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Meanwhile, the cruise line's shortest options include weekend trips to the Bahamas sailing for just two nights. MSC charges a relatively low $14.00 per person, per day for passengers that are 12 years and older. Kids aged 2-11 are charged just $7.00 per night (typically kids are charged full price on other lines).
Food Quality
At its current pace of growth, MSC Cruises could soon pass Carnival to become the world's second-biggest line. As it expands its fleet at a rapid pace, MSC Cruises is massively building its footprint in North America in an effort to woo more Americans. As recently as 2017, the line only had a single vessel based in North America. Now it's up to three ships sailing out of U.S. ports, and by the end of 2023, that number will have shot up to five.
An introduction to MSC Cruises ships
With MSC, that’s still sort of the case, but not quite as clearly. The lowest-ranked ship on this list scores 2.8 out of 5, which puts it just below the overall average score (bear in mind you can’t score ships as 0 out of 5, so a pure average would be 3 out of 5). Plus, that’s super-subjective – I might’ve had a really good or really bad experience on a ship that wasn’t normal. Long a major player in Europe, MSC Cruises is growing fast in North America with a lineup of big, new, amenity-filled ships. The real perks begin at Diamond status, which brings a free dinner in an extra-charge restaurant, priority embarkation at the start of a cruise and priority disembarkation at the end of a cruise.
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Royal Caribbean's Adventure Ocean youth program features expansive play spaces for kids ages 3-12 (the bigger the ship, the larger the kids' facilities). They can enjoy activities such as art and science projects, games and themed parties. The program is free during the day and early evening, but an hourly rate applies after 10 p.m. Passengers can purchase specialty dining packages at a discounted price prior to sailing. For more outdoor space, choose the 624-square-foot MSC Yacht Club Royal Suite with a 753-square-foot balcony.
For a luxurious experience, try a Suite with Private Whirlpool. These suites come with a queen-size bed and a large balcony with a private whirlpool bath. If you purchase your package onboard, you’ll be charged a 15% service fee on top of the package price. To avoid this fee, purchase your beverage package ahead of time.
Billed as an upscale "ship within a ship" and aimed at luxury travelers, the MSC Yacht Club is at the very top of vessels and comes with a private lounge, a pool, sunning areas and even its own restaurant. They also draw customers from a wide range of the income spectrum. This package is for adults 21 and older and includes drinks up to $12 each.
In short, it is an excellent ship for those who are looking for a good ship without excesses. MSC Sinfonia was lower in the ranking but climbed several positions after undergoing modernization works in 2015. The ship is loved because it has a more cozy and intimate environment, making it the preferred choice for guests who like smaller ships. For this reason, cruisers consider it one of the best ships for cruises during the summer or for cruises in warm destinations. If you’re looking for a more relaxing cruise, you’re better off choosing one of the older ships that is smaller and tends to have more focus on outdoor space. When I first carried out the research for this list, I was surprised that MSC Seascape – a newer ship launched in 2022 – finished bottom.
Her main improvements over the Seaside-class ships are behind the scenes, making her more environmentally friendly, although she does have more outdoor spaces too. MSC’s largest and newest ship, MSC World Europa, is marketed by MSC as the future of cruising. She has some exciting features, including a lot of tech-infused attractions aimed at giving families thrilling memories. Unfortunately the biggest letdown seems to be the food – the free options aren’t the best quality and there aren’t too many choices for speciality restaurants when you want to upgrade to something a bit fancier. MSC Divina is the first of the Fantasia-class ships to appear on this list, and when she debuted she offered a few modifications on her earlier sisters, making her slightly larger. I’ve done these guides for other cruise lines in the past including ranking the Royal Caribbean ships and the Carnival ships.
With the even pricier "Aurea" experience, you'll get complimentary access to the spa's thermal area, priority boarding and other perks. The Aurea experience also comes with access to My Choice dining and an exclusive sun deck area that on many ships features an exclusive bar and hot tubs. For instance, at the time of publication, four-night sailings from Miami to the Bahamas in September 2024 start at just $249 per person, not including taxes and fees of $100.
Cabins on most mainstream cruise lines are designed more with functionality than flashy design in mind. Both lines feature windowless inside, ocean-view, balcony and suite accommodations. Royal Caribbean's Quantum-class vessels, introduced between 2014 and 2021, accommodate 4,180 guests at double occupancy and 5,500 at capacity.
First, you’ll earn a set amount of points for taking a cruise — the specific amount will depend on the length of the cruise and the experience level you choose. Second, you’ll earn points for the activities you pre-purchase and for any onboard expenses that you incur. A three-night cruise to the Bahamas can cost as little as $149 per person, but that same trip can cost up to $349 per person during periods of high demand. Cruising is a huge industry, so it makes sense that the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) — which started out shipping cargo — got in on the venture in 1988 with the purchase of its first cruise ship. Since then, the company has been steadily growing, adding new ships and destinations to its thriving cruise line. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research.
After 17 Royal Caribbean cruises, my family and I tried MSC Cruises for the first time and here's what we liked and didn ... - Royal Caribbean Blog
After 17 Royal Caribbean cruises, my family and I tried MSC Cruises for the first time and here's what we liked and didn ....
Posted: Tue, 03 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
At 215,863 tons, MSC World Europa is about 4% to 8% smaller than the five Oasis Class ships. MSC World Europa is 21 decks high — three decks higher than the Oasis Class vessels. In addition to all of the above, MSC Group — the line's parent company — has announced plans for yet another class of big ships to start arriving later this decade, though there have been few details released.
However, nothing compares to some more mainstream cruise lines with “things to do” on a cruise. So if you compare overall activities on MSC versus Carnival or Royal Caribbean, you’ll likely be disappointed. Continuing with lower costs, the drink packages and dining packages are considerably less expensive than other cruise lines.
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