Family Cruises with MSC
A Family Holiday Full of Possibilities
Looking for a family holiday that combines exciting adventures, relaxing days at sea and memorable destinations? An MSC Cruises family holiday offers something for everyone, from babies and toddlers to teenagers and parents.
With dedicated children's clubs, family entertainment, swimming pools, waterparks, international dining and exciting shore excursions, there are plenty of ways to enjoy time together while giving everyone the freedom to discover their own favourite activities.
Whether you're planning your first cruise with young children, a school-holiday adventure with teenagers or a multigenerational family getaway, MSC Cruises offers a choice of ships, itineraries and experiences to suit different ages and interests.
Explore family-friendly MSC cruises with Evhiz Travel and let us help you find the right ship, itinerary and accommodation for your family.
Great Value for Families
One of the biggest advantages of cruising with MSC is the pricing structure.
MSC offers:
A 15% discount for the first child travelling with a single parentReduced fares for additional children
This is a huge benefit compared to many other cruise lines, where the first child often pays full adult price. For single parents covering all the costs, this makes a real difference—and makes a cruise holiday far more accessible.
Babies and Toddlers: Cruising with Little Ones
Taking a baby or toddler on a cruise can be a wonderful way to enjoy a family holiday without having to change hotels or unpack at every destination. MSC Cruises provides dedicated facilities and services to help make travelling with little ones more comfortable.
Baby Club
- The Baby Club provides dedicated play facilities and activities for the youngest guests, helping introduce little ones to new toys, games and experiences in a welcoming environment.
- Dedicated facilities and activities for babies.
- Selected activities and equipment provided in partnership with Chicco.
- Baby Club facilities are complimentary.
- Chicco products are available across the MSC fleet, while the Baby Club Chicco is available on most ships, subject to ship-class exclusions.
Baby Care Service
- Parents travelling with children under three may be able to take advantage of MSC's Baby Care Service, which provides supervised playtime and a chance for parents to enjoy a little time to themselves.
- The service is advertised as offering up to eight hours of care per day, free of charge, subject to ship-specific terms and availability. Check the arrangements for your chosen sailing before booking.
Other Baby-Friendly Facilities
MSC Cruises also offers additional services designed to make travelling with a baby easier:
- 24-hour room service: convenient for families who need food or refreshments outside normal restaurant hours.
- Medical Centre: every ship has an onboard medical facility staffed by qualified personnel. Specialist paediatric telemedicine support is also available. *There will be an additional charge for using the medical facilities, so please make sure you have the relevant insurance in place.
- Baby laundry service: a dedicated laundry option for baby and toddler clothing, subject to the onboard service terms.
These facilities can help make a cruise more manageable for parents, although it's worth checking what baby equipment, food and services are available on your particular ship before departure.
Kids' Clubs and Teen Activities
One of the biggest attractions of an MSC family cruise is the range of age-appropriate children's clubs. Young guests can meet other children, make friends and enjoy supervised activities while parents relax or explore the ship.
Clubs for Different Age Groups
MSC Cruises organises its youth activities into age groups, helping children enjoy activities with others at a similar stage of development.
- Baby Club: 0–3 years
- Mini Club: 3–6 years
- Juniors Club: 7–11 years
- Young Club: 12–14 years
- Teens Club: 15–17 years
Activities can include sports tournaments, quizzes, games, themed events and the DOREMIX family disco. The programme varies by ship, sailing and age group, and registration or parental consent requirements may apply.
Kids Around the Clock
For parents who would like to enjoy an evening onboard, MSC's Kids Around the Clock programme provides late-night group childcare in a supervised setting.
The advertised programme runs from 23:00 to 02:00. Availability and any charges should be confirmed for the specific ship and sailing.
LEGO® Experience On Board
LEGO® fans can look forward to a special onboard event dedicated to LEGO activities and family fun. The LEGO® Experience On Board is designed to bring children and parents together for creative play during their cruise.
The event is advertised across the MSC fleet and is complimentary.
Virtual Reality and Gaming
Older children and teenagers may enjoy the more high-tech side of cruising, with selected ships offering virtual reality experiences, video games and other amusement attractions.
MSC World America's VR attractions are among the ship-specific options. Charges can apply, so check the onboard activities and prices before travelling.
Family Web Series
MSC Cruises also has family-themed entertainment available online, including Cabin 12006, a mystery series following teenagers aboard MSC Bellissima, and Kelly & Kloe Onboard, featuring the adventures of two young girls travelling aboard an MSC ship.
These are fun ways for younger cruisers to get a taste of the MSC experience before their holiday.
* Charges may apply for late night childcare and it's best to check with the kids club staff on boarding
Pools, Waterparks and Family Adventures
For families who love spending time in the water, MSC ships offer swimming pools and, on selected ships, exciting waterparks with waterslides and splash areas.
Children can splash around, enjoy the sunshine and make the most of sea days while parents relax nearby
Some ships also feature more adventurous attractions, which may include:
- Zip-lines and Himalayan bridges.
- Full-size MSC Formula Racer simulators.
- Virtual reality experiences and 4D cinemas.
- Bowling and mini bowling.
- Bumper cars and video game rooms.
- Dry slides on MSC World Class ships.
Not every attraction is available on every ship. Waterparks and certain activities have restrictions covering height, age and weight, so check the requirements before your cruise.
💡 Evhiz Tip: Some main pools on MSC Cruises ships can be quite deep for younger children. Parents and guardians should supervise children at all times around the pools and ensure they are confident in the water before swimming.
Family Entertainment Onboard
Sea days don't have to mean keeping the children occupied yourself. MSC Cruises offers a varied entertainment programme designed to bring families together as well as give adults and children their own opportunities to have fun.
Depending on the ship and sailing, activities may include:
- Family game shows with music, dancing and selfie challenges.
- Family discos and themed parties.
- Broadway-style theatre productions.
- Sports tournaments and interactive games.
- Trivia quizzes and quiz events.
- White Party, Glow Party and Sunshine Party celebrations.
- Special activities for parents, including selected parties and quizzes.
For the latest schedule, check the daily programme or the MSC for Me app where available. Activities and app features vary by ship.
Family Dining with MSC Cruises
Food is an important part of any family holiday, and MSC Cruises offers a range of dining options to suit different tastes and mealtimes.
Main Restaurants
The main restaurants serve a changing selection of international dishes, offering families the opportunity to enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner in a traditional restaurant setting. Menus and dining arrangements vary by ship and fare.
Buffet Restaurants
The buffet is a flexible option for families who prefer a more relaxed dining experience. With a selection of dishes available at different times of the day, it can be particularly convenient when children are hungry or everyone wants something different.
Dining with New Friends
On selected sailings, children may be able to join youth staff and other children for lunch or dinner. MSC advertises this as a way for young guests to enjoy mealtimes with their new friends while parents have some time together.
The service is advertised as complimentary on port days, with selected sea-day arrangements potentially subject to a fee. Check availability and charges for your sailing.
💡 Evhiz Travel Tip: When choosing your cruise, consider your children's usual mealtimes, dining preferences and any dietary requirements. We can help you understand the dining arrangements available with your chosen cruise.
Family Shore Excursions
An MSC cruise gives your family the opportunity to wake up in a different destination without having to organise a separate hotel stay for each stop.
MSC Family Fun excursions are designed to help families discover destinations at a pace suited to travelling with children. Depending on the port, experiences may include cultural attractions, historic landmarks, outdoor adventures and natural beauty.
MSC advertises special pricing on selected shore excursions for younger guests:
Children aged two and under: free of charge.
Children aged 3–13: discounts of up to 30% compared with the adult price.
Eligibility, excursion availability and prices depend on the individual tour and booking conditions.
When planning family excursions, consider journey times, walking distances, the age of your children and how much time you want to spend exploring before returning to the ship.
💡 Evhiz Travel Tip: We can access the MSC shore excursions available for your chosen sailing and help you find the experiences best suited to your interests. By selecting and booking your excursions with Evhiz Travel at the time of booking your cruise, you can secure your preferred trips in advance and take advantage of available pre-cruise prices.
Make the Most of Onboard Attractions with the MSC Fun Pass
If your family loves gaming and amusement attractions, the MSC Fun Pass may be worth considering.
The package provides additional credits for selected amusement activities, which can include bowling, virtual reality games and 4D cinema experiences, depending on the ship.
Purchasing a package may offer better value than paying separately for each activity, depending on the package price and how much your family plans to use it.
💡 Evhiz Travel Tip: The MSC Fun Pass can be purchased before your cruise, helping you plan ahead for hours of family fun. Plus, on selected sailings and cabin grades, you could enjoy a FREE MSC Fun Pass when booking with Evhiz Travel. Ask us about current offers and eligibility!
Choosing the Best MSC Cruise for Your Family
The right family cruise depends on the ages of your children, the experiences you want and the time you have available.
Cruising with Babies and Toddlers
Look for an itinerary with convenient embarkation arrangements, suitable dining options and facilities that match your family's needs. Check the availability of baby care services and any equipment you may need to bring.
Cruising with Primary-School-Age Children
Swimming pools, waterparks, kids' clubs, LEGO activities and family entertainment can make sea days just as exciting as days ashore.
Cruising with Teenagers
Consider ships offering a wide range of sports, gaming, amusement attractions and teen activities. The itinerary matters too, particularly if your teenagers enjoy exploring new cities and destinations.
A Multigenerational Family Cruise
Travelling with grandparents, parents and children can be a great way to spend time together. Consider cabin arrangements, accessible facilities, dining preferences and a balance of activities for different ages.
Which Destination Should You Choose?
MSC Cruises offers itineraries across several regions, including the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Caribbean, with options varying by season and ship.
Mediterranean cruises: ideal for combining sunny sea days with historic cities, beaches and family-friendly attractions.
Northern Europe cruises: a chance to explore fascinating cities, scenic coastlines and destinations with a different feel from a traditional beach holiday.
Caribbean cruises: tropical beaches, warm-weather activities and opportunities to explore beautiful islands.
The best option will depend on your travel dates, departure port, budget and preferred holiday style.
💡 Evhiz Travel Tip: Barcelona is one of our favourite Mediterranean embarkation ports and an excellent choice for your first Fly, Stay & Cruise holiday. Arrive a few days early to explore this vibrant city before setting sail. Prefer a no-fly cruise from Southampton? We recommend staying in a hotel the night before departure, so you can start your holiday feeling relaxed and ready to embark without the stress of an early-morning journey.
Book Your Family MSC Cruise with Evhiz Travel
Planning a family cruise involves more than choosing a destination. You may also need to compare cabins, understand what's included, consider drinks and Wi-Fi packages, plan excursions and work out the best arrangements for travelling with children.
At Evhiz Travel, we can help you compare MSC cruise options and find a holiday that suits your family.
We can also help you explore available extras, including drinks packages, Wi-Fi, speciality dining and shore excursions, where offered. Depending on the promotion and booking conditions, arranging selected extras at the time of booking may offer better value than adding them later.
Why plan your family cruise with Evhiz Travel?
- Help comparing MSC ships and family-friendly itineraries.
- Guidance on cabin options and arrangements for your family.
- Advice on available onboard packages and excursions.
- Support choosing between departure ports, destinations and sailing dates.
💡 Evhiz Travel Tip: Our family has first-hand experience of cruising with MSC Cruises, starting when our daughter was just seven months old on her first Fly, Stay & Cruise holiday from Venice. Since then, she has sailed with MSC nine times, enjoying both family cruises and solo-parent adventures. MSC has become her favourite cruise line, and our own experiences give us valuable insight into what makes an MSC cruise such a great choice for families travelling with children of different ages.
Start Planning Your Family Cruise
Whether you're looking for a short Mediterranean escape, a Northern Europe adventure or a Caribbean family holiday, we can help you explore the possibilities.
Get in touch with Evhiz Travel to find an MSC cruise that your whole family can look forward to.