MSC Poesia does some things quite differently from the British and American cruise lines you may already be familiar with. None of it is particularly difficult once you understand how the ship works, but there are a few things that can catch you out during the first day or two.
From fixed dining times and cruise card activation to multiple embarkation ports, the MSC for Me app and a much more relaxed dress code than you might expect, knowing how things work before you sail can make a big difference.
These MSC Poesia tips are based on my own cruise onboard and cover the things I think are most useful to know before you go, including what’s included, embarkation and disembarkation, dining, cabins, WiFi, entertainment and what the refurbishment has changed.
MSC Poesia Video
For a quick overview before your cruise, you can also watch my 10 Things You Need to Know About MSC Poesia video. The video covers the main things that surprised me or that I think are worth understanding before you step onboard, while this guide goes into a little more detail.
Know What Your MSC Poesia Fare Actually Includes
One of the first things to understand is that what you get with an MSC cruise depends partly on the experience you booked. Your standard cruise fare includes your cabin, meals in the main dining rooms, the buffet, entertainment, swimming pools, gym access and most daytime activities.
You can also get water, tea and coffee from the buffet without paying extra, so it is perfectly possible to cruise on MSC Poesia without adding lots of extras once you’re onboard.
Where things start to differ is with the MSC booking experiences. Bella is the most basic option and gives you less flexibility. Fantastica usually gives you more choice, including the ability to select your cabin and request dining preferences. Aurea adds additional benefits such as priority embarkation, more flexible dining and spa-related benefits.
Everyone is still sailing on the same ship and using the same main facilities, but the experience you choose can affect how flexible your cruise feels, especially around dining and embarkation.
Gratuities can also depend on where you booked. On UK and European bookings, they’re normally included in the fare, while passengers booking in North America may have them added to their onboard account. The easiest thing to do is check your booking confirmation before you travel so you know exactly what applies to your cruise.
MSC Poesia Embarkation Works Differently
One of the biggest MSC Poesia tips I can give you is not to expect embarkation day to feel exactly like it does on every other cruise line. MSC often boards and disembarks passengers at several ports during the same itinerary. That means your embarkation port may be the start of your cruise, but other passengers onboard may already be several days into theirs.
You can have some people getting off, others getting on and passengers who are simply spending another normal port day onboard. It can make the ship and terminal feel slightly chaotic at first, but once you understand why, it makes much more sense.
Online check-in normally opens before you sail, but there are still some things you’ll need to do once you’re onboard. Your cruise card is usually waiting for you outside your cabin door rather than being handed to you in the terminal. Once you’ve collected it, it needs to be activated before you can properly use it for onboard purchases.
You’ll also need to complete the muster drill. On MSC Poesia, this involves watching the safety information and then physically going to your muster station so the crew can confirm you’ve attended. Once that’s done, there’s nothing else you’re required to do and you can start settling into the ship.
MSC Poesia Has Been Refurbished, but It’s Still the Same Type of Ship
MSC Poesia has now completed a major refurbishment, and some parts of the ship have changed quite significantly. The biggest addition is the MSC Yacht Club, which introduces a private ship-within-a-ship area with suites, its own restaurant, the Top Sail Lounge, butler service and a private outdoor area.
There have also been changes to dining, bars and facilities onboard, including the addition of Butcher’s Cut and other new or updated spaces. The gym and spa have also been upgraded.
What the refurbishment hasn’t done is turn MSC Poesia into one of MSC’s newest mega-ships. The general size, layout and character of the ship are still much the same. It remains a more traditional ship without huge waterparks, outdoor rollercoasters or lots of headline attractions.
For me, that’s important because it sets expectations correctly. You’re getting a refreshed version of MSC Poesia rather than a completely different ship.
Check Your Dining Time as Soon as You Board
Dining is probably one of the areas where MSC feels most different if you normally cruise with British or American cruise lines. For dinner in the main dining room, you’ll normally be allocated a restaurant, dining time and table. On MSC Poesia, the standard sittings on my cruise were around 5:30 pm and 8:00 pm. Your assigned restaurant and dining arrangements should be shown on your cruise card.
You may also be allocated a shared table rather than a table just for your own party, so don’t assume that travelling as a couple automatically means you’ll be sitting at a table for two.
The important thing is that you may be able to change your dining arrangements. On my cruise, there was a maître d specifically dealing with dining changes on embarkation day. I was originally allocated the later sitting and successfully changed to the earlier one. That one change made the rest of the cruise work much better for me, so I’d always recommend checking your dining arrangements as soon as you get onboard rather than waiting until later.
MSC Poesia has two main dining rooms, Il Palladio and Le Fontane. Le Fontane is also used for breakfast and lunch and can be a much calmer alternative to the buffet.
MSC Poesia Cabins Are Practical Rather Than Luxurious
Cabins on MSC Poesia are functional and generally have everything you need, but I wouldn’t describe them as particularly modern or luxurious. Inside cabins are compact but offer reasonable storage and comfortable beds. Oceanview and balcony cabins give you the obvious benefit of natural light and, in the case of a balcony cabin, your own outdoor space.
The bathrooms are fairly small, especially in some cabin categories, so unpacking properly and keeping things organised makes a difference.
If you’re worried about movement, choosing a cabin lower down and nearer the middle of the ship will generally give you a more stable location.
It’s also worth remembering that MSC Poesia is an older ship. Even after the refurbishment, cabin and corridor aren’t going to feel brand new.
The MSC Poesia Dress Code Is More Relaxed Than You Might Expect
The dress code was one of the areas where MSC Poesia felt much more relaxed than I expected. During the day, casual clothes are completely normal.
If you’re cruising in cooler weather, I’d concentrate more on packing layers than worrying about dressing up. Some of the indoor areas can also feel cool because of the air-conditioning.
Evenings are generally smart casual. In practice, you’ll see people wearing jeans, trousers, shirts, blouses, dresses and plenty of other fairly normal evening clothes.
MSC usually has a Gala Night or Dress to Impress evening, but that doesn’t mean you have to wear a tuxedo or formal evening dress. Some passengers dress up considerably while others wear smart jeans and a polo shirt. Both looked completely normal on my cruise.
MSC also has themed evenings, which can include things such as a White Party, tropical night or 60s and 70s-themed events. The White Party was particularly popular on my sailing, but you certainly didn’t look out of place if you decided not to take part. The MSC for Me app normally shows the evening themes, so check it before your cruise if you want to pack for them.
Entertainment on MSC Poesia Is More Traditional
MSC Poesia has plenty going on, but it doesn’t have the same kind of entertainment offering as a large Royal Caribbean ship. The main theatre has evening shows with singers, dancers and guest performers, while live music is a big part of the atmosphere in the bars and lounges.
During the day, you’ll find quizzes, organised activities, dance classes, poolside entertainment and other events around the ship. What you won’t find are lots of large-scale attractions competing for your attention. There are no surf simulators, huge waterslide complexes or major outdoor attractions.
That gives the ship a different rhythm. You can have a drink in one of the lounges, listen to live music, watch a show or simply spend some time looking out to sea without feeling as though you should be rushing off to the next reservation. If you prefer a calmer and slightly more traditional cruise experience, that may be one of MSC Poesia’s strengths.
Download the MSC for Me App Before You Sail
The MSC for Me app is one thing I’d definitely sort out before you leave home. A lot of the information you need onboard is available through the app, including the daily programme, entertainment times and dining information. You don’t need to buy an internet package just to use it onboard.
Once you’re on the ship, put your phone into airplane mode, turn WiFi back on and connect to the ship’s network. You can then use the MSC for Me app without having a paid internet package.
If you do want normal internet access for messaging, browsing, emails or social media, you’ll need to buy one of MSC’s WiFi packages. I used the streaming package on my cruise and found it worked well enough for normal everyday use around most of the ship. Speeds can obviously vary depending on where you are and how busy the network is, but I didn’t have any major problems with it. Even if you don’t plan to buy WiFi, I’d still download and log into MSC for Me before you travel.
MSC Poesia Works for Families, but It Isn’t an Activity-Packed Family Ship
MSC Poesia does cater for families, and there are kids’ clubs and organised activities for different ages. What it doesn’t have is the huge number of family attractions you’ll find on some newer cruise ships. There are no large waterslide complexes, surf simulators or big outdoor adventure areas. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad choice for families. It just suits a different type of family cruise.
If your children are happy with swimming, kids’ clubs, organised activities, shows, ports and spending time together, there’s plenty to do. If you’re specifically looking for a ship where the attraction is having constant high-energy activities onboard, MSC Poesia probably won’t be the strongest choice.
You Don’t Need to Book Everything Before Your MSC Poesia Cruise
One thing I really liked about MSC Poesia was the lack of pressure to reserve everything. On my winter sailing, I could turn up to bars and lounges and find somewhere to sit without a problem. I didn’t need to reserve theatre shows or plan my evenings around lots of different booking times. There was generally seating available for the live music and I could decide what I wanted to do as I went along.
That makes a surprisingly big difference to the feel of the cruise. On some ships, you can spend a lot of time checking an app, setting reminders and worrying that you’ll miss something because you haven’t booked it. MSC Poesia felt much more relaxed in that respect.
There may still be things you choose to book in advance, particularly speciality restaurants or packages where MSC offers a pre-cruise saving, but you don’t need to organise your entire cruise before you arrive.
How Disembarkation Works on MSC Poesia
MSC Poesia uses assigned disembarkation times and luggage colour groups. If you’re using the standard process, you’ll normally leave your suitcase outside your cabin the night before and then collect it once you’ve left the ship.
If you want to leave earlier, self-disembarkation is normally available. That means keeping your luggage with you overnight and carrying it off the ship yourself. Whichever option you choose, check the information provided onboard before the final morning because your meeting point and departure time will be clearly explained.
What Most People Don’t Realise About MSC Poesia
I think one of the easiest ways to misunderstand MSC Poesia is to judge it using the expectations you’d have of another cruise line. MSC has its own way of doing things.
Dining is more structured. Passengers can embark at different ports. Your cruise card needs activating onboard. The ship has an international passenger mix and announcements can be multilingual.
At the same time, the dress code is surprisingly relaxed, you don’t need to book everything in advance and the ship itself is easy to navigate once you know your way around.
The refurbishment has added new facilities and more premium options, but MSC Poesia is still fundamentally a smaller, more traditional MSC ship.
If you go onboard expecting that, rather than expecting a brand-new mega-ship, I think the whole experience makes much more sense.
Useful Guides for Your MSC Poesia Cruise
If you’re cruising on MSC Poesia, I have several other guides that go into different parts of the ship in more detail.
My MSC Poesia What’s Onboard Guide gives you a full look around the ship, including the main public areas, restaurants, bars, pools, entertainment venues and other facilities.
My MSC Poesia refit guide explains what changed during the refurbishment and which areas of the ship have been added or updated.
My MSC Poesia Dining Guide covers the included and extra-charge places to eat onboard, while my MSC Poesia Main Dining Room Guide explains dining assignments, tables, meal times and what to expect in Il Palladio and Le Fontane.
My MSC Poesia bars guide gives you a closer look at the indoor and outdoor bars, lounges and evening venues around the ship.
For my overall opinion of the ship, my MSC Poesia honest review covers what I liked, what could be improved and whether I think MSC Poesia is worth booking.
MSC Poesia FAQ
Is MSC Poesia a new ship?
No. MSC Poesia is an older MSC ship that has undergone a major refurbishment. Some areas have been significantly updated, but the overall size, layout and traditional character of the ship remain.
What food is included on MSC Poesia?
Your fare includes meals in the main dining rooms and buffet. Water, tea and coffee are also available from the buffet. Speciality restaurants and many other drinks cost extra.
Do you need to book shows on MSC Poesia?
On my cruise, I didn’t need to book the theatre shows in advance and could usually find a good seat by simply turning up. This can depend on how busy your sailing is, but MSC Poesia generally doesn’t require the same level of advance planning as some larger ships.
Can you change your dining time on MSC Poesia?
You may be able to change your dining time after boarding. On my cruise, a maître d was dealing with dining changes on embarkation day and I was able to move from the late sitting to the earlier sitting. It’s best to ask as soon as you board.
Do you need WiFi to use the MSC for Me app?
No. You can use the MSC for Me app onboard by connecting to the ship’s network without buying an internet package. You’ll need a paid WiFi package if you want normal internet access.
Is MSC Poesia formal?
MSC Poesia has Gala or Dress to Impress evenings and themed nights, but the overall dress code is relaxed. Some passengers dress up while others wear smart-casual clothes, and you don’t need formal evening wear to enjoy the main dining room.
Is MSC Poesia good for families?
MSC Poesia has kids’ clubs, pools and organised activities, but it doesn’t have the large waterparks and high-energy attractions found on some newer family ships. It suits families who prefer a more traditional cruise experience.
Is MSC Poesia worth booking?
MSC Poesia is worth considering if you prefer a smaller, more traditional ship with live music, theatre shows, pools, straightforward dining and a more relaxed pace. The refurbishment has added newer facilities, but it’s still best suited to passengers who aren’t looking for a ship packed with headline attractions.
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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Cruise eSIM from Saily
Buying the ship’s WiFi package isn’t the only way to stay connected during a cruise. Saily has launched a cruise eSIM that provides mobile data at sea and in supported ports, which could be worth considering if you mainly need internet access for messaging, maps and general browsing.
You can check the available plans and coverage here: Saily Cruise Esim
Use discount code solotravel10 to receive 10 % off your purchase.
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.