MSC Cruise Guide

Pre-Cruise

  • MSC begins their check-in process at the time of reservation. You can begin this online process at any time.

    Here, you will input information such as:

    • Passport information

    • Emergency Contacts

    • Confirm Dining/Bed Preferences

    • Select your Boarding Time

    • Set up your Onboard Spending Account

    To get your preference of Boarding Time, the sooner you do this, the better!

  • You need:

    • Passport

    OR

    • Driver’s License and Official Birth Certificate (not a copy!)

    For children traveling with one parent, it’s a very strong suggestion to have a signed and notarized travel form from the other parent who isn’t traveling. This can be asked for upon embarkation and is to combat trafficking.

  • MSC uses their MSC For Me App for all their onboard information, including dining, excursions, account and going-ons.

    Link Button Below

  • Pre-Paid Gratuities: This is an option most cruise lines have; you have the option to prepay gratuities, which are distributed between both the staff you interact with, as well as the behind the scenes staff, such a cooks, dishwashers, cleaners, etc.

    Tipping on Board: Many cruisers prefer to tip in addition to, or in lieu of, prepaid gratuities. Some of those staff to consider are:

    • Dock Porters who handle your check luggage

    • Bartenders and Bar Servers

    • Wait Staff

    • Housekeeping

    • Excursion Tour Guides and Drivers

MSC Packing List - Click to Open
MSC For Me App

Onboard

  • Pre-purchasing drink packages is nearly always worth it, as there are commonly significant discounts (up to 45%!); when you buy onboard, it is nearly always full price.

    To Note: If one adult in a cabin purchases the drink package, all adults in the stateroom must purchase.

    Packages include:

    • Premium Extra Package - The Main Adult Alcohol package, which also includes water, soda, mocktails, milkshakes and specialty coffee

    • Alcohol-Free - Same as the Cheers package, minus the alcohol. Aimed for adults.

    • Minors Package - includes sodas, juices and non-alcoholic cocktails, smoothies and hot chocolate.

  • There are a number of specialty restaurants onboard. One of the key considerations is choosing sooner than later; there are only so many spots and they are first come first serve. They can be purchased as soon as you make a booking.

    Specialty Restaurants:

    • Kaito Teppanyaki - Hibachi

    • Butcher’s Cut Steakhouse

    • Kaito Sushi

    • HOLA! Tacos and Cantina

    • Ocean Cay Seafood Restaurant

  • Excursions are sponsored both by the cruise, as well as third party vendors. There are hundreds to choose from, from ATV tours, to snorkeling, catamarans, museum and brewery tours, or just a chill day at the beach!

    Excursions are first come first serve and fill up, and they are available at the time of booking.

    While excursions are mainly at port stops, there are some to consider onboard or after the cruise!

    • Behind the Scenes Tour - check out the ship on a tour of the crew area, including the kitchens and bridge

    • Transportation - MSC offers shuttle service to nearby airports for both arrival and departure and can be found in the Excursions tab.

    Handlebar Holidays also works through Viator/Trip Advisor and can help plan and manage tours!

  • MSC offers a number of theme nights, where there is optional dress. If you choose not to dress a certain way, you are still able to enter all areas, including restaurants - as long as you are following the restaurants dress code.

    Themes:

    • Elegant Night - from polos and khakis to ballgowns - and everything in between!

    • Tropical Night: Wear your best tropical or Hawaiian attire!

    • Retro Night - Dress in your best 60s, 70s and 80s outfits!

    • Western Night: Wear you favorite Western themed clothes!

    • White Night - Everyone wears white, to get ready for the White Party on the Lido Deck!

Embarkation Day

What to expect when you arrive at the terminal

  • Curbside: When you arrive curbside, you’ll be met with cruise porters. They will take your check bags and make sure they make them to outside your room for mid afternoon. They don’t take backpacks, laptop bags or purses.

    Remember that whatever you carry with you, you will carry until rooms open, which is normally around 2:30.

    Boarding Time: MSC can be both lenient and strict on arriving for your boarding window. Arriving early may find you waiting outside, or waiting in the terminal seats.

    Boarding Documents: Having your boarding documents on you is key! More important is having them handy, either in a purse or pocket. They use the paper to scan you and check you in, and it will also be your way to buy drinks for the first little bit!

    You can go to your room, drop a bag in the closet and grab your room card. Rooms don’t open until mid-afternoon for more than that.

    What to Expect: Once inside, you’ll go through security, check in and passport control. From there, you will head onto the ship when your boarding number is called! This can take a little bit of time.

  • Priority #1 when getting onboard!

    The muster drill must be completed by every guest. On your boarding document, you will have your assigned muster station. There are plenty of guests to help you find your way. While it’s exciting to wander the ship, this is the only required item both prior to setting sail, and for the entire sailing!

    If you don’t check in by a certain time, they will shut you off from getting anything to drink, including water, until you have checked in.

  • There is quite a bit available when you board the ship! Most bars are open, pools and hot tubs are open and there are plenty of dining options.

    The natural flow is to go to the buffet, but also check out:

    • Main Marketplace Buffet

    • Main Dining Room (MDR)

    • Ship Specific: Depending on the ship, some poolside eats are open

  • Once onboard, the MSC For Me App is your central info center. It has:

    • all activities on board

    • Open hours for bars and restaurants

    • Music and shows

    • Your account statement

    • Reservations

    • Chat - The chat option works for your party

    • Additionally, you can hit the heart next to an activity to make it as an interest to you. Anyone in your party can see this, which helps coordinate activities!

    The App will tell you, but be sure to turn on airplane mode and turn off data! You will need to connect to the ships free WIFI to use the app.