MSC Cruises

While an MSC cruise offers us a chance to get away, relax, and disconnect, you may need to access the internet to keep in touch with family and friends back home. You may even need to check in with work! 

MSC Cruises is reportedly planning significant changes to its popular unlimited drink packages in 2025, capping the daily number of alcoholic drinks at 15. 

The news was first shared in a post on an MSC Cruises Voyagers Club Facebook Group and included a statement issued by the cruise line: "Discover our updated drinks packages to complement your guests on board experience, starting from 18th December 2024 for sailings from 1st April 2025 onwards." 

After being stranded for four days following engine and navigation issues, MSC Cruises canceled three sailings aboard MSC Bellissima, one of the largest cruise ships in Asia. 

The 171,598 gross registered ton ship was slated to depart from Naha, Japan, on December 6 for a 4-night sailing. However, guests awoke on Dec. 7 to find they were still docked in Naha rather than Ishigaki, Japan. Consequently, MSC Bellissima's Dec. 8 departure from Keelung and Dec. 10 departure from Naha were also canceled. 

MSC Cruises has made a significant investment in ship construction in the last 20 years, resulting in today’s diverse fleet that sails worldwide.

Whether it be a smaller ship that voyages to quaint ports in Europe or a mega ship with all the bells and whistles, MSC offers something for every cruiser, including visits to their private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, in The Bahamas. 

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 26 by 2030, as they have four 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 seventh-largest cruise ship in the world, following Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas and Oasis Class vessels.

When it comes to mainstream cruise lines in North America, most people would immediately think of Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Line.

Those looking to explore The Last Frontier on a cruise ship will have more choices starting in 2026, with MSC Cruises and Virgin Voyages announcing their inaugural sailings to Alaska.

MSC Cruises will bring MSC Poesia, a Musica Class ship launched in 2008, to Seattle, Washington, offering 7-night cruises to Alaska and Canada beginning on May 11. Passengers can expect visits to popular ports like Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Ketchikan, and more. 

Search is underway for a crew member who jumped off an MSC cruise ship on June 10 after departing from Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy. 

The crew member jumped off MSC Musica en route to Genoa, Italy on a 7-day Western Mediterranean cruise. The ship's navigational team and local Coast Guard searched the area for three hours; however, the body was not found. 

Does age really matter for a cruise ship?  I’ve sailed on MSC’s oldest and newest ships in the Caribbean and found some major differences between the classic ships and newcomers in the fleet. 

Price, size, service, itineraries, and amenities all vary between ships, especially when comparing the senior ships of the fleet to the newly launched stars.