Are you going on an MSC Cruise? If so, you need to read this. Here is a rundown of free things on MSC cruises that you should be aware of so you can take advantage of them while you are on the ship.
Free Things on MSC Cruises
Text for Free
One of the things I like about sailing on MSC cruise is that you can text for free! Yes, you read that right. You can text for free onboard the ship using the MSC cruise app. A chat feature on the app lets you send messages to other cruise passengers.
You don’t even need to subscribe to the cruise ship’s WiFi plan to chat. To access the chat feature on your MSC cruise app, just connect to the cruise ship’s free WiFi hotspot.
The free texting is perfect for staying in touch with family and friends on board, making plans and arranging meetups on the cruise is easy. It’s particularly handy during sea days when you need to coordinate where to meet with family and friends.
Free Drinks at the Captains Party
You can get free drinks! I stumbled upon this after the Captain’s party. Bar service staff were walking around deck 6 with trays of champagne, cocktails, and juice for minors.
It was a pleasant surprise to receive a free drink during my cruise. My kids loved sipping their tropical juice from champagne glasses.
Free Beach Towels
Beach towels are free on MSC cruises. You will receive your beach towels in your stateroom on the first day of your cruise.
But remember to keep track of your towels and return them to your cabin at the end of your cruise or you will be charged $30 per towel. There are towel exchange stations on the pool deck where you can get fresh towels, or you can leave your used beach towels on the bathroom floor for your cabin steward to replace with clean ones.
Free Lounge Chairs at Ocean Cay
Lounge chairs are free on Ocean Cay (MSC’s private island). Plenty of lounge chairs are available on the beach, so it’s easy to find one.
Keep in mind that you’ll need to pay for umbrella rentals, which cost $29 per umbrella for the day (or $19 if you reserve your umbrella before boarding the cruise ship). If you don’t rent an umbrella, you can always find shade under the palm trees.
Be aware that the palm trees are farther from the water. If you have kids, it could be worth renting an umbrella so you can stay closer to the water and keep an eye on them.
Free Soft Serve
On MSC cruises, you can enjoy complimentary soft-serve ice cream on the pool deck. You have the choice of chocolate, vanilla, or a combination of both flavors, and you can add chocolate chips and sprinkles as toppings at no extra cost.
Don’t confuse this with the gelato at the gift shops, those gelato are not included in your cruise fare and have to be purchased separately.
White Party
The White Party is a popular late-night party on MSC cruises. It is a free, family-friendly onboard activity.
The cruise director leads group dances, and special black lighting makes white clothes glow. You don’t have to wear white to participate, but it’s more fun to do so! So don’t forget to pack your white attire!
Photos with the Captain and Officers
When I was on MSC Meraviglia, they offered a free photo op with the captain and several cruise officers. The best part is that the photos are completely free because the photographer takes the picture using your phone’s camera!
There’s no need to purchase the photo since it’s already saved on your phone. I’m not sure if this free photo-op is unique to MSC Meraviglia or if they do it at all MSC cruise ships (I sure hope so!)
Free Language Lessons
There are many free onboard activities on MSC cruises. One of my favorites is the free language lessons. On the cruise I was on, they offered free beginner Italian, French, and Chinese lessons.
The lessons are short (less than 30 minutes) and taught by a native speaker cruise staff member. They even came complete with handouts!
My kids enjoyed it and picked up some basic Italian from the beginner’s Italian lesson!
Guinness Book of World Record
Another free onboard activity on MSC cruises that you shouldn’t miss is the Guinness World Records event. It’s a lot of fun to watch because you are literally watching fellow cruise passengers try to break world records!
In order to become a Guinness World Records candidate, you must first attend the qualifier event which is held the morning before the actual event. If you’re selected as the best person for that task, you will represent your cruise ship in breaking a Guinness World Record.
In fact, while we were there, the audience even had the chance to participate by clapping and making noise to try to break the record for the loudest audience on a cruise ship.
Although we didn’t break the Guinness World Record, we did set a new record for the noisiest audience on any MSC cruise ship. My son loved it and will proudly tell people he is a Guinness Record Holder!
Free Juice (Lemonade and Iced Tea)
Even if you don’t buy the cruise beverage package, you won’t be stuck drinking water your entire cruise! Lemonade and iced tea are always free on MSC Cruise.
There are also rotating flavors of free juices, such as apple, pineapple, and mango juice. The good news is that the juices are not only free during breakfast but are also available for free all day at the buffet’s drinks dispenser.
Evening Shows
The nightly evening shows on MSC cruises are free. You do have to make reservations on the MSC cruise app but it’s free to do so.
The evening shows are not Broadway productions but they are an enjoyable mix of performances, including singing, dancing, stand-up comedy, magic tricks, and mild acrobatics.
It’s important not to confuse these with the paid Carousel Productions at Seas show, which includes acrobatics, dance, and live music. The paid show costs $12 per person and is held at the Carousel Lounge.
Kids Club
Kids club is free on MSC cruises. While this is not unique to MSC Cruises and is standard in most cruise lines but what sets MSC Cruise apart is the long drop off hours. The afternoon drop-off hours are from 3 pm to midnight. This means that your child can also stay for dinner! Check out: I Went on My First MSC Cruise, Here is My Honest Review
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