When booking your first ever MSC Cruises sailing you may find the cabin selection process is a little different to other cruise lines. Not only will you need to decide on which type of cabin you’d like to book, whether that be an inside, outside, balcony or even a suite, you’ll also need to choose what type of experience you’d like to book into.
What exactly is an “experience” with MSC Cruises? To put it simply, the experience will dictate what benefits you receive once onboard. No matter which experience you book you’ll have access to all the wonderful facilities onboard such as buffet and main restaurant dining, kids clubs for those travelling with children, a variety of sports facilities, gym and wonderful pools, and of course nightly entertainment such as Broadway-style theatre shows. Luckily for you we’ve done the hard work and detailed exactly what each experience entails in this handy guide.
Bella Experience
The entry-level experience is your Bella experience. Think of this as your no thrills option. It is available on inside, outside and balcony cabins only. Generally when booking a Bella experience cabin you will be booking on a guarantee basis, meaning you won’t find out your cabin number until closer to departure. One main difference for this experience is that your room service is not included, so if you enjoy breakfast in bed you might want to look at upgrading your experience. Bella cabins are able to request a specific dining time in the main restaurant however this is never guaranteed, although from personal experience we’ve always found that MSC Cruises restaurant managers are extremely accommodating.
Fantastica Experience
An upgrade on Bella is the Fantastica experience which is available on inside, outside, balcony and suite cabins. Generally these cabins will be better located than a Bella cabin and there will certainly be no restricted views, you’ll also be able to pick your cabin number at the time of booking, however, be aware that MSC do always reserve the right to change your cabin number even if you have picked a specific cabin. If you like a lazy breakfast in bed or a midnight snack you’ll be covered as room service is included for Fantastica cabins. You also have first priority for dining times in the main restaurant. The upgrade cost from a Bella to a Fantastica is usually fairly reasonable to it’s often worth upgrading your experience at the time of booking if you can.
Aurea Experience
The Aurea Experience is only available on Balcony and Suite cabins. You’ll receive all the benefits of Fantastica cabins, however in terms of dining you’ll benefit from flexible My Choice dining, most MSC ships even have a dedicated Aurea restaurant where you’re able to dine at a time that suits you. Another key benefit of the Aurea experience is that you’ll have an Easy drinks package included as standard, you can find out more about MSC Cruises Drinks Packages here. If you’re looking for some much-needed rest and relaxation during your cruise the Aurea experience could be perfect for you as you’ll have free access to the exclusive Aurea sun deck to enjoy the sun in complete tranquillity. You’ll also have complimentary access to the Aurea Spa Thermal Area throughout your voyage, as well as being able to take advantage of one free massage of your choice.
MSC Yacht Club
It would be slightly unfair to define the MSC Yacht Club as simply another experience. This exclusive haven of refinement available on the majority of MSC Cruises’ newest ships is a luxury ship within a ship. If you’re looking to learn more about MSC Yacht Club simply click here for our in-depth MSC Yacht Club guide.
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