Are you going on an MSC cruise and wondering what’s there to do on the ship if the weather turns bad?
The weather can turn in an instant— especially during hurricane season when there are more frequent rainstorms.
I’ve cruised many times and have definitely experienced those miserable rainy days. Some days were so stormy that getting off the ship wasn’t even an option.
But here’s the good news: bad weather doesn’t have to derail your vacation. There are plenty of indoor activities that can turn a rainy day into a surprisingly fun one.
Today, I’m sharing the best things to do onboard when the weather just isn’t cooperating.
Go to the Pool
Rainy weather doesn’t mean pool time is off the table. Head over to the indoor pool for a swim. If it’s not too windy and there are no thunderstorms, the outdoor pool may be open.
In fact, I find that rainy days are when the outdoor pool is quiet because no one is expecting it to be open. You might end up with the pool all to yourself.
Go Eat
One of the best things about cruising is the food — and a rainy day is the perfect excuse.
Go to the main dining room for a relaxed lunch. After that, wander over to the buffet for a little post‑lunch grazing. Half the fun is seeing what new dishes the chefs put out throughout the day.
If you’re sailing on ships like MSC World America or MSC World Europa, you have even more complimentary dining options to explore beyond the buffet and main dining room.
Rainy days are the perfect time to try eateries like Pizza & Burger, which has pizzas, burgers and lots of grab‑and‑go snacks. I’m personally obsessed with their chili hot dogs — and don’t even get me started on the donuts.
Visit the Thermal Suite
Rainy days are the perfect excuse to escape to the spa’s thermal suite. If you’ve never been, it’s a quiet, adults‑only sanctuary tucked inside the spa, complete with heated loungers, saunas, steam rooms, hydrotherapy pools, salt rooms, and more.
Now here’s the best part: I never pay for it. If you’re part of the Voyagers Club and you’re Gold level or higher, you get one hour of free access to the thermal suite. The only catch is that you need to reserve your time slot in advance.
Even if you’re not planning to use the thermal suite, a rainy day is still a great time to stop by and ask for a free tour. The staff is always happy to show you around, and it’s a nice way to see what’s included before deciding whether it’s worth booking.
So if you’ve cruised with other cruise lines or have elite status with hotel brands, definitely look into MSC’s status match program.
You might already qualify for Voyagers Club Gold without even realizing it, which means that free thermal suite access could be waiting for you. If you’re interested in learning more, read my article explaining exactly how to do the MSC status match.
Play at the Casino
The casino is another fun indoor activity. When the ship is at sea, the casino is usually open, but it will be closed while docked due to port regulations.
And if you have onboard credit, playing a few games can be a great way to use up your onboard credit.
Go to the Gift Shop
Rainy days are also a great time to do a little shopping. If you’re at sea, the gift shops will be open. But if the ship is docked, the gift shops are usually closed. So when they are open, take advantage, especially on sea days when the biggest sales usually happen.
It’s common to find T‑shirts and souvenirs for $10 during these blow out sales— but these deals are limited‑time. If you spot something you like at a great price, buy it. There is no guarantee the item, or the price, will still be there later.
Indoor Amusement Park
On rainy sea days, the indoor amusement park is one of the best places to hang out. It includes the arcade, and a variety of attractions depending on your ship — like a bowling alley, 4D cinema, Formula 1 race car simulator or even a flight simulator.
All of these activities come with an additional charge, so keep that in mind. If you plan to spend a lot of time there, consider getting a game pass.
My son loves the Formula 1 simulator. It’s a cool experience where you sit in a realistic race car and compete in a virtual race. Even though it costs extra, I always get one free ride because Voyagers Club Gold members and above receive one complimentary race.
One more tip for families: set a spending limit on your child’s account. I learned this the hard way when my son went arcade‑crazy on one cruise and the charges added up fast. Now, I call guest services at the start of every trip and put a cap on his spending — it works like a little cruise allowance.
Play Foosball
Another fun way to pass time is to play foosball. In the indoor pool area, you’ll usually find a couple of foosball tables.
Join a Sports Tournament
If you’re looking for something active to do indoors, check out the sports tournaments happening in the Sportsplex indoor gym. There are friendly competitions throughout the day.
Just open your daily planner to see what’s scheduled — you’ll usually find basketball tournaments, drop in soccer and even volleyball games.
Don’t Forget the Anti-Seasick Medication
Bad weather usually means rougher seas, and that’s when you’re most likely to feel the ship’s motion. If you’re prone to seasickness, being prepared makes a huge difference.
I always take my anti‑seasickness medication first thing in the morning on days when I know the weather will be rough. Once seasickness sets in, it’s much harder to manage — prevention is everything.
Another tip that helps more than people realize is to avoid letting yourself get too hungry. I make sure to eat regularly and stay comfortably full throughout the day. An empty stomach can actually make seasickness worse, so small, frequent snacks is a must.
Carbs like bread and pasta are especially helpful for keeping your stomach settled — honestly, it’s the perfect excuse to load up on them.
Join an Activity
Rainy days are the perfect time to join the ship’s indoor activities. Check your daily planner — the cruise director usually packs the schedule with everything from trivia to learn Italian classes. There’s always something happening around the ship.
One of my family’s favorite activities is the Guinness World Records challenges. Guests can compete or just cheer from the audience, and the best part is that it’s free. We once joined the attempt for the loudest audience on a cruise ship. We didn’t break the official record, but it ended up being one of the most memorable moments of our trip.
Indulge in Gelato & Watch the Pastry Chefs at Work
Make a stop at Jean‑Philippe for some gelato. It’s an extra charge, but you can always ask for a free sample if you just want a taste.
After that, head over to the open kitchen area where the pastry chefs craft chocolate creations right in front of you—it’s surprisingly relaxing and fun to watch on a rainy day.
Relax in the Hot Tub
A rainy day is the perfect excuse to unwind in the hot tubs. Depending on how bad the weather is, the outside hot tubs might be open. But if they are closed, you can try the indoor pool hot tubs.
Do know that it can get crowded, but you never know — sometimes you’ll luck out.
Use the Gym
Catch up on your workout so you don’t fall behind. Head to the ship’s fitness center — it’s free to use, and you can get in a solid workout while enjoying those panoramic ocean views.
It’s a productive way to make the most of a day spent indoors.
Kids Club
Rainy days are the perfect time to bring your kids to the Kids Club. They’ll have a blast with all the activities the staff has planned.
Kids ages 3 and up can be dropped off, and they’ll stay busy with supervised fun like LEGO building, games, crafts, and organized events that can keep them entertained for hours.
Older kids and teens have their own dedicated spaces too — the teen club comes with foosball, video games, and plenty of room to hang out and make new friends.
Free Board Games
You’ll have a bit of downtime on rainy days, and one of our favorite family activities is borrowing the ship’s free board games. It’s a simple, low‑key way for everyone to have fun together.
Find the Quiet Spots on the Ship
On rainy days, everyone tends to congregate in the same indoor areas — the buffet, the atrium, and the indoor pool — which means those spaces get crowded fast.
Instead, take a little time to wander and look for quiet spots on the ship.
You can often find empty lounges, tucked‑away seating areas with comfy chairs, nightclubs that are closed during the day, or even specialty cafés that haven’t gotten busy yet. These places are perfect for relaxing and reading a book.
Take an Afternoon Nap
One of my favorite rainy day activities is sneaking in an afternoon nap after dropping the kids off at the Kids Club.
Sometimes I head back to my cabin for a proper nap, and other times I find a quiet lounge if I don’t feel like walking all the way back.
Cruise Essentials to Buy Before Your Cruise
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Travel Must-Haves
Passport neck wallet – Keeps your passport and travel documents secure and accessible. It also has RFID protection.
Cruise lanyards – A super convenient way to keep your cruise card within easy reach. No more digging through your bag every time you need it! I recommend getting one lanyard per person in your group and choosing different colors so it’s easy to tell them apart.
Anti-theft crossbody bag with anti-pickpocket clip – Genius anti-theft clip and versatile enough for both port days and evenings in the dining room.
Anti-theft crossbody bag with RFID – Padded shoulder straps with RFID lining to safeguard against identity theft.
Insulated water bottles –I don’t like spending money on bottled water, and I always want fresh water in my cabin. I’ll fill my bottle at the buffet or ask my server at dinner, then bring it back so I have water at night. This is my go-to water bottle—I prefer ones without straws since they’re much easier to wash in the cabin sink.
Pashmina – This multi-purpose wrap always earns its spot in my luggage. Use it as an evening wrap, a lightweight plane blanket, or a cover-up when visiting places of worship that require modest dress. I never cruise without one—you’ll be surprised how often it comes in handy.
Cruise Planning Essentials
Day Passes to Resorts– Booking private beach resort access in advance guarantees a comfortable beach experience at the cruise port.
Travel Insurance with CFAR Coverage– CFAR travel insurance gives you flexibility to cancel your cruise for any reason and recover part of your costs if plans change.
Last Minute Cruise Deals– Search for last minute cruise deals.
Cabin Comfort & Organization
Non-surge Cruise power strip– Cabins never have enough outlets (check cruise line rules first).
Magnetic hooks – Super-strong magnetic hooks that attach easily to your cabin walls. They’re perfect for hanging hats, cruise lanyards, goggles, swimsuits, and towels. I personally use the 85+ lb hooks—they’re incredibly sturdy and can even hold backpacks!
Small portable fan – Improves airflow and keeps Inside Cabins from feeling stuffy.
Motion sensor night light – Perfect for Inside Cabins, for when you get up at night to use the bathroom. It also has a magnetic base, so you can easily attach it to your cabin walls.
Toiletries & Laundry
Hanging toiletry bag – Keeps your essentials neat and accessible.
Fabric freshener spray – Fights wrinkles and refreshes clothes between wears.
Travel-size detergent – Handy for washing swimsuits, underwear, and quick-dry clothing in the sink.
TSA-approved travel containers – Easy to pack your lotions, creams, and other liquids without worrying about TSA rules.
Health & Wellness
Anti-seasickness medicine – My go-to meds for anti-seasickness. I take one in the morning on sea days (bring chewables for kids).
Acupressure bands – A natural alternative for seasickness relief. I use this with the anti-seasickness meds.
Packing & Storage
Cruise travel planners– Check out my travel planners, they help you stay organized before and during your trip.
Packing cubes – I never travel without packing cubes! They make packing and unpacking so easy—you can simply slip the entire cube into the cabin closet or drawer. I like to assign a different color to each person so there’s no mix-up.
Foldable duffel bag – I always pack a foldable duffel bag in case I bring home too many souvenirs or do some extra shopping. It doubles as an extra carry-on and barely takes up any luggage space.
Foldable shopping bag – Perfect for shopping at cruise ports, these bags fold up small enough to keep in your purse. I always carry one with me—you never know when you’ll need it! Plus, many countries charge a fee for shopping bags, and I’d much rather use my own than pay extra.
Foldable backpack – Perfect for cruise port days when you need an extra bag. I love that these backpacks are lightweight and fold down small, so you can toss one in your luggage without taking up much space.
Travel luggage scale – I always keep one in my suitcase so I can weigh my bags before heading to the airport. It’s a simple way to avoid overweight baggage fees.
Apple AirTags – I pop one into each of my bags so I can track my luggage for peace of mind. They’re especially helpful if you have a short layover and worry about your suitcase getting left behind.
Beach Essentials
Towel Clips – A simple must-have for pool and beach days! They keep your towels from slipping off lounge chairs, and I never cruise without brining a few in my luggage.
Waterproof phone pouch – Protect your phone from water and sand while still being able to snap photos. I always bring one when cruising the Caribbean or Mediterranean—it’s a lifesaver for beach and pool days.
Striped beach bag with zipper – You’ll need a beach bag with zipper to keep your things secure. I like this one because it’s stylish, has a water bottle holder, keeps belongings secure and has a lot of pockets.
Kid-Friendly Cruise Essentials
Magnetic toys – Cabin walls are magnetic, making these toys perfect for fun, mess-free entertainment. They keep kids busy when you’re in the cabin, especially since cruise TV options for kids can be limited. It’s always best to bring your own toys.
Collapsible beach buckets and toys – You’ll definitely want to bring beach toys if you’re going on a Caribbean cruise! This collapsible set includes foldable buckets, shovels, and sandcastle molds, all packed neatly in one bag. They’re easy to fit in your suitcase without taking up much space.
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