LivingTravelIs MSC Cruises a good fit for your family?

Is MSC Cruises a good fit for your family?

A newcomer to the US market, MSC Cruises is a European cruise line with lots of Mediterranean touches. It has impressed the US family cruise market with its “kids sail free” policy, which allows children 11 and under traveling in their parents’ cabins to sail free of charge.

The atmosphere and clientele are international, although the European influence is less felt on the MSC Divina , the only MSC ship to sail from the US The public spaces are dazzling and glamorous. As you would expect, the line offers the best Mediterranean food, ice cream and Italian pastries at sea.

Better for

Families with children 3 years and older

Kid stuff

Beyond the “kids sail free” policy, MSC Cruises also offers supervised programs for children from infants to teens, divided into five age groups: MSC Baby Time for infants and toddlers 10-35 months; Mini Club Sailors for young children from 3 to 6 years old; Junior Club Pirates for school-age children ages 7-11; Y-Team for teens ages 12-14; and MSC Generation Teen Club for kids ages 15-17.

MSC has partnered with LEGO to bring families the LEGO experience at sea, including LEGO-designed playrooms and entertainment options offered throughout its fleet. Children and adults can compete in LEGO-themed games and competitions on a designated day during a sailing. Children participating in LEGO Experience Day receive an official LEGO Junior Master Builder diploma. Additionally, all guests will have the opportunity to meet and greet Sailor Walkabout, the LEGO Sailor mascot, who is available to take pictures.

All LEGO features are available free of charge to guests.

For children from 3 to 11 years old, Divina also offers a nice evening program called Happy Dinners. Children can dine while their parents enjoy a cocktail and their entrees. Once the children finish eating, the camp counselors will accompany them to the kids’ clubs for evening activities. On some nights, if they wish, the children can eat with their peers and the counselors in a special section of the buffet area.

In 2016, MSC introduced the DOREBRO sports program for children and adolescents from 3 to 17 years old. The program offers an exciting variety of sports and active games for all levels, divided into two daily sessions, with activities designed for different age groups. Another novelty in the program is the “Chef DOREMI by Carlo Cracco”, a cooking class designed in collaboration with the two-star Michelin chef Carlo Cracco. Led by MSC Cruises chefs and MSC Cruises mascot DOREMI on board, children ages 3-11 will learn, among other recipes, how to make homemade pasta from scratch while receiving plenty of cooking tips and advice from the world-renowned chef.

At the end of the course, each child will receive an official mini chef certificate signed by Carlo Cracco.

There is no babysitting service on board. Infants and toddlers between the ages of 10 and 35 months can attend MSC Baby Time’s designated activity sessions, but parents must be present. Thanks to a partnership with Chicco, families with infants and toddlers can borrow a range of Chicco products, including strollers, bottle warmers and baby backpacks, for free on six ships in MSC Cruises’ expanding fleet. Baby gear is available for time on board and for shore excursions to further simplify cruising for families with young children.

Best boats

The MSC Divina in the Fantasia class is the only ship dedicated to North America, sailing full time from Miami to the Caribbean ports of call. Unlike other MSC ships, the Divina attracts a North American clientele and English is the predominant language heard on board.

Onboard fun includes an infinity pool, sports bar, basketball court, bowling alley, and a long, curved waterslide on the upper deck. Some activities (Formula 1 simulations, for example) have a surcharge.

Evening entertainment ranges from music productions to karaoke to comedy acts. MSC recently announced that it is partnering with Cirque de Soleil for entertainment on its next class of Meraviglia ships.

Best bargains

Along with the ‘kids sail free’ policy, MSC offers a continuous stream of deals, particularly for the low summer season. Older kids and teens ages 12-17 also get a significant discount.

Good to know

MSC trips tend to attract a mix of passengers from all walks of life and depending on when you sail, there may be more older people or fewer children on board. You’ll find more families with young children on board during school breaks and vacation weeks.

Coming soon

Four new ships are scheduled to launch between 2017 and 2019. The first, the 4,140-passenger MSC Seaside , will debut in December 2017, departing from Miami. The ship will feature staterooms and family suites, as well as an upper deck water park with a handful of waterslides – a 367-foot tube waterslide that spans the ocean, racing waterslides, a boarding tube slide, an inner tube slide and a family slide. Additionally, the water park will feature a splash area and water play area, including a wet ropes course.

 

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