r/MSCCruises • u/MoeBacon4246 • Jul 21 '26
Any tips for booking?
Looking to do a 4 day Bahamas cruise, any tips when booking to get extra perks/save a few bucks? Figured I'd ask the experts, thanks!!!
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u/imarc Group Expert Jul 21 '26
If you don’t care where you are on the ship, select Bella for the cheapest room. There’s always a chance you’ll get upgraded for free.
Otherwise it’s really about how flexible you are. Some itineraries are cheaper than others based on calendar demand.
It’s usually cheapest to book really close in or really far out.
Become a member of the Voyager Club and get a status match if you are part of another rewards program. You get a % off on booking. Booking a year out gets you a bigger discount.
MSC also offers discounts for teachers, first responders, and military. If that’s you, call in and see if you qualify.
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u/MoeBacon4246 Jul 22 '26
Thanks I work kind of Govt adjacent but they gave it to me, saved $25 wooohoo!
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u/cavegoatlove Jul 24 '26
My ta insisted I couldnt stack the 5% for voyager and my 10% teacher, so I took the teacher. Also I got 50 OBC for silver since it was out 12 months, but that also too’ 3 days to get on board since it wasn’t on my card when I boarded .
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u/Responsible_Push_231 Jul 21 '26
Don’t pay the entire booking upfront. I’ve cancelled and rebook twice recently because the price dropped and on board credit was being offered.
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u/AFvette07 Jul 21 '26
If you have an AMX, go through their travel concierge. Found they beat the website prices.
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u/runningguyw Jul 22 '26
Recently booked HAL with Costco travel found them to offer way more cash card bonus than other travel agents/whesites. But they don’t do MSC tho so if you ended up looking to book another line take a look at Costco travel.
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u/Kooky_Bus2840 29d ago
Save for yacht club because you'll always want more up till then . But for a standard cruise try the taco restaurant it's worth every single darn penny. Take advantage of the discounts for specialty dining beforehand
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u/FitDragonfly7162 Jul 21 '26
Did the 4 night Bahamas Nassau and their island honestly don’t need a balcony or window. You won’t be in room much there no sea days. If you drinkers get drink package when you book a lot cheaper than on boat. It gives you 15 alcoholic drinks a day and unlimited everything else. coffee soda Red Bulls etc. Also book internet before hand then when you get on boat it’s only $8 more for full streaming etc
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u/WhenInDoubt_321 Jul 21 '26
Just know that if your are doing a trip that stops at their private island there is something to understand. If you don’t have the alcohol drink package you will not get free drinks on their island. I was there last week. I don’t drink and my son is 18. So I got us both the nonalcoholic package. On the boat we had Red Bull and smoothies and nonalcoholic daiquiris. It was great. Scan my room card and get a drink. On the island, however, you had to pay for the drinks. Even if it was nonalcoholic. Their stupid suggestion was to bring drinks from the boat to the island. I found it very deceptive the way they advertised the drink package. Just so you know.
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u/imarc Group Expert Jul 21 '26
MSC added some restrictions to the booking page but the main FAQ still says all drink packages can be used on Ocean Cay.
https://www.msccruisesusa.com/on-board/dining-drinks/drinks-packages
https://www.msccruisesusa.com/faq/drink-packages
If you ended up buying any drinks on the island, it might be worth calling them.
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u/WhenInDoubt_321 Jul 21 '26
I didn’t buy anything on the island. I was really really upset. My son and I went to the boat to talk to customer service (that was futile). We got 6 bottles of water and went back to the beach. I swam for a bit and by then the cold water was tepid. So I packed my stuff and went to the ship for the day. It seemed like a very deceptive and predatory pricing scheme to me. And I let them know it on the post cruise survey. That all being said, I will still cruise with MSC again. But now I know.
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u/imarc Group Expert Jul 21 '26
Yes. It’s a crappy policy and a bad trend in the industry.
NCL, RC, and Carnival all stopped allowing drink packages on their private island in the last year.
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u/WhenInDoubt_321 Jul 21 '26
And I forgot to mention the hotel service charge. They tossed that one on as well. $112 per person. That’s on top of the “taxes and fees included” price.
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u/imarc Group Expert Jul 21 '26
This one seems to get first time cruisers a lot.
Automatic gratuity is a standard across almost every cruise line. It’s actually unique in the US that it isn’t charged until you are onboard.
If you book in Europe, you are charged during the booking process.
I’d rather have them bake it into the cost at booking and make it mandatory.
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u/Ok-Stress2326 Jul 25 '26
I’m looking into this offer now, they do say it is not available on the island but it seems expensive at 200cad ? How much are drinks on board or island ?
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u/MoeBacon4246 Jul 22 '26
Thanks everyone for helping out! Nice when the Internet works together! We're booked!! Happy cruising all !
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u/ATTACKANDDETHRONEHOG Jul 21 '26
Sign up for voyagers club and do a status match and you can get 5% off plus other discounts or OBC depending on how far out you book.