MSC Cruises
Cruises with MSC Cruises
For award-winning, extraordinary cruises onboard a modern fleet of ships, look no further than MSC Cruises. Exuding style and world-class hospitality from the moment you step onboard, MSC provides the perfect holiday in the Mediterranean and further afield, whether you're travelling alone, as a family or as a couple.
MSC Cruise Deals
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09 May 2026
Norwegian Fjords from Southampton, with Shirley Ballas
£538 pp -
20 June 2026
France & Spain from Southampton
£603 pp -
06 June 2026
Iceland & Norway from Southampton
£1,000 pp -
16 May 2026
Norwegian Fjords from Southampton
£584 pp -
20 April 2026
Canary Islands from Southampton
£880 pp -
12 September 2026
Portugal & Spain from Southampton
£1,157 pp -
04 July 2026
France & Spain from Southampton
£648 pp -
11 July 2026
Norwegian Fjords from Southampton
£695 pp -
20 August 2026
Portugal & Spain from Southampton
£971 pp
MSC Cruises: Life on-board
- Total cruises 3,619
- Fleet: 25 Ships
- Destinations: 27
Boasting facilities that are perfect for guests of any age, from spas and pool decks to live entertainment and clubs for kids, MSC makes your time onboard just as exciting as the destinations visited.
Family
Dining
Entertainment
Recreation
Family
MSC Cruises are a family-friendly cruise line and offer many amenities for all ages to enjoy, with dedicated kids' clubs designed to maximise the fun.
Kids’ clubs are available for different age groups and are free of charge. Activities such as live shows, arts and crafts, and sports tournaments are organised by the onboard entertainment staff from 9am to 10pm daily.
| Club | Ages | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Baby Club | 0-3 | Music and rhythm activities |
| Mini Club | 4-6 | Arts and crafts, lego and a family disco |
| Junior Club | 7-11 | Masterchef at Sea, sports competitions and video games |
| Young Club | 12-14 | Sports tournaments and hi-tech games |
| Teen Club | 15-17 | Obstacle course, karaoke and teen disco |
Dining
When it comes to dining, the food onboard MSC Cruises is nothing short of impressive, catering both for those who enjoy a traditional cruise schedule with set dining times, along with those that prefer more flexible dining options so they can eat whenever they feel like.
Main Restaurants
One of the most popular venues on each ship is the main restaurant where guests can enjoy world-class cuisine with a different menu everyday, ranging from international hit dishes to the flavours of the Mediterranean. For something a little more casual, and open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late snacks, you'll find a whole range of different dishes including:
- Meat carvery
- Take Away station
- Kids Area
- Pasta Station
- Wellness Corner
- Dessert Corner
Speciality Restaurants
In addition, if you're looking for something a little more special, why not try out one of the signature speciality restaurants. While venues vary depending on the ship you're on, here are some of MSC Cruise's most popular places to eat:
- Butcher's Cut- mouthwater cuts of meat and all the classic steakhouse sides
- L'Atelier Bistro- fine French dining brought to the seas
- Galaxy Kaito- freshly made Japanese dishes, dubbed some of the best sushi at sea
- Ocean Cay- a sophisticated restaurant for all things seafood
Entertainment
From high-tech Broadway-influenced performances, to serene classical nocturnes, MSC has it all when it comes to entertainment.
Live shows
At night, entertainment ranges from a Brazilian carnival to dazzling shows featuring magicians, jugglers, acrobats and so much more. The Sailaway Party is also a big hit, led by the in-house dancing troupe, and inspires a real sense of solidarity amongst the passengers.
Bars and Lounges
Once the show is over, or you just didn't fancy watching a live show, head over to one of the many bars and lounges open during the evenings onboard MSC ships. From inside bars to al fresco drinks where you can admire the sunset, the perfect venue is waiting to be discovered:
- Champagne Bar
- Sports Bar
- Wine Cocktails
- Alchemist Bar
- Martini Bar
- Cigar Room
- Wine & Beer Bar
Recreation
There's no better way to make the most out of your holiday by treating yourself to a few hours of pampering, which is why MSC cruise ships feature a luxurious spa and beauty salon. Here you can sit back and let the professionals treat you to anything from a massage and facial to a pedicure or haircut and style. Whichever you choose, you're guaranteed to leave feeling brand new.
In addition, for anyone who enjoys staying active, there are plenty of facilities to take advantage of. From sports courts, if your idea of fun is a bit of friendly competition, to a gym for a more intensive, solo session on the exercise machines or free weights, there's no reason to miss out on your workout even when you're at sea.
In between shore excursions and evening entertainment, guests can stay busy by exploring the range of activities available once they step onboard. Each MSC ship has shops, an art gallery, library for guests to browse, as well as an ever-popular pool area where you can dive into the water or lounge in the sun. Other exciting facilities include:
- Waterpark
- Himalayan Bridge
- Sky Walk
- Zip Line
MSC Cruises Ships
With MSC Cruises' innovative ships ranging from midsize to large, whether you're looking for a relaxing escape or a more resort-style cruise experience, the perfect cruise is waiting to take you on the voyage of your dreams.
MSC Cruises ship classes explained
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Lirica Elegant, traditional cruising with a modern twist onboard mid-size ships.
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Meraviglia Plus Bigger ships than the Meraviglia class with even more innovative features.
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Seaside Modern cruising with world-class entertainment and space for almost 6,000 guests
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Meraviglia Big ships with exciting features including an LED roof, waterslides and a high ropes course.
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Musica Mid-sized ships offering traditional yet modern European-style cruising.
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Fantasia Large ships with huge theatres, sports facilities and lots of dining venues.
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MSC Armonia
Ship Class: Lirica
A contemporary ship bursting with Italian style. More about MSC Armonia
MSC Armonia deals -
MSC Opera
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MSC Lirica
Ship Class: Lirica
Expect sophisticated décor and a cosy feel onboard this 1,500 capacity ship. More about MSC Lirica
MSC Lirica deals -
MSC World America
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MSC Virtuosa
Ship Class: Meraviglia Plus
Try something new day and night when you cruise onboard MSC Virtuosa. More about MSC Virtuosa
MSC Virtuosa deals -
MSC Grandiosa
Ship Class: Meraviglia Plus
Grand in size and style, there's never a dull moment onboard MSC Grandiosa. More about MSC Grandiosa
MSC Grandiosa deals
MSC Cruises Highlights
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MSC Adds Starlink to its Fleet!
Cruisers holidaying with MSC Cruises will be able to enjoy SpaceX’s Starlink internet service on over two thirds of MSC Cruises’ fleet of available ships. Offering faster internet speeds, lower latency when streaming, and better Wi-Fi connectivity for your devices in both public areas and private cabins, this service will be available through one of two tailored packages: the Browse Internet Cruise Package and the Browse & Stream Cruise Package.
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MSC Open Booking
MSC Cruises has announced a new Open Booking programme that’s available for guests sailing aboard its fleet. With this programme, you can book a future cruise whilst on your MSC getaway, without committing to a particular itinerary, ship or sailing date. To secure your next sailing, you can pay a £100 deposit per person. You’ll then receive a certificate, stating that you’ll have 12 months to select a preferred sailing date for your future cruise. If you book your future cruise within 60 days of booking it onboard, you’ll receive £200 onboard credit (per cabin). Alternatively, if you book your cruise within 12 months, you’ll receive £100 onboard credit (per cabin).
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Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve
You can take advantage of a wide range of activities and attractions at the beautiful private resort of Ocean Cay. Read our blog for more details on MSC’s amazing island - 7 Private islands you can get to on a cruise holiday.
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Shore Excursions
If you’re looking for a shore excursion on your cruise, look no further than MSC Cruises’ vast selection. For example, MSC Cruises’ “Protectours” offer wildlife tours with minimal environmental impact and give you the chance to help the world around us, including the chance to save baby turtles in the Caribbean!
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MSC Voyagers Club
Those who holiday with MSC Cruises regularly should consider joining the brilliant loyalty scheme: MSC Voyagers Club. With this programme you can start accumulating points from your very first MSC cruise, and enjoy a range of benefits and added extras.
Customer reviews for MSC Cruises
It was a good ship, the cabin and entertainment were great. The service was a bit sloppy. The luggage broke and it was such a long hassle to get them to refund it, and they were very unhelpful. Dining options were OK, but not the best if you are a vegetarian. The staff in the dining area had no idea about anything, let alone about the ingredients. It would take then ages to find out about the ingredients, and still wouldn't be sure what's in it. Bu the ship was great, the entertainment was good quality, and the itinerary was great.
Denis the dancer is amazing, should definitely not be in the background. His dancing is so strong and precise. I chose not to have the drinks package because I don't drink too much. I drink Chardonnay but sometimes was charged for premium,sometimes not. Difference in cost!!! Surely you should only be served premium if you ask for it. Definitely put me off drinking in the bars!!!
Bar waiters and service very good, however the food has been awful…. . always cold…hardly ate anything. The burgers. . stone cold every time ss was all of the food,cold custard in a jug,Really. I has lamb in the restaurant it was all fat,could t even cut it. Cheese plate Great,no crackers. weve sailed many times with MSC as you can tell by our Gold membership. I would seriously consider ot doing so again. A shuttle bus in Madeira would have helped too,all other ships have this . Very Very disappointed
The food in the main restaurant and buffet was luke warm and even the coffee was too. The waiter drinks service in the lounges was slow and the entertainment was not good. The staff were friendly and helpful, the ship was clean. The itinerary was ok as I picked this cruise because of the itinerary. Disappointed with the food and the lounge bar service.
MSC Cruises Destinations
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Africa -
Alaska -
Argentina -
American Samoa -
Australasia -
Bosnia And Herzegovina -
British Isles -
China -
Côte d'Ivoire -
Canada -
Central America -
Dubai -
Europe -
Far East -
Fjords & Norway -
Greece -
Hawaii -
British Indian Ocean Territory -
Moldova, Republic of -
Middle East -
Armenia -
Pacific Islands -
Panama Canal -
Red Sea -
Repositioning -
Lo People's Democratic Republic -
World Cruise
Fresh from the blog
Top FAQs
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MSC Cruises use a cashless system, meaning you can pay using your credit card or charge things to your room if a card has been registered to your onboard account. Currency used will either be Euros or US Dollars depending on the itinerary.
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While some entertainment is at available at an additional cost, MSC Cruises offer plenty of activities onboard included in your fare.
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It is usual for a 7-night cruise to have two formal nights (Gala nights). Here guests should wear suits, tuxedos, floor-length gowns, or cocktail dresses.
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An onboard newsletter is provided to guests every evening which details all cruise information for the following day. It includes onboard events, excursions, opening times for onboard bars and restaurants, shows, and helpful information about your next port such as the weather and arrival/departure time.
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MSC Cruises are fairly relaxed when it comes to what to wear onboard, however they do offer a few suggestions for certain events. For Gala evenings women should wear smart attire such as a pant suit, cocktail dress, or gown, while men should wear a tuxedo, dinner jacket, or suit and tie. There could also be theme nights during your cruise with 60s and 70s-style clothing recommended for the Flower Glory Party, a smart white outfit for the White Party, and green, red, and white colours for the MSC Little Italy night.
Dining
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It's best to let your cruise consultant know of any dietary requirements at the time of booking. An MSC Special Needs Form will then be completed and passed on for your cruise. We advise that you also inform the restaurant manager once you are onboard.
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Alcohol purchased outside of the ship is not allowed onboard for consumption, however it is possible to buy it in port as a souvenir to take home and hand it in for safe keeping until the end of your cruise. The crew may confiscate personal alcohol from guests at any time.
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The age limit for alcohol consumption is 18, excluding itineraries that have stops in North America, where the age limit is 21.
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Guests can enjoy room service 24 hours a day, including fresh pizza or light bites. Those on a Bella Experience booking will incur additional charges.
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No, however, guests can order room service 24 hours a day, or visit the buffet which is open 20 hours per day.
Booking and Excursions
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No, all MSC Cruise excursions come at an additional cost.
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MSC Cruise excursions are often discounted when booking online before your cruise. You can do this on their website with your booking reference number or by asking your cruise consultant to help. It is also possible to book excursions while onboard, or with alternative companies. However, due to additional measures put in place due to coronavirus, guests can currently only go ashore on excursions organised by MSC Cruises.
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MSC Cruises include gratuities in your cruise fare.
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Yes, MSC Cruises offer their customers an opportunity to join their Voyager's Club. This comes with all sorts of great benefits which enhance with every cruise taken. For more information, see our Voyager's Club page.
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When you have checked in, MSC Cruises will send you your e-tickets, embarkation form and luggage tags. Check all the information is correct and be sure to bring this paperwork with you when embarking. Luggage tags should be fastened to all your luggage in order for the crew to deliver it to your cabin once you are onboard.