MSC Cruises

When browsing MSC’s website last winter, I came across an extremely cheap cruise deal: a 7-night cruise on MSC Seaside with a $616 per person cruise fare. Because this cruise was in July during the peak summer season, the price was a total steal.

Of course, that fare did not include taxes and gratuities, which would be added to the price, but still, it was a deal hard to pass up. Most of the other weeklong cruises I browsed were at least $500 more per person, many of which were on older, smaller ships.

Have you ever considered trying an MSC cruise? While I have sailed on other cruise lines and had a good time, I recommend MSC for first-timers. 

There are a whole host of reasons why you may want to try this European-based cruise line for a cruise. Incredible prices, a growing fleet of large and innovative ships, a wide range of onboard activities and entertainment, and a vast array of itineraries are just some of the advantages of cruising with MSC Cruises. 

I recently returned from a 7-night cruise on MSC Seaside, an MSC cruise ship launched in 2018. 

As a budget cruiser, I booked an interior cabin for my sailing, and I was curious to see what a stateroom on this relatively new ship would look like.

The total cost of an inside cabin for two adults, including taxes and fees, was $1518, or just $759 per person. I found this to be a fantastic price for a new cruise ship in the peak summer season, but what made it even better was MSC’s drink package and wifi promo.

Have you ever considered solo cruising? I had the opportunity to take my first solo cruise on MSC Divina, and the experience surprised me. So what is it like to cruise all by yourself? Fun? Lonely? Scary? Maybe a little bit of everything! 

I have cruised a number of times with my family and traveled a little on my own, but this was a new experience, and I was not sure how I would fare on my own, especially in the bustling port of Nassau. 

Since MSC Cruises was founded in 1988, they have grown to be one of the largest cruise lines in the world, with 22 ships sailing globally. Their fleet is expected to expand to 25 by 2027, as they have three more ships on order. 

MSC Cruises' ships range in size from just a little over 65,000 to 215,000 gross registered tons. In fact, MSC World Europa is the sixth largest cruise ship in the world, following Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class vessels. 

Explora I, the first ship for the brand-new luxury cruise line Explora Journeys, was delivered on July 20, 2023. 

Explora Journeys is an upscale brand that is owned by the MSC Group that aspires to create a unique "Ocean State of Mind" by connecting guests not only with the sea, but with themselves and other like-minded individuals on sailings to less common ports of call to evoke a sense of discovery.    

Construction on the $550 million Explora I began on July 10, 2021 at the at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. 

MSC Cruises has an impressive 22 cruise ships in service, with several more on the way. This is a result of their aggressive growth plans, which have seen them become the third-largest cruise brand in the world. 

So which is the best ship and class to pick? That depends on several things. The type of cruise experience, travel preferences, destination, cabin options, and onboard amenities all play a role in picking the right cruise ship.

While preparing for my first MSC cruise earlier this year, I had no idea what to expect. I had never sailed on a European cruise line before, and all of my previous cruises had been exclusively on Royal Caribbean.

Wanting to do something different, I booked a 7-night Western Mediterranean cruise on MSC World Europa, the cruise line’s newest and biggest ship. I was excited to try the best of the best by MSC, from the ship’s dreamy pool spaces to her international dining venues.

The MSC World Europa is the 6th biggest cruise ship in the world, and the biggest in MSC Cruises’ fleet. The launch of the MSC World Europa began a new era for MSC Cruises, as the ship is unlike any other launched by the cruise line before.

With 22 decks and a capacity of 6,850 passengers, there’s no shortage of things to see and do on this massive vessel, including a waterpark, 11-deck dry slide, and a bustling open-air neighborhood.