The mistakes people make on MSC Cruises usually don’t come from one major problem. They come from boarding the ship without understanding that MSC operates differently from many British and American cruise lines.
Choosing the cheapest booking tier without checking what flexibility you’ll lose. Missing out on a free loyalty status match. Assuming you can arrive at the main dining room whenever you want. Forgetting to activate your onboard spending account. Or expecting the entertainment, daily planner and general atmosphere to feel exactly like your last cruise. None of these mistakes will ruin your holiday, but they can create unnecessary confusion during the first few days.
MSC is a large European cruise line with an international passenger mix, multilingual announcements and its own way of organising dining, entertainment and onboard services. Once you understand how it works, the experience becomes much easier.
I sailed on MSC Poesia and found that several parts of the cruise worked differently from P&O Cruises, Princess and Royal Caribbean. This guide covers the biggest MSC Cruises mistakes to avoid before you sail, so you can board knowing what to expect.
Watch: MSC Cruises – 10 Mistakes to Avoid
You can watch my full MSC Cruises mistakes video below to see these tips alongside footage from onboard MSC Poesia. The video covers booking tiers, dining, onboard spending, entertainment, the MSC for Me app and several of the smaller operational details that can catch first-time MSC passengers out.
MSC Cruises Mistakes to Avoid: Choosing the Wrong Experience Tier
One of the biggest MSC cruise mistakes can happen before you’ve even boarded the ship. MSC doesn’t simply sell different cabin categories. When you book, you’ll also choose between the Bella, Fantastica and Aurea experiences.
The core cruise is still included whichever experience you choose. You’ll have your cabin, access to the main dining room and buffet, entertainment and the main facilities around the ship. However, the amount of flexibility and the additional benefits can change depending on your booking tier.
Bella is usually the lowest-priced option. It can work perfectly well if you’re happy for MSC to assign your cabin and you aren’t concerned about having as much choice over dining arrangements.
Fantastica usually gives you more control over your cabin location and greater flexibility around dining-time requests. The exact benefits can vary, so it’s important to check what’s included for your ship and sailing rather than relying on a general summary.
Aurea sits above Fantastica and may include benefits such as priority boarding, access to selected thermal areas and more flexible dining arrangements. Again, what’s included can depend on the ship and itinerary.
The mistake is automatically selecting Bella because it’s the cheapest option without checking what you’re giving up. If cabin location matters to you, or you want the best possible chance of securing your preferred dining arrangements, the cheapest tier may not always be the right choice. Equally, there’s no reason to pay for Aurea if you won’t use the extra benefits. Look beyond the headline cruise price and compare what each experience actually includes before you book.
MSC Cruises Mistakes to Avoid: Missing the Voyagers Club Status Match
Another common mistake is assuming you’ll automatically start at the lowest MSC Voyagers Club level because it’s your first MSC cruise. MSC offers a loyalty status match. This means passengers who already have status with another cruise line, airline or hotel loyalty programme may be able to receive an equivalent level with the MSC Voyagers Club.
If you’ve cruised regularly with P&O Cruises, Princess, Royal Caribbean or another cruise line, it’s worth checking whether your existing loyalty status qualifies. Depending on the level MSC awards, you may receive benefits such as priority boarding, package discounts, onboard offers and other smaller perks.
The important point is that you need to apply before you sail. This isn’t something to leave until you’re already onboard. The application only takes a short time, although you’ll usually need to provide proof of your existing loyalty level. It’s worth completing it well before your cruise rather than waiting until the final few days.
There’s no guarantee you’ll receive a high MSC Voyagers Club tier, and the benefits won’t completely change your cruise. However, it’s still free value that many first-time MSC passengers miss.
MSC Cruises Mistakes to Avoid: Misunderstanding the Dining System
Dining is one of the areas most likely to catch first-time MSC passengers out. On many MSC sailings, your main dining arrangements are allocated before your first evening meal. Your cruise card will show your assigned dining time, restaurant and table number.
The main dining times are often around 5.30pm and 8pm, although this can vary by ship and itinerary. This is different from cruise lines where you can join a virtual queue, arrive at any time or select from several main dining rooms each evening. The mistake is assuming MSC main dining works like open dining and that you can simply arrive whenever you feel hungry.
If your cruise card says you’re dining at 8pm in a particular restaurant, that’s the sitting MSC has allocated to you. Turning up at 6.30pm instead may not mean you’ll be seated.
You can request a change, but the best time to do it is on embarkation day. On my MSC Poesia cruise, I was initially allocated the 8pm sitting. I preferred to eat earlier, so I visited the dining desk on embarkation day and requested the 5.30pm sitting. The change was made without a problem.
That doesn’t mean every request will be approved. It’ll depend on availability, and the most popular dining times may fill quickly. However, you’ll have a better chance if you ask as soon as you board rather than waiting until halfway through the cruise.
Shared tables are also common on MSC. If you strongly prefer a private table, ask early. Don’t assume one will automatically be allocated to you.
The fixed dining system can work well once you understand it. You’ll have the same time and table each evening, and your waiting team will become familiar with your preferences. The mistake is expecting a completely different dining system and only finding out how MSC works when you arrive for dinner.
MSC Cruises Mistakes to Avoid: Forgetting to Activate Your Onboard Account
MSC operates a cashless system onboard. Drinks, speciality dining, shopping and other purchases are charged to your cruise card. One mistake passengers make is assuming the payment card added during online check-in will always be fully activated and ready to use as soon as they board.
On many MSC ships, you’ll find self-service payment kiosks around the atrium. You can insert your bank card and link it to your onboard account. It only takes a couple of minutes, and it’s worth checking early in the cruise.
If your account hasn’t been activated correctly, your onboard spending may be restricted. That can lead to an awkward moment when you try to buy a drink or make another purchase and discover the account isn’t ready. This is one of those small pieces of cruise admin that’s easier to complete at the beginning.
Once you’ve completed your muster requirements, check that your payment method has been registered and your onboard account is working. You can then forget about it for the rest of the cruise and monitor your spending through the app or onboard system.
MSC Cruises Mistakes to Avoid: Assuming Every MSC Ship Works the Same Way
MSC has a large fleet made up of ships from different generations. The experience on one MSC ship won’t necessarily be identical to another.
Newer MSC ships may rely more heavily on the MSC for Me app. Theatre shows may need to be reserved in advance, and some ships use more modern lift and booking systems.
On an older ship, you may be able to walk into the theatre without booking, and the app may feel less central to the cruise. The facilities, restaurant choices and layout will also vary significantly. An MSC Poesia cruise won’t be the same experience as sailing on one of MSC’s newest and largest ships.
The itinerary matters as well. A Northern Europe cruise can have a different atmosphere from a short Mediterranean sailing, even when both cruises are operated by MSC. The mistake is hearing one piece of advice about MSC and assuming it applies to every ship in the fleet.
Before you sail, research your exact ship. Look at the deck plans, check which restaurants and bars are onboard, and find out whether theatre reservations are required. MSC isn’t one uniform experience. The ship, sailing length, embarkation port and itinerary can all affect how the cruise feels.
MSC Cruises Mistakes to Avoid: Expecting a British or American Cruise Atmosphere
MSC is an international European cruise line, and that’s reflected in the passenger mix onboard. You’ll hear several languages spoken around the ship. Announcements may be repeated in multiple languages, and passengers may have different dining times, holiday routines and expectations.
If most of your previous cruises have been with P&O Cruises or another line aimed strongly at British passengers, the difference can feel noticeable at first. The same applies if you’re used to an American cruise line where most announcements and activities are delivered in English.
The mistake is expecting MSC to recreate the atmosphere of your previous cruise line and then viewing every difference as a problem. Multilingual announcements can take longer. The dining style may feel more European. Passengers may use bars and lounges differently, and some activities won’t have the same focus you’d find on a British ship. That doesn’t make the experience worse. It makes it different.
Understanding this before you board will help you settle into the cruise much more quickly. MSC isn’t trying to be P&O Cruises, Princess or Royal Caribbean. It has its own international style, and you’ll enjoy it more if you judge it on that basis.
MSC Cruises Mistakes to Avoid: Paying More for Packages Onboard
Your MSC cruise fare includes your cabin, main dining, buffet food, entertainment and access to the standard facilities around the ship. You can have a good cruise without buying every extra package you’re offered.
However, drinks packages, Wi-Fi and some other upgrades are often cheaper when purchased before the cruise through the MSC booking portal. The mistake is leaving a package you already know you want until you’re onboard and then paying a higher price.
The opposite mistake is feeling pressured into buying an upgrade after boarding when you hadn’t planned to purchase one. You’ll usually see crew promoting drinks packages, speciality dining and other extras during embarkation day. That’s normal, but it doesn’t mean you need them.
Think about how you’ll realistically use the ship. If you only drink a small number of alcoholic drinks, a full drinks package may not represent good value. If you’re happy with the main dining room and buffet, you may not need a speciality dining package. If you only want occasional internet access in port, onboard Wi-Fi may not be essential.
You’ll make a better decision before the cruise when you can compare prices without the excitement and pressure of embarkation day.
Decide which extras matter to you, book any package you’re confident you’ll use, and remember that the included cruise experience already covers a significant amount.
MSC Cruises Mistakes to Avoid: Expecting a Printed Daily Planner
Another difference that can catch passengers out is the way MSC provides daily information. On many sailings, the MSC for Me app is the main place to find the daily programme, activity times, venue information and details about what’s happening around the ship.
You shouldn’t automatically expect a printed planner to appear in your cabin each evening. This can feel unfamiliar if you’re used to receiving a paper schedule showing every activity for the following day. The mistake is ignoring the app and then feeling as though you don’t know what’s happening onboard.
Download the MSC for Me app before your cruise and make sure you can log in. Once onboard, connect to the ship’s Wi-Fi network so the app can access the onboard features. You don’t usually need to purchase an internet package simply to use the cruise line’s own app.
Printed information may still be available if you prefer it. You can ask onboard for a printed daily schedule rather than assuming you have to use your phone for everything.
Restaurant menus may also be displayed using QR codes. If you’d rather have a physical menu, ask your waiter. Printed menus can usually be provided, but they may not automatically be placed on every table.
The app is helpful, but it shouldn’t make the cruise inaccessible to passengers who prefer paper. The key is knowing that you may need to request printed information rather than waiting for it to appear in your cabin.
MSC Cruises Mistakes to Avoid: Expecting Traditional British Entertainment
MSC entertainment has its own format, and it helps to understand that before you sail. The main theatre shows are often shorter than the productions you may have seen on other cruise lines. Many last around 30 to 35 minutes and focus on music, dance, costumes, lighting and visual performances.
You’re less likely to see a long West End-style production with a complete story running from beginning to end. Traditional British cruise entertainment, such as frequent quizzes and stand-up comedy in the main theatre, may also be less prominent.The mistake is measuring MSC entertainment entirely against what you’ve experienced on P&O Cruises or another British-focused line.
Where MSC often performs strongly is live music. Bars and lounges can have singers, musicians and bands performing throughout the evening. Entertainment is spread around the ship rather than being centred entirely on one long theatre production.
There may also be additional theatre performances on sea days, including guest singers and other acts. Themed evenings are another important part of the MSC experience. White Night is usually one of the most popular, with many passengers taking part. Other themes may include tropical or 1970s nights, depending on the itinerary.
It’s worth checking the daily programme so you know what’s planned and can pack something suitable if you want to join in. MSC entertainment may feel different, but there’s usually plenty happening. You’ll get more from it if you look beyond the theatre and explore the live music and themed events around the ship.
MSC Cruises Mistakes to Avoid: Not Learning the Lift System
Some MSC ships use destination lifts rather than traditional elevators. Instead of entering the lift and pressing a deck number inside, you select your destination before you board. The system then tells you which lift to use.
If you haven’t seen this type of system before, it can be confusing on embarkation day. Passengers sometimes enter the first available lift without selecting a deck, only to find there are no normal floor buttons inside.
The important thing is to enter the correct number of passengers when using the system. If several people are travelling together but only one person selects the deck once, the system may assign a lift that doesn’t have enough capacity.Not every MSC ship uses destination lifts, which is another reason to research your exact vessel.
Lift location also matters. The central lifts tend to be the busiest because they’re close to the main atrium and popular public areas. Forward or aft lifts can sometimes be quicker, particularly during busy periods.
Spend some time walking around the ship on your first day. Find the different lift banks, work out which one is closest to your cabin, and learn which routes are less crowded. This small amount of preparation can save a lot of waiting during sea days, before dinner and after theatre performances.
Are MSC Cruises Suitable for First-Time Cruisers?
MSC can be a good option for a first cruise, particularly if you like modern ships, international passengers, live music and a lively European atmosphere. However, it helps to do some research before you sail.
The booking experience tiers can be confusing if you only compare the headline price. Main dining may be fixed rather than flexible. The app plays an important role, and some elements of the entertainment will feel different from a traditional British cruise.
None of that makes MSC difficult. It simply means you’ll have a better experience when you understand how the cruise line operates.
Check the benefits attached to your booking tier, apply for a Voyagers Club status match if you’re eligible, and look at your dining allocation as soon as you receive your cruise card.
Activate your onboard account early, learn the ship layout and use the first day to understand how your particular MSC ship works. Most importantly, don’t board expecting MSC to feel exactly like another cruise line.
Once you adjust to its dining system, international atmosphere and entertainment style, the cruise becomes much easier to enjoy.
Are MSC Cruises Good Value?
MSC can offer very competitive cruise fares, but the final value depends on what you expect from the experience and how many extras you add. Your accommodation, main dining, buffet and entertainment are already included. That means you don’t need to purchase speciality dining, drinks packages or Wi-Fi to enjoy the cruise. However, the overall cost can rise if you add several upgrades after booking.
The best approach is to compare the full price rather than looking only at the initial fare. Check which MSC experience tier you’re selecting, whether gratuities or service charges are included in the price you’re seeing, and what you’re likely to spend on drinks and other extras. MSC can still offer excellent value, but you’ll make a better decision when you understand the complete cost before boarding.
Final Thoughts on MSC Cruises Mistakes to Avoid
Most MSC cruise mistakes are easy to avoid once you understand that the line operates in its own way. The cheapest booking tier won’t suit everyone. Dining changes are best requested on embarkation day. Loyalty benefits need to be arranged before you sail, and your onboard payment method should be confirmed early.
It’s also worth researching your exact ship rather than assuming every MSC vessel uses the same app, lift system or entertainment arrangements.
MSC’s international atmosphere is a major part of the experience. You’ll hear several languages, see different styles of entertainment and find a stronger focus on live music and themed evenings. Board with realistic expectations, deal with the practical details early and give yourself time to settle into the ship. Once you understand how MSC works, the differences stop feeling confusing and become part of the cruise.
Related MSC Cruise Guides
My What’s Onboard MSC Poesia guide gives you a full look around the ship, including the main public areas, pools, restaurants, bars, entertainment venues and facilities onboard.
The MSC Poesia Embarkation Day guide covers what happens when you arrive at the cruise terminal, the check-in process, your first few hours onboard and the important jobs to complete before sailaway.
My MSC Poesia Dining Guide explains the main dining rooms, buffet, included food and extra-charge dining options available on the ship.
My MSC Poesia bars guide gives you a closer look at the indoor and outdoor bars, lounges and evening venues around the ship.
I’ll also be adding a full MSC Drinks Packages Guide, including what the packages cover, how the different options compare and when paying for drinks individually may make more sense.
MSC Cruises Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the biggest mistake to avoid on an MSC cruise?
The biggest mistake is expecting MSC to operate exactly like another cruise line. Its fixed dining arrangements, international atmosphere, entertainment style and use of the MSC for Me app can feel different from P&O Cruises, Princess or Royal Caribbean.
Can you change your dining time on MSC Cruises?
You can ask to change your assigned dining time, but it’ll depend on availability. Visit the dining desk as early as possible on embarkation day, as it may be harder to make changes later in the cruise.
Do you need the MSC for Me app onboard?
The MSC for Me app is the main place to check the daily schedule, restaurant information and onboard activities on compatible ships. Download it before travelling, although you can ask for printed information if you’d prefer not to use your phone.
What’s included in an MSC cruise fare?
Your MSC cruise fare generally includes your cabin, main dining room meals, buffet food, entertainment and access to the ship’s standard facilities. Drinks packages, Wi-Fi, speciality restaurants, excursions and some other services cost extra.
Is it cheaper to buy MSC packages before the cruise?
Drinks packages, Wi-Fi and other extras are often cheaper when purchased before sailing. Compare the prices through your MSC booking before you board rather than assuming the onboard offer will be the best value.
Can you match loyalty status with MSC Cruises?
MSC offers a Voyagers Club status match for eligible members of selected cruise line, hotel and travel loyalty programmes. You need to apply before your cruise and provide evidence of your existing membership level.
Useful Cruise Items to Consider
These are a few simple items that can make your cruise more comfortable and help you stay organised onboard. I personally use variations of these when cruising, and they’re all practical rather than essential.
Magnetic hooks Perfect for extra storage in your cabin
Packing cubes Keep your suitcase organised
Cruise luggage tags Protect your tags at the port
Travel Extension Lead UK For charging multiple phones, cameras, and laptops
Toiletry organiser Great for small bathrooms
You can also browse my full Cruise Essentials list for more useful items I use or recommend for cruise holidays.
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Affiliate disclosure: This section contains an affiliate link. I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through the link, at no additional cost to you. I haven’t personally tested the Saily cruise eSIM yet, so check the current coverage, data allowance and compatibility with your phone before purchasing.