MSC Cruises

What sailing with MSC Cruises is really like

MSC Cruises is a Swiss-owned, Italian-spirited line that has grown into one of the largest cruise operators in the world. The atmosphere on board is cosmopolitan — you will hear half a dozen languages at the pool deck bar — and the décor runs from the warmly Mediterranean on classic ships to the confidently contemporary on the newer World-class vessels. If you have sailed on a British or American line and want something a little more European in feel, MSC is a natural next step.

The ships span a wide range of sizes and personalities. MSC Magnifica is a mid-size ship with a broad itinerary programme — including an annual world cruise — that suits travellers who want variety without feeling overwhelmed. At the other end of the scale, MSC World Europa is one of the line’s flagship vessels, designed around bold public spaces and a wide spread of dining options. MSC World Asia is purpose-deployed for Asian waters, making it an ideal choice for anyone drawn to Japan or China sailings where the ship itself reflects the region it visits.

Dining: variety is the point

MSC ships carry a serious range of dining venues. Every guest can access the main restaurant and buffet, but the speciality dining programme goes well beyond the usual steakhouse. Depending on which ship you choose, you may find the Butcher’s Cut Steakhouse, the Ocean Cay Seafood Restaurant, Teppanyaki, a Sushi Bar, Galaxy Kaito, Hola! Tacos & Cantina, Eataly, and the Indochine Restaurant, among others. Many itineraries include at least one speciality dining meal as part of the package. Guests who enjoy dedicated service and exclusive dining can book into the MSC Yacht Club — the line’s ship-within-a-ship concept available on selected vessels.

Who MSC suits best

MSC works well for:

• Families who want a full programme of activities, multiple pools, and cabins that accommodate larger groups without a premium price tag.
• Couples looking for a European-flavoured holiday with genuine destination variety — the line’s Western Mediterranean programme alone departs from Barcelona, Genoa, Rome (Civitavecchia), Naples and Marseille.
• Experienced cruisers ready to step up to a World-class ship or to tackle an ambitious itinerary such as a MSC world cruise or sector voyage.
• Destination-focused travellers who want to reach Japan, South America or the Baltic without changing lines.

Where MSC goes

The breadth of the MSC network is one of its strongest selling points. The Western Mediterranean is the heartland — sailings depart from Barcelona, Genoa, Rome (Civitavecchia) and Marseille calling at ports across Italy, Spain, France and beyond. Beyond Europe, the fleet spreads across South America, with departures from Santos, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires; into the Caribbean from Miami and Port Canaveral; and east to Japan and China, where MSC World Asia operates out of Shanghai and Tokyo. Norway, the Baltic, the British Isles, the Canary Islands and Transatlantic crossings round out a programme that few other lines can match in sheer scope.

Sailings range from four-night tasters to voyages of over one hundred nights. The median sailing runs about seven nights — long enough to cover meaningful ground, short enough to suit most holiday allowances.

Mediterranean cruises: the flagship programme

If you are new to MSC, the Mediterranean cruises in 2026 — or looking further ahead, Mediterranean cruises in 2027 — are the natural place to start. Ships including MSC Preziosa, MSC Sinfonia and MSC Splendida all operate in these waters, giving you a choice of ship size and style on the same itinerary type. For the Eastern end of the sea, Athens (Piraeus) and Istanbul also feature as departure points.

Japan and Asia: a growing programme

MSC’s Asia programme has expanded significantly. Cruises to Japan depart from Tokyo, with itineraries that suit Australian travellers who are already planning a Japan holiday and want the cruise to sit at the centre of it. The MSC World Asia ship page has full cabin grades and deck plans if you want to plan your stateroom before you call us.

How to book with CruiseAway

All MSC departures shown on this page require a flight from Australia — making the cruise the centrepiece of a longer trip. CruiseAway’s DreamAway Packages bundle the cruise, your international flights, hotels either side and transfers into a single booking, so nothing falls through the cracks. Our cruise experts know which cabin grades give the best value on each ship, which fare types include the most, and how to match an MSC itinerary to the kind of holiday you actually want. And every booking is covered by our Best Price Guarantee — the same promise that applies across every sailing on this site.

Prices for MSC Cruises sailings start from A$229pp*. Use the offers grid on this page to browse live dates, or call our cruise experts to talk through the options.