What the fare covers, what it doesn't, and how this itinerary actually runs.
4 sea days
The pool loungers and the shaded spots go early on a sea day — by eight in the morning on a full ship, and this one carries several thousand guests. Reserving one and leaving it is against the rules on most lines and crew do clear them, so send someone early rather than at ten.
This one earns the balcony
4 of 12 nights are at sea, so you will actually be in the cabin in daylight. Roughly $1,450 more per person here — the one upgrade worth arguing about on a sea-day-heavy sailing.
4 port days back to back
Early tenders and late returns, several days running, with no sea day to recover in. Pick the two ports you actually care about and let one of the others be a lie-in — the itinerary is not a checklist.
Day one and the last day are half-days
A 12-night cruise is really 11 full days. Boarding runs into the afternoon and you are off the ship early on the last morning.
Money on board · MSC Cruises
Already in the fare
Meals in the main dining rooms for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.Access to the buffet for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night snacks.Basic beverages like water, coffee, tea, and juice available at specified times and locations in the buffet.Use of the main pools, hot tubs, and the ship's fitness center.Most onboard entertainment, including theatrical shows, live music, and basic activities.Kids' clubs and supervised activities for various age groups.
The drinks package
Typically around $50-65 USD per person, per day, including service charge, for a mid-tier package like Easy Plus.
Break-even: This package usually pays for itself with about 5-7 drinks a day, counting cocktails, glasses of wine or beer, and specialty coffees.
It suits those who plan to have several alcoholic or specialty non-alcoholic drinks daily; light drinkers may find it does not provide value for their habits.
- Gratuities
- An automatic daily service charge, usually about $14.50-16 USD per adult per day, and a lower rate for children, is added to your onboard account; it can often be prepaid or adjusted at Guest Services.
- Wifi
- Internet packages vary in price and speed; a basic browse package, typically around $10-25 USD per day or more for a cruise-long plan, usually supports email and messaging but not streaming video or high-bandwidth activities.
Costs that surprise people
- ◆Specialty Dining. Restaurants beyond the main dining rooms and buffet, such as steakhouses or sushi bars, incur an additional per-person charge or à la carte pricing.
- ◆Shore Excursions. Guided tours and activities in port booked through MSC will be charged to your onboard account.
- ◆Spa and Thermal Area Access. Individual spa treatments, massages, and access to the dedicated thermal suite (saunas, steam rooms) typically come with an extra cost.
- ◆Professional Photos. Any photos taken by the ship's photographers, whether posed portraits or candid shots, must be purchased separately.
- ◆Room Service. While some breakfast items may be complimentary, a delivery fee usually applies for room service orders, especially late at night, and certain menu items carry a charge.
- ◆Minibar Items. Drinks and snacks consumed from the minibar in your cabin are charged to your account.
Ways to spend less
- ◆Pre-book packages. Purchasing drinks, internet, or specialty dining packages before your cruise often results in a lower price than buying them on board.
- ◆Dine at included venues. Enjoy all your meals in the main dining rooms or the extensive buffet, where food costs are covered by your fare.
AI-written guidance, not a quote. Prices and policies change and vary by sailing — confirm anything that matters with the cruise line before you book.
