Before you go

For all new reservations from 1 July 2022 onwards is strongly recommended for all guests to have in place a travel insurance policy that also specifically covers COVID-19-related risks, such as cancellation, interruption, repatriation expenses, quarantine, medical assistance, and related expenses, as well as hospitalization. If you have no travel insurance in place, please note that you might be exposed to additional costs that could not be covered by the Cruise Company.

The insurance should be in place to cover you and your family, from the confirmation of your booking until the end of the cruise, your cruise and flight or your Stay & Cruise package.

To fully protect you from the above risks, MSC Cruises offers a COVID Protection Plan  - an insurance policy specifically designed for these COVID-19 risks that can be added to the cruise whilst making the booking. 

Covid protection plan cover is applicable to all departures on sales and available only for Ireland, Bulgaria, Cipro, Repubblica Ceca, Estonia, Ungheria, Lituania, Lettonia, Lussemburgo, Malta, Polonia, Romania, Grecia, Slovacchia, Slovenia residents.

In order to ensure a smooth embarkation experience, it is extremely important that you always arrive at the port with your e-ticket, including the embarkation form with complete and accurate personal data. 

If you book your cruise directly with MSC Cruises, then you should personally complete the web check-in process. For cruises booked through a travel agent, you may ask them to complete the web check-in process on your behalf.  

In order to issue the e-tickets, the following personal information is required for all passengers included in the booking: First Name, Last Name, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Gender, Nationality, Passport or National ID Card Number, Passport place and date of issue, Passport or National ID Card expiry date, and Emergency Contact Information (First name, Last name, Telephone Number of a  relative or friend not traveling with you, that we may need to reach Before arriving at the port, you should ensure that you have all personal travel documents required, and that all personal information shown on your embarkation form is correct. In the event of necessary changes, you can repeat the online check-in process in order to re-issue your e-ticket.
You can Check-in online in just 3 clicks: 

1. Go to the webcheck-in
2. Enter your booking information. You will find a section dedicated to you. 
3. Enter your personal and identification information where requested, then click Save and Confirm.

Embarkation begins at the Check-In time shown on the cruise ticket.
Check-In closes 2 hours before the ship departure time.
As a safety precaution, you and your luggage may be searched and any item that the Company considers a security risk for passengers or crew members (such as weapons, alcohol, food, diving knives, kettles, irons, drones, Galaxy Note7, etc.) will be confiscated and not returned. Firearms will not be accepted on board and immediate disembarkation will be required.
 
Main steps for embarkation

At the terminal:
1. Deliver your luggage to the designated staff, who will then have it sent directly to your cabin. All bags should be labelled with luggage labels (included in the e-ticket) beforehand with your first name and surname, the name of the ship, the cabin number and the date and port of departure.
2. Go to the embarkation area with your ticket and all personal travel documents required for the cruise, where you should show your embarkation form and documents to our staff.
MSC Yacht Club Guests will find an exclusive Check-In area and will be assisted with their luggage by the butler team at the terminal, who will escort them to the dedicated line for priority Check-In. On request, the butler will also unpack guests’ suitcases.
3. Proceed to the security control. Please note that, staff may confiscate any articles that could present a safety risk.
4.  Proceed with your embarkation form to the gangways where one of the MSC crew will be waiting to take your personal security picture.

On board:
5. Go to your cabin and collect their your Cruise Card. As well as serving as your cabin key, this magnetic card can also be used to pay for products and services on board. For MSC Yacht Club Guests, it is also used to access the MSC Yacht Club area.  In the event that case your cabin is not yet ready yet, you may begin your onboard purchases in the bars and restaurants by providing crew with your cabin number and full name.
6. Activate your Cruise Card for onboard purchases. (See the Onboard Payment Systems paragraph for further information on how to do this.)
7. You are required take part in the obligatory safety drill.
8. You should also attend the MSC Cruise Guide, an important presentation where they will find out all you need to know in order to live your cruise to the full.  

Embarkation and disembarkation procedures for guests in Barcellona and Tarragona:

If you are embarking at either Barcelona or Tarragona, Spain, you will find here all the information you need to know to have a smooth start to your holiday.

It is the sole responsibility of the Guest to identify and obtain all required travel documents for the entire cruise vacation and have them available when necessary. Please check with your travel agent, government agency, Embassy or Consulate to ensure that you have all the proper documentation to board the ship and enter each of the countries on your cruise. Guests without proper traveling documentation will be denied boarding. Travel restrictions for each destination country may vary according to a Guest's citizenship. No refunds will be given to individuals who fail to bring proper documentation.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR CRUISES CALLING IN THE UK

FOR SCHENGEN AREA* NATIONALITY GUESTS AND FOREIGNERS RESIDING IN SCHENGHEN AREA:

• Please note Guests must present only valid passport with at least residual validity 3 months at their arrival in the UK. 
• EU ID Card is not accepted, even in case willing to remain on board during the call in the UK. 

*Travel requirements for Schengen guests extended to Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Cyprus, Ireland (Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland), extended to Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Cyprus & Rep. of Ireland. If not Schengen passport holders but resident in the selected country please note that they must have valid residence permit issued by a Schengen country - not valid if under renewal.

FOR OTHER GUESTS:

• Please check here.

• Please click here for instructions on how to submit a request for the Transit e-visa by Sea

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN CRUISES

Have you thought of arriving at the port hands-free? And is there any better way of extending your relaxation by travelling back home hands-free? MSC gives you the chance to book your luggage delivery service from your home to your cabin and viceversa thanks to the MSC guest dedicated partnership with Bagexpress.
To secure the best rates, visit the dedicated website or contact Bagexpress's contact centre at +39 08119706711.
 
The service is available at the following ports (embarkation/disembarkation): Naples, Civitavecchia, Brindisi, Bari, Genoa, La Spezia, Trieste, Venice, Marseille, Barcelona, Tarragona and Valencia.
The service is available on the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Spain, Slovenia, Sweden and Hungary (except Channel Islands, Canary Islands, the cities of Ceuta and Melilla, Madeira, Porto Santo, Malta and Cyprus)

Guests are encouraged to limit their checked luggage to two suitcases per person (not exceeding 90x75x43 cm in size and 23 kg in weight per bag), and two pieces of hand luggage per person (not exceeding 56x45x25 cm in size and 23 kg in weight per bag).

On all MSC Grand Voyages to/from The Caribbean, South America, South Africa and The United Arab Emirates, the above mentioned guidelines represent the maximum limit allowed per person. In any case, the maximum amount of luggage in each cabin must not exceed 100 kg and/or 8 pieces among all passengers in the same cabin. Any piece of luggage exceeding the allowance will not be accepted at Check-In. Guests intending to exceed these limits are invited to contact MSC Cruises directly or via their travel agents at the time of booking for information on how to ship luggage in excess of the free luggage allowance
separately via freight or cargo, at an additional charge.

Prams and wheelchairs

Prams and wheelchairs are always allowed on board, but must be declared at the time of booking confirmation. For cruises including flight connections, please follow any instructions given by the airline.

Forbidden items

 
Security staff may search a Guest and/or his/her luggage and confiscate any articles that the Company considers could risk the safety of the Guests, crew or ship (such as weapons, sharp objects, kettles, irons, hair irons etc.). Such items will be confiscated and not returned Firearms will be not accepted on board and immediate disembarkation will be requested.

Food and beverages

We reserve the right to remove any beverages present in Guests’ luggage. These will be returned the evening before disembarkation. Please also note that guests are not permitted to bring unpackaged food on
board.

Valuable luggage and insurance

Please note that any valuable luggage travels at your own risk. Insurance can be taken out through MSC Cruises according to the conditions; please contact your Travel Agent.

Air transport and lost luggage

If travelling to your departure port by air, please check the size and weight  limitations on your luggage at the time of booking. Airlines reserve the right to charge a supplement for excess luggage. MSC Cruises accepts no responsibility for issues arising during airport departure or arrival. In the unfortunate event of a luggage handling error by the airline, we offer a luggage recovery service. Working with the Lost & Found offices of each airport, we will make every effort to track your luggage and, where possible, have it sent directly to the ship at one of the subsequent ports of call. In order to help you trace any lost luggage in the most efficient way, we ask you to present a copy of the P.I.R. (Property Irregularity Report) prepared at the Lost Property Office of the airport where you reported the luggage missing.

Packing tips

- Things NOT to pack: alcohol, firearms, sharp objects, kettles, irons, food or beverages, drones, Galaxy Note7 (all forbidden on board).
- Things you can leave at home: pool towels or hairdryers (you’ll find these in your cabin); cigarettes, sun cream or beauty products (all available from the onboard shops).
- Things to keep in your hand luggage: travel documents, luggage tags (to be attached on arrival at the embarkation port), money, jewellery, electronic devices, medicines, nappies, and any other valuables or items you may need at short notice.

Make sure to carry your vital medicaments always with you during the whole cruise, for your own health and safety