msc vs norwegian cruise line

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Norwegian Cruise Line vs MSC Cruises

Saturday, May 4th

2024 Cruise Line Reviews

• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Best for large-ship sailing, especially in Alaska
• 18 ships in the fleet
• Ships accommodate anywhere from 1,900 to 4,000+ passengers
• Private island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay
• Exciting amenities on board, like go-kart tracks and climbing walls
• No required or recommended gratuities
• Freestyle cruising plus "Free at Sea" promos can make your cruise flexible and affordable

Norwegian Cruise Line, or NCL, offers sailings to destinations around the world plus exciting entertainment and flexible amenities. NCL is suitable for cruisers of all ages and adventure levels, and it's one of the only non-luxury class cruise lines that doesn't require gratuities (or even recommend them at any particular amount). While being on a ship with 2,000-4,000 other passengers might not appeal to some vacationers, NCL's large ships make it easy to eat, play, and relax in any way you want.

• MSC Cruises
• Best for budget-friendly, Mediterranean-themed, large-ship cruising in the Caribbean, Europe, and Mediterranean
• 23 ships in the fleet
• Private island in the Bahamas on some itineraries

MSC Cruises is an Italian-themed, family-oriented cruise line with a fleet of 23 ships that sail to destinations worldwide. They offer a wide range of itineraries, from short Caribbean cruises to longer world cruises. Caribbean sailings are one of their specialties, with budget-friendly fares often starting at $139 per person for a three-night Bahamas cruise. However, guests should be aware of additional costs for gratuities, drinks, and dining packages, and even for basics like choosing the stateroom or dining room seating time. While the low initial fares may seem like a bargain, fees for "extras" can add up quickly, so it's worth comparing MSC to other cruise lines before booking your sailing.

More Cruise Line Reviews

• Royal Caribbean

• Disney Cruise Line

• Celebrity Cruises

• Virgin Voyages

• Viking Cruises

• Regent Seven Seas

• Princess Cruises

• Holland America

• Carnival Cruises

The 15 Best Cruise Lines

Which cruise line is the best.

Cruising is a popular way of traveling for many people, offering a unique experience that combines the convenience of a floating hotel with the excitement of visiting multiple destinations in one trip. In an average year, over fifteen million people say "all aboard" and set sail on an amazing vacation.

There are many different cruise lines to choose from, and each one offers a different type of experience. Some are geared towards families, while others are more focused on luxury or adventure. What would you like to see and do while you're onboard? Is a casino a must-have or a rather-avoid? Would a Broadway-caliber show tip the scales for you? Do you need a wide range of activities to keep the kiddos happy while the adults live it up or relax? The onboard activities and amenities can really make or break your vacation, so be sure you know what you're getting.

Cruise Line FAQ

Which cruise line is the best, what is included in the cost of a cruise, what is the minimum age to cruise, what are the dining options on a cruise ship, are cruise ships crowded, do i have to dress up, are activities included at destination ports, can i bring my own alcohol onboard.

Continued from above...

Another factor that can influence which cruise line you choose is the itinerary. Cruise ships travel all over the world, but some cruise lines may not have destinations available where you're hoping to go. You should also consider the size of the ship: larger ships offer more amenities, but smaller ships can access ports that bigger ships can't.

Speaking of amenities, make sure you understand what you'll get as part of your fare and which extras will come with an additional cost. For example, most cruises offer drink packages for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, but a few have drink stations where you can get complimentary lemonade, coffee and tea. Other amenities that might be important to you are Wi-Fi, spa services, babysitting, fitness classes, and upgraded dining experiences. You can usually get a decent discount if you sign up for an amenities package before you sail, so keep an eye out for promotions in the months leading up to your sailing.

When you take a cruise, it's almost always expected that you'll tip the crew members who have attended to your needs while onboard: your cabin steward ( who probably leaves your towels folded into fun shapes every night ), your servers at your nightly meals, and the head waiter. Cruise lines have a recommended gratuity to cover all three of those staff members, usually $15-$20 per traveler, per day; the total gratuity amount may be charged automatically to your account, or you may be given envelopes to make cash payments.

While it usually isn't mandatory to pay those gratuities - you can ask to have them removed if they're applied automatically, especially if you've received poor service - it's typically considered in poor taste not to tip at the suggested levels (because crew members' salaries, much like servers at your local restaurant, are based on the expectation of tips paid by guests). And, if you receive service that goes above and beyond, adding to the recommended gratuity is always appreciated. Be aware that tips for bartenders, poolside servers, and professional services provided in the spa or elsewhere are not included in the daily suggested gratuity and may be charged automatically at the time of service.

Now that you have a good overview of the cruising experience, which cruise line should you choose? Beyond the points we already covered, here are a few additional criteria that might make it easier to pick:

• Embarkation port. You could get a great deal on a cruise, but what will it cost you to get to the port? That could involve airfare, an overnight stay or two in a nearby hotel (so that you're less likely to be affected by travel delays), and transportation from the airport or hotel to the port. This is especially true if you're taking a cruise that departs from an international destination.
• Perks for repeat cruisers. Like frequent flyer programs on airlines, most cruise lines offer benefits the more you sail. If you find yourself absolutely loving cruise vacations, it can be advantageous to put all of your eggs in one basket, so to speak. Rewards programs can include casino benefits, complimentary meals at the upgraded dining experiences, exclusive sail-away parties with free cocktails and tchotchkes, early-access booking on future cruises, and much more.
• Reputation. It's a really smart idea to see what other travelers have said about their overall experience with a cruise line before booking your trip. The ads on TV may make that private island look amazing, but someone who's been there might point out that you'll pay extra to get on that waterslide. Or, previous cruisers could tell you that despite having several formal nights on the schedule, a particular cruise line has no problem with people showing up to dinner in flip-flops and swimsuit coverups. Find out if the cruise line you're considering lines up in reality with what they advertise.

Here at Top Consumer Reviews, cruising is one of our favorite ways to travel and experience new things. And with so many different cruise lines to choose from, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. But, don't worry: take a look at our in-depth analysis of today's most popular options, find the one that's the best match for your vacation ideas and your travel party, and book that trip you've been dreaming of. Bon voyage!

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• Norwegian Cruise Line

MSC Meraviglia vs. NCL Encore

By carolgeno , May 26, 2019 in Norwegian Cruise Line

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planning a cruise for January 2020 and cannot decide between Encore or Meraviglia.  Ports do not matter.  This will be an anniversary trip 55th years.  MSC is cheaper with drinks, internet and a show.  Any suggestions will be appreciated.

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Well Encore is a new ship. So, hard to say ... depends what type of cabin you are looking at. 

We have been with NCL for 10 years, balconies and above including Haven for 40 day repositioning cruise Australia .

Just sailed MSC Meraviglia in March. Flew into Barcelona a week early and really enjoyed a week there. Then boarded ship and cruised Western Med. for a week. Also, lovely. We then went to London for a week then home.

We were in the YC on that cruise and it was really nice. Much nicer than the Haven on NCL, IMHO. Restaurants much better. New menus everyday for all meals.

Enjoyed the entertainment offered. They only allow certain number for each show, smaller theatre. You just use TV screen to reserve spot for shows.  We liked this more than the giant theatres on NCL and everyone fighting for a seat or saving seats.

We will celebrate our 40th this Sept on our NCL Bliss Alaska cruise.

Since yours will be a special trip, I can whole heartedly recommend the Meraviglia, and go in the Yacht Club.  😉

I have not sailed MSC, but have been on the Bliss which was designed for Alaska (we were in the Caribbean for our cruise). I really like sailing on NCL. Some of the things I understand about MSC vs NCL.

You will have the opportunity for Broadway  level shows on NCL (Jersey Boys), MSC has in house productions.

Announcements in many languages and I believe some found that tiresome on MSC.

Heard reports that MSC is constantly trying to upsell you once onboard, when you already have a dinner or drinks package.

One of things I've always enjoyed is the range of entertainment that's around the ship with NCL. We enjoyed a singer/pianist in the Bliss Observation deck after dinner and before out late seating for Jersey Boys.There was a comedian/Pianist/singer in the District Brew House. Beatles show in the Cavern Club. Fun comedy shows. 

This weekend NCL has a take all promotion and the airfare perk with at least a Balcony stateroom. Perhaps do a mock booking online again or call to see if there's a right package.

Congrats on your milestone and enjoy the celebration whether on NCL or MSC.

Two Wheels Only

14 minutes ago, Nola26 said: Heard reports that MSC is constantly trying to upsell you once onboard, when you already have a dinner or drinks package.

This wasn't my experience on Seaside but I was in the Yacht Club so maybe that was a factor....?

For the OP,...

Which stateroom/"experience" category are you looking towards as far as Bliss vs Meraviglia?

Haven vs. Yacht Club?

Spa Balcony/Spa Mini-Suite vs Aurea?

Balcony vs. Fantastica?

Interior/Oceanview vs. Bella?

tallnthensome

Well, I've sailed the NCL Bliss and Encore as well as the newer MSC Seaside so I guess I could make a suggestion.  I don't know your cruise history and what aspect of a cruise is most important. I will say that the food, entertainment, and service will be a bit better on the Encore. The major gripes that MSC cruisers have are what I listed above. The MSC ships are stunning visually. We had a wonderful cruise on MSC ..... One of the nicest ever. The MSC website and customer service is really bad. Bad enough to make you want to smash your phone and computer. For safety sake, do the Encore. We are booked on her for 2021. MSC low prices are nice but those low prices do come at a cost per se. 

2 minutes ago, tallnthensome said: Bad enough to make you want to smash your phone and computer.

I would never, ever, EVER, try to book MSC via a phone. Their mobile site is somehow worse than their main site...and I thought that nothing could be worse than their main site. 

I've been on MSC twice, and was never pressured to upsell either a drink or dining pkg. When my wife went to the spa, they tried selling stuff, but happens on all lines.

Tallnthensome....  Wonder how you've sailed on Encore since her initial TA is Nov 2019?

1 hour ago, Hrhbob said: Tallnthensome....  Wonder how you've sailed on Encore since her initial TA is Nov 2019?

Sorry, it was 4AM .... that was supposed to be the Escape .....

newmexicoNita

19 hours ago, deliver42 said: I've been on MSC twice, and was never pressured to upsell either a drink or dining pkg. When my wife went to the spa, they tried selling stuff, but happens on all lines.

I do agree, most lines the spas are the worst at trying to see you everything, but it seems to me NCL isn't quite as bad as a few others we have visited. I won't mention the worst i even encountered because it isn't either of the ships we are discussing. All I can say about MSC versus NCL would be hear say from family and old clients when I was still an agent. There were many things they did not like about MSC but again hear say only. 

We've sailed MSC Divina in the YC and Escape. We have Seaside YC booked and I'm here checking things out for a return visit to NCL. 

NCL Escape - we loved the entertainment, anytime dining, Waterfront, incredibly fun and friendly crew, and again- the lively entertainment.There's not much we did not like.

MSC - the YC is a awesome experience. Outside of the YC - we had a really, really hard time getting drinks in the bars (and we were tipping). The entertainment was not to our taste - they were super talented but just not our taste. The pool areas seemed nice. Keep in mind this was about 4 years ago and a lot can change  - especially regarding service as MSC has had time to acclimate more to sailing in the western hemisphere. 

We just made the decision tonight to cruise in early 2020 . I'm going to grab the current NCL promotion and low deposit while it's offered and go from there. Good luck!

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The ultimate guide to Norwegian Cruise Line ships and itineraries

L ooking for a cruise where you can do what you want, whenever you want, without a lot of structure and rules? Norwegian Cruise Line could be your brand.

The Miami-based cruise line pioneered the idea of "freestyle cruising" — cruising without rigid dining schedules, dress codes and formal nights — and it's still the go-to line for vacationers who want a floating resort experience with a casual, laissez-faire vibe.

Instead of a few big main restaurants with fixed seating times, Norwegian ships offer a wide range of eateries and no assigned seating times — just make a reservation. When it's time for dinner, if you want to dress up, fine. There's no rule saying you must, though.

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Norwegian vessels also offer lots of options for daytime fun but are particularly well known for evening entertainment. You'll find everything from music halls with Beatles cover bands and dueling piano bars to theaters with some of the most elaborate shows at sea — including some big-name Broadway productions.

Norwegian ships are also loaded with bars, lounges and nightclubs, including always-busy casinos. Put it all together, and you have vessels with a very lively atmosphere — particularly at night. If you had to compare Norwegian ships to something on land, you'd probably say they were like floating versions of the casino resorts you find in Las Vegas.

Just to be clear, Norwegian is a big-ship line . Its largest vessels are among the biggest cruise ships at sea (they must be, to accommodate everything mentioned above). If you want an intimate cruise experience, Norwegian probably isn't a good choice.

That said, the line does offer some smaller ships that aren't quite as big and bustling as its giants.

Norwegian is also a mass-market brand, not a luxury cruise operator. Still, as we'll explain below, it offers a wide range of accommodations, some of which fall squarely in the luxury segment. In some cases, its ships have an exclusive area full of high-end cabins and suites called The Haven that comes with its own private pools, lounge areas and even restaurants.

In short, if you want to turn a Norwegian cruise into a luxury experience , you can do that, too. Norwegian really is the line where you make the trip what you want it to be.

Related: Which cruise brand is right for you?

3 things TPG loves about Norwegian Cruise Line

• The do-what-you-want freestyle vibe
• The wide range of restaurants, bars and nightspots
• The stellar entertainment

What we could do without

• The sky-high extra charges

The Norwegian Cruise Line fleet

Norwegian is the world's fourth-largest cruise line by passenger capacity, with 19 ships that together offer 56,780 berths.

Smaller only than Royal Caribbean , Carnival Cruise Line and MSC Cruises , the brand has become increasingly known for having some of the biggest, most amenity-filled vessels at sea. The line doesn't just operate giant ships, though. More than half of its fleet is comprised of vessels that, by today's standards, are considered almost midsize.

Indeed, Norwegian is essentially two cruise lines in one. The line's nine newest ships are big, bustling floating megaresorts that can carry upwards of 3,000 to 4,000 passengers at double occupancy (and even more with every berth filled). At around 143,000 to nearly 170,000 tons, all eight currently rank among the 50 biggest cruise ships in the world (although their rankings will shift downward as more big ships debut).

Related: How to book a cruise with points and miles

However, Norwegian's 10 older ships are much more modest in size, measuring around 75,000 to 94,000 tons and carrying closer to 2,000 passengers at double occupancy.

Norwegian thus appeals both to cruisers who like a giant resort vibe and those who prefer something more modest. The key, depending on your tastes, is getting on the right ship in the fleet.

On the big-ship end of the spectrum, Norwegian's four relatively new Breakaway Plus-class vessels — Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Escape — are the line's premier offerings. While not quite as big as Royal Caribbean's giant, Oasis-class ships , they are firmly in the pantheon of the world's cruising giants. They are the Norwegian vessels most packed with restaurants, bars, entertainment and over-the-top attractions.

Unveiled in 2019, Norwegian Encore is, notably, the 23rd biggest cruise ship in the world as of this story's publishing (it will drop in the rankings over the coming years as additional megaships debut). At 169,116 tons, it's bigger than all but three Carnival ships. Only Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises have significantly more bigger vessels.

One step down in size from the Breakaway Plus ships are the still-quite-large Breakaway-class ships — Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway — as well as the one-of-a-kind Norwegian Epic and the recently unveiled Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva .

Around 17% smaller than Norwegian's biggest vessels, Prima and Viva are the first tow of six sister ships that the line will roll out between now and 2027 that will significantly change the composition of its fleet. While not the biggest vessels in the Norwegian fleet, these ships will be notably packed with restaurants, bars, entertainment venues and decktop attractions. They also mark a more upscale turn for the line, with more space per passenger than earlier Norwegian ships and lots of suites.

Related: I've been on nearly every Norwegian ship. Here are my first impressions of Norwegian Prima

Norwegian's 10 smaller vessels break down among five classes, but many are roughly the same size and offer similar amenities.

One notable outlier among the smaller ships is the 2,186-passenger Pride of America. Sporting a patriotic U.S. theme (you'll find venues named after Thomas Jefferson and John Adams), and a distinct array of lounges and entertainment, it's the only big cruise vessel based year-round in Hawaii.

Pride of America notably operates with a mostly U.S. crew, in keeping with regulations governing cruise itineraries that only include U.S. ports.

Related: Our take on the new Norwegian Encore

Destinations and itineraries

Norwegian sails almost everywhere in the world, but its heaviest presence is in the Caribbean, Europe and Alaska.

In a typical summer, the line will deploy nearly half its ships to Europe while sending several more to the West Coast to sail to Alaska from Seattle; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Seward, Alaska. It'll also operate trips to Bermuda from New York City and Boston, usually with two ships, and trips to the Bahamas and the Caribbean out of Miami.

During the winter, the line will move many of its vessels to North America to operate sailings to the Caribbean and Bahamas. It also sends a few ships to Asia, Australia and South America, and it'll typically keep a single vessel in Europe, too.

As mentioned above, the line also operates one ship (Pride of America) in Hawaii year-round. It's the only cruise line to offer year-round voyages in Hawaii.

In North America, Norwegian ships sail out of Baltimore; Boston; Galveston, Texas; New York City; Miami; Tampa; San Juan, Puerto Rico; New Orleans; San Diego; Los Angeles; San Francisco; Seattle; Honolulu; Vancouver, British Columbia; Quebec City; and Seward, Alaska.

In Europe, Norwegian ships sail out of Amsterdam; Stockholm; Copenhagen; Oslo and Tromso, Norway; Southampton and Portsmouth, England; Le Havre, France; Reykjavik; Lisbon, Portugal; Barcelona; Civitavecchia (the port for Rome) and Trieste, Italy (near Venice); Piraeus, Greece (the port for Athens); and Istanbul.

Related: The best Caribbean cruise for every type of traveler

Who sails Norwegian Cruise Line?

Norwegian appeals to vacationers who want a big-resort experience at sea with lots of options for dining and entertainment. In that, it's similar to Royal Caribbean — perhaps its closest competitor.

However, unlike Royal Caribbean, Norwegian hasn't retained any of the trappings of old-style cruising. There are no formal nights, as you'll still find on Royal Caribbean ships, or dress codes. Norwegian has also thoroughly done away with the concept of big main restaurants with fixed seating.

Because of that, Norwegian is popular with people who are seeking flexibility — freedom to eat when they want, with whom they want and to dress however they want, for sure, but also more freedom in general to just set their own schedule day and night.

Norwegian cruises are very unstructured vacations, and that's by design.

Like Royal Caribbean ships, Norwegian vessels have an inordinate amount of teen- and tween-friendly attractions — everything from some of the largest waterslides at sea to the only go-kart tracks on the ocean . That makes them particularly appealing to families, including multigenerational groups. Families are a big part of Norwegian's business.

It's not just families that flock to Norwegian, though. The line's ships are designed to offer a little something for everyone, and thus they appeal to a wide demographic, including couples of all ages and even solo travelers (the line has been a leader in adding solo cabins to ships in recent years). They also draw customers with a wide range of incomes.

At their core, Norwegian ships are mass-market ships, with entry-level cabins that are affordable to middle-class travelers. However, overlaid across most vessels are high-end suites and services that are at a luxury level, and the line draws a good number of luxury-seeking travelers.

The exclusive, keycard-accessed suite complex called The Haven (found on 13 of Norwegian's 19 ships) comes with private lounges, pools and other tony features. It's essentially a small, luxury vessel that has been planted atop otherwise middle-class, mass-market megaships. These complexes appeal to well-heeled travelers who want a luxury cruising experience while also getting all the fun attractions, entertainment and dining venues only a mass-market megaship can offer.

Cabins and suites

Norwegian is known for offering a wide range of accommodations on its ships. You'll find everything from relatively low-cost, windowless inside cabins that measure as little as 135 square feet (perfect for the budget traveler) to massive, multi-room suites that are more than 50 times that size.

At the high end, the accommodations are aimed at affluent travelers who, for whatever reason, prefer the megaship experience to that of a luxury ship, and they truly are among the most spectacular accommodations at sea.

Some, such as the giant Garden Villas found on six Norwegian ships — Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Star — sprawl over thousands of square feet and have as many as three bedrooms plus separate living rooms and dining rooms.

The Garden Villas also have private outdoor sun decks and courtyards with hot tubs. Additionally, the Garden Villas on Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Star include private outdoor dining areas and steam rooms.

Depending on the ship, top suites can come with perks such as private butlers and concierges who attend to your every need, access to a private restaurant, a private suite lounge and sun deck, reserved seating in entertainment venues and priority boarding and disembarkation.

On more than half of Norwegian's ships, many of the top suites are part of The Haven. Billed as an upscale "ship within a ship" and aimed at luxury travelers, The Haven is located at the very top of vessels and often comes with private lounges, pools, sunning areas and even restaurants.

Norwegian is also heralded for kicking off the trend of more solo cabins on cruise ships . In 2010, it debuted an entire zone of small studio cabins for one — 128 in all — on its then-new, 4,070-passenger Norwegian Epic, and it has since added them to seven more new ships.

The studio cabins are tiny at just 100 square feet. However, they're superbly designed to maximize storage space. On the ships that have them, they are clustered around an exclusive Studio Lounge where solo travelers can mingle at daily happy hour gatherings.

Related: What it takes to get concierge lounge access on a cruise ship

Restaurants and dining

Norwegian was an early pioneer of the idea of giving cruisers lots of choices when it comes to restaurants on ships, and even its smallest vessels offer a wide range of options.

On Norwegian's recently built Breakaway Plus-class ships, there are up to 20 places to grab a bite, ranging from high-end French restaurants and steakhouses to casual pubs.

Every vessel has two or three main restaurants and a casual buffet where meals are included in the fare — the latter is usually called the Garden Cafe.

Other included-in-the-fare venues found on some ships include O'Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar and Grill, a casual pub; an outdoor bar and grill called Topsiders; and casual Asian restaurants that go by many names including Shanghai's Noodle Bar, Ginza and Bamboo.

Also, every ship has a least four and often many more extra-charge eateries. Two found across the entire fleet are Cagney's, the line's signature steakhouse, and Le Bistro, a fine French restaurant. Every ship also has an Italian restaurant, called Onda by Scarpetta or La Cucina. There also are churrascaria restaurants called Moderno on most Norwegian vessels.

On some ships, you'll also find Ocean Blue, a seafood restaurant; The District Brew House, a gastropub serving craft beers; and a Mexican spot called either Los Lobos or Los Lobos Cantina. Every vessel has some sort of sushi restaurant, often called Sushi or Wasabi, and there are hibachi-style teppanyaki restaurants on nearly every Norwegian vessel.

You might even find Starbucks stores on some ships (the one-year-old Norwegian Prima has two!) and there are Starbucks products on every Norwegian vessel. Also, some ships have private restaurants just for passengers staying in The Haven.

Some of the extra-charge restaurants come with a flat fee (the teppanyaki outlets are $59 per person, not including the cost of drinks). However, most are a la carte, with sometimes hefty pricing. One thing you need to know upfront about going on a Norwegian cruise is that there are a lot of extra charges — and sometimes quite high extra charges — on the line's ships, particularly for things like restaurants.

A surf-and-turf dish at Ocean Blue that combines an 8-ounce filet mignon with a lobster tail costs $55, for example. If you just order a whole lobster, you'll be out $49. The least expensive entree on the menu, a roasted cauliflower steak, is $22.

If you know you want to eat at several extra-charge restaurants during a single voyage, you can buy one of several dining packages that offer meals at a discount.

Related: The 7 best meals you can have at sea

Entertainment and activities

Few lines offer as broad a range of entertainment and activities on their ships as Norwegian. The line's biggest vessels offer multiple entertainment venues, from theaters to comedy clubs; a wide range of deck-top attractions; large casinos; full-service spas; and even virtual reality attractions. You'll also find a seemingly endless array of bars, lounges and nightspots.

Theaters and shows

Entertainment is one of the core areas where Norwegian excels, and if you're the kind of person who loves nights out with live music and lively performances on your vacations, you're going to love the line.

Many of Norwegian's biggest ships have state-of-the-art theaters as big as those you'd find on Broadway, with big-name productions to match. Norwegian Bliss, for instance, has the Tony Award-winning "Jersey Boys."

In some cases, the Broadway shows are cut down slightly from the original versions, and the casts aren't quite as seasoned as what you'll find on Broadway. However, these are quality productions. The best part is they are entirely free. Compare that with the hundreds of dollars you'd spend to take your family to a show in New York City.

Norwegian ships also are jam-packed with music venues. Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Epic, for instance, have the Cavern Club, a reproduction of the British club that gave rise to the Beatles. It comes complete with a cover band that plays the group's greatest hits.

There are also Howl at the Moon dueling piano bars on some Norwegian ships, and there's the lively Q Texas Smokehouse found on Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Joy (a music-and-food concept that pairs live music with barbecue).

In addition, several Norwegian ships offer dinner theater venues with circus-type productions, and one vessel, Norwegian Getaway, features a magic-infused dinner theater show in a steampunk-inspired space called The Illusionarium.

Several ships also offer comedy club entertainment.

Other interior attractions and activities

In addition to entertainment spaces, the interiors of Norwegian ships are loaded with other venues where passengers can kick back and let loose day and night.

All but one Norwegian ship (Pride of America) has a casino, and on the line's bigger vessels, they are huge operations. The casino on Norwegian Encore has more than 300 slot machines and 26 table games (including blackjack, roulette, poker and craps), plus its own bar.

On the line's big Breakaway-class and Breakaway Plus-class ships, the casino — along with a large proportion of all onboard restaurants, bars and clubs — sprawls across three central decks connected by an atrium-like space known as 678 Ocean Place (the name derives from the location of the decks, which on each ship are decks 6, 7 and 8). At night, these three-deck complexes become bustling places.

The Breakaway- and Breakaway Plus-class ships have innovative outdoor promenades called The Waterfront lined with seating for many restaurants and bars. The Waterfront is located on Deck 8 of each of the ships, which is one of the main decks for restaurants on them all.

Like the ships of the Breakaway and Breakaway-plus classes, the Prima Class ships have a lively zone that mixes casino space, bars, eateries and entertainment that sprawls across decks 6, 7 and 8. These vessels also have outdoor eating space in an area called Ocean Boulevard.

In addition, Norwegian two new Prima Class ships (Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva), as well as another relatively new Norwegian vessels — Norwegian Encore — have innovative gaming and virtual reality zones called Galaxy Pavilion (a fourth Galaxy Pavilion area on Norwegian Joy is being removed during an overhaul in dry dock scheduled for early 2024).

There's nothing quite like Galaxy Pavilion in the cruise world. The venue has an amazing array of high-tech virtual reality experiences, including incredibly realistic race car simulators (on Norwegian Encore, there are eight in a row along one wall), hang gliding simulators, virtual mazes and a virtual reality "Jurassic Park" ride.

The Galaxy Pavilion on Norwegian Encore is the biggest of them all. Among added features, it includes a 45-minute escape room experience laced with special effects. Themed around a Spanish galleon, it's designed to be played by up to six people at a time.

Just be warned that you'll pay a hefty fee to play in the Galaxy Pavilion. A weeklong pass to the venue will set you back $199 per person. There also are hourlong passes available for $29 per person, or you can sample a single ride for $8 (except for the escape room, which is priced separately at $15 per person).

There's also a bowling alley on Norwegian Epic and duck pin bowling lanes on Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Breakaway.

Norwegian ships also all have Mandara Spas, which can be quite big on the bigger vessels, and there are fitness centers on every ship.

Deck-top attractions

What you'll find on the top decks of Norwegian ships will vary quite a bit depending on the vessel. The line's smaller ships will have at least one or two pools, sunning areas and usually a sports court area — but not all that much else.

The big ships are a different story.

On the line's Breakaway-, Breakaway Plus- and Epic-class ships, you'll find giant waterslides and kiddie splash zones and, in some cases, even more over-the-top attractions such as go-kart tracks and laser tag arenas.

The go-kart tracks (now on Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Joy) are quickly becoming Norwegian's signature can-you-believe-this-is-on-a-ship attraction, and they truly are impressive. The biggest two of them, on Norwegian Viva and Norwegian Prima, are nearly 1,400 feet long and sprawl over three decks.

Note that this is some serious go-karting. The cars that Norwegian uses can hit speeds up to 32 miles per hour. Three of the speedways, on Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Encore, also feature middle-of-the-track observation areas where your family and friends can cheer you on to victory — and even shoot you with "lasers" that'll give you a boost of power.

The open-air laser tag arenas also are significant venues that are unlike anything you'll find atop the ships of other lines. The one on Norwegian Encore, which is the largest laser tag arena ever put on a ship, is themed around the lost city of Atlantis and spans the back of the vessel.

As is the case with the Galaxy Pavilion attractions mentioned above, the go-kart and laser tag experiences on Norwegian ships don't come cheap. You'll pay $15 per person for an eight-lap romp on the go-karts. Joining a five-minute laser shootout costs $10 per person. In both cases, you can buy a weeklong pass for $199.

The top decks of a few Norwegian ships — mostly the bigger ones — also have a ropes course, a climbing wall or both. Some vessels also have miniature golf courses.

You'll find an exclusive, extra-charge, adults-only VIP sunning area on seven Norwegian ships called Vibe Beach Club. The biggest of these areas is on Norwegian Encore, where Vibe Beach Club is an expansive private lounge with a full-service bar, cabanas and two hot tubs designed to hold up to 270 people — far more than on other ships.

For those with money to burn (pricing on Norwegian Encore recently was $99 per person for a day pass), the Vibe Beach Clubs are lovely, secluded deck-top hideaways. However, there's a downside for everyone else on board the ships that have them, which is that they take away from the deck-top lounge space available to everybody else.

Related: The 12 cruise ships with the most spectacular attractions at sea

Children's programs

As is typical for big-ship cruise lines, Norwegian has an extensive children's program, with programs and activities for children as young as 6 months through the age of 17.

The heart of the program, called Splash Academy, brings free, supervised activities daily for children ages 3 to 12. The line splits children here up into three age groups: Turtles (ages 3 to 5), Seals (ages 6 to 9) and Dolphins (ages 10 to 12), and they each have their own age-appropriate activities ranging from treasure hunts to video game competitions. On many ships, there are extensive dedicated spaces for the different groups.

While the free programming ends at 10:30 p.m., you can pay extra to leave your kids at Splash Academy past 10:30 p.m. until 1:30 a.m., when it's billed as the Late Night Fun Zone.

Norwegian also has rooms on its ships for babies and toddlers ages 6 months to 3 years. Called Guppies, the program offers parents a place to play with their youngest children, with occasional youth staff-led activities and games.

Norwegian also offers dedicated teen zones and programming on ships for children ages 13 to 17. Called Entourage, the teen zone is a place for teens to hang out, dance and play games, and it's supervised by counselors who plan activities and challenges.

What to know before you go

Required documents.

A passport is required for all cruises leaving from a non-U.S. port and all Panama Canal sailings (regardless of departure port). If you're a U.S. citizen, you don't need a passport for most sailings from U.S. ports (including sailings to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, the Mexican Riviera and Alaska).

Instead, you can travel with a state-certified birth certificate or other proof of citizenship and a driver's license or other government-issued photo identification. That said, Norwegian strongly recommends that all travelers bring a passport.

Passports must be valid for at least six months after your trip, and the name on your reservation must be exactly as it's printed on your passport or other official proof of nationality.

Norwegian adds an automatic service charge of $20 to $25 per person, per day, to final bills, depending on your cabin category. Depending on the service you receive, you can adjust the amount up or down at the guest services desk before disembarking. In addition, a 20% gratuity is added to the bill at bars, extra-charge specialty restaurants and ship spas.

Related: Everything you need to know about tipping on a cruise ship

Norwegian has been rolling out faster Wi-Fi systems across its fleet in recent years, so you can now stream video on ships.

Pricing changes over time, but the fastest "premium" service on Norwegian vessels recently was priced at $39.99 per person per day, if you bought it in advance. Norwegian also offers a less expensive plan that doesn't allow video streaming for $29.99 per person per day if purchased in advance.

This pricing is quite a bit higher than what some other lines, such as Carnival or Princess, charge for Wi-Fi. Princess recently was charging just $14.99 per person per day for a WiFi package.

Related: Wi-Fi on ships really is getting better

Carry-on drinks policy

Norwegian allows you to bring bottles of your own wine or Champagne on board, but it will charge you a hefty corkage fee of $15 per bottle for the privilege — even if you plan to drink the bottle in your room. This is a more draconian policy than you'll find at most lines. Most lines allow passengers to bring at least a bottle or two of their own wine on board at no charge.

Smoking policy

On all ships, smoking (including e-cigarette smoking) is only allowed in designated outdoor areas, cigar lounges (for cigar smoking only) and casinos. It's forbidden in cabins and on cabin balconies. Passengers caught smoking in their cabins will be fined $250 per occurrence.

Unlike many cruise vessels, Norwegian ships do not have self-serve launderettes on cabin decks for passenger use. Instead, the line offers extra-charge laundry and dry cleaning services.

Related: Everything you need to know about cruise ship laundry services

Electrical outlets

All cabins on Norwegian vessels have standard North American-style, 110-volt outlets and European-style, 220-volt outlets. Some cabins also have USB ports.

The currency used on all Norwegian itineraries is U.S. dollars. All vessels operate on a cashless system with any onboard purchases you make posting automatically to your onboard account. You'll receive a cruise card you can use to make charges. This same card also lets you into your cabin.

Drinking age

The official drinking age on Norwegian ships is 21. That said, passengers who are 18 to 20 can purchase and consume beer or wine on ships in international waters with permission from parents or legal guardians. The parent or legal guardian must be on board and sign a waiver at guest services. The lower drinking age in international waters does not apply during sailings in Alaska and Hawaii.

Norwegian Cruise Line may be the most laid-back line out there when it comes to dress codes. You can basically wear whatever you want, whenever you want.

The line specifically says that casual wear (think: khakis, jeans, shorts and casual shirts for men; casual dresses, skirts, shorts, jeans and tops for women) is just fine anytime during the day, at the buffet and in most specialty restaurants.

The line just recommends a step up to "smart casual" outfits in its more formal dining rooms and upscale specialty restaurants. In keeping with Norwegian's laid-backness, this might still mean nothing more than a crisper pair of jeans, or maybe slacks with a collared shirt, for men. Definitely no need for a jacket. For women, slacks, jeans, dresses, skirts and tops will do fine.

Related: What to pack for your first cruise

Norwegian Cruise Line loyalty program

Norwegian has a point-based frequent cruiser program, Latitudes Rewards, that has seven tiers, ranging from Bronze (requiring 1 point) to Ambassador (700 points).

Members earn points for every night they sail on one of the line's ships. They get an additional point for every night they stay in a concierge room, a suite (not including stays in minisuites, or stays in suites resulting from an upgrade) or a room in The Haven. They also get an additional point for every night booked through a Latitudes Rewards Insider Offer.

Hitting the first tier, Bronze, takes one cruise. Reaching the second tier, Silver (20 points), would take at the most three cruises if you're doing seven-night trips.

Related: Everything you need to know about the Norwegian loyalty program

Lower tiers don't bring all that much in terms of truly valuable benefits. You'll get things like priority check-in and discounted spa treatments performed while ships are in port. However, higher levels of the program start to be enticing.

Platinum (75 points) brings free dinners at two extra-charge restaurants, a discount on an internet package, behind-the-scenes ship tours and concierge service.

The top Ambassador level brings a truly wonderful perk: a one-time complimentary seven-night cruise in a balcony cabin. You can pick almost any sailing except trips around Christmas and the new year.

In contrast to airline frequent-flyer programs, cruise line loyalty programs do not require you to requalify for status every year. So, yes, the perks with lower tiers aren't great. But it's not as difficult as it might at first seem to hit the more rewarding higher tiers in just a few years if you're cruising a lot.

A passenger staying in suites and booking through Latitudes Rewards Insider Offers could get to the Platinum level with just four seven-night cruises.

Related: The TPG guide to cruise line loyalty programs

How much does a Norwegian cruise cost?

Norwegian designs its ships to appeal to a broad mix of people, in part by offering a wide range of cabin types at varying price points. On a typical sailing, you might find an entry-level cabin for around $100 a night while a high-end suite is five to 15 times that amount.

At the time of this story's posting, A The Haven two-bedroom family villa on Norwegian Jewel for a seven-night Alaska cruise in August 2024, for example, was going for $13,978 per person, based on double occupancy. That's more than 13 times the cost of the least expensive inside cabin (which was starting at $1,058 per person, based on double occupancy). Oceanview cabins on the same sailing started at $1,698 per person, based on double occupancy.

Note the "based on double occupancy" caveat in the above paragraph. As is typical for cruise lines, Norwegian charges on a per-person basis, not per room, and it prices most cabins based on two people occupying a room. It does offer some cabins for solo travelers on some ships that are priced based on single occupancy.

In general, Norwegian's newer ships including Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Prima and the Breakaway-class and Breakaway Plus-class vessels will be more expensive than the line's older, smaller ships. However, there are many factors that go into pricing for any given cruise, including the popularity of the specific itinerary, the time of year when the cruise is taking place and changing demand trends.

As you might expect, pricing for all ships will generally be lower during offseason periods such as September and October.

The timing of when you book can also matter. Cruises book up much further in advance than airplanes or hotels, and many cruisers will tell you the best pricing for any given sailing often is available when cruises first go on sale (which can be a good two years before a departure). Booking far in advance will also give you the best chance of getting your preferred cabin type and location on a ship.

Once on board a Norwegian ship, you'll pay extra for most drinks, extra-charge restaurants, spa services, shore excursions, internet service and a few other things — unless you've bought a package for some of these items in advance. Some onboard activities such as go-karting also come with an extra charge. What's included in the fare is your lodging, meals (in non-extra-charge restaurants) and most entertainment.

Related: 15 ways that first-time cruisers waste money on a cruise

How to book

If you're sure you know what sort of cabin you want, on which ship, on which itinerary — and about a dozen other things — you can head over to ncl.com to make a booking directly.

That said, given the complexity of booking a cruise (there are a lot of decisions to make during the booking process — trust us) we recommend you use a seasoned travel agent who specializes in cruises.

A good travel agent will quiz you about your particular interests, travel style and preferences, and steer you to the perfect cruise line, ship, itinerary and cabin for you. They can also help you if something goes wrong just before, during or after your voyage.

If you're sure Norwegian is your line, look for a travel agent who specializes in trips with the brand. You want someone who understands all the little quirks that are unique to Norwegian's cabin categories and, preferably, has done ship inspections to see the cabins firsthand.

Whether you use a travel agent or not, make sure to maximize your purchase when paying for the cruise by using a card that offers extra points for travel purchases . This could be the Chase Sapphire Reserve , which offers 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on travel and dining (excluding the annual $300 travel credit), or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card , which brings 2 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on travel and 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on dining.

Bottom line

For big-ship lovers, Norwegian pretty much has it all. There's tons of great entertainment on Norwegian's vessels, plenty of venues for eating and drinking, and all sorts of deck-top diversions — at least on the line's newest ships. Throw in the brand's low starting prices, and it's an even more compelling package.

If we have a gripe with the line, it's about the "extra-charge creep" we've been seeing for attractions on Norwegian ships such as go-karts and laser tag in recent years, and the higher a la carte prices spreading across the line's onboard restaurants.

Then again, you get what you pay for, as the saying goes. If you're on a tight budget, there are plenty of included-in-the-fare choices for dining and entertainment. If money is no object, you can follow a different "journey" through the ship, as Norwegian executives like to say, to a far more high-end vacation.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for your first cruise

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

MSC Yacht Club VS NCL Haven: A Luxury Cruise Comparison

Although MSC first introduced the ship-within-a-ship concept back in 2008, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Haven also offers top-notch services.

So, what will be your pick between MSC Yacht Club vs NCL Haven?

While MSC Yacht Club offers 6 categories of cabin/stateroom, NCL Haven offers 9 types of suites. Also, NCL Haven’s suits are much larger including 2/3-bedroom villas. Both offer 24-hour concierge and butler services. Moreover, NCL Haven offers more exclusive dining and entertainment options than MSC Yacht. But NCL Haven is more expensive than MSC Yacht Club.

So, what will you choose between these two fine ship-within-ship experiences? Follow the article as we’ll help you judge both.   

MSC Yacht Club Vs NCL Haven: The In-Depth Comparison

Both MSC Yacht Club and NCL Haven are top of their name. So before diving deep into their services, let’s have a brief look at their competitive offerings. 

So, now we’ll discuss the details of each factor of MSC Yacht Club and NCL Haven. You can compare and judge both to pick one for your holiday retreat in these luxurious voyages. 

Stateroom / Cabin Size – MSC Yacht Club Vs NCL Haven

NCL Haven offers 9 types of different suites and cabins while MSC Yacht offers only 6 categories of cabins. 

Compared to NCL Haven, MSC Yacht Club offers smaller cabins. Let’s see what are the categories of cabins offered by MSC Yacht Club .

• The Owner’s Suite: It’s the largest suite offered by MSC Yacht Club. It has 1055 sqft of space, separate dining and living room, 269 sqft of balcony with hot tub, etc.
• The Royal Suite: 667 sqft of space, separate dining and living room, 355 sqft of balcony with hot tub, etc.
• The Duplex Suite: It has two levels with 635 sqft of space, separate dining and living room, 248 sqft of balcony, etc.
• The Deluxe Grand Suite: 269-463 sqft of space, separate living room, 86-129 sqft of balcony, etc.
• The Deluxe Suite: 269-366 sqft of space, and 86 sqft of balcony.
• The Interior Suite: 226 sqft of total space. 

NCL Haven’s suits are humongous compared to MSC Yacht Club. Let’s see what NCL Haven’s suits look like. 

• 3-Bedroom Garden Villa: The largest one in NCL Haven perfect for 8 people. It has 6694 sqft of space, a private dining room, a large living room, and 3.5 baths. Has a hot tub on the balcony.
• 2-Bedroom Family Villa: 504 sqft of space with a master bedroom, a bath, and a private balcony. This is perfect for 6 people.  
• The Deluxe Owner’s Suit: It has 1307 sqft of space with a large dining and living area, a large luxury bath, and floor-to-ceiling windows. A large balcony is also included for 6 people to enjoy.  
• The Owner’s Suit: It has 824 sqft of space with a large living and dining area, one balcony, or two in some ships. This is ideal for 4 people.  
• Aft-Facing Penthouse: This suite has 655 sqft of space with a king-sized bed, a generous living area, and a balcony for all. 4 people can easily enjoy the facilities of this penthouse. 
• The Deluxe Spa Suite: This is the smallest suite in NCL Haven. It has 309 sqft of space with a king-sized bed. Also, there’s a balcony with a hot tub and oversized waterfall showers with jets. It is close to the Mandara Spa Suite and also offers free access to the Thermal Spa Suite.  
• Forward-Facing Penthouse: This is another modest penthouse in NCL Haven. It has 451 sqft of space with a king-sized bed with a forward view. Also, there’s a large dining and living area and a balcony.
• Courtyard Penthouse: The courtyard penthouse of NCL Haven is perfect for a romantic retreat. It has 440 sqft of space with a romantic atmosphere, a private balcony, guest allowance, and living and dining areas.  
• Spa Suite: This suite also has access to Mandara and Thermal Spa Suite. It has 378 sqft of space with a relaxing decoration, a balcony with a hot tub, and oversized waterfall showers with jets.

So, NCL wins regarding stateroom and suite sizes for more room space and additional accommodations. So complete your NCL e-docs and get aboard its luxurious services. 

Concierge Service

Both NCL Haven and MSC Yacht Club offer a 24-hour concierge and butler service. With the experienced and capable service of a butler, your every need and assistance will be met on both cruises. 

Moreover, for any additional bookings or purchases, the concierge can help you anytime you need. With the world-class services of the concierge of both NCL Haven and MSC Yacht Club, it’ll be worth it.  

Dining & Entertainment – MSC Yacht Club VS NCL Haven

MSC Yacht Club offers a private dining area for its guests as part of the ship-within-a-ship experience. Their dedicated restaurant will provide sophisticated à la carte menus for you to taste. 

On the other hand, NCL Haven offers priority reservations for all its customers in all dining and entertainment facilities. Compared to MSC Yacht, NCL Haven offers specialty menus brought directly to your suite from any of the restaurants fleetwide. And so, NCL Haven is superior to NCL Suits . 

For entertainment, MSC Yacht Club offers a theater and a casino, a Parisian-Inspired Cabaret, MSC Aurea Spa, and more. Also, you’ll have a dedicated water park and a robotic thrill ride called Robotron. 

On the other hand, NCL Haven offers an exclusive cocktail party with the ship’s officers, Broadway shows, musicals, etc. NCL also offers exotic entertainment options with its variety of comedy and night events. The night is never dull onboard NCL Haven. 

MSC Yacht Club offers a separate pool, restaurant, and lounges for its guests. On the other hand, NCL Haven also offers a dedicated section of the ship for its cruisers. 

NCL Haven’s self-contained area is specifically designed for a one-of-a-kind experience for its passengers. This dedicated space includes special and separated entries, venues, dining, and entertainment facilities. 

Also, both MSC Yacht Club and NCL Haven offer priority embarkment and disembarkment for their passengers.  

Price Range

In terms of price, NCL Haven is a bit more expensive than MSC Yacht Club . For example, the interior cabins on MSC Yacht Club cost $2800 for 2 people with a balcony that costs $4100. 

On the other hand, NCL Haven costs $3000 per person on an average weeklong trip in its suits. But this price may vary based on availability, time of the year, last-minute sailings, etc. And the larger the suits, the more it will cost you. 

MSC Yacht Club VS NCL Haven: What Is Best for You?

So, now you have an idea of both MSC Yacht Club and NCL Haven’s services. It’s time for you to decide which one is best for you. At a glance, NCL Haven offers more freestyle cruising with exciting and exotic entertainment options. 

Conversely, MSC Yacht Club’s Parisian-inspired Cabaret and Aurea Spa are wonderful entertainment options that can compare with the Haven. Also, NCL Haven is a bit more expensive with similar services to MSC Yacht. 

But the exclusive and specialty menu service in your suite can only happen in NCL Haven. So, choose which you like. 

For more luxury cruise options, you can compare Norwegian Cruise Line with Holland America . Holland America also provides many premium and luxury cruise services.  

Can Haven Guests Have Visitors?

Yes, Haven guests can have visitors. But the visitors must be pre-registered with the Haven concierge at the reception. Also, the guests need to provide details of the visitor’s arrival time and departure. 

Are Children Allowed in NCL Haven?

Yes, children are allowed in NCL Haven. Many of its areas are children-friendly while some areas are only for adults. The Haven Sundeck is only for guests above 16 years of age while the courtyard pool is for all. 

Is Room Service Free in The NCL Haven?

The guests enlisted in the NCL Haven suits don’t have to pay for room services. But there’s a 20% gratuity and additional charges for non-complementary beverages through room service. 

So, now choose a pick for your next sailing between MSC Yacht Club vs NCL Haven. 

There’s always something missing in one while the other has it. Choose a cruise line service that you see fit with your preference and trip goal. But if you’re a solo cruiser and love activities, go for the NCL Haven. You’ll have a much good time. 

I'm a travel writer and content creator who loves to explore new places. I've been to over 20 countries, and I'm always on the lookout for my next great adventure. I love the excitement of airports, the thrill of new experiences, and the feeling of being surrounded by new cultures. I share my travel stories and tips on my website, where I hope to inspire others to explore the world.

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10 differences between MSC and NCL/Royal Caribbean

The following points are based on my experience cruising onboard the MSC Meraviglia. I have previously been on 9 NCL cruises and 1 with Royal Caribbean which I use in this comparison.

The differences are related to the following:

• Itineraries
• Entertainment
• Cruise Cards

1 – Languages spoken onboard

Ncl/royal caribbean.

If you cruise with NCL /Royal Caribbean you will rarely hear announcements in any language other than English. All the signs are in English and English is the language spoken in the bars, restaurants and theatre shows. Even if you are cruising from a country which doesn’t speak English the majority of passengers onboard will speak English.

Onboard MSC everything is done in a multitude of languages. When I was onboard the MSC Meravigilia I counted most announcements being done in 7 languages! This was usually all by one person may I add, which made me incredibly impressed as I only speak one language. It can make things a bit confusing as you are constantly listening out for the ‘English bit’ in the announcements and looking for the English version of the menus and written instructions.

Which did I prefer?

I actually enjoy hearing things in other languages, it reminds me that I am abroad and not at home! It did get a bit confusing at time though so it’s NCL /Royal Caribbean for me.

2 – Itineraries and embarkation

Cruises typically have a start and end point. There may be some variation on this, for example taking a longer or shorter cruise than standard, but nevertheless, there is always an obvious embarkation and disembarkation day. As a result, the lifeboat drill happens once and everybody attends.

Passengers can get on and off at almost any port. There is no set embarkation and disembarkation day with people coming and going almost every day. This means that everybody is at a different stage in their cruise, it is strange seeing some peoples suitcases outside their doors ready to leave when you are just starting your cruise!

During the cruise, there will be lots of mini lifeboat drills for the guests that have just joined. It was a little bit weird ignoring the other lifeboat drills as they were announced around the ship. It is worth noticing too that the services around the ship do stop when life boat drills take place, even if you personally don’t have to go to the lifeboat drill.

I like the flexibility of MSC which really allows you to pick the cruise dates that suit you. We were on a very strict time schedule when we booked this cruise. If the cruise had been a day earlier or later we wouldn’t have been able to cruise at all. So it’s MSC for me on this one.

3 – Entertainment

I love the entertainment onboard NCL ships. Priscilla Queen of the desert onboard the Norwegian Epic was one of the best shows that I have ever seen. I actually booked to see it on land after I came back from my cruise and to be honest it was better on the ship!

Royal Caribbean and NCL usually have a combination of musicals, musicians, bands, comedians/jugglers etc. They also have a lot of other entertainment going on around the ship during the day and into the evening.

The entertainment on MSC tries its best to appeal to a very large audience who speak a variety of languages. Because of the language barrier, they are unable to have Broadway-style shows/musicals, preferring instead to stick to dancing and singing (mostly in English though may I add!)

Onboard the Meraviglia we saw shows which featured the dancers dressed as emojis and dogs. It was definitely ‘entertaining! but not the best entertainment I’ve seen at sea.

NCL/Royal Caribbean without a doubt. I did know what to expect when I cruised with MSC but honestly even I was a little confused by the dancing dogs, barking at things and pretending to lick their private parts!

I did watch Cirque du Soleil onboard though which I did enjoy and a Christmas show on Christmas eve.

MSC’s Christmas Show

4 – Activating your cruise card

When cruising with NCL/Royal Caribbean you set up your credit/debit card at check-in. You can also pay in cash at the end of your cruise although I have never done this.

You need to set up your credit/debit card when onboard the ship. Dotted around the ship are machines which you use to link your cruise card to your card. You have to touch your card against the machine (contactless) and then insert your credit/debit card. At this point, you can select if you would like to attach the same card to any other cruise accounts.

NCL/Royal Caribbean. It’s a bit of a faff trying to find a machine and remember to set up your card. Probably just me being lazy though!

5 – Buying drinks

If you have a beverage package onboard NCL/Royal Caribbean you just have to show the waiter your card and your drinks will appear. Woohoo! They may take your card to swipe but half the time they don’t even bother with that.

Onboard MSC you have to sign for every single drink that you have. I had the unlimited beverage package and if I ordered a drink I would have to sign a little electronic tablet which told me how much was included in my package and how much would be charged to my card. It makes sense!

I think I prefer the NCL/Royal Caribbean way of ordering drinks. MSC’s tablet does make sense but I am just far too lazy for that. I also worry about how many germs are on the touch screen of the tablet considering that MSC rarely had any hand sanitiser (more on that later).

6 – The onboard service

Service on the two cruise lines is very American in its approach. What I mean by that is very friendly and waiters will keep coming back to your table to ask you how your meal is. I can’t help but think of Johnny Rockets here where the waiters literally danced for you during your meal! The idea seems to be that the passenger is always right and the staff will go out of their way to make you happy.

I had read many bad reviews about the service on MSC before cruising with them. We didn’t encounter any bad service at all, it was quite different to the service onboard NCL/Royal Caribbean though. Onboard MSC the waiters will bring you your food but then don’t continually come back to ask you how it is, they will, of course, be happy to help if you have a problem though.

All in all the service onboard MSC was good, everything that we needed to have done for us was done but it didn’t feel as forced or overly friendly as I am used to onboard NCL/Royal Caribbean.

Probably NCL/Royal Caribbean. I quite enjoy the over the top American-ness of the service.

7 – Soda

If you order a soda it’ll probably come from a fountain and it’ll be full to the brim with ice (unless you ask for no ice).

If you order a soda onboard MSC it’ll come in a can and they won’t give you ice unless you specifically say that you want some. Woohoo!

MSC without a shadow of a doubt. I hate having ice in my drinks, especially when it isn’t hot outside. It’s also nice to get proper Pepsi from a can rather than the diluted fountain stuff.

8 – Hygiene (Washy washy!)

When cruising with NCL/Royal Caribbean you can expect to be greeted with hand sanitiser everywhere that you go. Hand sanitiser is based at the entrance to every restaurant and you have to sanitise your hands before getting on the ship. At the buffet, you may even have a person with a bottle of hand sanitiser making sure that every person who enters the buffet sanitises. They’ll sometimes sing songs at the same time…

NCL reminds you to sanitise regularly and states that ‘washy washy = happy happy’.

When we cruised with MSC we saw very little hand sanitiser. There were a few machines dotted around the ship but they were often empty and when we stopped to use them other passengers looked at us like we were being a little mad. When we boarded the ship there were a number of occasions where they were was no hand sanitser at all. They had sinks and taps at the entrance to the buffet but we rarely saw anybody use them apart from us.

NCL/Royal Caribbean! I am aware that hand sanitser doesn’t kill norovirus and other flu bugs but it would have been better than nothing. There are so many winter coughs and colds going around at the moment that the lack of hand sanitiser was really worrying. This may be different on other ships though as I am basing this purely on my experience on the Meraviglia.

9 – Food

I love the food on NCL/Royal Caribbean ships. In my past experiences, the food has always been good and the portions are a fair size. The buffet has variety of foods from around the world but always has American options like burgers and hot dogs. NCL also have O’sheehans which I visit often, sometimes between meals… O’Sheehans is a bar and grill and is a great place to get some mozzarella sticks, a burger or some buffalo wings.

The food in the main dining room was much more ‘Mediterranean’ than I am used to eating at home (lots of pasta and vegetables). The buffet was mostly pizza/pasta/bread but they did have an ‘ethnic’ corner and a grill which had burgers and hot dogs. I am aware of a number of complaints online about the food on MSC but I really don’t understand the complaints and/or didn’t have the same experiences. The food was of high quality, hot and although the portions were smaller than I am used to at home, it probably did all of our waistlines some good!

I will be writing a full review of the food onboard MSC with lots of pictures of food and menus. So make sure you keep your eyes peeled for that!

I think NCL/Royal Caribbean still win on this one for me, just because I like American food and one of my favourite things about cruising is overeating (hard to do that on vegetables). It was fun to try new foods onboard MSC though and I would definitely urge people to ignore negative reviews about MSC’s food! I also enjoyed how long the buffet was open for on MSC, considerably longer and later than on my last Royal Caribbean cruise.

MSC Main dining room

10 – Theatre

On both these cruise lines it is almost expected that you will have a drink when you watch a show in the Theatre. Most cruise ships will have a bar within the theatre and waiters will often wander around the crowds asking passengers if they would like a drink.

There was no bar in the theatre onboard the Meraviglia and I believe this is the same for most of (if not all) of the MSC ships. Please let me know if I am wrong about this one! MSC don’t seem to allow drinks in the theatre at all, even if ordered at another bar.

NCL/Royal Caribbean of course. I love having a drink when watching a theatre show although it really made very little difference to me when I was unable to.

Conclusions!

I love cruising with MSC and I love cruising with NCL/Royal Caribbean. They are pretty different in a number of areas but I don’t think that one is necessarily better than the other. I would definitely consider a cruise with MSC again and would like to encourage everybody loyal to NCL/Royal Caribbean to try MSC. That said, it is important to remember that it is an italian line which do things differently to the American/British lines.

I will be bringing you guys a lot more info about the Meraviglia in the coming few weeks. Cabin tours, ship tours, food reviews and loads more I’m sure. Make sure you subscribe to my YouTube too as I have a lot to show you: Emma Cruises.

Have you ever cruised with MSC or NCL/Royal Caribbean? Lets me know in the comments.

Monday 4th of February 2019

hi Emma, I am hoping that you with your experience can help me to answer a silly question for the 1st time cruiser. My 5 year old son and I booked to go on MSC Meraviglia Mediterranean cruise in the 2nd half of February. I am a bit confused if I should pack a lot of warm clothes or not. People have given me mixed feedbacks, some said it's going to be VERY warm - hence only need T-shirts and some said definitely jumpers . Could you kindly let me know if it's warm on board like you would have in a normal home during the winter or otherwise? thank you in advance;

Emma Le Teace

Hey Yelena! I got back from the Mediterranean on Sunday and it was really quite chilly. On average around 12c but we did need a coat on a couple of days.

I wouldn't think it would be warm enough for just tshirts, definitely bring jumpers and if you can take off your jumper thats a bonus! :)

Friday 5th of October 2018

Thank you for writing this blog, it is just what I need!

I am planning to cruise Baltic area in May 2019. I have been on RC ( Ovations of the Seas) before. so wanted to try MSC Meraviglia. but then I found so many negative reviews online! main complaints were on service and food quality.... I was struggling between MSC and RC. After reading about your experience, I will just give MSC a try. (just need to bring my own supply of hand sanitizer!) I do hope MSC has noticed the negative comments on internet and have improved cruise operation.

Tuesday 9th of October 2018

Hey! I've just booked the MSC Meraviglia again for January so I think that goes to show that I think it's good! It definitely is a different experience to Royal Caribbean but that isn't a bad thing. I hope you have a super time! Thanks for commenting.

Fred Folson

Friday 27th of July 2018

My family and I have cruise RCCL suite, Disney Concierge suite, and MSC Yacht Club and we prefer the MSC Yacht Club over those three cruise lines. We've had some of our best family vacations aboard the MSC Divina and will soon be cruising aboard MSC Seaside in one of her two Royal Suites. I'm 50 now and I think I've found the cruise line I'm sticking with for my cruise vacations for the rest of my days.

Saturday 4th of August 2018

Ooo that's good to know! Thank you for commenting. I like MSC too :)

Wednesday 17th of January 2018

ha ha! Because I've cruised with both and really noticed very few differences between the two. In comparison to other cruise lines they seem very similar!

What is it you don't like about Royal?

Tracy Gladman

Thursday 11th of January 2018

We will be cruising on Meraviliga in April and am really looking forward to it. Have only cruised with P&O before so not much to compare it with. Will be interesting to see the difference.

Absolutely, think they'll be quite different. P&O are very British. You'll enjoy both though!

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MSC Cruises Review & Everything You Need To Know

There is a lot of talk about MSC Cruises right now since they are making a huge push into the American cruising market. With so many questions about MSC, we’re going to cover everything you need to know about taking an MSC Cruise!

Take a look at any cruise-related Facebook group or Reddit topic, and you’re bound to find endless questions about MSC. Not only are there questions, but there are also plenty of opinions about the newish cruise line (MSC has been sailing in Europe for a long time). The brand is polarizing.

So what is a cruise really like on MSC?

NOTE: Most people compare MSC with Royal Caribbean or Carnival. That’s the perspective we’ll take when laying out all of this information.

In response to many inquiries about the “real deal” about MSC, I would like to share some insights. As seasoned cruisers, we have traveled on many ships, including Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line , Carnival, Virgin , Cunard, Holland America , Celebrity, and MSC. Additionally, we’ve cruised with companies that no longer exist like Pullmantur. Every cruise line has hits and misses, so it’s important to keep everything in perspective when evaluating a new cruise experience. Rarely are cruises perfect.

When it comes to the ship’s overall decor and beauty, MSC has a huge advantage, especially when compared to any older or midsize ships for Carnival or RCL. However, comparing MSC’s newer ships to mega ships is an apples-to-oranges comparison. The pool decks and slides on MSC were excellent, and the service was fine, with no noticeable difference.

What to Expect from an MSC Cruise

MSC Cruises, having started in Europe, has carried over many of the European aspects of its brand to the American market. This isn’t necessarily a good thing, but it’s at least consistent.

In Europe, MSC is regarded as a “higher-end” cruise experience when compared to brands like P&O, Costa, and the now-defunct Pullmantur. However, that doesn’t cut it with American cruisers who are used to endless (Free) entertainment, expansive buffets, higher-end premium dining options, and impeccable service.

This is where you start hearing from people complaining about MSC Cruises.

If you’ve been to Europe, and understand that the cruise line has its roots based in Europe, the fact that everything is an up-charge and some services aren’t as friendly or efficient as other cruise lines, you won’t be surprised. But if you are a typical American cruiser who’s used to the big names in cruises, you’ll probably be frustrated to some extent (more on that later). However, if you are a first-time cruiser, and this is your first experience with this type of vacation, you’ll likely be elated and happy with everything, because in reality, there’s not too much to complain about, especially given the value of these vacations.

Pros and cons of MSC Cruises

What we like about msc.

• Beautiful, Clean & Modern Ships
• Reasonable drink prices
• Affordable packages (Drinks & Dining)
• Variety of food options
• The pizza is AMAZING!
• Specialty Coffee & Bottled water included in the most basic drink package
• Value for money, especially for families

What we don’t like about MSC

• The experience feels like nickel and diming, where so many things cost extra.
• Unusual approach to Dining Packages
• Customer service is disinterested and sometimes downright rude
• Food quality is average at best in the main dining rooms + buffet
• Confusing beverage and drinks packages

MSC Cruises vs Royal Caribbean vs Carnival vs Norwegian Cruise Line

To get an accurate comparison, it’s essential to evaluate apples to apples and determine what matters most to you on a cruise. This review pertains to US sailings to the Caribbean and Bermuda, not European sailings – though we have done MSC in Europe, a completely different article will cover that! Let’s be clear from the outset: there’s no comparison between MSC and the higher-end cruise lines such as Cunard or Disney which provide a superior experience at more than twice the cost. So, let’s focus on comparing MSC to Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival, which seem to be the cruise lines that MSC is “going after” with their marketing.

A few major differences usually come down to the following:

Price – when comparing cruise lines, MSC is usually less expensive for nearly identical itineraries. But remember to take into account the paid extras like entertainment and most dining outside of the main dining room and buffet.

In addition to the lower fares, MSC Cruises’ automatic gratuities are usually lower than competing cruise lines.

Continuing with lower costs, the drink packages and dining packages are considerably less expensive than other cruise lines. See the entire MSC drink package pricing . While the drink packages are still quite expensive propositions, MSC often has the basic “Easy” drink package as a promotion, included in the fare making upgrading to a more expensive package reasonable.

It’s more of an international clientele – with MSC being known better in Europe, there will be a significantly higher ratio of international passengers, which can be entertaining and a great way to get exposed to other cultures without leaving the USA. Unfortunately, this means you also have to listen to announcements in many languages.

The cabin stewards are more like what you’d expect in a traditional hotel rather than a cruise ship. They’re efficient and good, but they aren’t chatty and visible at all times. This likely comes down to the fact that on most traditional cruise lines, Americans tip extra, sometimes quite a bit extra to the room stewards and cabin attendants, so they are happy to be known and visible. On the contrary, tipping cabin attendants on an MSC cruise is not as typical (again, with European roots).

Is MSC Cruises a good cruise line?

This question is asked so often in forums and chat groups, it’ mind-boggling! It’s a very subjective question with so many ways to answer.

In general, I think MSC can offer an amazing cruise experience with great value, especially for families. With promotions like kids sail free and some of the most affordable cruise rates on the market, it makes for a good cruise experience and a good cruise line.

For cruisers who are experienced travelers with other major cruise lines, it will be a mixed bag on whether or not MSC is a “good” cruise line.

In general, they are just as good as any other cruise line, depending on what your priorities are. In the end, I always hate to say “it depends… ” but it depends. That’s what this article hopefully addresses for all types of cruisers.

Why are MSC Cruises so cheap?

First, “cheap” is relative and subjective. MSC Cruises feel like an inexpensive option to other cruise lines, but often by the time you add up all of the additional fees, they end up being very close in price to other similar lines like Carnival and Royal Caribbean. It’s clear that MSC Cruises is making a push into the USA market and they are discounting heavily on certain routes, but looking closer, there are some itineraries where MSC is definitely more expensive than the competition.

MSC is definitely budget-friendly when it comes to family cruises, as they often have “kids sail free” promotions. With these promotions, a family of 4, for example, can vacation together for half the cost of a traditional beach vacation. So this makes for a relatively cheap family vacation or family cruise for sure!

MSC Cruises includes only the basics, everything else is for a fee

When considering MSC for a vacation, it’s good to know that the price you see may look good, but there are going to be extras, a LOT of extras. While this isn’t all bad, it’s important to understand. I fully believe in being able to craft my own vacation experience by starting with a base price and adding on what I want rather than feeling compelled to take advantage of included items that I’m not really interested in. With MSC, the cruise rates are affordable and sometimes downright cheap but plan for extras. Any food and beverage outside of the included main dining room and buffet are for an additional fee, entertainment is often fee-based, and drinks can add up fast (although there are MSC Drink packages )

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MSC Sells Cruise “Experiences” The Aurea, Bella, and Fantastica Experiences explained and compared

MSC Cruises sells “experiences”. The cabins on the MSC Ships are effectively identical regardless of experience (with the exception of a couple of suites and the Yacht Club). So rather than purchasing a cabin or stateroom TYPE, you purchase an EXPERIENCE that grants access to different facilities and services. This approach is unique and we actually LIKE this method of selling experiences rather than a class of cabin.

The MSC experiences explained

There is the “Bella” Experience – which is the base fare and really is bare bones. It’s a cabin + the included dining onboard (buffet and main dining room) as well as the use of all the public spaces and access to the complimentary entertainment.

For a little extra, you can purchase the “Fantastica” experience , which is the Bella + the added benefit of some flexibility, with one allowed free cruise change. Additionally, you can order room service for breakfast with no delivery fee. So many people enjoy breakfast in their cabins, that this may be worth it for many passengers. Additionally, you can request which dining time (late or early) you’d like in the main dining rooms.

The “Aurea” experience is the top-level experience, which gets you all of the Bella and Fantistica experiences and more. With the Aurea experience (available on balcony rooms only), you receive :

• a premium stateroom location
• access to the Aurea solarium which is for Aurea guests only
• chocolates and prosecco in your cabin on the day of boarding
• anytime dining
• discounts on spa treatments
• priority boarding
• Free 24-hour room service

The Aurea experience is usually quite a bit more than the base fare (Hundreds of dollars per passenger), so you’d have to really ask yourself if access to the Top Exclusive (Aurea) solarium is worth the price, as the other benefits are minimal.

The MSC Yacht Club Explained

Where most cruise lines separate their experiences by class of cabins such as Norwegian’s HAVEN and Celebrity’s RETREAT, MSC has come up with the “Yacht Club”. The big difference is with the MSC Yacht Club and other cruise lines, is that it’s offered with interior cabins as an option. This is a great option for people who really want an elevated experience but don’t feel the need for a balcony room, which is generally more expensive. Additionally, speaking with passengers who have experienced the Yacht Club on MSC Cruises almost universally adores it! I’ve yet to find anyone who has spoken negatively about the MSC Yacht Club. Unfortunately, it’s not affordable for everyone, so I have an issue with the fact that the service on the rest of the ship is sometimes sub-par, so you shouldn’t have to be in the Yacht Club to have a good service experience throughout the ship.

What do you get with the Yacht Club experience on MSC?

• Dedicated priority check-in and check-out as well as priority departure and return on excursion days
• 24-hour butler service and a dedicated concierge
• Room Service is available 24 hours a day
• Premium Extra Drink Package 
• Premium Internet package (Browse – 2 devices Unlimited Internet Package)
• Complimentary access to the Thermal Suite in the MSC Aurea Spa
• Relaxation amenities in each suite (including bathrobe, and slippers)
• Pillow menu
• Other personal touches: luggage packing/unpacking service, newspaper directly delivered in a stateroom on request
• 1 free cruise change
• Upgraded and elevated suites offer a more comfortable room size and are located in the foredecks of the ship
• Dedicated, private area of the ship accessible only to MSC Yacht Club guests
• A private and spacious pool deck with whirlpool baths and sunbathing area, an outdoor bar with the very best views
• Panoramic Top Sail Lounge with bar, afternoon tea service, light bites available day and night, and live entertainment in the evening
• Gourmet restaurant with a la carte dining for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with free choice of dining time
• Tailormade experiences from shopping to excursions
• 20% discount on a prepaid dedicated specialty restaurant package
• 40% discount on a prepaid dedicated spa package
• 10% discount on all spa treatments purchased on board

The Yacht club is only available on select ships and is not usually available on the older ships sailing in Europe. Ships with Yacht club include: Bellissima, Divina, Fantasia, Grandiosa, Meraviglia , Preziosa, Seascape, Seashore, Seaside, Seaview, Splendida, Virtuosa (and on the upcoming World ships)

Entertainment on MSC Cruises

The comparable evening shows on MSC are on par with those on Royal Caribbean and Carnival, but they come with a fee, whereas other cruise lines rarely charge extra for entertainment. However, the cost for the Cirque shows on MSC are very reasonable and enjoyable. Other entertainment included with the fare are more like variety shows, singing, dancing, etc.

As expected, there are other entertainment options throughout all MSC Ships including bands, solo singers dancing, poolside music, etc. However, nothing compares to some more mainstream cruise lines with “things to do” on a cruise. So if you compare overall activities on MSC versus Carnival or Royal Caribbean, you’ll likely be disappointed.

So, if you’re looking for a ton of activities all day, every day, there appear to be fewer options on MSC, as the entertainment and daily activities are not as robust as you might expect for such modern ships.

For experienced cruisers who expect big production shows included in the fare may be disappointed with what MSC has to offer.

The Buffet, Main Dining Room & Specialty Restaurants on MSC ships

Many people consider food to be a significant factor in their cruise experience. In this regard, I find the buffets on all the ships I’ve been on to be acceptable. While MSC didn’t have as many included options like Guys Burger and the Blue Iguana, it wasn’t a deal-breaker for us. We always found something enjoyable, and the variety at breakfast, with more meats, cheeses, and bread, was a nice departure from the US cruise lines.

Regarding the included sit-down meals (main dining room), I would rate MSC last when comparing all major cruise lines, although they were not inedible by any means. I am content with the included main dining room meals because, for me, if I’m not cooking, I’m happy.

The buffets on the ships are usually expansive but not much changes on a 5 or 7 day cruise. The food is fine, but the pizza is amazing. So if we found ourselves in the buffet, it was usually for a pizza and salad.

There are a number of for-a-fee restaurants on MSC ships (basically all restaurants cost extra). For foodies and people who find the food experience on a cruise to be a priority, they may find what MSC calls “specialty” or “premium” dining lacks quite a bit. While it’s not BAD, it just doesn’t live up to the other major cruise lines when it comes to premium dining.

To get the most out of the specialty dining on MSC, consider buying a dining package. More details on the MSC dining packages here .

Specialty Dining on MSC Cruises

Butcher’s Cut – The staple steak restaurant found on most MSC ships can actually cook a great steak. our only complaint is the presentation and the odd choice of sides (as well as their presentation).

Kaito Sushi – A lovely sit-down sushi bar where most of the menu is done quite well, with a few exceptions (like salmon hand rolls)

The Teppanyaki restaurant onboard is usually attached to the sushi bar. A great family event with good food and in a show cooking style.

Hola Tacos – Think food truck / street tacos meet sit-down restaurant. The selection is great and this was by far our favorite restaurant on the ship. Not because it’s fancy or particularly high-end, but because it delivers consistent, good food every time (and they’re usually open for lunch!)

Ocean Cay Restaurant – The seafood concept found on many MSC ships was hit or miss with the prep of the food and overall food quality.

Specialty restaurants vary per ship.

MSC Cruises’ demographic and typical passenger

MSC’s overall demographic isn’t on the extreme side of young or old; it’s a nice mix. If you’re looking for a party cruise and a lot of drinking, you may want to explore other options. Not that there is a lack of a “good time” to be had, but there are usually a lot of families, meaning fewer late nights and all-night parties.

Ocean Cay, MSC Cruises Private Island

MSC’s private island, Ocean Cay , is fantastic if you want to relax and enjoy the beautiful sea and sand. The food trucks spread around were a nice alternative. However, it’s not comparable to RCL’s island, with its many slides, pools, and other activities. But we liked that. We loved the feeling of an island retreat more than a built-up water park. I think it was a great choice for MSC to make it a retreat rather than a playground.

One thing to note is that MSC’s website is the least user-friendly of all the cruise lines I’ve used. The pre-cruise registration process is quite wonky compared to other websites.

• Read : MSC Ocean Cay Excursions with Prices

MSC Voyagers Clubs Program

As with most cruise lines, MSC has a customer loyalty program they call the Voyagers Club. Unfortunately, until you get to the highest levels of the program like the Diamond live, there are not a lot of perks. However, the best benefit of being a member is a 5% discount on all bookings (and even greater discounts when booking early). What makes this program unique across the cruise industry is the fact that MSC Cruises’ status matches with other loyalty programs . Even more unique is it’s not limited to just other cruise lines, they also status match to hotel programs.

Our final thoughts on MSC Cruises

The popularity of MSC Cruises has led to a plethora of debates and opinions about the cruise line in online communities such as Facebook and Reddit. Despite MSC’s long history in European waters. The brand continues to polarize opinions, with some cruisers loving the newish cruise line and others feeling less enthusiastic. Whether you’re a seasoned cruiser or a newcomer to the world of cruising, the debate surrounding MSC Cruises is sure to captivate your attention.

Ultimately, your personal priorities will determine which cruise line is right for you. If price is a significant factor, MSC provides great value for money. If you’re looking to relax, sit by the pool, enjoy cruise ports, and aren’t hyper-focused on food, MSC is a great option. We have booked a 6-night Bermuda cruise in September for a total of $1200 +/- for a balcony cabin. In contrast, for the same dates and destination, Carnival’s prices ranged from $1950 to $2300 for a 5-night outside cabin, and RCL charged $2000. Disney, on the other hand, charged an eyewatering $3100.

Cruise Gear Editor

I'm a global nomad at heart, and the dedicated editor behind CruiseGear. For the past two decades, I've experienced exciting voyages across the world, discovering countless ports from the decks of dozens of ships, visiting 40+ countries (and living in some of them for years). It's been an exhilarating journey to say the least! I want to share everything I've learned and hope to make your next cruise vacation as enjoyable as possible.

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As an American, I found your article pretty fair. I realize it seems strange using that opening line, but I did do it to make a point. To me, it seems those who are complaining about MSC the loudest are Americans. We did a 7 day in Northern Europe in November with MSC. There is a long story behind this, but we did half of the cruise in a two room suite with a hottub on the balcony and then the other half in a duplex suite in Yacht Club.

What I noticed about the complaints, it was Americans, and it was food related. MSC does not know what a double gulp is. Perhaps they didn’t realize that they could just order more.

Your comment about service with the stewards was interesting. What we observed was that the staff seemed to be trained to be invisible to the passengers, but available when needed. If we needed our steward (pre YC), all we had to do was make a call and the steward was there within minutes. If we needed our butler in YC, it was just a quick phone call. What we learned is that all we needed to do was put forth a little effort and ask for service and it was never an issue. If not, the staff was going to leave us alone. We were happy that our steward and butler knew our names before we introduced ourselves.

YC is a whole other world. One thing that you didn’t mention that I thought was very well thought out by MSC was putting the interior rooms in YC. Imagine this scenario . . . the matriarch and patriarch of a family want to have a nice cruise with their offspring. They need a room for themselves and then 3 other rooms for their kids. They can get a nice suite in YC and the kids can have interior rooms. Because YC is not really crowded, finding a spot for 10 people by the pool, hottubs, etc, it is simple. You could go to the concierge desk and ask for a table to be put together for dinner for the 10 of you.

I commend you for being honest that there is a value prop at play. MSC, to us, offers value for what we receive. We never feel that we are ripped off and overcharged. We have friends who are trying to get us into the Retreat on a cruise in September. They got a room, it was 22k for 7 days. A comparable room in YC is the Duplex Suite (it’s a little bigger and has a hottub.) That room is 8k. To us, there can’t be 14k more in value.

Thanks for the article, again, it was fair, especially mentioning how wonky MSC’s website is 🙂

Hi David – Thanks for your great comment and feedback. I didn’t mention the YC mostly because …. (very personal opinion) I hate how all of the brands have made an option (Yacht Club for MSC) which is not available to the masses due to price and it really divides the experience. I understand why it exists, but usually when I do a review, I try to put it in perspective of what MOST people will experience on the ship. I hate that you know hove to pay extra for a class of service that used to be standard in the industry years ago. 🙂 – In the end, though, MSC, regardless if you choose their standard cabins or YC experience, it really does provide a great value if you can overcome the quirks.

Thank you! We are normally loyal to Royal and are now expanding our experiences with MSC Meraviglia out of New York… We received an offer we couldn’t refuse through our local casino! I find that people complain on all forums…I listen but do not take it to heart, because everyone is different! Your article is great and I will continue to read your reviews!

Hi Lorraine, Thanks for the positive feedback on the article!

It’s definitely worth giving MSC a try, as you said everyone is different and so many things are subjective. That’s why we try to make our reviews as objective as possible and tell it how it is while keeping polarizing opinions to a minimum 🙂 Enjoy your trip and don’t let the complaints in all the forums take away from a good time. As with everything, it is going to be what YOU make of it! MSC is unusual, but as long as you know what to expect going in, you’ll enjoy it.

Great article and very helpful. We’ve been on close to 20 cruises, all with RCL and were disappointed in the last one so we are going to give MSC a try next spring on the Seascape.

Thanks for reading the Article, Nick! I hope you enjoy the cruise. Keep in mind it’s totally different than RCL! So try not to directly compare the experiences when you cruise 🙂

Also ! Don’t forget to status match! If you’re any status with RCL, MSC will give you status which might make it even better. See the MSC status match info here .

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Cruise Spotlight

Helping you find cruise ships you'll love

MSC Seascape vs Norwegian Jade

The MSC Seascape is a fairly new ship, being built in 2022. The MSC Seashore has a New York City-inspired aestheic complete with a 10-foot-fall replica of the Statue of Liberty at the heart of the casino and shopping area called Times Square. It's 16 years newer than the Jade , which was built in 2006 and renovated in 2017.

Comparison Overview

Number of passengers, food and restaurants, bars and drinks, pools and hot tubs, ship features and activities, cruise costs, onboard costs.

The Seascape is considered a large size ship. Coming in at 1,060 feet long and 135 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.9 football fields, as wide as 2.5 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 15-story building. Compared to the Norwegian Jade, the Seascape is 81% larger in terms of overall tons.

The MSC Seascape holds more than double the amount of people as the Jade based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you look at the "Space Ratio," or the total tonnage of a ship compared to the number of passengers, the Seascape has less space per person compared to the Jade.

Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.

The Seascape has 16 different dining options like HOLA! Tacos & Cantina , Butcher's Cut , and Marketplace Buffet . Of those options, 7 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 9 options have an additional fee.

The Jade has 4 more dining venues. Some of its popular venues are The Great Outdoors , Teppanyaki , and Le Bistro French . 11 of these restaurants are complementary and the other 8 have an additional fee.

If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Jade might be a better choice. It has 25% more dining options than the Seascape.

If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Jade might be a better choice then the Seascape. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.

The MSC Seascape has 7 more bars than the Norwegian Jade. The Seascape has 19 bars like Casino Bar, Chef's Court Cocktail Bar and Sky Bar. On Seascape, you can grab a drink at 12 different bars such as Casino Bar, Spinnaker Lounge and Tankards Beer & Whiskey Bar.

In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. Both ships serve the Coca-cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship.

You can check out recent the bar menus for the Jade below.

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day for 7 days in a pool, a cruise isn't for you. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.

The MSC Seascape has a total of 5 pools and 15 hot tubs. Tired of loud kids and splashing? 1 of the pools are adults only. 2 of the pools and 3 of the hot tubs are exclusive access, which means there's either an extra charge to access them or you need to book a certain class of cabin to have access to them.

Norwegian Jade has fewer pools than the Seascape and fewer hot tubs. There are fewer exclusive pools and hot tubs on the Jade. If you like ships without extra charges or exclusive areas, this might be a better choice since everyone will have access to these areas.

Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. You might up paying more while on board the Seascape. Only 54% of the activities below are included in your cruise fare. On the Jade, 60% of the activities are included at no additional cost.

MSC and Norwegian are both considered "Mainstream" cruise lines. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.

Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. Typically newer ships cost more, so a cruise on MSC Seascape will likely be more expensive than on Norwegian Jade.

Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.

Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.

The table below will help you compare onboard prices to see if you might spend more on a specific ship.

Norwegian Cruise Line offers a Free at Sea fare. Through this program, guests receive free open bar, a discount on excursions, some free internet, and some meals at their specialty restaurants. If you book using this promotion, you'll be responsible for the gratuities on the dining and drink package. If you won't be using these options, booking a "sail away" rate that doesn't include the Free at Sea benefits is considerably cheaper. Also, most of these benefits are the base packages; you can spend more to upgrade to better alcoholic drinks or faster/more wifi.

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Carnival vs. MSC: 11 Major Differences Between the Two Cruise Lines

When it comes to value, anyone searching for cruises is likely to run across two lines that offer some of the least expensive trips: Carnival and MSC.

And while Carnival is arguably the most well-known cruise line anywhere, MSC isn’t exactly a household name here in the United States. As a result, many people see the two lines offering some similar trips and wonder how they compare.

Having sailed both multiple times, we have insight into what you can expect onboard the cruise lines, including some of the major differences that you should know before you choose one over the other.

Cruise Fleet in the U.S.

If you live in the United States, you might be surprised to learn that MSC actually has a fleet that’s comparable in size to Carnival. Both lines offer more than 20 ships, with Carnival’s fleet being slightly larger overall than MSC.

The difference is that MSC isn’t near as focused on the North American market — although it continues to make a strong push. As a result, the number of ships you can sail from U.S. cruise ports on MSC is far fewer than Carnival.

For example, in 2025 we found seven ships from MSC sailing from U.S. ports. Carnival offers trips aboard 27 vessels according to its schedule.

Bottom line, if the ship you sail is important to you, then you’ll have a lot more options on Carnival than MSC.

Departure Ports

Similar to the number of ships sailing in the United States, there are major differences between MSC and Carnival when it comes to departure ports. Make no doubt, Carnival is a U.S.-focused line. MSC is much more global in nature.

In fact, MSC sails from only three U.S. ports — Miami, Port Canaveral, and New York. Galveston will be added in 2025 . Carnival sails from countless ports, including the same ones as MSC plus spots like Seattle, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Tampa, Baltimore, and more.

If you don’t live in Florida and New York and want to be able to drive to a port instead of fly, then Carnival will be your best bet.

Types of Passengers Onboard

While both lines aim to appeal to families and vacationers hunting for value, there is a lot of difference in passenger base.

Specifically, while the difference seems to be narrowing in our opinion, Carnival’s passenger base seems much more American than MSC. Being a line with a major presence in other parts of the world, we’ve found that the passengers on MSC seem to have more people from Europe and South America sailing on the trips we’ve taken. In fact, announcements were in five different languages on our first cruise with the line to make sure everyone understood.

We will say that a more recent cruise saw less of a difference as the cruise line establishes an identity in the United States and gradually appeals to more Americans. But we wouldn’t say that the passenger groups on Carnival and MSC are the same.

Evening Entertainment

The entertainment on a cruise is a major part of the experience. Here, there is a big difference between Carnival and MSC.

On Carnival, you have a lot of classic-style shows and game shows. For instance, a recent cruise included live Family Feud with passengers as contestants. There’s the “Love & Marriage” game show (a take on The Newlywed Game), and large scale production shows with lots of singing and dancing.

We’ve loved MSC programming, but it certainly has a different feel to us. At least on the ships we’ve been on, the shows have a more “acrobatic” feel that focus less on Broadway-style performances and more on amazing performers similar to Cirque du Soleil. We also have to especially mention a Michael Jackson tribute show that featured the songs of the King of Pop and an impersonator that was a dead ringer for the late singer.

Ocean Cay (MSC’s Private Island)

Both cruise lines offer private destinations. Carnival in particular has quite a few, including private areas in The Bahamas, Dominican Republic, and Roatan. To be sure, any visit to these spots will be a good time as they are tailor-made for cruise passengers.

We do have to give special mention, however, to MSC’s Ocean Cay . The cruise line spent hundreds of millions developing this island in The Bahamas. It’s an enormous spot with tons of space for everyone, beautiful beaches, and gorgeous water. While many cruise line islands are essentially theme parks, Ocean Cay is a much more relaxing and subdued. If you’re wanting a chilled-out beach day, this is it.

One other perk? MSC often has extended stays at Ocean Cay, including some that stay overnight. The ability to enjoy the island at night is something unique to the cruise line.

We will say that Carnival’s upcoming Celebration Key will be a game-changer for the cruise line, but that’s not until 2025.

Food & Included Restaurants

What’s a cruise without food? It’s a major part of the overall experience and also a difference between the two lines.

To us, Carnival is one of the most generous cruise lines around when it comes to food. Yes, there are paid options like the steakhouse and high-end dining, but there are plentiful free options included. Of course, there is the buffet and main dining room. Carnival also offers Guy’s Burger Joint, a pizza spot, a deli, BlueIguana (Mexican) and on some ships Chibang! (Asian/Mexican) and Big Chicken.

MSC (at least on the ships we have sailed) has far fewer options. There is the buffet and dining room, and then everything else offered was a specialty restaurant. As well, we noticed that in general there were just fewer restaurants overall.

Venues on the Ship

One difference we’ve noticed sailing both MSC and Carnival is one that’s actually a little hard to explain but it has an impact on the feel of your cruise.

Every cruise line has their own venues. For instance, Carnival has areas like Guy’s Burger Joint, or the RedFrog Bar. Royal Caribbean has Lime & Coconut, Sorrento’s, and Playmakers. These areas have their own theme, style, and menus.

We’ve noticed that MSC feels more “generic” in their venues. Yes, the bars and restaurants have different names, but the vibe and theme isn’t as unique from spot to spot on the ship.

For instance, on a recent trip aboard MSC Seaside, we stopped and enjoyed some time in the ship’s sports bar, which is aptly named… Sports Bar.

Gratuity Charges

If traveling with children, then a little-known way that you can save money on MSC versus Carnival is when it comes to gratuities.

First off, both cruise lines charge the same rate currently — $16 per person, per day for most rooms. And if you’re traveling with infants or toddlers, then both have no gratuities for passengers under two years old.

But if taking a family vacation, MSC may offer a nice value. Carnival charges the same gratuity rate for all passengers over two years old. MSC, however, charges $8 per day for kids from 2-12 years.

A family of four with two kids under 12 years old would end up paying $336 for gratuities on a 7-day MSC cruise, but $448 on Carnival. That’s a decent chunk of change that you can save with MSC.

Drink Package Options

Drink packages are a popular item for some passengers. For one set daily price, you don’t have to worry about a bar tab and just get what you want.

Carnival, however, has a much simpler offering. They offer only one package for alcoholic drinks . The price varies depending on the length of the cruise, with one price for cruises under six days and another price for trips six days or longer. There is also a limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per day.

MSC offers three different packages — Easy, Easy Plus, and Premium Extra. These three packages provide drinks at different price points. That can make things more complicated for cruise passengers as they need to do some analysis to compare the differently-priced packages with what’s included.

Fans of the Cruise Line

If you’ve ever sailed Carnival, then you know that there are people that treat the cruise line like a religion. They have high status (with cards that show it off), pins showing off their past cruises, Carnival clothing, and they love to talk about what ship they’ve been on and which ship they are headed on next.

In fact, we’d argue that no other cruise line quite has the loyalty that Carnival seems to endear. These superfans eat, sleep, and breathe Carnival.

MSC, however, is much more low key. You’ll see far fewer people flashing their loyalty status or wearing clothing emblazoned with MSC. Part of this is the fact that the cruise line is relatively small compared to Carnival here and doesn’t have the history in the United States. There hasn’t been the ability to build as deep a fanbase as Carnival. But more than that, there’s just something about Carnival that makes its passengers love the line.

Global Sailings for MSC

We mentioned how MSC is making inroads into the United States, but is still a relatively small player compared to Carnival. Well, one difference between the lines is that you can flip that status in other parts of the world.

MSC is truly a global cruise line with major operations in Europe, the Middle East, and elsewhere. If you’re wanting to sail somewhere other than the Caribbean or The Bahamas, then it would offer way more options.

Carnival is focused on the U.S., some cruises in Australia, and a few dotted in Europe. There are sister brands elsewhere around the world (such as Costa), but not Carnival.

More on MSC & Carnival:

• 11 Important Differences Between MSC Cruises and Other Major Lines
• Worth It? 15+ Questions & Answers About the Carnival CHEERS! Drink Package
• Ocean Cay: Complete Guide, Tips, & Things to Know

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MSC Cruises vs. Royal Caribbean: Which big-ship line is right for you?

MSC Cruises vs. Royal Caribbean — how do they compare? Both cruise lines are known for offering affordable cruise fares and onboard fun for passengers of all ages, although Royal Caribbean's prices can be considerably higher on its newer, more popular ships. Each has an extensive fleet that includes splashy megaships carrying more than 6,000 guests at full capacity and a wide range of itineraries in top cruise destinations such as the Caribbean and Europe.

There are, however, key differences in the onboard experience. Both cruise lines offer thrilling activities (just not the same kind), and each has its own approach to entertainment, kids clubs and dining.

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Which cruise line should you choose? Read on for a head-to-head comparison of MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean. We'll cover each brand's onboard experience, itineraries and passenger profile to help you decide.

Meet the cruise lines: MSC vs. Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean has better name recognition than MSC Cruises among Americans. The Miami-based cruise line, known for its groundbreaking innovations, operates 26 vessels, including the five largest cruise ships in the world . Two more megaships will join the fleet in 2024, when Icon of the Seas , the first in a new class for the cruise line, and Utopia of the Seas , the line's sixth Oasis-class ship, will claim the first and second largest ship titles from two other Royal Caribbean vessels.

Italian-owned, Geneva, Switzerland-based MSC Cruises is part of MSC Group, the world's largest container shipping company. This fast-growing cruise brand has launched a dozen cruise ships since 2012.

The U.S. market was largely introduced to MSC between 2017 and 2022 when it debuted four Seaside-class ships designed primarily to sail to the Caribbean from Miami. One of its sales strategies? Kids under age 17 can frequently sail for free when staying in the same cabin with accompanying adults.

In 2025, the cruise line will christen MSC World America, a Miami-based megaship sibling of 2022's MSC World Europa . Both use cleaner-burning liquified natural gas (LNG) as fuel.

Related: The ultimate guide to MSC Cruises | The ultimate guide to Royal Caribbean

Size of ships

Neither Royal Caribbean nor MSC Cruises has a ship that carries fewer than 2,000 passengers at double occupancy — and their biggest ships accommodate more than three times that at full capacity.

Royal Caribbean's older ships (Vision, Radiance, Voyager and Freedom classes) carry 2,000 to 3,900 guests at double occupancy, while its newest (Oasis and Quantum class) accommodate 4,000 to almost 6,000.

The five Oasis-class vessels, to be joined by Utopia of the Seas in 2024, are the largest cruise ships in the world. They carry 5,700 guests at double occupancy and just over 7,000 at full capacity. They are distinctive for their split-hull design, allowing for interior-facing cabins, and themed neighborhoods, which help disperse foot traffic and make it easier for guests to navigate the ships' 18 decks.

Royal Caribbean's Quantum-class vessels, introduced between 2014 and 2021, accommodate 4,180 guests at double occupancy and 5,500 at capacity. These five ships are distinguishable by the North Star sightseeing capsule that rises 300 feet above the sea.

Related: The 6 classes of Royal Caribbean cruise ships, explained

When Icon of the Seas sets sail, it will become the world's largest, as well as Royal Caribbean's first LNG-powered ship. Able to carry 5,600 guests at double occupancy and up to 7,600 at capacity, Icon of the Seas will feature eight neighborhoods and offer more cabins and suites that can accommodate four or more passengers than any other ship in the fleet.

Royal Caribbean's Freedom-class ships, which carry about 3,900 passengers at double occupancy, and its Voyager-class ships, which accommodate 3,100, offer some of the thrilling activities of its larger ships. Its Vision-class ships, which date to the 1990s and accommodate 2,400 to 2,500 guests, feature notably fewer onboard attractions. Radiance-class ships are the smallest in the fleet, carrying 2,100 guests at double occupancy.

Those who prefer a ship that's not mega-size might want to consider Royal Caribbean's good-value Mediterranean, Caribbean and Alaska itineraries on its refreshed Radiance- and Voyager-class vessels.

MSC Cruises likes big ships, too. It has six vessels ranked among the Top 20 largest cruise ships in the world, including MSC World Europa, which comes in just behind Royal Caribbean's Oasis-class vessels. It accommodates 5,252 guests at double occupancy and 6,762 at capacity. World Europa features a Y-shaped design with a dramatic open-air atrium. It will be joined by sister MSC World America in 2025.

The next largest ships in MSC's fleet are its five Meraviglia-class ships, all introduced beginning in 2017. They carry 4,438 guests at double occupancy and as many as 6,327 at capacity. Both MSC Meraviglia and MSC Divina are sailing U.S. itineraries out of New York and Miami, respectively.

The ships that U.S.-based cruisers are probably most familiar with are MSC's four Seaside-class vessels, which accommodate 4,132 passengers at double occupancy and 5,119 at capacity. They're almost identical (with close-to-identical names: Seaside, Seaview, Seashore and Seascape ) and have a high-energy vibe and a dazzling, multi-deck central atrium.

MSC's 12 older ships are divided among three classes — Lirica, Musica and Fantasia — and accommodate 2,000 to 3,500 guests at double occupancy. The Fantasia class's MSC Divina, launched in 2012, is perhaps best known to U.S. cruisers because it often sails itineraries to the Caribbean from Miami. The other ships are mainly based in Europe, South America and Asia.

Related: The 6 types of MSC Cruises ships, explained

Traveling with kids? Perhaps even Grandma and Grandpa? Both Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises are leaders in family cruising , with passengers ranging from young parents with preschool children to multigenerational families. Both lines also attract couples and groups of friends who prefer a lively cruise ship ambience and don't mind sharing their vacation with several thousand other passengers.

MSC and Royal Caribbean primarily appeal to value-focused guests seeking affordable cruise fares, but more-affluent cruisers can also book higher-priced suites featuring elevated amenities.

While both cruise lines attract travelers from around the globe, especially on Mediterranean and Asian itineraries, MSC's passenger base is more international, even on ships cruising to the Caribbean from Miami. MSC cruise ships make important safety and disembarkation announcements in multiple languages (English, Italian, Spanish, French and German), although all staff and crew speak English.

Figuring out which vibe appeals most to you — more North Americans (Royal Caribbean) or a predominantly international crowd (MSC Cruises) — can help you choose between these two megaship cruise brands.

Cabins and suites

Cabins on most mainstream cruise lines are designed more with functionality than flashy design in mind. Both lines feature windowless inside, ocean-view, balcony and suite accommodations.

Royal Caribbean has an enormous selection of room and suite categories — as many as 34 types on its newer ships — offering some pretty slick amenities. These range from interior staterooms with "Virtual Balcony" LED screens displaying views from outside the ship to two-level Loft Suites and even an Ultimate Family Suite featuring a gaming area and a slide from the sleeping area to the living room.

Royal Caribbean's Oasis-class ships feature balcony cabins without ocean views. That's because they overlook the bustling Boardwalk, an open-air interior dining and entertainment neighborhood, or the quieter Central Park.

Related: Royal Caribbean cruise ship cabin and suite guide: Everything you want to know

Newer Royal Caribbean ships feature more balcony cabins and fewer ocean-view cabins than older ships. If booking an ocean-view, the aft- or rear-facing cabins on many ships are generally the most spacious.

Six Royal Caribbean ships (Brilliance of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas and Spectrum of the Seas) offer cabins designed for solo travelers . These range from a 101-square-foot Inside Studio Stateroom to a 199-square-foot Studio Oceanview Stateroom with Balcony.

Top-tier accommodations are known as Royal Suite Class and rank among some of the most spectacular suites in the mainstream cruise line sector. They are available on Oasis- and Quantum-class ships and range from relatively modest 290-square-foot Junior Suites to two-level, 1,800-square-foot Royal Loft Suites that rival a contemporary penthouse apartment. Priced well above other staterooms, these concierge-serviced suites appeal to wealthy travelers, especially those cruising with their families, who prefer the lively ambience of a large ship to a smaller luxury vessel.

The two-level Ultimate Family Suite — a more playful and colorful option for families with younger kids and a very generous budget — is available on Wonder of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas and Spectrum of the Seas.

All Royal Suite Class guests enjoy access to exclusive venues, such as the Coastal Kitchen restaurant and a private lounge and/or sun deck. Additional amenities and VIP perks vary by Royal Suite Class category booked.

When Icon of the Seas debuts in early 2024, it will offer 28 different cabin and suite categories, including 14 completely new room types. This ship was designed with families in mind, and 80% of its staterooms will be able to be connected or offer enough space to accommodate larger families.

The closest MSC comes to matching Royal Caribbean's stateroom and suite offerings is aboard MSC World Europa, which debuted in late 2022 and features 19 stateroom categories, including seven new designs. The most impressive non-MSC-Yacht-Club accommodation on World Europa is the 377-square-foot Grand Suite Aurea with Terrace and Whirlpool.

The largest suites on most MSC ships are in the MSC Yacht Club , an exclusive enclave on newer MSC ships offering private spaces and added amenities. This includes the MSC Yacht Club Owner's Suite with Whirlpool Bath, offering 840 to 1,119 square-feet of interior space with an 840-square-foot balcony, and the 495-square-foot MSC Yacht Club Duplex Suite with Whirlpool Bath, featuring a 301-to-334-square-foot balcony. MSC Yacht Club perks include a private lounge and restaurant, a private sundeck and butler service.

Because of World Europa's design, the ship also features four balcony cabin categories with a view of its interior promenade, similar to Royal Caribbean's Oasis-class ships.

Unlike World Europa, MSC's other newcomer, Euribia , doesn't feature any suites larger than 700 square feet, but its MSC Yacht Club Duplex Suite with Whirlpool does offer 635 square feet of living space with a 248-square-foot balcony. For more outdoor space, choose the 624-square-foot MSC Yacht Club Royal Suite with a 753-square-foot balcony.

For family-friendly accommodation, both ships offer a 269-square-foot Premium Balcony Aurea cabin, which features stationary bunk beds just inside the entry, a king-size bed, a pull-out double sofa and a larger bathroom with a bathtub and shower combo. This makes it ideal for a family of up to six. Some also feature a private whirlpool on the balcony.

Related: Everything you need to know about MSC Cruises cabins and suites

For solo travelers, all five Meraviglia-class ships offer 129-square-foot Studio Balcony suites, which have the benefit of balcony access without a required single supplement.

Seaside-class vessels feature 16 stateroom and suite categories. The largest option is the 1,055-square-foot MSC Yacht Club Owner's Suite.

MSC Cruises' dining program is pretty basic. Passengers can expect to dine most nights in one of the complimentary main dining rooms. Most ships have several, and guests are assigned to one with dining times dependent on the "experience" guests purchase when they book. Bella and Fantastica passengers can request early or late seating, which will remain the same throughout the cruise, while Aurea guests can dine any time during open hours in their designated dining room with My Choice dining.

Guests on World Europa and Seaside- and Meraviglia-class ships can expect dining room menus to change each night and offer a good selection of globally inspired selections. MSC's food quality, presentation and portion sizes have improved with each new ship as the cruise line has adapted to U.S. customer feedback. Still, guests should plan to spend more time at the table, since MSC's service tends toward a slower European pace.

Marketplace, MSC's bustling buffet option, which on its newer ships can accommodate more than 1,300 guests at a time, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It features a selection of familiar yet often uninspiring hot and cold dishes and global specialties, with some of the best options being salads, pastas, pizza (mozzarella is made fresh daily) and desserts.

Related: Best cruise food: These are the 6 cruise lines with the best food at sea

Unfortunately, those are the only complimentary dining options onboard MSC ships. It's also worth noting that while the food quality is notably better in the restaurants on its newer ships, the free food options on older vessels, most of which offer cheap cruise fares, can be inconsistent and not very good.

MSC Cruises' specialty dining venues vary by ship, but typically there are three to five options. These can include Butcher's Cut for steaks and seafood, Kaito Sushi Bar and Kaito Teppanyaki for Japanese specialties, Hola! Tacos & Cantina for Latin-American-inspired street food, Ocean Cay for Mediterranean-style seafood and Indochine for Vietnamese classic with a twist. On MSC's newest ship, Euribia, French-bistro-inspired steakhouse Le Grill has replaced Butcher's Cut.

Guests can pre-purchase dining packages ranging from one specialty meal to unlimited specialty dining, although some menu items will incur a surcharge.

A note to chocoholics: MSC has partnered with both Italian chocolatier Venchi and U.S.-based French chocolatier Jean-Philippe Maury to offer a wide selection of freshly made chocolates, baked goods, crepes and gelato. MSC World Europa and Seaside- and Fantasia-class ships feature Venchi while Meraviglia-class ships offer Jean-Philippe Maury. All these sweets, however, are available at an extra cost.

Royal Caribbean's dining scene, in contrast, offers plenty of choices. The cruise line has been a pioneer in onboard specialty restaurants and some of its ships, especially its newer ones, feature as many as 12 extra-cost specialty dining options. On a budget? Don't worry. Royal Caribbean also offers terrific complimentary casual dining venues in addition to its main dining room and Windjammer buffet.

Specialty restaurants vary from ship class to ship class, although a few such as Chops Grille (for steaks and seafood) are aboard most vessels. Other options include Giovanni's Italian Kitchen for family-style classics, Playmakers Sports Bar for casual snacks like burgers and chicken wings, Izumi for sushi and Japanese specialties, 150 Central Park for modern American fine dining and the recently introduced The Mason Jar for southern cuisine.

Passengers can purchase specialty dining packages at a discounted price prior to sailing.

In its main dining room, Royal Caribbean recently rolled out seven nights of new themed menus (French, Italian, Caribbean, Mexican, Mediterranean, etc.). The Classics section, offering selections such as grilled chicken breast and herb-crusted salmon every night, has been removed, although some of these favorites do appear at times on the new menus. This revamped format, with fewer choices, can limit options for picky eaters.

When booking, Royal Caribbean passengers must choose between traditional dining (either early or late seating for the entire cruise) or more flexible My Time Dining. With the latter, passengers can reserve a table of any configuration or show up at the main dining room and wait in line for a table.

Families with kids love Royal Caribbean's free casual eateries. These vary by ship, with Oasis- and Quantum-class vessels having the most. Options include Boardwalk Dog House for grilled frankfurters, Sorrento's for pizza, El Loco Fresh for tacos and burritos, Park Café for grab-and-go sandwiches and Vitality Café for healthy salads and wraps.

Onboard attractions

Big ships offer big thrills, and in the case of Royal Caribbean, these include some of the most memorable adrenaline rushes at sea.

On its Oasis-class ships, guests can scream their way down 10 decks of corkscrew spirals on the Ultimate Abyss slide, get soaked on The Perfect Storm waterslides or try simulated surfing with the FlowRider. Those without a fear of heights can tackle the rock climbing wall or zoom high above the Boardwalk neighborhood on a zip line. Other activities include ice skating, escape rooms, mini-golf, a carousel and pickleball.

Quantum-class ships offer an almost entirely different roster of exciting attractions, although the FlowRider and the rock climbing wall are consistent across the fleet. On board Quantum of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas, active thrills include the sky-dive simulator RipCord by iFly, a two-level Seaplex with a sports court/bumper car rink and areas dedicated to Xbox, virtual reality gaming and laser tag. Quantum-class ships also have the North Star, a pod-like sightseeing capsule. But if you're looking for thrills on a waterslide, you won't find any on ships in this class.

Related: The 10 wildest attractions you'll find on a cruise ship

Royal Escape Rooms (available on seven ships) are fun for the entire family (kids, however, must be 12 or older). A number of ships also feature Battle for Planet Z, a laser-tag game appropriate for kids ages 5 and older.

MSC's biggest thrills include Robotron , a top deck amusement park-style ride on Seascape that sends riders tumbling and swooping in seats attached to a moving "arm," and The Venom Drop @ The Spiral, a stainless-steel dry slide with a looping 11-deck drop on World Europa.

Most MSC ships have an arcade-style complex with some cool games and attractions, including Formula 1 race car simulators and an exhilarating XD Interactive Theatre where viewers strapped into hydraulic seats battle zombies, clowns and other menaces. All games cost extra.

MSC's ships are also known for their top-deck attractions, which include the longest zip line at sea (on Seaside and Seaview), elaborate Himalayan Bridge ropes courses (on Meraviglia-class ships) and an Aquapark with multiple waterslides (on both Seaside- and Meraviglia-class ships).

Related: The best cruise ship waterslides and watery fun zones

Both brands' megaships also feature all the usual things designed for relaxation and fitness: lively casinos, spacious spas, fully equipped gyms and jogging tracks and multiple pools. They also host lively themed parties, such as the White Party on MSC and assorted decade-themed celebrations on Royal Caribbean.

As for bars and lounges, both offer a wide selection, including pool bars, piano and karaoke bars and sophisticated lounges. MSC's World Europa and Euribia have more than 20 places to imbibe, while Royal Caribbean's 10 largest ships each have a dozen or more — and Icon of the Seas will feature 15, including a few new concepts.

Kids activities

Both MSC and Royal Caribbean are family-friendly cruise lines offering plenty to keep junior cruisers occupied. Their ships have colorful and inviting kids clubs with dedicated staff as well as teen hangouts, gaming areas and organized activities.

Royal Caribbean's Adventure Ocean youth program features expansive play spaces for kids ages 3-12 (the bigger the ship, the larger the kids' facilities). They can enjoy activities such as art and science projects, games and themed parties. The program is free during the day and early evening, but an hourly rate applies after 10 p.m.

The Royal Babies & Tots nursery accommodates little ones ages 6 to 36 months for drop-off (for an hourly fee).

Teens cruising with Royal Caribbean have plenty of options. They can hang out in The Living Room, dance or chill with new friends at the Fuel teen club or compete for the highest score at the arcade (at an added cost).

MSC's kids club, called Doremi, also focuses on games and activities by age group — Mini Club for ages 3 to 6, Junior Club for ages 7 to 11, Young Club for ages 12 to 14 and Teen Club for ages 15 to 17 — but its Baby Club (for kids under age 3) is complimentary.

The cruise line has a partnership with Lego, so creative kids who love to build will be thrilled. Mini Club participants can also partake in fun, family-inclusive events like the Doremi Disco, while Junior Club attendees can enter Masterchef at Sea Juniors or get in front of the camera with the Kelly & Khloe Onboard Green Screen Experience. Activities for Young Club and Teen Club attendees include sports tournaments, video gaming, dance competitions and karaoke.

Related: I got what I paid for: My cheap family cruise on MSC Seashore

Entertainment

What do Broadway musicals such as "Hairspray" and "Mamma Mia!", cover bands playing top hits of the '70s and '80s, high divers leaping into an onboard pool and multimedia spectacles in a dramatic 270-degree setting have in common? They're all in the entertainment line-up on Royal Caribbean's newest ships.

The cruise line is one of only two (the other being Norwegian Cruise Line ) to feature productions of hit Broadway shows on board — but you'll have to book an Oasis-class ship to enjoy one. Other ships offer high-energy production shows with musical and pop-cultural themes nightly. Game shows are also a Royal Caribbean thing, including some hilarious adults-only competitions focused on love and marriage.

Oasis-class ships offer two unique forms of entertainment: Thrilling high-dive performances in their aft AquaTheater and professional ice shows in Studio B. The latter space is also aboard Royal Caribbean's Freedom- and Voyager-class ships.

For something a bit edgier, the cruise line's Quantum-class ships feature Two70, a multi-level performance space where big-screen technology and daring acrobatics combine to create a unique kind of multi-sensory storytelling. These ships also have Music Hall, where cover bands channel the music of legendary rock bands like Bon Jovi and Journey.

Icon of the Seas will offer many passenger favorites plus exciting new venues like AquaDome, home to a next-level AquaTheater featuring state-of-the-art technology.

Related: Which cruise ship activities should you book ahead of time?

MSC certainly doesn't shirk its commitment to onboard entertainment. After dark, its ships' theaters and lounges buzz with vibrant musical productions and even fearless acrobatics. All of its Meraviglia-class ships feature The Carousel Lounge, which on the first four ships is a theater-in-the-round setting originally designed for Cirque du Soleil performances. It now houses themed variations on that genre, such as an illusionist-themed show.

MSC's newest ship, Euribia, however, has swapped high-flying theatrics for retro-inspired kicks with its reimagined Carousel Lounge. The space is now a sophisticated home for Big Band at Sea, a 19-piece orchestra with a genre-spanning playlist (although mid-20 th -century crooner classics best match the room).

Seaside-class ships have both a theater and a glittering multi-deck atrium with a stage, where live musical performances take place throughout the cruise.

And World Europa? This megaship features a new 300-seat multifunctional entertainment space call Luna Park Arena that hosts everything from movies and game shows to breakfast raves and stroller disco.

Itineraries

If cruising the world is on your travel agenda, perusing the itineraries offered by Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises will set your wanderlust in motion.

Royal Caribbean is the dominant cruise line in its namesake Caribbean region, cruising there from multiple U.S. ports year-round, but it also offers dozens of itineraries geared toward North Americans in the Mediterranean, Greek Isles, Alaska, Canada and New England, South America, Asia and Australia and New Zealand. In all, Royal Caribbean's ships visit more than 300 ports of call on itineraries spanning three to 14 nights.

MSC Cruises has deep roots in the Mediterranean, where it cruises year-round with a predominantly European passenger base. Its global reach extends to Northern Europe, South America, Asia, Africa and the Arabian Gulf; these cruises also attract mostly international travelers.

The line has made inroads into the Caribbean and Canada and New England cruise markets, with sailings out of U.S. home ports with a higher percentage of American guests, but it doesn't yet cruise to Alaska. Across destinations, MSC's itineraries range from three to 20 nights.

One unique booking feature MSC offers in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe is the option for guests to embark in any port visited on a looping seven-night itinerary as long as they disembark in the same port.

For example, on a World Europa cruise that visits Barcelona, Genoa, Naples, Marseille and Messina, cruise fares are offered round-trip from each port. This offers flexibility, especially for Europeans, but it also means passengers embark and disembark daily. And since MSC makes all important announcements in six languages, hearing daily safety drills can quickly get tiresome.

Bottom line

Either of these cruise lines can be a good option for those seeking an action-packed, value-focused cruise vacation. Royal Caribbean may have the edge on innovative thrills, top-flight entertainment and a greater variety of included dining options, but MSC's newest ships mix budget-friendly fares, an international passenger base and far-reaching itineraries to offer their own recipe for affordable exploration.

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