msc yacht club gratuity

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MSC Gratuities (Tips/Service Charge): Full Guide to Cost & How They Work

Sailing MSC and wondering about the service charges — also known as gratuities — that you will see? Almost no matter which cruise line you sail, these daily charges are a part of life.

And the cost can be significant. In general, cruise lines charge between $14-$16 per person, per day for the gratuity charges. That can add up to hundreds of dollars for a couple on a weeklong cruise.

Of course, with those sorts of dollar amounts, you might have some questions about what this money is for, where it goes, and how the entire process works.

In This Article...

What are service charges (gratuities)?

Daily gratuity charges come in a lot of different names. Sometimes they are called tips. Some lines call them crew appreciation. MSC called them service charges.

These all mean the same thing — a charge per person, per day that is to provide compensation to the passenger-facing crew like your room steward and the dining staff.

In the past (decades ago), the crew relied on the generosity of passengers to provide a tip. Today, the process is automated to where nearly everyone on the ship is charged the same rate.

How much are service charges on MSC?

MSC has several different gratuity rates that depend where the cruise occurs. For those sailing in The Bahamas/Caribbean, South America, or Asia , you’ll see the following rates:

• Adults (>12 and up): $14.50 per night
• Children (2-12): $7.25 per night
• No service charges for kids under 2 years old

For those sailing in the Mediterranean, Europe, Middle East or Southern Caribbean , the rates are slightly different and priced in euros:

• Adults (>12 and up): 12 euros per night
• Children (2-12): 6 euros per night

So say that you’re a couple taking a 7-day cruise. In this case, you’ll each pay $14.50 per night, for a total of $203 over the course of the trip.

How do I pay the MSC service charges?

You have a couple of options for how you can pay these charges.

First, you can choose to pre-pay. In this case, the daily service charge is added into the price of the cruise. When doing this, the charge is already taken care of before you board meaning it’s one less thing to worry about. On the other hand, it also means giving the cruise line more money before you technically have to pay it.

The second way to pay the gratuity charges is to simply wait until you are on the ship. They will be added to your onboard account during the trip. You will then pay with the payment method on file at the end of the cruise as you would with any other onboard spending.

For more on whether or not to pre-pay gratuities, see our article here .

Can I change the amount charged?

In general, no you cannot change the gratuity amount charged. MSC says on their website that “ the Hotel Service charge serves to ensure we maintain the highest quality standards of service to our guests. The daily amounts below have been calculated with this in mind and cannot be modified.”

So if you simply don’t agree with the service charge amount, you can’t adjust it. But what if you receive particularly bad service? In that case, there is some recourse.

The cruise line says “should you wish to remove any of the daily Hotel Service Charge in the unlikely event that you do not receive satisfactory service, you may do so by contacting the Guest Relations Manager onboard.”

Can I tip more if I want? Or tip a specific person?

Many people during the cruise find a particular bartender they love or really appreciate their room steward. So if there’s someone that you want to thank on the cruise, can you tip more?

Most cruise lines encourage this, but MSC specifically says it “does not recommend tipping individual members of staff.” Even so, there is a difference between “not recommending” something and banning it. If you decide you want to slip some extra cash to a crew member, it will likely be appreciated.

Which staff is covered by the MSC service charge?

It’s not specifically laid out exactly how the service charge is applied to the crew. While cruise lines normally are tight-lipped about how exactly the charges break down to the crew members, they do normally lay out in general terms who gets the money.

MSC speaks in even more vague terms about where the money goes:

“During your cruise you will meet staff throughout the ship who provide you with excellent service. They are supported by just as many staff and crew who work hard behind the scenes to ensure you enjoy every moment onboard.

“For your convenience, MSC Cruises will automatically add a daily Hotel Service Charge to your shipboard account, based on your chosen itinerary and the number of days for which the services are actually provided.

“The Hotel Service charge serves to ensure we maintain the highest quality standards of service to our guests. “

Does the service charge cover all the tipping around the ship?

For the most part, MSC’s gratuity charge covers all the tipping you need to do on the ship. So if you go eat in the main dining room, you simply leave when you’re done with the meal. There’s no need to leave a tip.

One area that is not covered is the bar. If you purchase a drink on the ship (assuming you don’t have the drink package) then there is a 18% bar service charge added on automatically for North American cruises and 15% for other trips.

Notably, MSC makes no mention of extra gratuity charges for spa and specialty restaurants, two areas that normally see additional gratuity tacked on for other cruise lines.

What else should I know about MSC’s service charges?

One thing that we think should be pointed out is that when it comes to cruise gratuities, MSC is actually on the low end. For instance, Carnival Cruise Line charges $16 per person , per day as of April 2023. Royal Caribbean also charges $16 per person , per day for most cabins.

There is also no upcharge on the gratuity amount if staying in a suite (these cabins typically see higher gratuity charges on other lines), and there is the lower daily charge for kids 12 and under.

In other words, while no one likes to see extra charges on their cruise, MSC offers one of the best values when it comes to these fees.

More on Sailing MSC:

• Worth It? Complete Guide to MSC Cruises Drink Packages
• 10 Ways MSC Is Different From Other Cruise Lines
• Ocean Cay (MSC’s Private Island): Complete Guide & Things to Know

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Read next: park & cruise hotels for every port in america, popular: 107 best cruise tips, secrets, tricks, and freebies, 11 comments.

In Europe they do pay. It is added to cruise fare automatically so is paid by all and cannot be removed.

So sad..to read such misinfirmed and inaccurate comments…. in which good crew members are gipped out of tips…because a passenger does not understand how it works. Tops or DAILY GRATS…are split with ALL crew…ones you do not see ( laundry, pool deck, etc). Pay your daiky grats. If you’re not happy with something go to guest services and they should correct whatever crew member is not providing you the proper service

This may be accurate for some lines and not others. The one I worked for had tipped positions who received the gratuities (some directly such as waiter and asst waiter and others in pools (bartenders except for add’l tip added by the guest at time of purchase). The back of house didn’t share in the tips at all. And technically if you handed a non-tipped position cash, they were to turn it into their manager to enhance “crew welfare” events of that particular team.

Hello fellow & future cruisers! I absolutely adore cruising 🛳! It’s my favorite way to travel. I’ve only been on 8, soon to be 9.

I learned on my first cruise with Carnival that once you board, it’s best to go straight to the service desk & kindly say “Hello. I’d like to remove the tipping fees from my account.” Without hesitation or question, the Carnival staff immediately is understanding. They look at the computer screen & simply remove the fees. #1 This frees up literally hundreds of $$$$ off of ur c.c. #2 You get to decide who to tip directly, who deserves a lot, a little or nothing. #3 These hard working people should get the tips THEY deserve. One of our waiters once told me, that the servers make about $1.18 average. It was heart breaking.

I bought the drink package & found a bar in the atrium I liked. There was a fantastic bartender that I was so sweet. The first night I gave her $20. She cried & told me that would help her family so much. I got great service from her for the rest of the cruise & have a kind hearted story that touched both her & my soul. ❤️

I’ve had one of the room cleaners that never cleaned anything! By the 7th night, we had at least 10 dirty glasses. There would’ve been more but we kept sending them out with room service. Oh, we tipped our room service people a few bucks each time they came. That put a pep in their step whenever they came over! At the end of our cruise, everyone in our area was talking about how dirty their rooms were. We honestly explained to our room cleaner why we weren’t tipping him. He never changed our sheets or gave us the cute towel animals. We could’ve complained, but eh… I didn’t want negative energy. However I tip accordingly. Maybe next time he’ll do his job.

I hope you all have a fantastic vacation! No matter where u go! Thanks for reading! Much Love, Lynae Thomas

I am on MSC Preziosa at the moment. I did not go to the dining room at all, because they gave me the second seating instead of the first seating, which is too late for me. (I bought the lower class ‘Bella’, so just too bad, I got what they had left!). I asked for my Hotel Service Charges to be paid to the Buffet staff instead of the Dining Room staff. They refused. They said the gratuities is for everyone including the Engine Cleaners! So, actually when they say ‘Hotel Service Charge’ they really mean paying your part of the ‘MSC Pay roll’. Or they could just call it ‘Extra Cruise Fare’. Which is amazing is that Europeans do not have to pay for those extra charges on the European cruise where I am right now. It is mandatory only for the people that have bought their cruise from MSC Cruises USA. Why? I have no idea!!!

Hi I read on the site If booked before November 2022 With msc line There wasn’t a hotel charge is that correct

This has been very helpful! Thank you for all this information. Please if anyone can answer two questions from first-time cruisers: 1) We bought our tickets through a 3rd party…is that the CC MSC will charge our gratuities to at the end of the trip, or will we have a chance to provide them a different CC while onboard? 2) Does buying any of the drinks package cover ALL the gratuities of the total trip ($14.5/day/person), or only the gratuities of the drinks bought?

MSC uses a system where you add the card once you are on the ship (there are kiosks you visit). So you can use whichever card you want once onboard.

The drink package only covers gratuities of the drinks bought.

thank you for the reply. Greatly appreciated. Much to learn bout cruising:)

Great informative post. Thank you. Myself and my husband don’t drink so we plan to not have a drink package. Will we still pay this 18% for a soft drink from the bar. (Pepsi, Coke or a juice etc)? Just curious as we have a Northern Europe trip planned next Spring with MSC

Yes, that charge should be there. However, the amount will be 15% for that region, not 18%.

From MSC’s website:

“Onboard bar purchases will incur a gratuities, automatically added to all purchases: 15% gratuities on European, Emirates, South Caribbean, Red Sea, South America (Brazil and Argentine) and Far East itineraries, and 18% gratuity on North America itineraries.”

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Service Charges / Gratuities

IMPORTANT NOTE :  please be informed that as of December 12th, 2022, our updated and automatic Hotel Service Charge per person per day will be outlined as in the table below.

Guests with existing bookings made before December 12th 2022, will not be impacted by this change .

For any additional information, please consult the below grids.

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Tipping on a cruise: What to know about cruise ship gratuities

How much to tip on a cruise is a question that trips up many first-timers. That's because some cruise lines tack daily service fees onto passenger bills — yet many travelers still hand out additional cash gratuities, either as a matter of course or for exemplary service.

The extra cost of the automatic gratuity charges can be a shock to first-time cruisers. At some lines, these charges run as high as $25 per day. And, unlike the typical service fee or resort fee found at a land resort, they are not per room. They are per person .

At some big lines, such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line , it's not uncommon for a family of four staying in a single cabin to see more than $70 a day in service fees added to their bills. On a typical seven-night cruise, that's around $500 in fees.

That's before you add in any additional tips you wish to give to your room service or favorite bartender or automatic gratuities tacked on to bar, restaurant and spa bills.

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Still, not all lines have service fees that high. Some don't charge a service fee at all. In many cases, the service charges are adjustable.

Tipping on a cruise does not have to be complicated, but you need to understand the big picture to budget for your vacation appropriately. Read on to learn all about cruise ship tipping culture and how much you'll need to tip on your next cruise, based on which cruise line you're sailing.

Tipping on a cruise ship: The big picture

Most of the biggest cruise lines automatically add some type of service or gratuity fee onto passenger bills. Lines with such charges include both of the two giants of the cruise business, Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line , as well as the next three biggest lines MSC Cruises , Norwegian and Princess Cruises .

That said, the total number of lines with a service fee has been shrinking over the years. Many smaller and higher-end cruise operators are folding tips and gratuities into their base fares.

Lines that now cover gratuities in their fares include Azamara , Ponant, Regent Seven Seas Cruises , Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Seabourn , SeaDream Yacht Club , Silversea Cruises and Virgin Voyages .

For lines that do have them, service and gratuity charges are touted as a convenient alternative to the practice of cash tipping on cruise ships — something that once was common.

Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line

Cruise lines say they pass the money collected from service charges to the shipboard crew. They say the money is shared not just with front-of-house crew, such as room attendants and waitstaff, but also with behind-the-scenes workers. In that sense, the current system is more equitable than the old system of cash tipping, which favored certain workers, lines say.

Still, some critics see the charges as a sneaky way for cruise lines to make their fares appear lower than they really are. In this line of thinking, lines with these charges are essentially breaking out a good chunk of onboard labor costs as a separate line item on your bill.

Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises

How service charges are levied

At most lines, you can pay your service charges before sailing (at the same time you pay your cruise fare). Alternatively, you can have the charges added to your room bill on board.

The big advantage to paying cruise tips in advance is that you lock in the current rate. If your line raises the rate between the time you pay and the time you sail, you won't pay more.

Some people also like to pay their service charges in advance for budgeting purposes. It'll be one less thing on your final bill at the end of the cruise.

If you prefer to pay for tips once you're on board your cruise, you'll generally find that the gratuities automatically appear on your bill. You don't have to do anything.

That said, if you want to, you can often adjust the charges (either up or down) while you're on board by visiting the guest relations desk. If you are adjusting a gratuity charge downward, expect to be asked about the reasons behind the adjustment. The guest relations staff will want to know if you've experienced particular service issues.

If you leave the service charge on your room bill, you are not expected to leave additional cruise tips for your room attendant or waiters. That's the whole point of the service charge.

Similarly, if you're on a higher-end ship that lists gratuities as being included in the fare, that means just what it says. You don't have to tip on these cruises because the line is already paying gratuities to the staff on your behalf. Additional cash gifts are not expected.

Still, some people do leave a little extra for crew members who go above and beyond. Others tip their room service or waitstaff at their favorite bar, either early in the cruise in the hope of getting better service or at the end to thank them for enhancing the vacation experience. How much to tip extra on a cruise is entirely up to you because it is in no way required.

Related: 10 times you do not need to tip on a cruise

Included cruise tips as a booking perk

If you dislike tipping on cruise ships but can't afford to sail on an all-inclusive line, look for promotions when cruise lines with service charges throw in free gratuities as a booking incentive.

For instance, in recent years, Norwegian often ran Free at Sea promotions that included free crew tips in addition to free shipboard Wi-Fi and a free drinks package . The line hasn't been doing that as much lately, but these offers often come back at times when brands need to drum up more business.

Additionally, several major lines in the past couple of years have begun offering bundle pricing to customers who pay for cruise tips, Wi-Fi charges and an onboard drinks package all at once in advance of sailing, potentially at a discount.

Princess, for example, has added a Princess Plus plan as a booking option. It gives passengers prepaid gratuities (Princess calls these "crew appreciation" fees), a single-device Wi-Fi plan and a basic beverage package for a single bundled price of $60 per person, per day.

Don't worry: When lines offer such deals, it doesn't mean the crew will receive fewer tips the week you cruise. The lines that offer these deals say they'll pay a normal gratuity to the crew on your behalf.

Related: The best cruise booking perks — and which ones are actually free

Additional cruise ship tipping

Daily service charges are not the only cruise tips you will pay on board. Many cruise lines will tack an automatic gratuity charge onto the bill for extra-fee drinks, restaurant meals and spa treatments.

The included tip amount varies by cruise line but is typically 15% to 20% of the bill. Be warned that the receipt often includes a line for an additional gratuity, even when one is automatically added. This can trick many cruisers into tipping twice. Never feel pressured to add an extra tip when you've already paid one.

Note that if you purchase a dining or beverage package, most cruise lines will charge you gratuities based on a percentage of the package price. If you get one of these packages for free as a booking perk, as with Norwegian Cruise Line's Free at Sea promotion, you might still be required to pay the gratuities on the free perk.

For example, Norwegian offers a complimentary Open Bar drinks package for travelers who book its Free at Sea promotion. The cost of that package is typically $109 per person, per day. The mandatory 20% gratuity comes out to nearly $22 per day. That means two people sharing a room on a seven-night cruise would pay $308 in tips for an otherwise free drinks package — on top of their daily service charge fees.

Cruisers should also bring cash to tip the porters who bring their bags onto the ship (usually $2 per bag), as well as tour guides in port ($5 to $10 per person for half-day tours, $10 to $20 for full-day excursions and $2 for non-guide drivers). Piano bar regulars know that a cash tip will increase the chances of the pianist choosing and performing your song request.

How much should you tip on each cruise line?

If you're wondering how much you should tip on the specific cruise line you're considering or have already booked, we've compiled that information here. Below is a line-by-line look at policies for automatic gratuity charges (called service charges or "crew appreciation" charges at some lines). The rates listed are per person, per day. They were accurate as of the publishing of this story.

Remember that all additional tipping is at your discretion. Any amount is fine and will be appreciated by the hard-working crew.

Alaskan Dream Cruises

• Automatic gratuity charge : None.
• Details : Gratuities for the crew are not included in the fare and are at the discretion of travelers.
• Details : Gratuities for the crew are included in the fare. One area of exception: An 18% gratuity is added to bills for spa services.

Carnival Cruise Line

• Automatic gratuity charge : $16 to $18 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers in most cabins pay $16. Those in suites pay $18. Children younger than 2 are exempt from the charges. Also, an 18% gratuity is added to bar bills, the cover charges for the Chef's Table and Bonsai Teppanyaki restaurants and the a la carte fee at Bonsai Sushi, Emeril's Bistro, Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse and Seafood Shack.

Related: Cruise giant Carnival joins Princess, Norwegian in sharply hiking service fees

Celebrity Cruises

• Automatic gratuity charge : $18 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers in most cabins pay $18. Passengers in Concierge Class pay $18.50 and, for bookings made after Oct. 4, 2023, passengers in AquaClass cabins also pay $18.50 (for AquaClass bookings made before that date, there is no charge for gratuities). For bookings made after Oct. 4, 2023, passengers in The Retreat suites pay $23 (for The Retreat bookings made before that date, there is no charge for gratuities). Note that passengers who book a Celebrity cabin under the line's pricier All Included rate plan also do not pay gratuity charges. Additionally, a 20% gratuity is added when a passenger orders a drink that's not included in the line's All-Included rate plan, as well as when purchasing a minibar item. An 18% gratuity will be added for spa and salon services.

Celestyal Cruises

• Details : Gratuities for crew and bar staff are included in the fare.

Costa Cruises

• Automatic gratuity charge : $12.50 to $17.50 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers on ships operating on the U.S. dollar generally pay $12.50. Ships operating on the euro have an 11 euro charge ($11.60 at current exchange rates). On cruises departing from China, Japan and Singapore, the charges range from $13.50 to $17.50, depending on the cabin category. Passengers younger than 4 are exempt from the charges. Gratuities for children between 4 and 14 (up to 12 on cruises departing from Japan, China and Singapore) are half the adult rate. Additionally, a 15% gratuity is added to beverage purchases.

Cunard Line

• Automatic gratuity charge : $14.50 to $16.50 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers in most cabins pay $14.50. Passengers in Grill Class suites pay $16.50. Additionally, a 15% gratuity is added to bar, wine and salon bills.

Disney Cruise Line

• Details : While Disney doesn't add an automatic gratuity charge, it suggests that passengers staying in most cabins pay $14.50 per day in total when tipping various dining staff and room attendants. The suggested amount for passengers staying in concierge cabins and suites is $15.50. Passengers can prepay the amount in advance or on board. Also, an 18% gratuity is added to bar, beverage, wine and deck service bills, and an 18% gratuity is added to bills for spa services.

Holland America Line

• Automatic gratuity charge : $17 to $19.00 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers in most cabins pay $17 for what the line now calls a "crew appreciation" charge. Passengers staying in suites pay $19.00. Additionally, an 18% gratuity is added to bar bills and dining room wine purchases.

Related: Is this love? Holland America chooses Valentine's Day for service charge price hike

Lindblad Expeditions

• Details : Gratuities are included in the fare for passengers on National Geographic Explorer, National Geographic Endurance and National Geographic Orion. On other ships, gratuities are at the passenger's discretion.

MSC Cruises

• Automatic gratuity charge : about $13 (12 euros) to $16.
• Details : Gratuity charges are $16 on voyages from and to the U.S., with the exception of sailings with pricing in euros, which have a gratuity charge of 12 euros ($12.66 at current exchange rates). Gratuities for children between 2 and 11 are half the adult rate on most cruises. Gratuities are not charged for children younger than 2.

Norwegian Cruise Line

• Automatic service charge : $20 to $25 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers in most cabins pay $20. Those in suites or The Haven pay $25. Passengers younger than 3 are exempt from the charges. Additionally, a 20% gratuity is added to bills at bars, extra-charge specialty restaurants and ship spas. Cruises to Hawaii will also pay a 4.275% prepaid service charge called a general excise tax.

Oceania Cruises

• Automatic gratuity charge : $18 to $23 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers staying in most cabins pay $18. Passengers in top suites with butler service pay $23. Additionally, a 20% gratuity is added to bills at bars, the extra-charge La Reserve restaurant and at ship spas.

Paul Gauguin Cruises

• Details : Gratuities are included in the fare.
• Details : Gratuities are included in the fare. However, passengers can give more at their discretion; Ponant recommends $10 to $12 per passenger, per day.

Princess Cruises

• Details : Passengers in most cabins pay $16 for what the line now calls a "crew appreciation" charge . Passengers in mini-suites pay $17, while those in bigger suites pay $18. Additionally, an 18% gratuity is added to bar bills, dining room wine purchases and Lotus Spa services.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Royal caribbean.

• Automatic gratuity charge : $18 to $20.50 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers staying in most cabins, including junior suites, pay $18 per day. Passengers in higher-level suites pay $20.50. Additionally, an 18% gratuity is added to bills at bars, minibars, salons and spas.

Related: Royal Caribbean quietly raises automatic gratuity charges

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours

Seadream yacht club, silversea cruises.

• Details : Gratuities are included in the fare, except for beauty salon and spa treatments.

Star Clippers

• Details : The line recommends that passengers pay 8 euros ($8.44 at current exchange rates) per day in gratuities, but the payment is at the passenger's discretion. There is a 15% gratuity added for bar purchases.

UnCruise Adventures

• Details : UnCruise recommends that passengers pay $35 per person, per day in gratuities, but the payment is at the passenger's discretion.
• Automatic gratuity charge : $17 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers pay $17 in gratuities for all cabin types. Also, a 15% gratuity is added to bar bills.

Virgin Voyages

Windstar cruises.

• Automatic gratuity charge : $16 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers pay a "hotel service charge" of $16 for all cabin types. Additionally, an 18% gratuity is added to bar, beverage, wine and deck service bills. Alternately, Windstar cruisers can upgrade their bookings with an all-in package that includes unlimited beverages, Wi-Fi and the hotel service charge for $89 per person, per day.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

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MSC Cruise Travel Secrets: 20 Tips & Tricks for Sailing with MSC

March 3, 2017 by Dana Zeliff 60 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

We’re avid cruisers and love traveling by sea.  We recently sailed onboard the MSC Magnifica and felt compelled to share some of our MSC cruise travel secrets with you!   MSC Cruises is completely different from the other cruise lines we’ve sailed – Royal Caribbean , Disney , Carnival, and NCL .  It’s a European cruise line and, as an American, that takes  some getting used to. But that’s all part of the experience!

MSC stands for Mediterranean Shipping Company and, just as the name implies, they were originally a container shipping company.   In 1988, the Aponte family got into the cruising business making MSC the largest privately owned cruise company in the world.   Today, MSC Cruises is the leading cruise company in the Mediterranean, South Africa and Brazil.

MSC Cruise Travel Secrets: Tips & Tricks for Sailing with MSC

Don’t over pay – The tips start even before you sail!   MSC is always offering some type of deal, so you should never pay full price for a cruise. During our recent sailing, they were offering kids sail free and two for one. We’ve found MSC to be competitively priced and a good value for the money.

Sign up for the MSC newsletter , so you’re aware of new special offers.

Kids sail free – I mentioned this above, but it’s worth repeating. Kids 11 and under sail FREE and special rates are given to kids aged 12 – 17.  You’ll only pay taxes and port charges!   This helped make sailing with MSC extremely affordable for my family.  Lucy sailed free and K sailed super cheap.  I couldn’t feed the kids for 11 nights at home for the amount we spent for their tickets.

Choose your experience – MSC has several experiences you can purchase to enhance your cruise. Each experience provides different benefits and also dictates which staterooms are available for booking.

• The “Bella” Experience is perfect for budget savvy travelers.
• The “Fantastica” Experience offers more ideally located staterooms, free room service, and the Fantastica Drink Package.
• The “Aurea” Experience offers premium balcony stateroom or suite, free UNLIMITED drinks & more. Read our review of the Aurea experience HERE .
• The MSC Yacht Club offers all-inclusive amenities and is the top tier experience for cruisers.
• The “Wellness” Experience is a new service dedicated to health and fitness.

Take advantage of the Status Match Program – Have you achieved a status with another cruise line or hotel?  MSC will offer special benefits to you with the MSC Voyagers Club card which includes a 5% discount on booking, priority boarding and more.

Arrive early – Don’t waste a minute of your vacation!  I usually suggest arriving early for your cruise. Getting onboard before everyone else is a great way to explore the ship, grab a bite to eat and swim before the crowds take over. We found this especially true sailing out of Italy. Generally, Europeans aren’t known for being early. As a result, we had almost no one in line with us when we checked in around noon.

However, there were two embarkation ports for our cruise, Civitavecchia and Genoa.  Since other passengers were already on board, we didn’t have the entire ship to ourselves.   But there were very few people hanging about.

Once you get on the ship, don’t stop in the atrium or the first bar you happen across. On the MSC Magnifica, we came onto the ship in the Tiger Bar. There were a ton of people sitting around having drinks there. Keep going to the pool deck and you should find it to be less crowded.

Don’t miss our article on the MSC Area Experience !

Beware of the upsell – One of the most frustrating things about MSC is the constant bombardment of crew members trying to sell drink packages, photo’s and excursions. They have enticed you onboard with the attractive cruise fare, now they need to make that money up. While other cruise lines do try to sell extras, I found MSC to be the most harassing.  Even the photographers didn’t want to take no for an answer when we (and other cruisers) declined having our photo taken.

Watch for sales – Every evening your cruise program will include a sheet with the daily specials. If you’re considering a spa treatment, you may want to wait to see what is offered during the cruise. Some services were discounted up to 30%   Bali massage, manicure, haircut, color and set were some of the common spa discounts we saw on our recent sailing.

You’ll also find photography, laundry, cocktail and shopping discounts as well as excursion bundle discounts. While many of these offers didn’t make me want to part with my cash, it pays to wait for sales before making a purchase.

Mediterranean style cruising – MSC is a European cruise line with a strong Italian influence, therefore things are a bit different compared to other cruise lines we’ve sailed with.  The food and entertainment is European inspired.  Cruisers will notice more traditional Mediterranean dishes and shows featuring opera singers & ballet.

However, if sailing in the Caribbean or South America, you should notice the cruise tailored more toward American tastes and expectations. The currency on board will also be in USD instead of Euros.

They speak your language – There are six official languages on board MSC – English, Italian, German, French, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese.   Announcements are made in several languages, English usually first followed by Italian.   Don’t let this deter you! It makes for an interesting cruise and all the staff we encountered spoke English.  Some crew members spoke 2 – 5 languages!  Makes me feel quite inadequate my little bit of French….

Nationalities galore  – Especially if sailing out of Europe, you’ll notice a wide range of nationalities onboard, but mostly Italian, French and Spanish. However, we did encounter Germans, Austrians, British, a few Americans and more.   Interestingly, a lot of the kids in the teens club were from South America.

Variety of beverage packages available to suite all budgets – Save money by purchasing a beverage package.  You can purchase packages with drink vouchers or all inclusive packages which include alcohol, soda, bottled water, coffee, ice cream and more.  See the list of packages to choose what’s best for you.

You are no longer allowed to bring wine on during embarkation.  No alcoholic beverages can be taken onboard the ship.   If you purchase alcohol while in port, it will be held and given back to you prior to disembarkation.

Stay connected while sailing – MSC offers a variety of internet packages to help you stay connected during your cruise. You can choose from social or email and social to a set amount of web data per cruise.  Just ensure you turn off the connection or better yet, go into airplane mode after you login. You don’t want those background apps running and eating through your data allowance!

Link a credit card to your cruise card for easy payment – After boarding your cruise, head to the kiosk (Cruise Card Activation Point) to link your credit card, debit card or prepaid card for all onboard expenses including gratuities. Linking a credit card is the easiest method of payment. A hold of 250€ will be placed on your credit card for initial purchases.

Having to use the kiosk to link my sea card with a card card was a different experience.  I’m used to this being done when we check-in at the terminal.   It didn’t take much time, but it was something else I had to do.  Another step before my vacation could really begin.

If you pay by credit card, your account will automatically be closed at the end of the cruise.   You won’t need to go to Reception – Guest Services or worry about settling your final bill.

If you paid by debit card or a prepaid card, any amount debited to your card that is not spent during your cruise will be reimbursed in cash at Guest Services on the final morning before disembarkation.  This means you will have to wait in line for reimbursement.

A cash deposit is also accepted at Guest Services.  However, you will need to keep an eye on your balance.  Once you’ve met your deposit you’ll need to return to Guest Services to add more cash to your account.   You will also be required to visit Guest Services on the final morning before disembarkation for a refund of the cash you didn’t spend.

Also, ensure you check your statement delivered to your stateroom on the last night of the cruise. We saw people turned away while trying to disembark because their account was not settled.

Look for the 4D experience on the kids club schedule – A few times during our cruise, the kids could visit the 4D Cinema with the kids club for FREE.  They both had a blast and it saved us money!

Get the Teen Card – If you’re allowing your kids spend money during the cruise, get a teens card to set a spending limit plus get a bonus credit.  Purchase a 35€ card for only 30€ or a 60€ card for only 50€.  Kids can also make charges on their sea card.

Tipping – I found the auto-gratuity on MSC interesting. The gratuity amount and currency varies by destination. Caribbean cruises have the highest gratuity rate which is still slightly less than some of the other major cruise lines.   Children pay less gratuity than adults.  During our European cruise we paid 9€ per day per adult and 4.5€ per day per child.   A 15% gratuity is automatically added for bar and spa services.

Grab a ship map from reception – To help navigate the ship, you can pick up a map from the reception area.   You’ll also find ship diagrams near all the elevators.

Insert your keycard to turn on the lights – This isn’t the first ship we’ve sailed where you need to insert a card to turn on the lights, but it’s worth mentioning for first time cruisers. Other membership type cards from your wallet will also work.   Since we are a family of 4, we tend to have a lot of electronics. If you don’t have a key card in the slot, nothing will charge while you are away. On MSC, the bathroom light still worked, but I don’t remember this occurring on other cruise lines.

Ask for a washcloth – Just like most European hotels, washcloths aren’t provided in your stateroom.  Since we are used to this in Europe, we always travel with baby washcloths (they dry super fast and take up almost no luggage space).    However, you can ask your room steward for a “facecloth” and they will be delivered to your room.

Eat gelato and drink coffee  – Take advantage of the Italian influence and indulge in Venchi gelato and Segafredo coffee. Seriously, I can’t even count the number of cappuccino’s I consumed during the cruise. I was transported back to the little Italians cafes I love so much with each sip.

Smoking *sigh* – Not so much of a tip as a warning. Smoking is prevalent onboard the ship. They are catering to European clientele, after all.  As a nonsmoker, this aspect of our European cruise bothered me the most. Smoking is permitted in the casino, the Cigar Lounge and one side of the pool deck. The inside smoking areas are the worst and didn’t have proper ventilation.   Going anywhere near the casino was horrible in the evenings. We learned to bypass that area quickly.

Where’s the queue?  People don’t tend to queue on the ship.  The Americans and British seemed to be driven crazy by this.  It was even one of the top complaints we read prior to cruising.  You just have to learn to deal with it and don’t wait around for others trying to be polite. Go with the flow and move along or you will end up last and aggravated every time.    You’re on vacation.  Relax, breathe and enjoy.

Bonus Tip – I highly suggest bringing a lanyard for your kids cruise card.  You can get them with various characters to make it more fun.  Lanyards are also common for adults as well.   An MSC lanyard can be purchased on the ship for 4€ and a jeweled lanyard is priced at 9.90€.  Personally, I don’t like the cruise line specific lanyards.  I prefer having a generic lanyard that can be used for all cruise lines.

Overall, we enjoyed sailing with MSC.  It was a good experience for the kids, a great value for the money and our ports of call were perfect.    While I can’t say it’s my favorite cruise line, it’s definitely worth cruising if you’re in Europe.

What other MSC Cruise travel secrets do you suggest?  Do you have any favorite MSC cruising tips?

March 18, 2024 at 8:35 pm

The Aurea package no longer includes free unlimited drinks. They stopped this months ago. Things change all the time.

February 10, 2023 at 11:01 am

How early can you board? It says I must board by 3pm for 5pm departure, but I haven’t seen anything that says how early they start. Saling from Miami.

May 6, 2022 at 8:11 pm

I just booked my 2nd msc cruise for the msc seashore in Nov 2022. Does anyone know if the wristbands are included in the aurea pkg. I’ve found conflicting info on it. Also fyi aurea pkg no longer includes a drink pkg as of January 2022.

November 7, 2021 at 1:48 pm

Hiya, do they do mocktails for kids onboard due to the age change from 18 (UK) to 21 (US) for alcoholic beverages?

November 8, 2021 at 11:31 am

Yep, my kiddos have ordered mocktails

March 6, 2020 at 5:25 am

How does the money work Do we convert the rand in to US befor or can you do it on the boat

July 2, 2020 at 3:06 pm

Pretty sure there was an ATM on board but not sure of the fees

December 23, 2019 at 6:23 am

Should one buy Petra excursion packages from MSC on line before the cruise on on the ship?

We are on the MSC Orchestra leaving Durban on 18/04/2020.

November 2, 2019 at 6:13 pm

Is it cheaper to buy the standard alcohol package before we leave or when we get onboard? Sailing Dec 10th and it’s £27 pppn if we book online. Thanks

November 3, 2019 at 4:24 pm

You usually get better deals online in advance.

October 6, 2019 at 1:52 pm

How long before departure do the tickets arrive?

November 3, 2019 at 4:18 pm

You can print your tickets and luggage tags during online check-in

August 23, 2019 at 11:32 pm

We had no clue you had to sign up for the shows in the theater, General seating opens 5 min before show starts. Thankfully I saw someone doing this and was able to tell all in our group about 30. They scan your card going in to see if you have tickets. Every show is definitely worth seeing. We did see the Sonor Cirque show and it was definitely worth it, we did the drink show.

I agree 100 percent with the upselling of everything, you were bombarded at every corner. We sailed July 2019 on the Meraviglia . Another thing we were not prepared for was the inability to get off an elevator, people shoved to get in never thinking there will be more room if we let them off, and they would hit door close as soon as the doors opened, ergo skipping the floor. Nothing I have experienced on other cruise lines.

September 27, 2019 at 12:06 pm

Definitely a bit of a different cruise line.

November 2, 2019 at 9:53 am

Shove your hand in the gap of a closing elevator door. It *WILL* open again.

August 19, 2019 at 5:01 pm

What is the recommended tipping fees for the end of the trip I understand it would be 15% for the drinks. But what is the recommended amount to leave for the other services.

August 20, 2019 at 1:45 pm

The gratuities will automatically be applied to your shipboard account. You can expect $12.50 per person per day for ages 12+. Depending on the location and direction of your cruise, you may be charged 10€. 2019/2020 rates can be found under “service charge” https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Manage-Your-Booking/General-Information.aspx

August 24, 2019 at 2:40 am

Hi re the tipping. Can you go to reception take the tips off the end bill and pay the tips at the end to the people you want to

September 27, 2019 at 12:07 pm

Yes you can. They will likely ask why you are removing the auto gratuities, but you can pay in cash if you prefer.

May 22, 2022 at 1:01 am

Honestly this really is unfair to do for ALL those that you do not see helping make your trip amazing. Only handing a few people a tip screws over the others.

May 20, 2019 at 11:25 pm

Do you recommend purchasing the wristbands for kids and adults.If so would you happen to know the price of both?

June 4, 2019 at 10:45 pm

July 2, 2019 at 12:09 pm

I personally haven’t used them. It didn’t seem worth the money to me. I know on RCCL, you still have to take the bracelets off and give them to waiters for drinks and such. I also found countless wristbands floating in the water on the islands we visited.

I’d love to learn others opinions through.

August 21, 2019 at 12:49 am

We purchased the wristbands for the kids and they worked great. They didn´t have to take them off for use and they could also use them to open the cabin door. You set a pin number for the wristband as you wold with the cruise card.

February 9, 2019 at 4:51 am

Msc bella Aurea Fantastica package Masage free?

February 16, 2019 at 12:38 pm

Aurea has the massage included. Here’s our review of the package:

https://www.thetalkingsuitcase.com/msc-aurea-experience-whats-included-is-it-worth-the-cost/

January 31, 2019 at 5:11 pm

we booked with a TA in Uk. we live in belgium. I am trying to book the social media internet package but the website doesnt let me. did you bought internet package too?? if yes thn how ??

thnaks in advance. 🙂

February 4, 2019 at 2:52 pm

You should be able to book it online under “mange your booking”. If it’s not working, you’ll likely have to call to get assistance. Sorry I can be much help.

March 18, 2019 at 3:02 pm

Hi Dimpal we had the same problem and were told by MSC to book our internet/excursions etc through our travel agent, which we did. Hope this helps Pam XXX

January 30, 2019 at 12:23 pm

Hi, we will be on the Durban to Venice cruise in April 2019. 2 questions:

1. Can you prepay gratuities on the MSC website? I cannot find it. Maybe I have to call? I purchased the cruise directly, didn’t use a TA.

2. I read that you have to ” Link a credit card to your cruise card for easy payment “. So, is this still required? On other cruises we registered our card upon check in at the dock.

Thanks, guys

January 31, 2019 at 1:13 pm

The option is usually available at time of booking, but I think that may just be a travel agent option. I’d call if you’d like to prepay the gratuities.

There wasn’t an option when we cruised to link our credit card at the registration desk. You had to use the kiosk. It wasn’t difficult, just an extra step.

December 7, 2018 at 6:31 am

we are going a cruise on msc magnifica 19 may we have to fly from aberdeen to manchester then to venice for ship we dont have times for plane leaqving manchester to venice same coming home 26th iv phoned 3 times still cant get times there is 7 of us going dont know if we will have to stay the night before going or coming home has anyone been on this trip and can tell me times of planes leaving manchester to venice and back

January 6, 2019 at 2:22 pm

If you booked through MSc, they should send all that info to you. I understand how frustrating it is if they haven’t informed you of the times. Does your reservation have any mention of days or an airline? Are there several flights going out on those days so you can see possible flight times online?

You usually fly out the same day if booking with the cruise line.

November 23, 2018 at 3:06 pm

we are going on the Dubai cruise in January. we got all in with drink package what are the extras that we will still be charged on ship

January 6, 2019 at 2:18 pm

You won’t need to worry about any beverages then. You’ll need to pay gratuities. Other than that, you could get away with not spending anything more. However, specialty dining is extra as well as transportation to and from the ship. Any excursions you do at the ports will also be extra.

November 21, 2018 at 6:17 am

I was excited to read kids sail free but beware has to be 2 adults in same cabin, So if your a single parent IT DOES NOT APPLY !

January 6, 2019 at 2:17 pm

Unfortunately yes, they charge the first 2 at adult prices. How many kids are you sailing with?

May 6, 2019 at 11:35 pm

I just booked for myself, a single dad, and my two kids. I only had to pay for one. The other was free!

So it does apply to parents with more than one child.

May 20, 2019 at 1:20 pm

Did you get a discounted rate on the 1st child or did they charge full adult price? I’m so glad one was FREE! Makes it so much more affordable!

November 13, 2018 at 8:37 pm

At the end of the Cruise, there is the Captains dinner. What is the dress code for men and women?

January 6, 2019 at 2:16 pm

I would dress formal for a captains dinner. If you don’t want to pack a suit, dress slacks and a dress shirt with tie.

October 12, 2018 at 9:09 am

Hello this is my third time cruising with MSC. We normally stay in the yacht club area. However this is a promotional cruise. I noticed there is still a lot of Options left for this 10 day cruise. The day of check-in does MSC offer free Upgrades ? Currently a gold member.

Last cruise was the seaside march 2018 has the MSC Divina food been revised and any updates to the ship?

October 22, 2018 at 12:00 pm

If there are still rooms available, you MAY be able to get an upgrade. As a gold member you do have a better chance than others but you just never know.

You can try calling a week or few days before the cruise as well.

The MSC Divina was Refurbished in 2016.

October 6, 2018 at 9:32 am

We are about to purchase our third MSC trip for October 2019 . Our ship does not offer Yacht Club. We are purchasing a suite in Aurea. What are the differences. We are going for 13 days 12 nights Rome to Morocco.

October 22, 2018 at 12:32 pm

I haven’t sailed Yacht Club yet so I can’t provide the exact differences. However, it looks like some of the differences are you won’t have Butler service, private MSC Yacht Club restaurant, Dedicated exclusive Sun Deck with pool. whirlpool, solarium and bar Panoramic Top Sail Lounge with bar, afternoon tea service, light food selection 20-hours per day.

These are just a few things I see under Yacht Club that you won’t have. The Yacht Club rooms are likely nicer and larger, but I’m sure the Aurea suites are great.

You’ll still get All-inclusive unlimited drinks, My Choice Dining, A Spa package and Priority boarding. The Aurea package mentions a private sundeck but that’s only on specific ships.

We have articles on Rome and Morocco if you need more tips

September 10, 2018 at 10:46 pm

Hi, what about the port taxes and fees for adults? Are they already included? couldn’t find anything on MSC web site.

October 1, 2018 at 2:22 pm

Yep, once you get to your final total page when checking prices the port taxes and all fees will be included. However, gratuities are not.

September 9, 2018 at 4:45 am

We are booked to cruise on new ship Bellissima in May, we were trying to decide between Aurea Balcony and Fantastica Balcony, there was a difference of about 250euro between them…so in the end we went with Fantastica but now in a bit of a panic about dinner sitting, maybe we should have went with Aurea…we have requested 2nd sitting so thats around 8pm, think how guaranteed is that?? We are 2 adults and 1 child (6yrs) travelling…worried now that maybe done the wrong thing!! Any info/comments appreciated..

October 1, 2018 at 2:24 pm

Sorry, I thought I answered this but it must have disappeared.

8pm is a bit late for kids, in my opinion. We did the late seating once and my daughter who was about 5 at the time was falling asleep at the table. I’d just switch the dining time. And if you decide that you don’t want to eat at your scheduled time, the buffet is a great option. Or feed your daughter early, put her in the kids club while you enjoy an adult dinner.

August 13, 2018 at 5:02 pm

Bad expierience before we even set foot on the msc musica. Our 1st cruise is next year March 2019 …on enquiry I was told to book and pay asap as there are very limited place left….although I booked the “early bird package I’m paying what people pay months after I booked and more than people that booked 2 months before us. After booking and paying my deposit a notice on fb says …free upgrade when you book … i phoned to have a free upgrade but was told i cant since i already have an existing booking, and that the free upgrade is for new bookings only…my question is how can you “upgrade” if you dont have a ticket to upgrade….surely an upgrade can only be done if you have an existing booking and want to change it to a better package or room etc. Then there were specials…go 4 but pay only for 2…. what happened to the “limited space …. I sent emails but had no reply to date …. a family member going on the same cruise is paying R3000 less than us for booking and paying 2 months before us….I understand …the earlier you book the better the price …but why is the price when booking months after my booking not charged higher?

September 7, 2018 at 10:24 am

Sorry you have already had a bad experience with MSC! I think the free upgrade is when you book a standard cabin, you can get upgraded to balcony, for example. I would suggest calling and speaking with someone on the phone. Usually, cruise lines will reduce the rate if you call before final payment has been made and can show their is a new promotion or rate reduction.

I hope it works out!

November 19, 2018 at 6:19 am

Hi, I also had a free upgrade from a standard cabin to the balcony after payment was made

April 29, 2019 at 9:28 pm

Did you pay way ahead of your final payment date?

March 6, 2019 at 2:20 am

Hi Dana, thank you for sharing your experience. I’m taking my parents to the Mediterranean on theMSC Magnifica with Fantasica experience. We booked a balcony room and I’m currently a Black member. They don’t travel and it’s their 40th anniversary so I want to make this trip extra special. What is the best way to score an upgrade in room or experience? Do you know what is the price to upgrade to Aura, YC unfortunately is not available. We don’t drink alcohol, in fact we only drink water. What beverages are included without a drink package? Does everyone in the same have to buy a drink package? Thank you in advance for reply.

March 26, 2019 at 3:08 pm

What a great way to celebrate their anniversary! I’d make sure everyone knows it’s their anniversary. You can try calling before the cruise to see what’s available for upgrades and ask when you checkin at the port. Being a Black member will definitely help. Play up that level, their anniversary and that they are traveling with you, and you booked their trip.

My MIL did something similar with RCCL and was able to get her parents a free backstage theatre tour (a perk for members.) It took some discussion to make it happen though.

They want everyone in the stateroom to purchase a package. You can try to get around that if you only drink water. Coffee was also included as well as ice creams. You can see more info on the beverage package here: https://www.thetalkingsuitcase.com/msc-aurea-experience-whats-included-is-it-worth-the-cost/#more-5271

June 19, 2018 at 6:12 pm

Re Insert your keycard to turn on the lights.

When a card, any card, is in the slot there’s a ‘secret’ light outside the cabin that goes on. Obviously when there’s no card there’s no light and the cabin crew know it’s ok to enter and get on with whatever they do.

If you leave a card in to charge devices while you’re out and about there’s a danger your bed won’t be turned down and a chocolate on the pillow!

June 20, 2018 at 5:29 am

This is the first I’ve heard about the light. But we always put up the “make up room” sign when we leave so the room steward knows that we are out.

April 23, 2018 at 7:58 am

Terrible experience on Simponia; if you a bit disabled its a nightmare; our cabin airconditioning not working properly; the bottom of bed was broken; they simply pulled mattress up over broken wooden planks; food was recycled; queing everwhere; only pizzas at night; the vouchers a rip off for coffee and water; also nothing was said to take cash to island to buy from the locals. Fire drill a nightmare; my daughter had to help my downstairs; lift not to be used; but NO staff to assist? at breakfast the teaspoons was gone from table we had to use knife to stir coffee; no thank you; it was a birthday gift but what a bad cruise!! hours at dock waiting….customs a nightmare same with disembarking.

April 23, 2018 at 12:28 pm

Oh no! I’m sorry you had such a bad experience!

May 24, 2017 at 11:45 am

I agree. You should have to arrive early. The cruise ship will not wait for you, they will definitely leave you.

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• MSC Cruises

What do you tip your YC butler at the end?

By Brendaflamingo , August 13, 2019 in MSC Cruises

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Brendaflamingo

We had a great butler on our last cruise on MSC Yacht Club.  He really made a difference without asking for anything.

He tipped him $150.00 and what ever was put on automatically on our account..

What is a correct tip if you love your butler?

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May I ask what he did that was above and beyond?

Cruisergal1208

• Tipping is very personal. What you did is pretty much in line for one week, unless you made lots of requests that he/she wouldn’t normally do.  It’s really up to the individual cruiser  as to the amounts.  

30 minutes ago, Brendaflamingo said: We had a great butler on our last cruise on MSC Yacht Club.  He really made a difference without asking for anything. He tipped him $150.00 and what ever was put on automatically on our account.. What is a correct tip if you love your butler? Thanks  

Assuming you pay the auto grats, there is no such thing as a further 'correct tip' if you love your butler....they are simply doing the job they are paid to do! What you gave him was generous.

2 hours ago, Brendaflamingo said: He tipped him $150.00

I will be a guest on MSC Meraviglia in Yacht Club for a 7 day Western Cruise during January.

Why, specifically, did you feel such an amount was earned?

Our butler made sure where we were on the ship and try to bring us something to make it better. 

We were at the yacht club pool, he found out what all of us in our group were drinking

and brought us all extra.  We were at the grill having lunch he brought us all gelato.

He made sure we had our favorite wine in our cabin that he gave to us . Not a cheap bottle.  He found out we were at the slide and brought us towels. This is off the top of my head.

So far I’m answering your questions but no one is answering my question.

The answer is there is no correct tip.  Personal choice based on service you felt you received.

On our recent cruise, we tipped $125, in line with what you did.

Do not forget that tipping culture is very different in various parts of the world.

In US when you ask for the bill. 18% service ha sbeen added and you are expexted to leave another 15% as a tip.

In Europe and Britain (I Know Britian is in Europe, but getting ready for Brexit), on a small bill we round up to the next pound / euro, for larger bill amounts.

So you see there are no right or wrong amounts to tip. It i swhat you are comfortable with.

We had good service from all the Butlers we encountered. On the last day we gave our 2 room butlers €50 each and the ones in the top sail €20 each. Also in the restaurant €20 each at the end of the week as we were never on the same table.

This was in addition to the daily service charge.

Having sailed NCL quite a bit before and booked Divinia back in 2016, I came here to get idea what were norms for MSC.

Very little info and since MSC was not established in US markets, most responses were nothing as tips included in fare.  Even MSC brochure had wording to effect the butlers were part of service charge and no additional tipping needed.

We did tip what I'd call small amounts on  Divinia.  As MSC ships continue out of US and based on some reports here, more people are tipping in the YC and staff may be getting used to it.

The NCL boards have constant tipping threads for butlers.  The responses are all over the place and some just aren't believable.  IMO do what you feel is right based on services given.

Some of services you got are nice and something we haven't seen on three YC other than sometimes escort back onto ship.  We have had great service nonetheless from many people.  I actually find it hard to really decide who to tip because you can deal with so many others than just your butler.  It also depends who is working where.  It seemed a couple like Alvin and Olena worked a lot in TSL so we interacted with them quite a bit.  Others might be helpful by the pool but you just see them one day.

2 hours ago, G.M.T. said: Do not forget that tipping culture is very different in various parts of the world.   In US when you ask for the bill. 18% service ha sbeen added and you are expexted to leave another 15% as a tip.   In Europe and Britain (I Know Britian is in Europe, but getting ready for Brexit), on a small bill we round up to the next pound / euro, for larger bill amounts.   So you see there are no right or wrong amounts to tip. It i swhat you are comfortable with.

Are you sure re the bill in USA? When we have been in restaurants  there is a charge for tax and then you add the service charge between 15 and 24%. In U.K. we usually add between 10 and 15%.

In France and Greece service charge is already included in the price so we just leave few euros on the table as we leave.

4 hours ago, G.M.T. said: In US when you ask for the bill. 18% service ha sbeen added and you are expexted to leave another 15% as a tip.  

I'm in the US and have never had 18% added and then be expected to tip another 15% in any type of establishment.  There are circumstances - usually in tourist cities with lots of foreign visitors not accustomed to tipping - where restaurants add a tip for large (6+ people) groups but then no additional tip is expected.  We've also experienced that when traveling with parties of 6 or more in Canadian tourist areas.  Those restaurants note the mandatory tip on their menus.

We would never consider giving some of the amounts proposed here.

We give the room butler and the assistant a small thank you and that is it, we don't have room service or place any demands on the staff that would warrant extra tipping, beyond the daily service charge we have paid already.

Everyone is different and the the tipping culture that some countries follow is not the norm for others.

5 hours ago, G.M.T. said: Do not forget that tipping culture is very different in various parts of the world.   In US when you ask for the bill. 18% service ha sbeen added and you are expexted to leave another 15% as a tip.   It is not always added to the bill and 15% is being replaced or has been already with 20%.   This comes from my daughter the ex waitress!

What one does on a cruise ship or in the YC is a TOTALLY different subject.   It is thought by people who work in the restaurants in the US if you can't afford to tip then you shouldn't be eating out.  Cruising as we all know is different because it does include a daily gratuity charge.  Tip (if you want)  what you think is appropriate for the service received.

1 hour ago, capriccio said:   Where?   I'm in the US and have never had 18% added and then be expected to tip another 15% in any type of establishment.  There are circumstances - usually in tourist cities with lots of foreign visitors not accustomed to tipping - where restaurants add a tip for large (6+ people) groups but then no additional tip is expected.  We've also experienced that when traveling with parties of 6 or more in Canadian tourist areas.  Those restaurants note the mandatory tip on their menus.

Agree with this.  It is highly unusual for tips to be added in the US unless it is for a large group and then nothing additional is expected.  And, as stated, this is noted on the menus.  I just can't comprehend a 33% tip unless some uber-outstanding service has been rendered!

18 hours ago, Brendaflamingo said: We had a great butler on our last cruise on MSC Yacht Club.  He really made a difference without asking for anything. He tipped him $150.00 and what ever was put on automatically on our account.. What is a correct tip if you love your butler? Thanks  

This sounds like a nice tip IMHO

16 hours ago, Brendaflamingo said: Our butler made sure where we were on the ship and try to bring us something to make it better.  We were at the yacht club pool, he found out what all of us in our group were drinking and brought us all extra.  We were at the grill having lunch he brought us all gelato. He made sure we had our favorite wine in our cabin that he gave to us . Not a cheap bottle.  He found out we were at the slide and brought us towels. This is off the top of my head.

You butler did some lively things for you to make your cruise exceptional

We have B2B booked in early 2020. Hope we get as lucky

Gordoncruickshank

2 hours ago, seahags said: Agree with this.  It is highly unusual for tips to be added in the US unless it is for a large group and then nothing additional is expected.  And, as stated, this is noted on the menus.  I just can't comprehend a 33% tip unless some uber-outstanding service has been rendered!  

Perhaps the poster is getting confused with sales tax.

48 minutes ago, Gordoncruickshank said: Perhaps the poster is getting confused with sales tax.

,..perhaps, but there wouldn't be sales tax on a cruise?

1 hour ago, seahags said: ,..perhaps, but there wouldn't be sales tax on a cruise?

I took his post to mean he was talking about the mainland US compared with the mainland in Europe.

To be honest over here and in Europe I always add around 10%. There is no need to do any more and it definitely not expected. In the UK we have minimum wages legislation which means that people working full time should ne able to manage with out tips.

2 hours ago, Gordoncruickshank said: Perhaps the poster is getting confused with sales tax.

While the level of taxes vary by state and locality none of them come anywhere close to 15% much less 18% percent.

See https://taxfoundation.org/sales-tax-rates-2019/

21 hours ago, Brendaflamingo said: So far I’m answering your questions but no one is answering my question.

Not true!! Please refer to post #4

GratefulRIC

On 8/13/2019 at 5:15 PM, Brendaflamingo said: We had a great butler on our last cruise on MSC Yacht Club.  He really made a difference without asking for anything. He tipped him $150.00 and what ever was put on automatically on our account.. What is a correct tip if you love your butler? Thanks  

I tip per occurrence, not lump sum.  If the Butler makes something happen for us I give $10 or $20 on the spot. Might be 10 or 15 times during the week that opportunity arises, it might be 2 or 3 times.  Your examples of what he did for you would have gotten him/her $10 or $20 each time.  

I take care of those who take care of us during the week and don’t worry about a “correct” lump sum at the end of the trip.  Our last trip in the Haven on NCL the Butler was worthless and got nothing... the room steward got his dough every day. 

CGTNORMANDIE

Your tip was very generous and totally appropriate.  Not because there are some invisible guidelines for tipping but because YOU felt it was the right thing to do and the amount was one that you could easily afford.  Tipping is a personal decision.  The butler you had was very much in tune with your level of partying.  A good butler, waiter, waitress, bar tender, steward, or stewardess appreciates any amount given to them as a tip wether it be a dollar bill in hand or $100 bills in an envelope.  The amount you gave was the right amount because you felt it was right.  I have seen people tip nothing more than the DSC and others I know have tipped their butler more than $200 for 1 week.  Again what they felt they could afford.

BTW...what was your butler’s name?

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HOTEL SERVICE CHARGE

During your cruise you will meet staff throughout the ship who provide you with excellent service. They are supported by just as many staff and crew who work hard behind the scenes to ensure you enjoy every moment onboard.

For your convenience, MSC Cruises will automatically add a daily Hotel Service Charge to your shipboard account, based on your chosen itinerary and the number of days for which the services are actually provided. The Hotel Service charge serves to ensure we maintain the highest quality standards of service to our guests. The daily amounts below have been calculated with this in mind and cannot be modified. However, should you wish to remove any of the daily Hotel Service Charge in the unlikely event that you do not receive satisfactory service, you may do so by contacting the Guest Relations Manager onboard. If you wish, the daily Hotel Service Charge for your cruise can be added to the price of your cruise at the time of booking, rather than added to your onboard account during the cruise. Please let your booking agent know if you would like to add the Hotel Service Charge to your cruise price. TIPS: MSC does not recommend tipping individual members of staff. Please find below the new automatic Hotel Service Charge rates valid: - From October 2nd, 2023, for cruises sailing to Caribbean and North America ; guests with existing bookings confirmed before October 2nd, 2023, will not be impacted by this change . - From October 19th, 2023 for cruises sailing to China, Japan and Republic of Korea from 12th of March 2024 onwards; guests with existing bookings confirmed before October 19th , 2023, will not be impacted by this change.

Hotel Service Charge valid for all new bookings from October 19th October 2023 for cruises sailing to China, Japan and Korea from 12th of March 2024 onwards.

Hotel service charge valid for all new bookings from october 2nd 2023 onwards, onwards for cruises sailing to caribbean and north america, hotel service charge valid for all bookings confirmed from december 12th 2022 up to october 1st 2023, hotel service charge valid for all bookings confirmed before december 12th 2022, are msc voyagers club members exempt from the hotel service charge, what happens to the hotel service charge when guests change their booking, is the hotel service charge detailed in the booking confirmation, how is the hotel service charge shared with the staff, some guests have always tipped individual employees. would that also be allowed, can the hotel service charge be reduced or cancelled in case of complaints on board, thank you for visiting msc cruises.

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MSC Cruises

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MSC YACHT CLUB

Step into the MSC Yacht Club, an exclusive private sanctuary. Here, you can discover elegance with luxury suites offering a 24/7 butler service. Enjoy curated menus in a private restaurant, and unwind on the secluded pool deck. An elevated experience awaits you on a vacation that’s a step above.

Step into the MSC Yacht Club, an exclusive private sanctuary available to you on MSC Cruises. Here, you can discover elegance with luxury suites offering a 24/7 butler service. Enjoy curated menus in a private restaurant, and unwind on the secluded pool deck. An elevated experience awaits you on a vacation that’s a step above.

WELCOME TO A WORLD OF LUXURY

Experience unparalleled service from the moment you check in. Gain access to priority embarkation and disembarkation, your own concierge team, a dedicated butler available 24/7, and premier room service delivered to you at any hour.

Enjoy access to areas that are exclusive for MSC Yacht Club guests during your cruise vacation. Delight in fine dining at our dedicated restaurant, unwind on a private sun deck, and admire captivating sunsets from the Top Sail Lounge.

When you choose MSC Yacht Club, you unlock unique exclusives, all-inclusive packages, and VIP access available only to you including entry to Ocean House Beach on Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, our private island in the Bahamas.

Allow us to indulge you

Step into a world where your suite is just the beginning and where every detail is meticulously attended to.

AT YOUR SERVICE

Our butlers are prepared to meet your needs, whether that be bringing a late-night treat-or turning down your room. From the minute you step on board, your dedicated butler will be by your side for a memorable experience.

Ask your MSC Yacht Club concierge to secure the best reservations at all our incredible venues, including specialty restaurants, and consider it done. Revel in VIP seating for entertainment, partake in private shopping trips, and enjoy curated excursions.

Your journey with us is tailored to perfection, guaranteeing every moment is marked by exceptional comfort and convenience.

EXTRA TOUCHES

Allow our dedicated MSC Yacht Club team to bring your ultimate cruise vacation to life. We prioritize every detail, from the perfect pillow selection from our exclusive Dorelan® menu to a fully stocked personalized mini bar at your fingertips.

Any questions you may have can always be answered by our 24-hour concierge service, available to you from the moment you step on board.

EXCLUSIVITY AWAITS

Immerse yourself in elegant spaces and experience elevated design in a beautiful setting.

TOP SAIL LOUNGE  

The Top Sail Lounge is the ultimate place to rest and relax after shore excursions or days at sea. Throughout the day, take in crystal-clear panoramic views of the ocean while enjoying crafted drinks, gourmet finger foods, and desserts. At night, relish in exclusive access to live music and after-dinner drinks.   

When you visit the Top Sail Lounge, you'll have the time to unwind and watch the world sail by.

PRIVATE SOLARIUM

Recharge on a sundeck featuring dipping pools and whirlpool baths where you can cool off and lounge for total relaxation. Take in the sun and the ocean breeze with your preferred poolside beverage delivered right to your chair.

YACHT CLUB RESTAURANT 

With a dedicated restaurant on each ship, the MSC Yacht Club offers an elevated menu. Enjoy fine dining served with five-star service and a selection of beverages and wines from around the world.  

You can savor the finest flavors in a space meant for you—no reservations needed.

MSC YACHT CLUB’S OCEAN HOUSE

The MSC Yacht Club experience continues on land at the private Ocean House Beach on Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. A serene space with ocean views, beachfront cabanas, and complimentary amenities.

COMFORT AWAITS

MSC Yacht Club offers guests luxurious onboard accommodations for the ultimate in comfort. Explore our wide range of staterooms to enhance your MSC Cruises luxury experience.

The Owner's Suites feature a spacious living area, a walk-in closet, a large balcony with a private whirlpool, and a panoramic glass wall. 

Every Royal Suite has a separate living area and all the comforts you would expect in first-class accommodations. 

These two-deck suites offer a separate living space with a double sofa bed, walk-in closet, and a balcony with a private whirlpool. 

These suites are ideal for families with children. They come with a separate sitting area and a bathroom with a bathtub.

These suites have also their own private balcony and all the comforts you expect in first-class accommodations. 

Guests on our newest ships can enjoy all the comforts of the MSC Yacht Club with an interior suite.

ALL-INCLUSIVE, ALL THE TIME

PREMIUM BEVERAGE PACKAGE

Our Premium Extra Package is included as an MSC Yacht Club benefit. Delight in a wide selection of beers, cocktails, wines, top-shelf liquor, and an array of non-alcoholic beverages.

HIGH-SPEED INTERNET

Stay connected with a premium internet package from anywhere on board, an exclusive benefit for guests. Unlimited Wi-Fi allows you to browse on up to two devices.

THERMAL SPA ACCESS

Experience ultimate pampering at the MSC Aurea Spa, where you can enjoy complimentary access to the serene Thermal Suite, enhanced further by an exclusive 10% discount on all treatments.

explore further

Discover the best of both worlds as a guest of MSC Yacht Club. Enjoy VIP access to amenities throughout

your journey, from dining to captivating entertainment, while experiencing the personalized touch that

extends from your suite to every corner of the ship.

SIGNATURE DINING

Savor the flavors of exquisite specialty restaurants such as Butcher's Cut, Kaito Sushi & Teppanyaki, HOLA Tacos, and Ocean Cay.

Elevate your dining experience with exclusive perks like priority reservation times, premium seating, and the luxury of a personal butler escort if you choose.

TOP-TIER ENTERTAINMENT

As an MSC Yacht Club guest, there’s always more to discover. Get priority access to our show-stopping Broadway and Vegas-style shows brought to you by Carousel Productions at Sea.

Plus, you can always explore the myriad of entertainment areas on board, from thrilling water parks to trying your luck at the state-of-the-art MSC Casino.

PREMIUM WELLNESS

Unleash your active side by checking out our sports facilities, including outdoor walking tracks, basketball courts, and a fully-equipped gym boasting Technogym® equipment.  

For those seeking an even more tailored experience, indulge in specialty classes and personal training sessions, reserved by your MSC Yacht Club concierge team.

discover more

Journey to the ultimate destinations on board the MSC Yacht Club, whether it’s crossing places off your bucket list or delighting in quick weekend getaways.

CARIBBEAN CRUISES

MEDITERRANEAN CRUISES

NORTHERN EUROPE CRUISES

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MSC Cruises

Everything you need to know about MSC Cruises cabins and suites

A relative newcomer in the North American market, MSC Cruises is equal parts elegant and kitschy. The line tends to appeal to a wide swath of cruisers, from Europeans who like to party into the wee hours of the morning to American families who book because of affordable fares and "kids sail free" pricing.

To satisfy its diverse passenger base, MSC offers accommodations to fit all types of travelers. Rooms include inexpensive inside cabins that sleep two people, midlevel staterooms with windows and balconies, and high-end suites that offer cruisers with larger budgets a private oasis in the form of the MSC Yacht Club .

A variety of connecting rooms and cabins with extra bunks accommodate larger groups and families who wish to share space.

Because your cruise cabin will be your home away from home for several days, it's important to book one that fits your needs. That's especially true if you're sharing it with several people.

Whether you're looking at an inside cabin for a cruise with friends, balcony accommodations for you and your significant other or a suite for your family, here TPG breaks down what you can expect when you book a room on one of MSC's ships.

For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

MSC Cruises cabin primer

MSC Cruises has become one of the fastest-growing lines in the cruise industry, with about two dozen ships in its fleet. The vessels fall into six classes : Lirica, Musica, Fantasia, Meraviglia, Seaside and World.

Although cabin offerings can vary from ship to ship and class to class, the standard types remain the same: inside, outside, balcony and suite.

Additionally, you'll find the same basic amenities in each room, unless otherwise noted below. They include two twin beds that can be joined to form a queen- or king-size bed; an in-cabin bathroom with a shower, a sink, a toilet and basic soap, shower gel and shampoo; a couple of nightstands; a chair or sofa; a desk/vanity; a closet; a safe; a hair dryer; a minifridge; a phone; USB outlets and a selection of both North American and European outlets.

On all ships except MSC Lirica, MSC Opera, MSC Sinfonia and MSC Armonia, you'll also find an interactive TV that allows you to view the daily schedule, check your onboard account and choose from a selection of live TV programs and movies.

Twice-daily room tidying is provided by a room steward assigned to each cabin, and room service is available throughout the day for an added fee.

One confusing aspect of MSC's bookings is that you'll have to select an experience package in addition to a cabin type. Package tiers determine things like your ability to choose a specific cabin and preferred dining time and whether you'll receive welcome amenities in your room. Certain cabin types are only available in conjunction with certain package experiences and vice versa. Those are noted in each respective section below.

Accessible cabins , including accommodations for wheelchair users, are available on every ship in MSC's fleet. In addition to more space, they feature wider doorways and lowered sinks and toilets in the bathrooms, as well as grab bars.

MSC Cruises' experience packages

Here's what you get when you book each of MSC's three experience packages, which determine the perks you'll receive on your sailing.

• Accommodations
• Complimentary food in the dining room and buffet
• Broadway-style theater entertainment
• Access to the onboard gym, pool and kids club
• MSC Voyagers Club points
• One for-fee change to your cruise booking (with some restrictions)
• Drink package discount at time of booking
• All Bella perks
• Choice of specific cabin and location
• One free change to your cruise booking (with some restrictions)
• Ability to choose between early and late seating for dinner
• Room service (complimentary for breakfast, but fees apply for other meals)
• Discount on pre-cruise specialty dining package
• All Fantastica and Bella perks
• Flexible My Choice dining, which lets you eat at any time you choose between set hours
• Free 24-hour room service delivery
• Pillow menu
• A welcome package, including Prosecco and chocolates
• Complimentary access to your ship's solarium and thermal area
• A 10% discount on all spa treatments purchased on board
• Special Balinese massage offer when booked pre-cruise
• Complimentary use of bathrobe and slippers
• Priority boarding and luggage drop-off

Inside cabins on MSC Cruises ships

Inside cabins — rooms with no windows — are available on all ships in the MSC fleet. Ranging from 140 to 301 square feet (depending on the ship), they make for great sleeping because they're so dark. They're also ideal for passengers who are on a budget.

In addition to the standard amenities mentioned above, they provide room for anywhere from two to four passengers to sleep. (Rooms that sleep more than two feature bunks that pull down from the ceiling.)

These cabins are available with the line's Bella and Fantastica experiences.

If you're sailing solo, some MSC vessels offer cabins for one outfitted with a twin bed that converts into a couch. These interior studio accommodations are only available with the Bella package on MSC Meraviglia , MSC Bellissima and the line's World Class ships.

Ocean-view cabins on MSC Cruises ships

Ocean-view rooms are similar to insides in that they provide basic amenities — but with a view.

Offering 129 to 269 square feet of space (depending on the specific ship and ocean-view category), these staterooms allow you to see outside through a porthole or a window that doesn't open.

MSC's outside cabins are available to passengers who book Bella and Fantastica packages.

Additionally, if you're traveling with your family or another group, several of MSC Cruises' ships — particularly those in the Meraviglia and Seaside classes — feature space for as many as 10 passengers via a series of connecting rooms. Options are available at the ocean-view and balcony levels.

Balcony cabins on MSC Cruises ships

You might be surprised to discover that most of MSC Cruises' balcony cabins provide less interior square footage than what's available in inside or ocean-view staterooms.

Balcony rooms run anywhere from 129 to 205 square feet, but their key feature is, of course, a private balcony, which does add an extra 32 to 129 square feet, depending on the vessel and specific type of balcony room booked. These cabins are bookable in conjunction with MSC's Bella, Fantastica and Aurea experiences.

Although balcony cabins offer upgraded amenities, including MSC's brand of hand lotion and toiletries, they are largely the same as inside and ocean-view accommodations.

MSC's newest ships — including those in the Meraviglia, Seaside and World Classes — house connecting balcony rooms that can sleep up to 10 in the same group traveling together.

Additionally, on its World Class ships, the line has introduced inward-facing balconies, similar to the ones Royal Caribbean pioneered in 2009 with the debut of its Oasis Class vessels . On World Europa, for example, they overlook the ship's promenade, offering views of the activity below, rather than the ocean.

MSC Cruises suites

All ships in MSC's fleet have suites that can be booked as part of the Fantastica and Aurea packages, but it's Aurea that offers the largest number of perks, as outlined above.

The several types of suites vary by ship in terms of size and amenities. Some come with balconies, while others only offer floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows.

Junior Suites

Although this room type is listed as a suite, it's essentially a balcony cabin with a bit more space — 183 square feet of interior accommodation with a balcony that ranges from 140 to 183 square feet.

Standard suites include rooms with huge balconies larger than the cabin's interior space and ones with private whirlpool tubs. They run from 269 to 355 square feet, with balconies measuring 32 to 409 square feet.

Grand Suites

Coming in between 377 and 420 square feet, with balconies spanning from 32 to 495 square feet, Grand Suites — found on Seaside and World Class ships — come in two types. They include standard one-bedroom Grand Suites, as well as two-bedroom varieties.

The latter has one bedroom with a queen-size bed and another with two twins. It sleeps up to five passengers and offers two bathrooms — one with a shower and the other with a bathtub.

While most suites are designed for double occupancy, some suite accommodations on MSC Bellissima, MSC Grandiosa, MSC Virtuosa and MSC Magnifica can sleep up to five people.

MSC Yacht Club suites on MSC ships

All cabins located in the MSC Yacht Club — an exclusive, gated area on select ships — are called suites, even the smallest and least expensive, which don't have windows or balconies.

Yacht Club suite types range from insides to two-deck duplexes, all of which come with butler and concierge services, luxuriously appointed furnishings (such as real marble finishes, memory foam mattresses and Egyptian cotton sheets) and access to members-only restaurants, bars (alcohol is free there), lounges, pools and sun decks.

The Yacht Club features seven different types of rooms. Ships that have the MSC Yacht Club on board include MSC Bellissima, MSC Divina, MSC Fantasia, MSC Grandiosa, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Preziosa, MSC Seaside, MSC Seascape, MSC Seaview, MSC Seashore, MSC Splendida, MSC Virtuosa and MSC World Europa.

Note: Not all Yacht Clubs have the same suite types available.

MSC Yacht Club Interior Suites

Although these 161- to 226-square-foot cabins don't offer a view or fresh air, they are elegantly decorated and include all the Yacht Club benefits mentioned above.

MSC Yacht Club Deluxe Suites

These Yacht Club digs are the equivalent of a balcony cabin — but in a dedicated area that includes all the exclusive perks. They run 236 to 366 square feet and have balconies ranging from 54 to 86 square feet, so they also come with a bit more space, both inside and outdoors.

MSC Yacht Club Deluxe Grand Suites

Similarly, Deluxe Grand Suites are like the Yacht Club equivalent of booking a Grand Suite with more perks. Depending on the ship, they offer anywhere from 269 to 463 square feet of space, plus 65- to 129-square-foot balconies. Some Grand Suites also have two bedrooms instead of one. Further, these rooms on Seaside Class ships include bathrooms with bathtubs, as well as separate living areas.

MSC Yacht Club Duplex Suites

Rising two decks, MSC's duplex staterooms measure 495 to 635 square feet and come with 65- to 334-square-foot balconies. They feature living rooms with two-person sofa beds downstairs and master bedrooms upstairs, which also sleep two passengers.

Each of these accommodations comes complete with two walk-in closets and two bathrooms — one with a bathtub and one with a shower. Most duplexes on Meraviglia and World Class ships also have their own private whirlpool tubs.

MSC Yacht Club Executive and Family Suites

The line's Executive and Family Suites, available only on Fantasia Class vessels, are an excellent choice for anyone who wants to stay in the Yacht Club with a family or other group of more than two people.

This option, which is one type of suite (despite its confusing name), has space for up to five cruisers via a combination of bunk beds, sofa beds and beds that pull down from the ceiling, depending on the ship. The suites clock in at around 431 to 549 square feet, depending on the vessel.

The only drawback is that these staterooms have no balconies and no in-room dining areas, but they do include all the perks you'd find in Yacht Club cabins.

MSC Yacht Club Royal Suites

Although they only occupy one level, at 388 to 667 square feet, MSC's Yacht Club Royal Suites are right up there with the Duplex Suites in terms of space. They offer the second-largest amount of square footage after the Owner's Suites. They come with huge balconies comprising 355 to 753 square feet of outdoor area.

Additionally, bathrooms in these suites offer bathtubs on Fantasia, Meraviglia, Seaside and World Class ships, and the latter three have private whirlpool tubs, as well. All four classes' Royal Suites also include separate living room areas.

MSC Yacht Club Owner's Suites

The largest and most impressive of all MSC's cabins are the Owner's Suites found in the Yacht Club. Offering an impressive 840 to 1,119 square feet — larger than some land-based apartments — plus 269- to 670-square-foot balconies, they're some of the most luxurious rooms afloat.

Specific amenities vary by ship, but as an example, Owner's Suites on MSC World Europa offer floor-to-ceiling windows and walk-in closets. These accommodations on both the line's Seaside and World Class vessels also feature bathrooms with separate showers and bathtubs, as well as private whirlpool tubs and separate living room areas.

Bottom line

Although MSC Cruises' cabin types are straightforward, the line's add-on experiences can complicate things a bit.

Overall, what's key to remember is that MSC Cruises offers a wide variety of rooms and pricing to meet just about any budget or style of cruising. Each ship will offer accommodation choices from the least expensive, bare-bones interior rooms to the priciest suites, which come with butler and concierge services.

When you sail with MSC Cruises, you can expect function, style and comfort, regardless of the cabin type you book.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Tyumen: from frontier outpost to energy capital

Photos by William Brumfield

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Founded in 1586 on the site of an earlier Tatar settlement at the confluence of the Tura and Tyumenka Rivers, Tyumen was the first Russian town in Siberia. The area had been conquered by the Cossack leader Yermak only a few years before as the beginning step of an epochal Russian move across the Ural Mountains into the enormous north Asian land mass. Although its rivers were only tributaries of the Irtysh (itself a tributary of the great Ob River), Tyumen was well situated to utilize Siberia’s vast water network.

Like most early Russian towns in Siberia, Tyumen originally served as a fortified settlement for Cossacks and other troops, who in the 17th century protected newly developing trade routes, particularly with China. When the southern boundary of Moscow’s Asian territory became more settled during the 18th century, Tyumen’s importance increased for the development of transportation as well as small commercial and industrial enterprises. On a more lugubrious note, Tyumen’s status as a transportation nexus involved it in the notorious exile system, which sent thousands of convicts and political exiles throughout the distant reaches of Siberia. As a regional administrative point for western Siberia, Tyumen also became a center of the Russian Orthodox Church. The city’s Trinity Monastery, founded in 1616 on the high right bank of the Tura River and originally dedicated to the Transfiguration, was a modest collection of log buildings until its transformation in the early part of the 18th century by an energetic Ukrainian prelate, Bishop Fedor Leshchinskii. An ally of Peter the Great, Bishop Fedor saw architecture as a reflection of a broad cultural transformation, and the Church of the Trinity that he built at the monastery in 1709-1715 is Tyumen’s earliest surviving building. Gutted during the Soviet era, the Trinity Church is now being restored, as is its neighbor, the Church of Saints Peter and Paul (1741-55). These early examples of a provincial baroque style with Ukrainian features served as a model for other 18th-century churches in Tyumen, culminating with the lavish Cathedral of the Icon of the Sign (Znamenskii), which has recently been splendidly refurbished. Built in several phases between 1768 and 1891, the cathedral displays the florid decoration typical of much of Siberian church architecture.

The daunting vastness of Siberia’s reaches gradually submitted in the 19th century to new forms of transportation. The first steamboat to ply a Siberian river was constructed here in 1838. The greatest impulse for economic growth came with the completion of a railroad from Yekaterinburg, on the east slope of the Ural Mountains. This line ultimately became an important segment of the trans-Siberian railroad, transporting the wealth of Siberia’s forests, mines and new grain farms, as well as leather and other products of local factories. Furthermore, at the turn of the 20th century over half a million settlers passed through the town en route to Siberia’s open agricultural lands.

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• COUNTRY Russia
• POPULATION 600,000
• LANGUAGES Russian
• TIMEZONE UTC +5
• NOTABLE LANDMARKS Trinity Monastery; Voznesensko Georgievskiy Church
• Getting Around
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Tyumen, the first Russian settlement in Siberia, lies 2,500km (1,600 mi) east of Moscow and behind the Ural Mountains. The Tyumen Oblast (region) has seen significant economic growth over the past twenty years, fuelled by the discovery and exploitation of significant oil fields.

Tyumen is also an educational centre, with more than forty thousand students.

Originally Tyumen was called Chimgi-Tura and its origins probably lay with the merchants from the ancient trade centres of Samarkand and Bukhara, who needed Siberian rivers to transport their goods to northern markets. For a long time Chimgi-Tura was the capital of Tyumen Khanate, which was a part of the Mongol Golden Horde Empire. With time Chimgi-Tura was renamed Tyumen, a Mongol word meaning “Ten thousand people.”

Russian Tyumen was established in 1586, when the first military mission sponsored by the Tsar and led by Ermak, mainly to respond frequent attacks of Khan Kuchum, seized the town. It then remained a quiet provincial Siberian city up until the 1960s. Most of its inhabitants lived in wooden houses along the Tura and Tyumenka rivers, for which it became known as the “capital of villages.”

Being a major transportation point to Eastern Siberia and the Russian Far East, Tyumen has experienced all major historical events in Russia. It has seen the Decembrists on their way to exile in Irkutsk, Tsar Nicholas II and his family to their final destination of Ekaterinburg, Revolution turmoil, Civil War, bloody uprisings against the new Bolshevik food policy ( prodrazverstka ), Gulag prisoners, and more. Many famous people were born or studied in Tyumen. Among them is the famous writer M. M. Prishvin. His essays about nature are filled with harmony and the art of words.

One resident was the most controversial figure in Russian history – Grigory Rasputin. His house can be visited in the village of Pokrovskoe, near Tyumen. It is believed that “the devil monk” was born sometime between 1864 and 1872.

Rasputin was an impoverished, drunken, dirty and foul-mouthed man. Even so, people claim that he had great powers. Many said that he was a healer and also a prophet. During his twenties, Rasputin supposedly became a holy man after a long religious conversation with one of his superiors. He lived off the charity of people who admired his asceticism. It is said that one time Rasputin accurately predicted a three month drought. This Siberian mystic arrived in St Petersburg in 1911 and within a few years had become one of the most influential men in government circles.

Tyumen is a city for walking, a city of contrasts. There are two main streets in the centre: Republics and Lenin. Amongst wooden houses and old churches you will see the modern glass buildings of the World Trade Centre and the Law Department of Tyumen State University as well as Soviet style neighbourhoods with multi-storey apartment buildings.

Optional Sightseeing

The historic city of Tobolsk, Siberia’s former capital, displays considerable charm to reward a short detour from Tyumen. The sights include the white-walled 18th-century Kremlin, incorporating the 17th century St Sofia Cathedral, and a weatherbeaten old town described by some as ‘wonderfully dilapidated’.

Winter in Tyumen

The winters are cold in Tyumen and outlying regions. However, they have one attraction that helps to cope with the winter, being open air hot springs. Thousands of people gather there, both locals and visitors from as far as Yekaterinburg and Moscow. this is truly a way to experience the contrast of the cold Siberian winter (-20℃ plus or minus) with the hot spring water (55℃).

It can be fun to change to your swimwear in the car and then dash to the water (100 m) from the parking area. Just taking a few steps out of the water means the water residue on your body turns into solid ice instantly. Good therapeutic skin pore treatment, we are told.

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• MSC Cruises

yacht club butler tipping

By ginger123snaps , July 11, 2022 in MSC Cruises

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ginger123snaps

Is there a recommended tipping amount for the butlers in the yacht club?  I get some do more then others...just looking for a base guideline.

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Two Wheels Only

There is no recommended amount. It is whatever you feel is appropriate. No one on the forum can answer for you.

mscdivina2016

Its included in your fare as a baseline answer.  And MSC states they do not reccomend tipping individual staff members.

Those are the official answers.  What you do is your business and there are those that tip zero and those that tip thousands apparently from what I have read on this board. 😁

A reasonable question for a first time YC guest.  The above posters provided good advice.  

For me, there are too many different Butlers who provided me with service in the YC Lounge, the YC Pool Deck, and too many Stewards in the YC Restaurant to tip them all.  My suite's Butler?  Yes.  I did provide an additional gratuity that was based on his service in comparison to what I would receive from a Cabin Steward on other cruises.  I provided the same amount to the Assistant Butler (who, I think, actually did more than her superior).  Was it sufficient?  I thought so.  I did offer a gratuity to the YC Restaurants' Maitre d's.  They deserved it based on their service that benefited me.  I did not offer an additional gratuity to the Concierges.  I used their services only twice and it was for mundane things.  

We will admit to being long time world travelers (I guess we are blessed).  Over the years we have realized that Americans are obsessed with our tipping culture and sometimes we cannot help ourselves.  We have been nowhere else in the world (and we have been to about 150 countries) that shares this tipping culture.  In fact, we have been asked (in many countries) why America is willing to pay these outrageous tips.  Consider that not only has the dollar amount of tips increased along with general prices, but the percentage used has also increased (a double whammy).  When I was a kid tipping in our country was in the 5-10% range.  Now, folks are OK with 20 and even 25%!  

So, we get to the MSC Butler question.  MSC has adopted the popular technique of low balling cruise prices and then using tips as a price booster.  Tips (you can call it what you want) are simply added on to everyone's onboard accounts.  Most folks just accept it, pay it as part of their onboard account, and seldom have any idea where that money goes (and the cruise line keeps that a big secret).  So now the American "tipping culture" and what some call "tipping guilt" take over and folks think, "how much more do I need to tip on top of the tips I have already paid?"  And my answer is a big zero!  You do not need to tip anything extra and most MSC passengers from Europe are quite comfortable not tipping extra.   If you want to donate more of your hard earned money to the crew then the sky is the limit :).  There are no rules.  Since we are proud Americans (and admit to loving our country) we do sometimes slip some extra cash to various crew members who deliver services we think are above and beyond the norm.

By the way, for those of you that did not cruise in the "good ole days" it used to be different.  Mass market lines had "tipping guidelines" which they would publish (and often deliver to your cabin in some kind of letter) along with "envelopes."  Some lines went as far as imprinting the envelopes with the titles of whom they thought should get tips. I still remember getting an envelop on a cruise ship that was labeled "Assistant House Keeper Supervisor" and being puzzled  We had never met or had no clue who this person was but we got an envelope.  Folks were "encouraged" to put cash in those envelopes and deliver them to the appropriate folks.  But that all ended when the old fixed seatings and assigned waiters ended.  I think my favorite tipping policy was on Holland America where they used to say "tipping not required."  In my world tipping is never "required."  And those folks that shell out hundreds of dollars in the name of tips are doing nothing more than trying to bribe folks to deliver the service they are already expected to deliver to everyone.  So those "big tippers" are simply folks who are saying, "I have more money than the next guy, am willing to spend it, so please treat me better then you treat others"

There is something to say for the Aussies who always tell me, "we pay folks a living wage so there is no need to tip."

@Hlitner  So well put! I so enjoyed not worrying about the tipping culture when we were in Europe recently. I have been second-guessing myself about the cruise because of others comments related to their tipping. 

I do wonder how staff on MSC cruises in the Caribbean feel, where there are probably more Americans and more tipping vs. European and other countries.

perakcruiser

16 hours ago, Hlitner said: And those folks that shell out hundreds of dollars in the name of tips are doing nothing more than trying to bribe folks to deliver the service they are already expected to deliver to everyone.  So those "big tippers" are simply folks who are saying, "I have more money than the next guy, am willing to spend it, so please treat me better then you treat others"

Very well said, especially that "bribe" thing is the point. There are indeed some other countries in the world that share this excessive tipping culture with you, actually quite a lot. Where nothing can be done if only the official price is paid without a "tip". The idea to tip to get better service then others is really a very ugly thing and in my opinion should be proscribed. 

Having said this, I do also tip nowadays. Not so much on a cruise ship where the jobs and the salaries are good, but when using Grab (same like Uber) for a ride or a meal delivery. Those guys are using their own vehicles to do me a favour for very limited money. Certainly if the price is not so low, I would not tip, also happens. Has nothing to do with bribe as the service is already done and one probably will not meet the driver again in this life. 

And about how much tip? I guess there is a very simple internationally valid basic rule, the price of a coffee. Yes, I know, the Russians and the Chinese call it "tea money", the Germans "drinking money" 😄

1 minute ago, perakcruiser said: Very well said, especially that "bribe" thing is the point. There are indeed some other countries in the world that share this excessive tipping culture with you, actually quite a lot. Where nothing can be done if only the official price is paid without a "tip". The idea to tip to get better service then others is really a very ugly thing and in my opinion should be proscribed.    Having said this, I do also tip nowadays. Not so much on a cruise ship where the jobs and the salaries are good, but when using Grab (same like Uber) for a ride or a meal delivery. Those guys are using their own vehicles to do me a favour for very limited money. Certainly if the price is not so low, I would not tip, also happens. Has nothing to do with bribe as the service is already done and one probably will not meet the driver again in this life.    And about how much tip? I guess there is a very simple internationally valid basic rule, the price of a coffee. Yes, I know, the Russians and the Chinese call it "tea money", the Germans "drinking money" 😄

I do think that we Americans are often generous folks and tipping has become a norm in our culture.  But these days, in most restaurants, it is no longer considered a "gratuity" but rather an obligation.  And the current standard is now 20%.  Consider that in some cities there are also sales taxes that can exceed 10%.   Some European friends have expressed frustration since they have trouble adjusting to our system where a restaurant bill might be (for example) $100 for food/drink but the final bill will be closer to $130 (or more).  And these days we have even seen some interesting add-ons in restaurants such as a "Covid surcharge"  or "Inflation adjustment."  I kid you not!

Another warning in our country (USA) is that many hotels (and resorts) now add on what they usually call a "resort fee."  On many hotel booking sites you may not see this item or it is hidden in the fine print.  These so called "resort fees" can approximate $50 a day (on top of the hotel room price) and then to add insult to injury you might see local/state hotel taxes in the 20% range.  So that $200 a night room you book on line might actually cost you about $300 when you actually get the final bill.  I think the so-called "Resort Fees" have Freached a ridiculous level.  In Las Vegas it is very common,    It is interesting to Google "resort fees" and read some of the related articles.

22 hours ago, Hlitner said:   Some lines went as far as imprinting the envelopes with the titles of whom they thought should get tips. I still remember getting an envelop on a cruise ship that was labeled "Assistant House Keeper Supervisor

I have cruised since 1970 and I do not recall such specifically designated envelopes.  I do recall envelopes being left in my stateroom.  A note to explain there purpose?  Probably.

22 hours ago, Hlitner said: I think my favorite tipping policy was on Holland America where they used to say "tipping not required." 

22 hours ago, Hlitner said: And those folks that shell out hundreds of dollars in the name of tips are doing nothing more than trying to bribe folks to deliver the service they are already expected to deliver to everyone.  So those "big tippers" are simply folks who are saying, "I have more money than the next guy, am willing to spend it, so please treat me better then you treat others"  

I sailed on HAL during those years and I do recall this policy.  I also knew what guests on ships did regarding tipping in the '50's and '60's did.  HAL's policy never quite "set right" with me.  Your comment about those of us who did tip during that era misses the mark as it pertains to me.  (More money than the next guy and I am willing to spend it for better service.)  Those were lean years for me; I remain amazed that I was able to spend on cruising what I did for both my family and me.  Better service expected?  How can that be?  My Stewards received their gratuities on the final day/evening of the cruse.  Their envelopes were a "thank you" for their service.  It was in 1970 and it remains my intention when I offer a gratuity in 2022.  

4 hours ago, Hlitner said: I think the so-called "Resort Fees" have Freached a ridiculous level.

Resort fees should be renamed to the "Fleecing of our Guests".  I won't book a hotel that has such fees.  

41 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:   I have cruised since 1970 and I do not recall such specifically designated envelopes.  I do recall envelopes being left in my stateroom.  A note to explain there purpose?  Probably.  

Fair question and you deserve an answer.  We actually did not take our first HAL cruise until at least the late 80s (on the old Maasdam).  Back in the 70s and most of the 80s we were primarily on RCI (than RCCL, Princess and Celebrity).  We also cruised on Orient Lines and Sitmar (before they became Princess).  But I believe it was on RCCL (might have also been on Celebrity) when the white envelopes (that were routinely left in cabins on the last day of a cruise) had printed crew positions such as Steward, Assist. Steward, Waiter, Assist, Waiter, Maitre'd, etc.  They also would leave printed tip "Guidelines" such as $3.50 per person/day for a cabin steward.   We had no problem with this practice as it was just the way it was done in those days.  

As to HAL, I think that might have been the era when they would say "tipping not required" so no surprise if they did not follow that practice.  In those days we viewed HAL as a more upscale line that was for old people!   Now we view HAL as a budget mass market line that is still for very old people (which now includes me).  Just today I noticed a post on the HAL blog from a poster that had recently cruised on HAL with two kids.  He was not very happy with their teen program (or lack thereof) but admitted he booked HAL thinking it was a more sedate cruise line.  I did not post on that thread but agreed with the "sedate" comment and thought, if they take their kids on a "sedate" line would they not expect a sedate kids/teens program.  He also mentioned that the teens liked to play basketball, but then some older cruisers complained so they took away the basketballs.  Made me smile because that sounds like the HAL I know.

35 minutes ago, Hlitner said: They also would leave printed tip "Guidelines" such as $3.50 per person/day for a cabin steward.   We had no problem with this practice as it was just the way it was done in those days.  

Those guidelines is what I remember as well.  And, it seemed to fit with what I had learned from my reading about from those who sailed before me experienced.  (Thank you John Maxtone-Graham and many others in a variety of sources.)  

35 minutes ago, Hlitner said: As to HAL, I think that might have been the era when they would say "tipping not required" so no surprise if they did not follow that practice.  In those days we viewed HAL as a more upscale line that was for old people! 

Upscale?  It was.  Not the Verandah Grill dining guests on the Queens, but, much more upscale than the new "upstarts" in the cruising world in the early years.  

35 minutes ago, Hlitner said: Just today I noticed a post on the HAL blog from a poster that had recently cruised on HAL with two kids.  He was not very happy

If I am able to pull together a family cruise for a family that lives in Maryland and Alaska with me in Ohio, HAL is not a contender.  Given the ages of my Grand-Nephews and Grand-Niece and their parents, Disney has the inside track.  Besides, it would be something "different" for me!  

I appreciate you replying to my post.  Thank you.  

rka,  If we take our grandchildren on a cruise it would likely be on Disney or RCI.   Celebrity would also be an outside contender.  HAL?  Not even worth considering (and we are 5* Mariners).  

Did our first cruise 1991 and yes we had the envelopes, I think they were around till maybe early 2000's

9 hours ago, emmas gran said: Did our first cruise 1991 and yes we had the envelopes, I think they were around till maybe early 2000's

Yes!  That was about the time DW and I started noticing huge increase in "no shows" in the main dining rooms on the last night of the cruise!   😢 So then began the daily service charge plan.

When I joined CC in 2003 they were still giving out envelopes.  I remember a poster who used to  brag   he didn't believe in tipping and that he would stuff the tip envelopes with paper. 😒

2 hours ago, JAGR said: Yes!  That was about the time DW and I started noticing huge increase in "no shows" in the main dining rooms on the last night of the cruise!   😢 So then began the daily service charge plan.

They also started complaining about service 2/3 nights prior!!

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