Despite four wonderful cruises on Royal Caribbean, I have now become an avid MSC Cruises fan. This may be shocking to some; in fact, I am a little surprised myself by the switch.
While I really enjoyed my Royal Caribbean cruises and love the design and amenities of the Oasis Class ships, like Wonder of the Seas, I have found MSC Cruises to be a compelling alternative, mainly due to the incredible value they provide.
After sailing on both the Royal Caribbean and the Celebrity Cruises, I jumped ship (literally and figuratively) to MSC Cruises. While there are many things I love about Royal Caribbean and a few that I wish MSC would adopt, for now, I have moved to the European cruise line and have already started researching my next cruise.
Breaking up is hard to do, but here are some of the main reasons I have switched loyalties.
MSC’s prices are a lot cheaper than Royal Caribbean’s, among the lowest in the marketplace
One of the major reasons people have been giving MSC Cruises a try is their incredibly low prices. That’s what drew me to them as well, and talking to fellow guests on my MSC sailings, many have decided to give the European cruise line a try because of the significant value they offer.
Whether it is an inside cabin or a more spacious balcony suite, I have found the MSC prices to be more competitive. My best deal ever was a 4-night cruise on MSC Divina. I was able to get the fantastic price of $185 per person, which included Wi-Fi and drinks.
During my most recent cruise, my husband and I wanted to splurge a little, so we booked a balcony suite on MSC Seaside, which was thousands of dollars cheaper than something comparable on Royal Caribbean. We had such an amazing time and are already looking at another MSC cruise, which is about half the cost of similar cruises on Royal Caribbean.
Read more: Why are MSC Cruises so cheap?
Voyagers Club, MSC’s loyalty program, offers significant value after just one sailing
Like other cruise lines, MSC Cruises has its own loyalty program, Voyagers Club. One of the advantages of this program is that MSC offers Status Match, which allows you to skip tiers based on your ranking in another cruise or travel loyalty program. This has a great appeal for many, but it was not a thing for me as I hadn’t gained enough status with Royal Caribbean for it to make a significant difference.
However, I quickly found out that after just one cruise on MSC, you become a classic member, which automatically entitles you to 5% off your next cruise. That is a major savings I can take advantage of now. If you book at least 6 months in advance, you get an extra 5%, another good perk.
While the top-end benefits of this Voyagers Club program are not as sweet as Royal Caribbean’s in terms of free drinks and such, the entry-level tier brings me immediate savings.
They have a huge selection of international Itineraries
Prior to booking my most recent cruise, I spent a lot of time researching Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and MSC Cruises. I ended up going with MSC due to a unique itinerary that cruises the mountainous islands of the southern Antilles. With the option to leave from Barbados, Guadeloupe, or Martinique, this 7-day itinerary toured some of the less visited islands and was like no other cruise I had been on. Often, we were the only ship in port, a sharp contrast to ports like Nassau and Cozumel, which can host five plus ships at a time.
Looking to the future, it would appear that Royal Caribbean seems to be focused more on shorter 3-4 cruises, even for some of their newest ships. While I love Oasis Class ships, a 3-or 4-night cruise on Utopia of the Seas with stops only in the Bahamas does not appeal to me.
MSC Cruises also has a ton of appealing options for Europe—both the Mediterranean and Northern region, as well as the Canary Islands. These, along with destinations such as Dubai, South America, Asia, and Africa, are all bucket list items. My husband and I love to explore new places, and MSC’s itineraries are more alluring. Also, MSC's itineraries allow passengers to board in differing ports, which provides a lot of flexibility for booking flights.
The cruise line has tons of deals and promotions, which can save major $$$
Another thing that has impressed me when traveling on a budget is MSC’s ongoing promotions. These deals often involve perks like a drink package or a balcony upgrade. As I mentioned before, my $400 cruise on MSC Divina included both drink and internet packages. That’s hard to beat for a quick weekend away.
Looking at MSC's website, their current promotion includes a drink package, Wi-Fi, and up to $400 of onboard credit. Onboard credit can be a great bonus and can be used toward excursions, specialty dining, spa services, merchandise, and gratuities.
They also have fly and cruise packages, 10% discounts for health and military professionals, and family deals. Every dollar of savings counts, especially with the skyrocketing prices of everyday items we buy, like food and gas.
Read more: How to save money on an MSC Cruise
Ocean Cay, MSC’s private island, is a stunning Bahamian paradise with plenty of free options
I have been lucky enough to visit Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve three times and Perfect Day at CocoCay twice. I love the fun and hype of Perfect Day at Coco Cay – the overwater bungalows, cabanas, and Thrill Waterpark; overall, it’s a fun and lively atmosphere. The Coco Beach Club is a particularly stunning area with a gourmet lunch and an infinity pool. However, I find the island is becoming quite busy, and a lot of the add-on activities have increased significantly in price.
On the other hand, Ocean Cay is a natural oasis; there are no pools or major party areas beyond the few spots like Springer’s Bar. There is plenty of room to explore, with empty beaches, paths to stroll, and charming watering holes to savor a rum punch. MSC has done an incredible job repurposing a former industrial site. I love its colorful, Bahamian-style buildings, including the lighthouse, which is the backdrop for an evening party.
Another thing that really impressed me about Ocean Cay was the suite area, which is complimentary to all of those in the Yacht Club. Ocean House offers guests a dedicated spot to hang out for the day, providing a 3-course gourmet meal, beach service, complimentary drinks, umbrellas, and chairs – it really is a nice perk, something you don’t get with Royal Caribbean.
Read more: Royal Caribbean’s CocoCay versus MSC’s Ocean Cay, which is better?
The Yacht Club – MSC’s suite class offers exceptional service and amenities
On a couple of occasions, I have been lucky enough to sail in a suite on both Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises. I have to say that the service, staff, and cabin options on Royal Caribbean are great, but MSC excels in delivering a luxury cruise experience.
Their ship within a ship class offers an unparalleled suite experience. The Yacht Club area is spacious with a massive rooftop area for guests to enjoy. A private buffet, music in the suite lounge, and the first-class restaurant all make for a relaxed environment with everything you need. It is much more of an all-inclusive cruising experience than Royal Caribbean and overall, a better price.
One of the other perks of suite class is the premium drink package, which gets you pretty much any drink (except full bottles of wine), anywhere on this ship. This is a major difference from Royal Caribbean, which offers select drinks in the suite lounge.
There are oodles of options to customize your MSC experience
MSC is big on options with a variety of packages and experiences; they seem to have something for everyone. One such example is their drinks packages. MSC Cruises offers its customers five different drink packages to suit different preferences and needs. Whether you want a few beers and a glass of wine or a more extensive package that provides top-shelf spirits, champagne, and specialty coffees, there is something for everyone, even kids.
On my last cruise, the basic drinks package was $38 per day, and the premium package was $68. To me, that’s a lot of extra money for drinks I probably won’t have. Royal Caribbean only has one drink package with alcohol, which can often run for $75 plus per day. Since I don’t drink a lot of spirits and cocktails, I don’t always find the drink package cost-effective, especially on port-intensive itineraries like the Mediterranean.
Another thing I like is that MSC offers its customers a unique way to customize their cruise experience, which is quite different from most other cruise lines. With “MSC Experiences,” guests can choose from distinct levels when booking their cruise. Each level has varying levels of perks and prices, starting with the basic Bella experience to the more inclusive Aurea level. There are prices and options for every type of cruiser.
Read more: Is a drink package worth it on MSC? I tried it to see whether it was worth the money
A growing fleet and more departure ports mean plenty of options
Royal Caribbean is one of the largest brands in the cruise industry and currently has 27 ships sailing, with another mega-ship, Utopia of the Sea, to be launched this summer. By comparison, MSC has only 22 cruise ships, but it has been growing quickly. Currently, it is the third-largest cruise brand in the world. They have also launched an upscale cruise brand, Explora Journeys, which has grown their overall portfolio of assets.
So, for those guests who love choice, this means that there are more and more options. Last year, they started sailing from New York, with plans for cruises from Galveston in 2025 and rumors about Alaskan sailings. MSC Cruises currently has 68 departure ports listed on their website – the choices are endless.
I am also keen to try their new World Class ships, which are heavily inspired by Oasis Class ships, which I love. Currently, MSC World Europa is sailing in the Mediterranean, and MSC World America is scheduled to sail from Miami in 2025, which is a lot more convenient for North American cruisers.
Read more: Everything I loved and hated about my European cruise with MSC Cruises
I don’t need epic waterparks or 20 food venues on my cruise ship
Royal Caribbean is known as a fantastic family-friendly cruise line, and their newest ship, Icon of the Seas, boasts some major attractions for families with a world-class waterpark and a family-themed neighborhood. While I understand why this appeals to so many, it is just not something I need or want. My kids are grown and now at university, so we mainly cruise without them. The premium paid for all these new bells and whistles just does not have the same priority or importance to me.
We have taken some port-heavy itineraries and have found that we don't always have time to take advantage of all of the big ship amenities. While cruising on the Wonder of the Seas in the Mediterranean, we had only one sea day. After a 10-hour day traveling to Rome, all I wanted to do was have a nice meal, relax, and listen to some music in the evening.
Some of the things that Royal Caribbean excels at, like its Broadway shows, entertainment, and epic family areas, are not deciding factors for me anymore. Nor am I a fan of spending tons of money for a 3- and 4-day Bahamian cruise for the next Oasis Class ship – Utopia of the Seas.
MSC’s food is as good as Royal Caribbean’s at a lower cost
Much has been said about the food on MSC, and contrary to many, I like the food and have always found something to eat. Although many of the ships, especially in the Seaside Class, have fewer complimentary venues than the Oasis Class ships, the buffets are huge. I love their freshly made pasta, artisanal bread, cured meats and fine cheeses, and a good selection of gelato. Sorry for fans of Royal Caribbean’s famous Sorrento’s; MSC’s pizza does its Italian heritage justice and is the hands-down winner.
MSC cruise ships don’t have the same selection of specialty restaurants, but their steakhouse was excellent (I would say better than Chops) and well-priced. If purchased pre-cruise $45, cheaper for more evenings, and I do like to try different venues.
My experience in the main dining rooms was that the food was on par with Royal Caribbean, but the Yacht Club restaurant was extraordinary on our last cruise. MSC’s suite restaurant had a sizable menu and excellent food. It was my husband's first time on MSC, and he said it was the best food he had ever had on a cruise. Our sommelier was excellent in suggesting wines to pair with the food, and we had some incredible dinners, which included steak, lobster, fish, and foie gras.
MSC Cruise’s European flair makes it stand out versus Royal
Perhaps part of its Italian roots, but MSC ships have a modern and elegant design. Italy has brought the world design marvels - the Colosseum, Sistine Chapel, Renaissance art, and ancient roads that are in better condition than those of my neighborhood. MSC capitalizes on Italian innovation with modern and elegant ships.
Beyond the aesthetic beauty, there are real benefits to MSC’s design philosophy. We see this well in the Seaside Class of ships, with alfresco living at its best with outdoor dining and bars. Even the buffet has a spot to enjoy some breakfast and watch the sunrise.
I appreciate the art, sculpture, whimsy, and marine themes that are intertwined throughout their ships. Their famous Swarovski staircases are the perfect backdrop for pictures, adding that signature sparkle to its atrium areas. The cruise line has both beautiful staterooms and fun, welcoming public spaces that enhance the cruise experience with their great design, color, and use of art to provide an inviting atmosphere.
While I am not ruling out a return to Royal Caribbean at some point, for now, I am staying with MSC Cruises
As noted, there are a lot of great things about cruising with Royal Caribbean. They really push the envelope with their ships and offer a ton for families who want to keep their kids happy.
Having said this, the overall value I get with MSC Cruises currently exceeds Royal Caribbean. As my family focuses less on ship amenities and having all the latest bells and whistles, the itinerary is playing a deciding factor. In addition to this, great food and drinks are another element of cruising that my husband and I enjoy immensely.
Post-cruise blues is a real thing, and the only remedy is to book another cruise. I have already started researching our next trip. The price difference between the two cruise lines, along with interesting itineraries, continues to be a major factor in choosing MSC Cruises over Royal Caribbean.
Chantal McPhee
Chantal McPhee has a great passion for travel since first venturing to the Bahamas as a child with her grandparents. Today, she loves cruising with her husband and two daughters to new places and aspires one day to do a world cruise. Living on the east coast of Canada, she shares cruising tips and information with fellow Canucks seeking a reprieve from the great white north. She also teaches business studies at a university, with a focus on strategy
