MSC Cruises Cruises

MSC is a European line, and on its Mediterranean sailings the passenger list is genuinely international, with Americans often in the minority. In the Caribbean the mix is more North American, and the line competes hard on price there. Fares are frequently among the lowest for a big modern ship, which is why first-timers and families on a budget keep finding it.

The cheap fare is a starting point. Drinks, Wi-Fi and specialty restaurants are sold separately or bundled into higher fare levels, and there is a daily hotel service charge on top. For bookings made from May 11, 2026, MSC raised that charge on Caribbean, Alaska, US and Canada sailings to $17 per person per day in regular staterooms (from $16) and $23 in the Yacht Club (from $20). Children under 2 are not charged, and anyone who prepaid before the change keeps the old rate.

The Yacht Club is MSC's ship-within-a-ship: a gated suite area with its own entrance, restaurant, lounge, pool and sun deck, 24-hour butler service, and the Premium Extra drinks package and a Wi-Fi package included. For families, kids' clubs are included in the fare and split into five age bands - Baby Club under 3, Mini Club 3-6, Junior Club 7-11, Young Club 12-14 and Teen Club 15-17.

Evenings are smart casual, with one or two gala nights a week depending on cruise length; on those nights shorts, tank tops, flip-flops and T-shirts are not allowed in the main dining rooms or specialty restaurants. Compared with Royal Caribbean or Carnival, MSC usually wins on fare and loses some of that advantage once drinks, Wi-Fi and the service charge are added. Travelers who care most about price and ship hardware tend to come out ahead; those who want an American-style experience end to end may not.

Sources: cruiseindustrynews.com, msccruisesusa.com, travelmarketreport.com, msccruises.com, cruisebite.com