MSC Cruises review: is MSC a good cruise line?

Our MSC Cruises scorecard

This is our editorial verdict on MSC, graded on the seven criteria we use for every line. It is based on MSC’s published fleet, fare and itinerary information and on our MSC Cruises guide, not on passenger ratings.

These grades put MSC in ninth place of the ten lines in our cruise line rankings, ahead of Carnival and behind Norwegian. It wins our “best value in Europe” category there, and it is one of the two value picks on our family cruise list.

Strengths

• A lot of ship for the fare. MSC World America, which sails 7-night Caribbean cruises from Miami, carries up to about 6,760 guests at full occupancy and was built for American passengers. The Seaside and Meraviglia classes are only a few years older. Few lines put a ship this new in front of you at MSC’s typical fares.
• The Mediterranean. It is MSC’s home market. Ships run seven-night loops that let you board at several ports, including Barcelona, Rome (Civitavecchia), Genoa and Marseille, so you can pick the port your flight reaches most cheaply.
• The MSC Yacht Club. A gated suite area with its own restaurant, lounge, pool and butler service. It is the main reason travelers who normally book premium lines try MSC, and it costs far less than a luxury line.
• A private island. Most U.S. itineraries include a day at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in the Bahamas.
• Cabin choice on the new ships. World America alone has 19 stateroom types, and about two-thirds of its cabins have balconies.

Weaknesses

• Extras add up. The cheapest fare leaves drinks, Wi-Fi, specialty dining and the daily service charge to pay separately. MSC sells tiered fares, which it calls experiences, plus the Yacht Club. The standard tiers differ mainly in cabin choice, dining flexibility and perks, and what each one includes changes over time, so read the list for your sailing. Don’t assume a higher tier comes with a drinks package.
• Consistency. Food and service vary more from ship to ship and sailing to sailing than on Celebrity, Princess or Holland America. This is our reading of the product, and it is the main reason MSC ranks where it does.
• An international crowd. Even on U.S. sailings, announcements, dining times and service run more like a European line. On Mediterranean cruises Americans are often a minority on board.
• Crowds on the biggest ships. A full World-class ship carries up to about 6,760 guests, and pool decks feel it on sea days.
• Fewer U.S. home ports. MSC made its last New York cruise in April 2026, and no return has been announced. For winter 2026–27 its seven U.S. ships sail from Miami, Port Canaveral and Galveston only. If you live in the Northeast, see our New York cruise port guide for the lines that still sail from there.

Who MSC suits

• Families on a budget. Big kids’ clubs, water parks on the newest ships and regular “kids sail free” offers make MSC one of the cheapest ways to take a family on a new ship. The offers apply to selected sailings, to children sharing a cabin with two adults, and age limits vary by offer. Taxes and fees usually still apply for each child.
• First-timers testing cruising. Short Bahamas sailings with a day at Ocean Cay are among the cheapest ways to try a cruise. Compare them in our short cruise picks.
• Europe travelers who want a low fare. If you’d like a Mediterranean week and don’t need an American onboard culture, MSC is our pick for price.
• Suite buyers on a budget. The Yacht Club is the cheapest way we know of to get butler service and a private pool deck on a big ship. See our luxury cruise picks for how it compares.

Who should skip it: couples who put food first (look at Celebrity or Oceania), anyone who wants most extras included, and Alaska travelers who want lots of dates and routes.

MSC cruise ships ranked

For U.S. sailings, our order of preference follows ship age and design more than anything else:

1. MSC World America: the newest ship built for Americans, 7-night Caribbean from Miami.
2. MSC Seascape and MSC Seashore: the newest Seaside ships, designed for warm-weather sailing with a big outdoor promenade.
3. MSC Grandiosa, Euribia and Virtuosa: Meraviglia-Plus ships with an indoor promenade under an LED dome.
4. MSC Seaside and Seaview, Meraviglia and Bellissima: the same designs in earlier versions.
5. MSC Poesia: mid-size, refitted in 2026 with a Yacht Club and new restaurants, and MSC’s Alaska ship.
6. The Musica and Lirica ships: the oldest in the fleet. Book them for the route, not the ship.

MSC Alaska cruises

MSC is new to Alaska. MSC Poesia sailed its first season from Seattle in 2026 and returns in 2027 and 2028 on weekly seven-night cruises to Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Tracy Arm and Victoria. It is one mid-size ship, and it does not go into Glacier Bay. If Alaska is the trip, Princess and Holland America offer far more choice; see our best cruise lines for Alaska.

How MSC compares

• MSC vs Royal Caribbean: similar-size ships, usually a lower MSC fare, fewer headline thrills and less polish. See MSC vs Royal Caribbean and our Royal Caribbean guide.
• MSC vs Carnival: both compete on price. MSC’s newest ships are larger and newer than most of what Carnival sails from the U.S.; Carnival sails from far more U.S. ports. See MSC vs Carnival and our Carnival guide.
• MSC vs Norwegian: Norwegian offers freestyle dining and more U.S. home ports at a higher typical fare. See Norwegian.

MSC Cruises review FAQ

Is MSC a good cruise line?

Yes, for travelers who put price first and want a modern ship. MSC’s newest ships are among the biggest at sea, and fares usually undercut Royal Caribbean and Norwegian. It is a weaker choice if you want premium food and service or a fare that includes drinks and Wi-Fi.

What are the pros and cons of MSC Cruises?

Pros: low fares on new ships, a broad Mediterranean program, the Yacht Club suites and a private island in the Bahamas. Cons: many extras, less consistent food and service than the premium lines, an international atmosphere and fewer U.S. home ports since the New York program ended.

How is MSC cruise line rated?

We don’t give star ratings. On our seven criteria MSC grades good for value, cabins, ships and itineraries, and mixed for food, inclusions and fit. That puts it ninth of the ten lines in our rankings, ahead of Carnival.

Are MSC cruises good for Alaska?

They’re a new option rather than a leading one. MSC Poesia sails seven-night round trips from Seattle each summer, but it’s a single ship without Glacier Bay access. Princess and Holland America remain our Alaska picks.

Which MSC cruise ship is best?

MSC World America for most U.S. cruisers: it’s the newest ship and was designed for American passengers. MSC Seascape and MSC Seashore are the best alternatives in the Caribbean.