Cruise Lines · MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises, Booked by Travel Consultants Who Know the Fleet
What MSC feels like
MSC Cruises has Italian roots and a truly international feel, with guests and crew from around the world. The newest ships feel like a floating, moving amusement park, with something to do at every turn.
MSC Cruises is part of MSC Group, which is also one of the world’s largest container shipping companies, with about 1,000 cargo ships. Today MSC sails 23 cruise ships, with ten more on order through 2033.
What our clients tell us
We share the good and the not-so-good, based on the feedback we receive, so you can make the right decision for you.
What they love: the international flair, highly talented performers who sing, dance and do acrobatics, and the food. MSC is known for extraordinary pizza and handmade pasta, and reviews of the dining are generally great, though it can vary by ship. The attractions on the newest ships seem endless.
What they flag: the most popular attractions have lines, so be strategic and plan ahead. And the price is tricky. MSC is often slightly lower than other options, but many activities and amenities are à la carte or depend on your stateroom and package. A fare can look like the best price around, and then the final bill arrives. As so often, you get what you pay for.
A floating amusement park
On the newest ships, the list keeps going: a swing that arcs out over the side of the ship with nothing between your feet and the ocean far below, a zip line, a surf simulator, racing simulators, dry slides, bumper cars and arcades with virtual-reality gaming. Each ship has its own mix.
The entertainment options seem endless, but the most popular attractions draw lines. We help you plan your days so you get to the ones that matter most to you.
Mediterranean or Caribbean: two different cruises
In the Mediterranean, MSC is deeply international, with guests and crew speaking many languages; you will hear announcements in several of them each day. The itineraries are port-intensive, with overnight stays common, because they stop at places of great historic and cultural importance. As the saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and you can’t see it in a day either. We spent a week there some years ago and barely scratched the surface. Port days are more intense, often with trains or buses to reach the sights.
In the Caribbean, the pace is more balanced: island beaches, more relaxing sea days, and calls at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, MSC’s own private island in the Bahamas, with the ship sailing overnight to the next port.
Entertainment differs too. European cruises lean on visual and musical shows that work across languages, while Caribbean cruises feature more comedy and narrated productions. Both are high-energy and built to wow you.
Dining: pizza and pasta done right
In both regions, MSC is known for extraordinary pizza and handmade pasta. Main dining rooms and the buffet are included, and specialty restaurants carry an added charge. As with many fleets, the experience can vary by ship, but great reviews of the food are the norm.
Why your stateroom choice matters
Book online or call the cruise line and you get whatever stateroom the system offers. With MSC, your stateroom also sets your experience level, from Bella to Fantastica, Aurea and the private MSC Yacht Club, and that changes what is included. We look at where the stateroom sits on the ship and what each level adds, so you pay for what you will use.
Sailing from Central Florida
MSC sails from Port Canaveral, about an hour from Orlando, and from Miami. For the 2026–27 season, MSC Grandiosa sails seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, and MSC Seashore sails three- and four-night Bahamas cruises. From Miami, MSC World America sails seven-night Caribbean cruises, and MSC Seaside sails short Bahamas getaways. Most of these sailings call at Ocean Cay.
Every MSC cruise we book includes Shore Secrets, our port guide with offline maps for each stop.
What’s included in an MSC fare, and what isn’t
Included
- Main dining rooms and the buffet
- Pizza and pasta favorites in the buffet
- Production shows and live music
- Pools, many water slides and the kids’ clubs
- Ocean Cay beaches on Caribbean sailings
Extra, or by experience level
- Drinks packages and Wi-Fi
- Specialty dining
- Daily service charge, per person
- Many attractions, the spa and most shore excursions
What you get also depends on your experience level: Bella, Fantastica, Aurea or the MSC Yacht Club each add different perks. That is why an MSC fare is tricky to compare. The last thing anyone wants is to discover the things they came for are not included, or to get sticker shock when the bill arrives. Our Voyage Journal shows how to compare cruise costs side by side: Not Another Cruise Cost Comparison, Stop Comparing Cruise Prices and Everything That’s Included. And Everything That Isn’t. Or let us do it for you while we plan your journey: we do this every day.
Inclusions, packages and service charges are set by MSC Cruises and can change. We confirm the current terms for your sailing before you book.
Who MSC suits
- Families and thrill seekers who want an amusement park at sea.
- Culture lovers who want port-intensive Mediterranean cruises with overnight stays.
- Travelers who enjoy an international atmosphere and meeting people from around the world.
- Central Florida cruisers, with sailings from Port Canaveral, about an hour from Orlando.
Not sure which cruise line fits this trip?
The MSC fleet at a glance
| Class | Ships | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| World | MSC World Europa, MSC World America and newer | The newest and largest, with the most attractions. MSC World Atlantic follows in 2027. |
| Meraviglia | Meraviglia, Bellissima, Grandiosa, Virtuosa, Euribia | Big ships with an indoor promenade under an LED sky. |
| Seaside | Seaside, Seaview, Seashore, Seascape | Built for warm weather, with outdoor promenades close to the sea. |
| Fantasia, Musica and Lirica | Older classes | Smaller and more traditional, often on longer and port-intensive voyages. |
MSC questions we hear
Is MSC good for Americans?
Yes. Caribbean sailings from Florida feature more comedy and narrated shows, and English is spoken throughout. Mediterranean cruises are more international, with announcements in several languages.
What is Ocean Cay?
Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve is MSC’s private island in the Bahamas, with beaches and lagoons. Most of MSC’s Caribbean and Bahamas sailings from Florida call there.
Does MSC sail from Port Canaveral?
Yes. MSC Grandiosa sails seven-night Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, about an hour from Orlando, and MSC Seashore sails three- and four-night Bahamas cruises.
Why is MSC often priced lower?
MSC is often slightly lower than other options, but many activities and amenities depend on your stateroom and experience level, or cost extra. We price your sailing with what you actually want included, so the total is clear before you book.
What are the MSC experience levels?
Bella, Fantastica, Aurea and the MSC Yacht Club. Each adds perks such as stateroom choice, flexible dining or spa access, and the Yacht Club is a private, ship-within-a-ship area with its own restaurant, lounge and pool.
Does it cost more to book MSC through a travel consultant?
No. You pay the same fare as booking direct with MSC Cruises. Through us you also get a stateroom chosen for how you travel, planning before you sail, and Shore Secrets port guides for every stop.
Plan your MSC cruise with travel consultants who know the fleet
Tell us how you like to travel, and your Aurévia travel consultant will reply within one business day with ship, stateroom and fare options. Let us hold your cabin.