8 Unspoken MSC Cruise Rules Every Passenger Should Know

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Are you going on your first MSC cruise? Before you pack your bags, there are a few things you should know, because MSC does things a little differently than other mainstream cruise lines.

And if you’ve cruised before on lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, or Celebrity, some things on MSC might catch you off guard.

Below, I’m sharing the biggest things that surprise first time MSC cruisers, based on my personal experience.

I’ve been on more than twenty five cruises, including four with MSC, and trust me, there are definitely some things I wish I’d known before my first sailing.

So here are the top things about MSC cruises that may surprise you.

No Outside Beverages

MSC does not allow outside beverages. The cruise line is notoriously strict about bringing any outside beverages onboard during embarkation. That means water, soda, and alcohol.

I know a lot of cruisers are used to other cruise lines like Carnival or Celebrity, where you can bring a bottle of wine or champagne onboard on embarkation day without much hassle.

MSC is different. They won’t allow any alcohol onboard, and they don’t even allow you to bring sodas or a six pack of water onto the ship.

And even if you bought alcohol at a port stop, if you try to bring it back onboard, they will take it from you.

They’ll hold it for you and give it back to you at the end of the cruise, usually the night before disembarkation.

Online Check-In is Not as Easy

Compared to other cruise lines, MSC’s online check-in is trickier than other cruise lines. Make sure you have a good camera and you’re in a well lit area.

I have to say, I don’t love MSC’s online check-in. The process requires you to take a photo of yourself on their website, and getting it right can be a bit tricky. T

he system is very sensitive to lighting, and it can glitch or take a long time before your camera successfully captures the photo. Be patient.

Pack a White Outfit

You definitely need to pack at least one white outfit, or you’ll feel a bit out of place. I made this mistake the first time, and it felt like my family was the only one not in white.

MSC’s White Party is one of the biggest events on the ship, and almost everyone shows up in white. And it’s not only on US sailings but also on European sailings.

The White Party seems to be a big deal for both American and European passengers.

After dinner, everyone heads up to the pool deck for the White Party. It’s family friendly and easily one of the best theme nights at sea, and the crew leads fun group dances throughout the night.

It’s an experience you really don’t want to miss.

MSC is Paperless

MSC cruises are predominantly paperless. What this means is, don’t expect to get a menu in the dining room, and don’t expect a printed daily planner delivered to your stateroom every night.

To view the menu or the daily planner, you’ll need your own device to scan a QR code.

I have to admit, I’m not a huge fan of this system, because not everyone has a smartphone or tablet.

If you’re traveling with kids who don’t have devices, you’ll be forced to do some screen sharing, and older guests, like my parents, often prefer traditional printed menus.

You can always ask your server for a printed menu, but they aren’t always available.

Overall, digital menus and digital daily planners are the norm on MSC, so make sure you bring your devices. This paperless practice is prevalent on both US and European sailings.

Four Experience Levels

Unlike American cruise lines, MSC divides passengers into four different experience levels. Bella, Fantastica, Aurea, and Yacht Club.

Bella is the budget tier. It’s cheaper, but there are many things you don’t get. For example, you don’t get to choose your cabin location, and many services, like continental breakfast room service, come with additional fees.

Fantastica is the most common level, especially on US sailings and with American guests.

It allows you to select your cabin and offers the standard experience most American cruisers are used to on lines like Carnival or Norwegian.

Aurea upgrades your experience with premium cabin locations, larger balconies, access to the spa’s thermal area, priority embarkation, and flexible dining times.

Aurea guests even have a dedicated section in the main dining room where they can walk in and dine anytime, though they’re still ordering from the same menu as Bella and Fantastica guests.

And then there’s Yacht Club, MSC’s luxury tier, comparable to Norwegian’s The Haven. Yacht Club guests enjoy a private restaurant, an exclusive pool deck, butler service, priority access everywhere, and included Wi-Fi and drinks.

On US sailings, the majority of passengers are usually Fantastica guests. Bella tends to be far more common among European travelers.

Ocean Cay Lounge Chairs

If your cruise stops at the private island, Ocean Cay, you need to know about the lounge chair policy. There are very few free lounge chairs available around the island.

MSC has significantly reduced the number of complimentary chairs and really ramped up umbrella and lounge chair rentals.

You can still try to find free chairs, but they go fast. If you want them, you need to get off the ship early and be one of the first passengers to head out.

If you want guaranteed seating no matter what time you get there, you’ll need to rent an umbrella, which comes with two lounge chairs included.

If you’re getting off the ship later in the morning or closer to lunchtime, don’t expect to find open chairs like you might on other cruise lines.

Water is Handled Differently in MSC European Cruises

This one really caught me off guard the first time I sailed on MSC in Europe. It’s all about how water is handled at meals.

If you’re used to cruising on MSC out of the US, you’re used to sitting down at a table and automatically being served tap water, no questions asked. That’s not how it works on MSC’s European cruises.

On European cruises, they follow European dining culture, which means complimentary water is not automatically brought to your table.

You either have to ask for it, or you have to buy bottled water.

And here’s the thing, even when you do ask, getting that complimentary water can take a while, and you may find yourself reminding your server more than once.

Now here’s some good news. MSC actually knows that Americans expect water with their meals.

So when Americans book MSC cruises in Europe, a bottled water and coffee package is usually included in your cruise fare.

What this means is that at dinner, you’ll be served bottled still or sparkling water at your table, and you’ll also get coffee with dessert at no extra charge.

On US based cruises, this is something we take for granted because everyone gets it.

But on European sailings, not every passenger automatically receives this benefit, so it’s worth confirming before you sail.

Here’s the catch though. This package does not apply to breakfast, and lunch can be hit or miss.

At breakfast, juice is offered automatically, but water is not. So if all you want is a glass of water in the morning, you’ll have to ask for it, and be prepared to wait, especially if your server keeps circling back with juice instead.

Onboard Credit on European Sailings

Now let’s talk about onboard credit, because it confuses a lot of Americans on European sailings, so pay close attention here.

When you’re sailing in Europe, the ship operates in euros, not US dollars. So if you’ve been promised onboard credit in US dollars, that credit gets converted into euros.

For example, if you’re told you’re getting one hundred dollars in onboard credit, you’ll actually end up with somewhere around eighty five to ninety euros instead.

Nothing is missing, it’s simply the currency conversion happening behind the scenes.

Here’s where it gets confusing. Onboard credit is treated differently depending on where it comes from.

If it comes directly from MSC, like future cruise credit, they usually honor the full amount no matter where you sail. So one hundred dollars becomes one hundred euros on a Mediterranean cruise.

In my case, I had one hundred dollars in MSC future cruise credit, which showed up as one hundred euros, full value.

But I also had seventy five dollars in onboard credit from my travel agent, and MSC converted that to about sixty four euros.

So instead of one hundred seventy five euros to spend, I ended up with closer to one hundred sixty four euros onboard.

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.