in with drink package what are the extras that we will still be charged on ship
You won’t need to worry about any beverages then. You’ll need to pay gratuities. Other than that, you could get away with not spending anything more. However, specialty dining is extra as well as transportation to and from the ship. Any excursions you do at the ports will also be extra.
I was excited to read kids sail free but beware has to be 2 adults in same cabin, So if your a single parent IT DOES NOT APPLY !
Unfortunately yes, they charge the first 2 at adult prices. How many kids are you sailing with?
I just booked for myself, a single dad, and my two kids. I only had to pay for one. The other was free!
So it does apply to parents with more than one child.
Did you get a discounted rate on the 1st child or did they charge full adult price? I’m so glad one was FREE! Makes it so much more affordable!
At the end of the Cruise, there is the Captains dinner. What is the dress code for men and women?
I would dress formal for a captains dinner. If you don’t want to pack a suit, dress slacks and a dress shirt with tie.
Hello this is my third time cruising with MSC. We normally stay in the yacht club area. However this is a promotional cruise. I noticed there is still a lot of Options left for this 10 day cruise. The day of check-in does MSC offer free Upgrades ? Currently a gold member.
Last cruise was the seaside march 2018
has the MSC Divina food been revised and any updates to the ship?
If there are still rooms available, you MAY be able to get an upgrade. As a gold member you do have a better chance than others but you just never know.
You can try calling a week or few days before the cruise as well.
The MSC Divina was Refurbished in 2016.
We are about to purchase our third MSC trip for October 2019 . Our ship does not offer Yacht Club. We are purchasing a suite in Aurea. What are the differences. We are going for 13 days 12 nights Rome to Morocco.
I haven’t sailed Yacht Club yet so I can’t provide the exact differences. However, it looks like some of the differences are you won’t have Butler service, private MSC Yacht Club restaurant, Dedicated exclusive Sun Deck with pool. whirlpool, solarium and bar
Panoramic Top Sail Lounge with bar, afternoon tea service, light food selection 20-hours per day.
These are just a few things I see under Yacht Club that you won’t have. The Yacht Club rooms are likely nicer and larger, but I’m sure the Aurea suites are great.
You’ll still get All-inclusive unlimited drinks, My Choice Dining, A Spa package and Priority boarding. The Aurea package mentions a private sundeck but that’s only on specific ships.
We have articles on Rome and Morocco if you need more tips
Hi, what about the port taxes and fees for adults? Are they already included? couldn’t find anything on MSC web site.
Yep, once you get to your final total page when checking prices the port taxes and all fees will be included. However, gratuities are not.
We are booked to cruise on new ship Bellissima in May, we were trying to decide between Aurea Balcony and Fantastica Balcony, there was a difference of about 250euro between them…so in the end we went with Fantastica but now in a bit of a panic about dinner sitting, maybe we should have went with Aurea…we have requested 2nd sitting so thats around 8pm, think how guaranteed is that?? We are 2 adults and 1 child (6yrs) travelling…worried now that maybe done the wrong thing!! Any info/comments appreciated..
Sorry, I thought I answered this but it must have disappeared.
8pm is a bit late for kids, in my opinion. We did the late seating once and my daughter who was about 5 at the time was falling asleep at the table. I’d just switch the dining time. And if you decide that you don’t want to eat at your scheduled time, the buffet is a great option. Or feed your daughter early, put her in the kids club while you enjoy an adult dinner.
Bad expierience before we even set foot on the msc musica. Our 1st cruise is next year March 2019 …on enquiry I was told to book and pay asap as there are very limited place left….although I booked the “early bird package I’m paying what people pay months after I booked and more than people that booked 2 months before us. After booking and paying my deposit a notice on fb says …free upgrade when you book … i phoned to have a free upgrade but was told i cant since i already have an existing booking, and that the free upgrade is for new bookings only…my question is how can you “upgrade” if you dont have a ticket to upgrade….surely an upgrade can only be done if you have an existing booking and want to change it to a better package or room etc. Then there were specials…go 4 but pay only for 2…. what happened to the “limited space …. I sent emails but had no reply to date …. a family member going on the same cruise is paying R3000 less than us for booking and paying 2 months before us….I understand …the earlier you book the better the price …but why is the price when booking months after my booking not charged higher?
Sorry you have already had a bad experience with MSC! I think the free upgrade is when you book a standard cabin, you can get upgraded to balcony, for example. I would suggest calling and speaking with someone on the phone. Usually, cruise lines will reduce the rate if you call before final payment has been made and can show their is a new promotion or rate reduction.
I hope it works out!
Hi, I also had a free upgrade from a standard cabin to the balcony after payment was made
Did you pay way ahead of your final payment date?
Hi Dana, thank you for sharing your experience. I’m taking my parents to the Mediterranean on theMSC Magnifica with Fantasica experience. We booked a balcony room and I’m currently a Black member. They don’t travel and it’s their 40th anniversary so I want to make this trip extra special. What is the best way to score an upgrade in room or experience? Do you know what is the price to upgrade to Aura, YC unfortunately is not available. We don’t drink alcohol, in fact we only drink water. What beverages are included without a drink package? Does everyone in the same have to buy a drink package? Thank you in advance for reply.
What a great way to celebrate their anniversary! I’d make sure everyone knows it’s their anniversary. You can try calling before the cruise to see what’s available for upgrades and ask when you checkin at the port. Being a Black member will definitely help. Play up that level, their anniversary and that they are traveling with you, and you booked their trip.
My MIL did something similar with RCCL and was able to get her parents a free backstage theatre tour (a perk for members.) It took some discussion to make it happen though.
They want everyone in the stateroom to purchase a package. You can try to get around that if you only drink water. Coffee was also included as well as ice creams. You can see more info on the beverage package here: https://www.thetalkingsuitcase.com/msc-aurea-experience-whats-included-is-it-worth-the-cost/#more-5271
Re Insert your keycard to turn on the lights.
When a card, any card, is in the slot there’s a ‘secret’ light outside the cabin that goes on. Obviously when there’s no card there’s no light and the cabin crew know it’s ok to enter and get on with whatever they do.
If you leave a card in to charge devices while you’re out and about there’s a danger your bed won’t be turned down and a chocolate on the pillow!
Hi,
This is the first I’ve heard about the light. But we always put up the “make up room” sign when we leave so the room steward knows that we are out.
Terrible experience on Simponia; if you a bit disabled its a nightmare; our cabin airconditioning not working properly; the bottom of bed was broken; they simply pulled mattress up over broken wooden planks; food was recycled; queing everwhere; only pizzas at night; the vouchers a rip off for coffee and water; also nothing was said to take cash to island to buy from the locals.
Fire drill a nightmare; my daughter had to help my downstairs; lift not to be used; but NO staff to assist?
at breakfast the teaspoons was gone from table we had to use knife to stir coffee; no thank you; it was a birthday gift but what a bad cruise!! hours at dock waiting….customs a nightmare same with disembarking.
Oh no! I’m sorry you had such a bad experience!
I agree. You should have to arrive early. The cruise ship will not wait for you, they will definitely leave you.