During the cruise - useful information

To take advantage of the privileges reserved for MSC Club members during the cruise, all you need is an MSC CLUB CARD. The card should be shown each time you make a purchase or use a service to which a members’ discount applies. For further information or assistance please consult the MSC CLUB INFO POINT on board.

Once the cruise is over you may check your MSC CLUB points using the MY MSC AREA of the website www.msccruises.co.uk or send a request by fax (within 30 days of disembarking).

DINING
Dining times are based on the geographical location and itinerary of the ship and are indicated in the Daily Program.
Breakfast is served in the ship’s restaurants and at the on-deck buffet.
Continental breakfast from Room Service is delivered to cabins on request on all mornings except the day of disembarkation. This service may be requested using the doorknob order form provided in the in-cabin directory or by calling the Reception desk.
Lunch is served in the restaurants and at the on-deck buffet.
Dinner is served in the restaurants in two sittings.

Alternatively to the seated restaurant the  Buffet is opened (timings below) also for Dinner,  offering to our Guests an “Alternative Dining” option, in addition to dining option already available.
 
Opening: 1 hour after starting 1st seating
Closing: 15 minutes after starting 2nd seating
The Buffet will be open for Dinner during Gala Evenings.
 
In addition to the Buffet alternative dining, kindly note that also the Pizzeria will be available for free (and Kebab, where in place) as follows: 

Opening: 1 hour after starting 1st seating
Closing: 1 hour after starting 2nd seating
The Pizzeria will be open for Dinner during Gala Evenings.

Dining reservations at speciality and à la carte restaurants (where available) may be made with the Maitre d’Hotel or your Dining Room Waiter.

• Authentic “wild west” cooking and atmosphere is provided at the Tex-Mex restaurants El Sombrero (MSC Fantasia) and Santa Fe (MSC Splendida).
• For an authentic oriental evening, the Asian Fusion restaurants Shanghai (MSC Orchestra), and Oriental Plaza (MSC Magnifica) offer a variety of Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian, Indian and Thai dishes, while the Galaxy à la carte restaurant (MSC Divina) provides delicious fusion cuisine and the Kaito Sushi Bar (MSC Poesia and MSC Musica) serves Japanese specialities.
• An elegant atmosphere and Italian style are the essence of our à la carte restaurants, the 4 Seasons (MSC Orchestra), Il Giardino (MSC Musica), L’Obelisco (MSC Poesia) and L’Oasi (MSC Magnifica).

All MSC Yacht Club guests (on board MSC Divina, MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia) can enjoy a round-the-clock room service menu. Throughout the day, they will be offered a vast choice of snacks served by butlers in the Top Sail Lounge and The One Pool. A fully dedicated restaurant is also available with free choice of dining times. In addition and exclusively for MSC Yacht Club guests, traditional English Tea will be served daily in the Top Sail Lounge from 4.30pm.

SPECIAL DIETS
Most special diets can be catered for on board, but only if requested at the time of booking.
MSC Cruises works closely with the Associazione Italiana Celiachia (Italian Celiac Association) to provide gluten-free menus in the restaurants of MSC Splendida, MSC Fantasia, MSC Magnifica, MSC Musica, MSC Orchestra and MSC Poesia, cruising in the Mediterranean and in Northern Europe.
On MSC Divina*, MSC Lirica, MSC Opera, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Armonia and MSC Melody, guests can find pre-packaged gluten-free products such as snacks, biscuits, croissants, sponge cakes and muffins.
* Once MSC Divina is launched, we will initiate the ratification process that will allow us to offer gluten-free menus on this ship as well. The process is expected to take around 3 months. 

BARS AND CAFES
Not only our exquisite gourmet dining but also our bars can be considered a “journey within a journey”. The beverage offering on board the MSC Cruises fleet is the fruit of careful selection and hard work by a team of experts who are passionate about their job. In order to offer our clients a unique and memorable drinks experience, we have developed 10 different themes: 

• Coffee Bars, where guests can enjoy the atmosphere of an authentic Italian café.
• Cigar Rooms, offering a range of fine spirits that is matched by the elegance of the surroundings and that will satisfy even the most sophisticated connoisseur.
• Jazz Bars, for which we have created a special range of “made to measure” drinks.
• Customized drinks menus have also been prepared for our Sports Bars, Vitamin Bars, Spa Bars, Tex-Mex Restaurants, Oriental Restaurants and, naturally, for the MSC Yacht Club.

For wine lovers, we have created three different lists: first, a selection of 100 wines for the standard restaurants, designed to satisfy the requirements of our international clientele; secondly, a list for the Wine Bars comprising 90 highly characteristic Italian labels; and thirdly an exclusive selection for the MSC Yacht Club.

All food, drink and related services not included in the cruise price shall be paid at the end of the cruise. A 15% service charge will be added and detailed in the final bill. No tips are therefore requested for bar and dining room staff.

MSC Cruises respects the needs and desires of all guests, and we have given careful consideration to the preferences of both those who smoke and those who do not. In line with global standards, smoking areas are generally fewer than non-smoking areas, but smoking is freely permitted in specified areas throughout the fleet (selected mainly on the basis of increased or modified air extraction).
Smoking is not generally permitted in any food service areas (buffets and restaurants), medical centres, child-care areas, corridors or elevator foyers, areas where guests are assembled in groups for safety exercises, disembarkation or tour departures, public toilets, or in bars directly near areas where food is served.
Smoking in all cabins is highly discouraged, and because of the specific and proven risk of fire, smoking on cabin balconies is not permitted at any time.
Smoking is permitted in several bars on each ship, and on one side (indicated by signage) of the principal outdoor pool deck areas, where ashtrays are provided.
Guests are advised by the Cruise Director and in the Ship’s Daily Program to avoid throwing cigarette butts over the side of the ship, where they could be blown back on board and start a fire.

A vast selection of the best brands is available from the Duty & Tax free shops on board: clothing, beauty and perfume items, jewellery, film and photographic equipment, glasses, suntan lotion, tobacco and spirits, as well as a variety of products with the MSC logo.
All ships have hair and beauty salons, a sauna and massage suite, gym, laundry and photographic service. Prices are published on board.
All guests of the MSC Yacht Club (on board MSC Divina, MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia) can enjoy private shopping opportunities, exclusive viewings of selected jewellery in their suite and personalised delivery of purchases to their suite.

Casual wear is advised for life on board ship and for the excursions. For informal evenings, we recommend summery dresses for women and a lightweight jacket for men. For the Gala evenings and Parties you may wish to dress more formally, we suggest a dark suit for gentlemen and an evening dress for ladies. For those few formal evenings, cocktail dresses for the ladies and a lightweight suit, or even dinner jacket for men. It is advisable to have a sweater or shawl handy to be prepared for the changes in temperature between the air-conditioned interior of the ship and the deck areas. For excursions including visits to religious sites we advise appropriate clothing (covered knees and shoulders, no low-cut tops).

Sunbeds are available at no charge to passengers. They cannot be booked, and guests are kindly requested not to occupy deckchairs and sunbeds with personal items during any long absences (more than 30 minutes). Beach towels are available around the swimming pools. These should be returned after use. Unreturned pool towels may be charged to the onboard accounts of guests.

Each evening a detailed program for the following day will be delivered to your cabin. It contains full information on the activities and entertainment to be presented by the entertainment staff.

On board guests can use the state-of-the-art fitness area. During the cruise there may be bridge, table tennis, tennis, volleyball and shuffleboard* tournaments, pool games, song festivals, treasure hunts, quizzes, fancy dress parades, beauty contests and many more activities. Spectacular international shows will take place in the theatre and professional musicians will entertain you in all the lounges of the ship. (By prior arrangement with the Cruise Director, some onboard musicians may be hired for private functions).

Our onboard casino features the most popular attractions found in casinos all over the world, with games for players of all abilities. Try your luck at the slot machines or on the blackjack, roulette and poker tables.  Feel the rush of adrenalin as you wait to see if lady luck is on your side.

* except onboard MSC Magnifica

We give special care and attention to children. Dedicated entertainment and activities are arranged for children from 3 years of age.
Children’s programs are printed daily and are available in the Children’s Center.
Children’s entertainment is free and is organized into three distinct age categories.
• Mini Club, for children from 3 to 6 years;
• Junior Club, for children from 7 to 12 years;
• Teenagers Club, for passengers from 13 to 17 years.
As our ships vary in size and facilities, Children’s’ activities are not restricted to the Children’s Center.
All entertainment activities, both for younger guests and adults, are conducted in different languages to cater for all needs.
When parents are on excursions ashore, the Mini Club will remain open, offering peace of mind for parents. If parents are ashore or involved in other activities, the Children’s supervisors will also take the youngsters to the buffet or the ship’s restaurant for children’s meals (from a dedicated Children’s Menu).
Parents are kindly asked to prevent their children from roaming the ship unaccompanied. We do not offer a baby-sitting service.

A full program of Shore Excursions is available to purchase on board.
The excursions offered during the cruise are optional and provided by independent third party contractors. A charge is applicable. Excursions are charged directly to your onboard account and final payment can be made in cash, by credit card or by traveller’s cheque.

Please note that:
- Excursions cannot be cancelled once reserved. In case of illness, a medical certificate issued by the doctor on board is required to qualify for a refund. The certificate is valid for one person only. 
- Excursion itineraries and prices may be subject to change due to cost variations and contingencies without prior notification by MSC Cruises.
- An excursion takes place if the minimum number of participants is reached. In the event that the minimum number of participants is not reached, the excursion may be cancelled and money refunded. Some excursions have a limited number of participants. If by any chance, only the minimum number of passengers is booked for an excursion, groups of passengers of different nationalities and/or languages may be required to travel together in the same coach. 
- The price includes transport, visits to sites and/or museums, meals and drinks as detailed in the description of each excursion.
- MSC Cruises is not responsible for any changes to the program resulting from local holidays, days that sites are closed and/or any other local events that completely or partially preclude the original itinerary. The excursion programme and timings (departure/return) will be confirmed on board during the cruise.
- Unless otherwise indicated, onshore excursions will be conducted by coach.
- Passengers are requested to wear appropriate clothing for visits to religious sites (covered knees and shoulders, no low-cut tops).
- Excursions including visits to archaeological sites, long sections on foot or hiking may not be suitable for passengers with disabilities or walking difficulties. Passengers may request private tour arrangements where available. It is advisable to check the feasibility of excursions before booking.
- For Beach Tours, swimming towels and bathing suits are advised.
- Some archaeological sites, museums and places of interest charge supplements for the use of videos and cameras. These extras are not included in the price of the excursion; further details will be given on board.

All guests of the MSC Yacht Club (on board MSC Divina, MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia) can, by simply contacting their Concierge, enjoy personalized land excursions via chauffeur-driven limousine, hire car or mini bus (reservations, availability and prices on request).

Should demand exceed the number of rooms available in the advertised hotel, MSC Cruises reserves the right to provide guests with accommodation in a different hotel of the same category.

During your cruise, you will meet staff throughout the ship who provide you with excellent service. They are supported by just as many staff and crew who work hard behind the scenes to ensure you enjoy every moment on board.
For your convenience MSC Cruises will automatically add a daily Hotel Service Charge to your shipboard account, based on your chosen itinerary and the number of days for which the services are actually provided. The Hotel Service charge serves to ensure we maintain the highest quality standards of service to our guests. The daily amounts below have been calculated with this in mind and cannot be modified. However, should you wish to remove any of the daily Hotel Service Charge in the unlikely event that you do not receive satisfactory service, you may do so by contacting the Guest Relations Manager on board.

Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Antilles and Red Sea:

Cruises of 9 days / 8 nights or less
Adults (18 and over): 7 Euro per night
Child(14 and over): 3.5 Euro per night
Child (Under 14): No Service charge applied

Cruises of 10 days / 9 nights or more
Adults (18 and over): 6 Euro per night
Child(14 and over): 3 Euro per night
Child (Under 14): No Service charge applied 

Grand Cruises to/from Antilles and Red Sea 
Adults (18 and over): 6 Euro per night
Child(14 and over): 3 Euro per night
Child (Under 14): No Service charge applied


South Africa cruises

South Africa Cruises
Adults (18 and over): $6 US dollars per night
Child(3 and over): $3 US dollars per night
Child (Under 3): No Service charge applied

Grand Cruises from South Africa (Northbound)
Adults (18 and over): $6 US dollars per night
Child (3 and over): $3 US dollars per night
Child (Under 3): No Service charge applied

Grand Cruises to South Africa (Southbound)
Adults (18 and over): 6 Euro per night
Child (14 and over): 3 Euro per night
Child (Under 14): No Service charge applied


South America Cruises 

South America Cruises
Adults (18 and over): 9 US Dollars per night
Child (3 and over): 4.5 US Dollars per night
Child (Under 3): No Service charge applied

Grand Cruises from South America (Eastbound)
Adults (18 and over): 9 US Dollars per night
Child (3 and over): 4.5 US Dollars per night
Child (Under 3): No Service charge applied

Grand Cruises to South America (Westbound)
Adults (18 and over): 6 Euro per night
Child(14 and over): 3 Euro per night
Child (Under 14): No Service charge applied


Caribbean cruises

Caribbean Cruises
Adults (18 and over): 12 US Dollars per night
Child(3 and over): 6 US Dollars per night
Child (Under 3): No Service charge applied

Grand Cruises from Caribbean (Eastbound)
Adults (18 and over): 12 US Dollars per night
Child(3 and over): 6 US Dollars per night
Child (Under 3): No Service charge applied

Grand Cruises to Caribbean (Westbound)
Adults (18 and over): 6 Euro per night
Child(14 and over): 3 Euro per night
Child (Under 14): No Service charge applied

The following services are charged as extras: photographer, casino, video games, 4D cinema (MSC Divina, MSC Splendida, MSC Fantasia and MSC Magnifica) and F1 simulator (only on MSC Divina, MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia), golf simulator (only on MSC Sinfonia), bowling (only on MSC Splendida and MSC Magnifica), internet stations, hairdresser, barber, beauty salon, Turkish bath, sauna and massages, laundry and ironing.
A golf practice facility is available on MSC Musica.
Minigolf is available free of charge onboard MSC Poesia, MSC Orchestra, MSC Musica, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Opera, MSC Lirica, and MSC Armonia.

Post office: mail can be taken to the on board Information Office who will provide the necessary postage (which will be charged to the passenger) and pass it to our local representatives for mailing.

Telephone, fax and e-mail services are available at the rates displayed onboard.

An on-board Photo Service is available throughout your cruise. Professional photographers will capture the highlights of your cruise both on board and ashore, and record anniversaries, and other special moments. You can view their work at your leisure in the Photo Gallery. The Photo Manager will also be happy to discuss any specific requirements you may have.

• PORTRAITS

Our photographers can also create portraits of you and your family or friends using a variety of high quality studio backgrounds or setting up at key locations throughout the ship, such as the Grand Staircase. No appointment is required. All portraits will be displayed in the Photo Gallery and are available for you to purchase during the cruise.

A dedicated team of skilled videographers is on hand to video special events during the cruise. They also accompany guests on excursions, capturing the memorable places visited on video. At the end of each cruise, the team produces a special video record of your cruise on DVD, which may be purchased at the Photo Gallery.

A wide range of products to satisfy all your photographic and video needs can be purchased in the Photo Gallery. As well as films, batteries, there is a wide selection of digital cameras and video cameras at duty free prices. Our photo team is available to offer advice, answer your questions and help you select the right equipment for your needs and budget.

Electricity on board all ships is supplied at a voltage of 110/220 V. Passengers may request electrical outlet adapters from the Information Office.
Please note that no heat-generating devices (like electric kettles, bottle warmer for babies, electric blanket, etc.) are allowed onboard.

Safe deposit boxes are provided in all cabins (except on MSC Melody, where for some cabins a safe deposit service is provided at the reception desk). The Company assumes no responsibility for loss or theft of money or valuables stored in the cabin, in luggage or left unattended.

For cruises in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and Abu Dhabi and the Emirates, as well as transatlantic cruises departing from and from/to Abu Dhabi and the Emirates, the onboard currency is the Euro (€).
For cruises in the Caribbean, North America, South America and South Africa, as well as transatlantic cruises going to Europe, the onboard currency is the US Dollar ($).

No animals are allowed on board, apart from guide dogs.
Bringing guide dogs on board is, in any case, subject to approval by the company and must be requested by the passenger during booking.

For security reasons, visitors are not permitted on board.

A parking that has made special arrangements with MSC Cruises is available in most ports of embarkation.
Service is chargeable. It is advisable to phone for reservations. Please be so kind to keep in touch with your travel agent or visit our website www.msccruises.com in order to have details and prices.

The “Teen Card’ is a prepaid card exclusively for our younger guests.
Children and teenagers under 18 can use the card for whatever they want to buy, and also as the key to their cabin.
Available in 2 amounts, these easy-to-use cards are a convenient way to give teenagers a taste of independence. To purchase a Teen Card, just complete the form you receive during check-in, and hand it to a receptionist in the foyer. Additional forms are also available at the Information Desk). The card will be delivered directly to your cabin.

Please note that the Teen Card is non-refundable, therefore any credit remaining on the card at the end of the cruise will not be reimbursed.

If you are an avid Internet user, you can continue surfing the web during your cruise by connecting to the Internet with your laptop or PDA.
Just connect to the ship’s network, available via a wireless connection in all common areas of the ship, or in your cabin, using the cable available from the Information Desk, and follow the instructions provided on the home page to register. To access the hot spot service, just select the amount of credit you require and it will be charged directly to your on-board account.
It is also possible to rent a laptop from the Information Desk. (Only on MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia).
Details and offers available will be posted on the Daily Program.

If you are an avid Internet user, you can continue surfing the web during your cruise by connecting to the Internet with your laptop or PDA. All you need to do is purchase a prepaid card at the Information Desk. The price of the card varies according to the amount of connection time you require.
A wireless connection is available in the public areas (except for the pool by the stern on MSC Melody).

Your Cruise Card will also allow you to access the Internet. At the Internet Café you can stay connected with the world by using the Internet browser, just like you would at home. The service is subject to the rates displayed on board.

We ask our guests to not throw anything into the sea and to work with us to safeguard the sea, marine life and the ecosystem.

From July 13th, 2009, MSC Cruises has been supporting an innovative UNICEF programme to combat poverty and inequality by helping ensure disadvantaged children in Rio de Janeiro and São Paolo gain quality education.
Guests are also invited to “get on board for children” and make a difference by offering a modest donation of as little as €1.00 (or $1.50), which will be added to the bill at the end of the cruise. This small offering, valid on all ships in the MSC Cruises fleet, is of course optional. Passengers may freely decide whether to increase, decrease or cancel it, communicating their decision to the Accounting Office before 22.00 of the last day of the cruise. This Office is at guests’ disposal for further information. For your convenience, should you give no indication to change the amount, the sum of €1.00 (or $1.50) will be automatically debited to your final account.
For more information, please read the informational brochure left in every cabin or visit www.msc-unicef.org.

GSM coverage will be available whenever the ship enters international waters, allowing you to make and receive telephone calls and send and receive SMSs.
The cost of the calls is determined by your mobile phone provider’s applicable rates; you will be charged directly by your mobile provider for the calls and SMSs.
For further information please refer to your mobile phone provider under the section Maritime Roaming in order to verify if there are any commercial agreements with TIM/Telecom Italia and relative costs.