Before you Go

Our mission

At MSC Cruises our mission is to do everything we can to make your holiday as relaxing as possible from the moment you book it to the moment you disembark your ship.

Web Check in

Web Check-in

Complete your web check-in NOW!

Check in online is available up to 48 hours before your cruise departs.

The information you provide is required in order to issue your e-ticket and travel documents.

If you have booked your cruise directly with MSC Cruises, please print your e-tickets before embarkation, otherwise please refer to your Travel Agent to get a copy.

MSC VOYAGERS CLUB: EARN BONUS POINTS

Learn how to collect extra points!

Become a Voyagers Club member before your cruise and earn 100 bonus points!

Are you already a member with an existing booking? Then update or confirm your contact details prior to the cruise to earn 100 bonus points! Modify or confirm your contact details in your MSC online private area or during the Web Check-in. Remember, bonus points are always credited at the end of the cruise.

Please see our Terms & Conditions for further details.

Mini & Juniors Club

Are you ready for a fun-packed cruise?

Your children and you are about to embark on a holiday filled with new experiences and good times!

Fill in the form and enrol your child to the MSC Mini & Juniors Club.

Useful Info

Embarkation

In order to ensure a smooth embarkation experience, it is extremely important that you always arrive at the port with your e-ticket, including the embarkation form with complete and accurate personal data.

If you book your cruise directly with MSC Cruises, then you should personally complete the web check-in process. For cruises booked through a travel agent, you may ask them to complete the web check-in process on your behalf.
In order to issue the e-tickets, the following personal information is required for all passengers included in the booking: First Name, Last Name, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Gender, Nationality, Passport or National ID Card Number, Passport place and date of issue, Passport or National ID Card expiry date, and Emergency Contact Information (First name, Last name, Telephone Number of a relative or friend not traveling with you, that we may need to reach Before arriving at the port, you should ensure that you have all personal travel documents required, and that all personal information shown on your embarkation form is correct. In the event of necessary changes, you can repeat the online check-in process in order to re-issue your e-ticket.
You can Check-in online in just 3 clicks:

1. Go to Web Check In on our website
2. Enter your booking information. You will find a section dedicated to you.
3. Enter your personal and identification information where requested, then click Save and Confirm.

New embarkation procedure currently valid only for MSC Fantasia, MSC Preziosa, MSC Poesia ,MSC Armonia, MSC Opera, MSC Orchestra, MSC Musica, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Spendida and MSC Magnifica.

Embarkation begins at the Check-In time shown on the cruise ticket.

Check-In closes 2 hours before the ship departure time.
As a safety precaution, you and your luggage may be searched and any item that the Company considers a security risk for passengers or crew members (such as weapons, alcohol, food, diving knives, kettles, irons, drones, Galaxy Note 7,etc.) will be confiscated and not returned. Firearms will not be accepted on board and immediate disembarkation will be required.

Main steps for embarkation

At the terminal:
1. Deliver your luggage to the designated staff, who will then have it sent directly to your cabin. All bags should be labelled with luggage labels (included in the e-ticket) beforehand with your first name and surname, the name of the ship, the cabin number and the date and port of departure.
2. Go to the embarkation area with your ticket and all personal travel documents required for the cruise, where you should show your embarkation form and documents to our staff.
MSC Yacht Club Guests will find an exclusive Check-In area and will be assisted with their luggage by the butler team at the terminal, who will escort them to the dedicated line for priority Check-In. On request, the butler will also unpack guests’ suitcases.
3. Proceed to the security control. Please note that, staff may confiscate any articles that could present a safety risk.
4. Proceed with your embarkation form to the gangways where one of the MSC crew will be waiting to take your personal security picture.

On board:
5. Go to your cabin and collect their your Cruise Card. As well as serving as your cabin key, this magnetic card can also be used to pay for products and services on board. For MSC Yacht Club Guests, it is also used to access the MSC Yacht Club area. In the event that case your cabin is not yet ready yet, you may begin your onboard purchases in the bars and restaurants by providing crew with your cabin number and full name.
6. Activate your Cruise Card for onboard purchases. (See the Onboard Payment Systems paragraph for further information on how to do this.)
7. You are required take part in the obligatory safety drill.
8. You should also attend the MSC Cruise Guide, an important presentation where they will find out all you need to know in order to live your cruise to the full.

Embarkation procedure valid for MSC Divina and MSC Lirica

Embarkation begins at the Check-In time shown on the cruise ticket.

Check-In closes 2 hours before the ship departure time.
As a safety precaution, Security staff may search you and your luggage and confiscate any item that the Company considers could risk the safety of passengers or crew members (such as weapons, alcohol, food, diving knives, kettles, irons, drones, Galaxy Note7, etc.).

All guests of the MSC Yacht Club (on board MSC Preziosa, MSC Divina, MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia) will find an exclusive Check-In desk and will be assisted with their luggage by the butler team at the terminal, who will escort them to the dedicated line for priority Check-In. On request, the butler will also unpack guests’ suitcases.

On embarkation, you should do as follows (in the order specified):
a) Deliver your luggage to the designated staff, who will then have it sent directly to the your cabin. All bags should be labelled with luggage labels (included in the e-ticket) beforehand with your first name and surname, the name of the ship, the cabin number and the date and port of departure.

b) Go to the check-in desk with your cruise ticket and all personal travel documents required for the cruise.

c) After the document check, you will receive a Cruise Card. This is a magnetic card used for onboard payment of excursions, bar bills, laundry, in-cabin service, hairdresser, beauty centre, duty-free shops, photographer and service charge. For MSC Yacht Club Guests, the Cruise Card is also used to access the MSC Yacht Club area on board.
Fly and Cruise Embarkation

For cruises including flight connections, you should check-in on the airline website anytime from 23 hours before departure or at the airline Check-In desk at least two hours before the flight departure time.
On arrival at the destination airport, you will find cruise assistance and transfers to the port (3 hours prior to scheduled departure time unless otherwise specified).

MSC Lounge and MSC Terrace
At Genoa Airport, a comfortable MSC Lounge and MSC Terrace are available exclusively for our Guests, on days when our ships are operating from the port of Genoa. They are situated in the Departures area above the Check-In desks, near the airport restaurant/buffet. The MSC Terrace is open in the spring and summer months, weather permitting.
An MSC Ground Hostess is always on hand to assist with any problems and provide information on flights, delays, etc.
Travel Documents and Visas

United States: International travellers who are seeking to travel to the United States are now subject to enhanced security requirements therefore missing information or impossibility to show any requested document required, might cause boarding denial. All eligible travellers who wish to travel to the U.S.A. by air or sea have to fulfill all required documents with appropriate Visas or ESTA . Travellers eligible to travel under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) must obtain an electronic travel authorisation prior to boarding a carrier (ESTA). Residual validity of ESTA must be checked carefully (valid for 2 years from issuance). In case of passport renewal or duplication, a new ESTA has to be required. In all cases, a printed copy of the approved ESTA application or valid US Visa must be presented upon check-in prior to boarding the vessel to enable personnel to a faster processing and avoid requests of proof. To check which countries participate in the VWP and for any further information, please visit the website.

All other passengers are kindly required to check with relevant Embassy or Consulate.

Beginning January 21st, 2016, the U.S. Government enforced restrictions for ESTA and Visa applicants, who have visited Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria after March 2011.

Travellers are kindly reminded to check any update and the release of any official notes at the following website.

South America:
Argentina Reciprocity Fee – USD100 per person applies to Australian passport holders embarking, transiting or disembarking in Argentina. This fee must be paid online prior to arrival into Argentina via the website – www.migraciones.gov.ar/accesibleingles
For further information, please contact the consulate or visit the above website.
If you fail to produce proof of payment (printed receipt) you may be denied boarding by the airline or transporting company.

Brazilian Visa - Please make sure that your passengers have a Brazilian visa prior to sailing. Failure to present this upon check-in will result in passengers being denied boarding. MSC Cruises (Australia) will not accept any responsibility if passengers are denied boarding due to this matter – Normally done through Brazilian Consulate

Egypt, Morocco and Gibraltar: For minors travelling to these countries, please consider that the “Birth Certificate with travel abroad authentication” and the “Identity Certificate for children” are no longer considered valid. Children under 15 years of age must therefore: - possess their own passport, or - possess another valid identity document for travelling abroad.

The information provided is up-to-date at the time of going to print; for the latest information and all other questions regarding travel documents and visas, please consult your travel agent and/or the relevant authorities (embassies, consulates or other local authorities).

Mozambique: Passenger must hold fully valid passport, whose expiry date is at least 6 months after the return date, and a specific visa, which can be easily obtained also onboard our vessel at a cost of approx. USD 30,00, subject to rate of exchange and local fees.

Embarkation United Arab Emirates (Dubai/Abu Dhabi):

The following notes refer to cruises to, from or within the UAE, and transiting Oman, Bahrain and Qatar. All passports must be valid for at least 6 months upon departure from UAE or Bahrain or Oman for stays of up to three months. (Please refer to our office for full details or for passports other than Australia or New Zealand for further information.)

For UAE only: Passengers holding passports of the following countries do not need a visa prior to their arrival in to the UAE:

Europe : France, Italy, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Finland, Spain, Monaco, Vatican City, Iceland, Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein, United Kingdom, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Estonia, Cyprus, Romania, Poland, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Croatia , Bulgaria, Russia, Ukraine.

North America: USA, Canada, Bahamas Island
South America: Argentina

Pacific Rim/Asia: Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brunei, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, China, Mauritius, Seychelles, Chile, Solomon Island

Kindly note that passengers holding passports of nationalities other than those mentioned above, will need a pre-issued visa for the UAE.

Please consult our offices for more detailed information and about Multiple Entry Visa for UAE issued exclusively for Cruise passengers whose stay in the UAE is limited only to the performance of the cruise.

Processing can take up to 7 working days and sometimes longer, depending on nationality and can be issued only by the appointed agent, other Visas issued by other Travel Agents could be denied by the Port Immigration Authority. No refund is granted if an application for a visa is made but then rejected by the Authorities.

Information concerning visa to Oman:

On arrival in Oman, all cruise passengers will be issued with a 24-hour landing authorization . Any passenger wishing to stay longer than 24 hours in Oman should follow the relevant visa application procedures.

Kindly note that Israeli and Bangladeshi passport holders are not allowed to enter the country during the Omani call. No discrimination will be made against passengers of any nationality with an Israeli visa or stamp evident on their passport relating to previous visits.

For your guidance, please consult the official Oman Government website.

All information provided may be subject to changes and is up-to-date at 1 October 2014. For the most current information please contact the relevant embassies or consulates.

South Africa: Passengers must hold valid passport with 6 months residual validity. Please check with any South African Embassy/Consulate if Visa prior to arrival needed according to your nationality

NEW ZEALAND PASSPORT HOLDERS – as at 16 January 2017 all New Zealand Passport holders must obtain a Visitor Visa to enter South Africa for full details please consult High Commission of South Africa in Wellington at https://www.sahc.org.au/consular_new-zealand.htm.

If you are travelling from/to South Africa with children under 18 years of age, please note that new regulations have recently been introduced. For details, please refer to the following websites:

- South Africa Home Affairs

For each child, parents must carry an unabridged birth certificate (English/bilingual) issued by an authorised office or agency.

Please contact your nearest South African Embassy or Consulate to have your certificate(s) validated for travel.

Please note that these regulations apply to travellers from all nationalities, including South African passport holders.

For all calls within UK and Ireland :

United Kingdom:

European Community passengers can use own passport or valid equivalent document. French ID cards with automatic extension are considered valid only inside the EU , in case of cruise calling other than EU ports, passport or new ID card required. Please consult our contact center should you require further information.

Passengers from other countries are kindly required to verify with UKBA (United Kingdom Border Agency) if eligible to travel in transit under the Visa Waiver Program or if need to be provided of UK Visa prior to embarkation. In absence of visa prior to embarkation, visit in transit or stay onboard ship during a UK port of call without going ashore is not authorized and guests have to disembark the previous port.

The concession of Visa upon arrival for the selected nationalities is valid only in case of transit within 24 hours. In case of two or more consecutive UK ports, Visa prior to embarkation is mandatorily required.

Ireland:

European Community passengers can use own passport or valid equivalent document. Please consult our contact center should you require further information.

Passengers from other countries are required to check their eligibility about Irish Short Stay Transit Visa Waiver Programme : please refer to website www.inis.gov.ie

In absence of visa prior to embarkation, visit in transit or stay onboard ship during an Irish port of call without going ashore is not authorized and guests have to disembark the previous port.

Turkey:

- If Passport (or I.D. Card) validity date is less than 65 days , holders will NOT be allowed to enter Turkey.

- It is also highly recommended to have minimum 180 day residual validity of Passport (or any other allowed document) for all Country Citizens, even when applying e-visa only through www.evisa.gov.tr. This to allow the system to grant the Visa.

- In case of non compliance of the above a penalty fee of TL 353,10 (appx.USD 160,00 / € 140,00) will be applied directly to the document holder.

This rule is valid also for all passengers in transit in any turkish port ; even though not subject to any Visa procedure.



West Indies/Antilles:

Embarkation/Disembarkation from French Territories:

European Community passengers can Travel with valid ID card (automatically extended French ID card not accepted) ; We strongly recommend to use passport with 3 months residual validity in case of voyage interruption in any of the intransit islands whose only accepted document is passport.

Non European Passengers subject to Schengen Visa have to require the extension of same valid also for the French Overseas Territories.

USA Visa in some cases accepted for embarkation; please refer to Contact Center for further information.

Embarkation/Disembarkation from other territories : passport required. Visa rules applying according to the local Immigration Authorities.

Cuba: Cruising to Cuba from the USA requires guests to comply to the people-to-people educational program. Click here to learn more.

Israel:

Passengers in transit can receive entry Visa upon arrival; for some nationalities Visa costs are charged ; restrictions applying to some nationalities whose entry is charged. Please refer to our Contact Center should you need further information.

Croatia, Montenegro

European passengers can transit with ID card.

Non European passengers who are not subject to Schengen visa rules can transit just with own passport.

All other non-European passengers with valid Schengen visas are admitted in the concerned countries even without a specific local visa.

Russia:

St Petersburg, Sochi:

Passengers in transit can participate to MSC organized tours and receive entry permission without applying for Russian Visa.



Bulgaria, Romania:

European passengers can travel with own passport. Please refer to our Contact center in case of additional or specific information.

Non European passengers who are not subject to Schengen visa rules can transit just with own passport.

All other non-European passengers with valid Schengen visas are admitted in the concerned countries even without a specific local visa.

Schengen Area Ports:

Please refer to your cruise itinerary :

For cruises completely within Schengen area, valid passport or ID card required for European Community passengers.

All other passenger’s nationalities are required passport and/or Single Entry Schengen Visa.

Schengen Visa for French Polynesia on World Cruise departing 5th January 2019 for Australian and New Zealand Passport holders only, please contact French Consulate or embassy prior to departure for most up to date information in regards to visa requirements as this changes daily

For cruises including one or more Non Schengen ports, passport and Multiple Entry Visa required unless differently sequenced. Please refer our Contact Center for further information.

SPECIAL WORLD CRUISE - MSC MAGNIFICA
VACCINATIONS / IMMIGRATION RULES
IMPORTANT NOTE :   All passports, no matter the guests’ nationality, have to be valid for one remaining year at the date of embarkation in Genoa 05 jan 2019 ; or, at least, must have 6 months and one day (181 days) of remaining validity by the date of departure from Dubai on 17 april 2019 as mandatorily requested by UAE Authorities. In absence of this requisite, passengers are not even allowed to stay onboard ship while calling Dubai and have to disembark the port before.Due to the many ports called , at least 6 blank pages on passport in order to allow stampings for entry/exit, pose stickers or daily passes etc.

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The above information is up to date as of the on-line publishing and may be subject to eventual changes without further notice; it is merely explanatory and non-committing. Please refer to your local authorities (embassies, consulates, etc.) to verify the accuracy of this information and any other detail you may need.
Travelling with Cash

Europe: EC Regulation 1889/2005 states that: “Any natural person entering or leaving the Community and carrying cash of a value of Euro 10,000 or more shall declare that sum to the competent authorities of the Member state through which he is entering or leaving the Community in accordance with this Regulation”.
Please consult your travel agent and/or the relevant authorities (embassies, consulates or other local authorities) to find out whether there are any other restrictions to carrying cash on your itinerary.
Luggage

Guests are encouraged to limit their checked luggage to two suitcases per person (not exceeding 90x75x43 cm in size and 23 kg in weight per bag), and two pieces of hand luggage per person (not exceeding 56x45x25 cm in size and 23 kg in weight per bag).
On all MSC Grand Voyages to/from The Caribbean, South America, South Africa and The United Arab Emirates, the above mentioned guidelines represent the maximum limit allowed per person. In any case, the maximum amount of luggage in each cabin must not exceed 100 kg and/or 8 pieces among all passengers in the same cabin. Any piece of luggage exceeding the allowance will not be accepted at Check-In. Guests intending to exceed these limits are invited to contact MSC Cruises directly or via their travel agents at the time of booking for information on how to ship luggage in excess of the free luggage allowance
separately via freight or cargo, at an additional charge.

Prams and wheelchairs
Prams and wheelchairs are always allowed on board, but must be declared at the time of booking confirmation. For cruises including flight connections, please follow any instructions given by the airline.

Forbidden items

Security staff may search a Guest and/or his/her luggage and confiscate any articles that the Company considers could risk the safety of the Guests, crew or ship (such as weapons, sharp objects, kettles, irons, etc.). Such items will be confiscated and not returned Firearms will be not accepted on board and immediate disembarkation will be requested.

Food and beverages
We reserve the right to remove any beverages present in Guests’ luggage. These will be returned the evening before disembarkation. Please also note that guests are not permitted to bring unpackaged food on
board.

Valuable luggage and insurance
Please note that any valuable luggage travels at your own risk.Insurance can be taken out through MSC Cruises according to the conditions; please contact your Travel Agent.

Air transport and lost luggage

If travelling to your departure port by air, please check the size and weight limitations on your luggage at the time of booking. Airlines reserve the right to charge a supplement for excess luggage. MSC Cruises accepts no responsibility for issues arising during airport departure or arrival.

In the unfortunate event of a luggage handling error by the airline, we offer a luggage recovery service. Working with the Lost & Found offices of each airport, we will make every effort to track your luggage and, where possible, have it sent directly to the ship at one of the subsequent ports of call.

In order to help you trace any lost luggage in the most efficient way, we ask you to present a copy of the P.I.R. (Property Irregularity Report) prepared at the Lost Property Office of the airport where you reported the luggage missing.

Packing tips

- Things NOT to pack: alcohol, firearms, sharp objects, kettles, irons, food or beverages, drones, Galaxy Note7 (all forbidden on board).

- Things you can leave at home: pool towels or hairdryers (you’ll find these in your cabin); cigarettes, sun cream or beauty products (all available from the onboard shops).

- Things to keep in your hand luggage: travel documents, luggage tags (to be attached on arrival at the embarkation port), money, jewellery, electronic devices, medicines, nappies, and any other valuables or items you may need at short notice.

Make sure to carry your vital medicaments always with you during the whole cruise, for your own health and safety
Vaccinations

Guests are advised to consult their National Health Service prior to the cruise for information regarding recommended vaccinations. MSC Cruises declines all responsibility for Guests who do not adhere to the recommendations on the prevention of infectious diseases.

Before you go