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

All information provided is for Australian and New Zealand passport holders’ only, all other passport holders MUST check with their relevant embassy or consulate or travel agent. The information provided is up-to-date as at 16 Nov 2018, all prices are subject to rate of exchange and local fees and are a guide only. Latest information, costs and all other questions regarding travel documents and visas, please consult the relevant authorities (embassies, consulates or other local authorities) and/or your travel agent prior to departure. Details are subject to change without prior notice at any time.

Brazilian Visa - Australian passport holders REQUIRE a Brazilian visa prior to sailing. Failure to present this upon cruise embarkation and check-in will result in passengers being denied boarding. MSC Cruises (Australia) will not accept any responsibility if passengers are denied boarding due to lack of visa. Currently New Zealand passport holders do not require a Brazilian Visa for a stay of up to 90 days. This may change please check prior to departure from New Zealand with relevant consulate/embassy or your travel agent.

Cuba: A Tourist Visa, “Tarjeta”, is required and is valid for 30 days from the day of entry, for one Entry and one Exit only.
Cruises embarking in Havana: 1st visa needs to be arrange before arrival in Havana by air or sea. If subsequent visas are required they can be purchased on board at a cost of approx. € 15.00 per person, including children and infants.
Cruises embarking in Cozumel: Cuban visa is required and it can be purchased on board at a cost of € 15.00 per person, including children and infants.
Cruises embarking in Miami: Visa is required and it can be purchased on board at a cost of $50.00 USD per person, including children and infants.
Cruising to Cuba from the USA requires guests to comply with the people-to-people educational program. Click here to learn more.

China: Visa is not required if passengers leave China within 144 hours (starting from the day of arrival) 2 copies of passport is required. For any other circumstances including embarkation and disembarkation please check with consulate/embassy or your travel agent for current costs, required forms once booked prior to cruise departure.

Egypt, Morocco and Gibraltar: Children under 18 years of age must possess their own valid AU/NZ machine readable passport, no other forms of identification will be accepted.

Ireland: We recommend passengers kindly check their eligibility about Irish Short Stay Transit Visa Waiver Programme: please refer to website www.inis.gov.ie

Israel: Passengers in transit will receive a landing visa entry card upon arrival; for a period strictly linked to their stay in the port of Israel for the ship. Some nationalities a visa costs are charged, please check with consulate or embassies which nationalities entries will be charged

India: A tourist visa is required prior to departure from Australia/New Zealand. Visa must have 6 months validity from date of issue please check with consulate/embassy or your travel agent for current costs, required forms prior to cruise departure

Mozambique: Passenger require a visa for entry, it can be obtained on board our ships at a cost of approx. USD 50.00 per person including children and infants. In addition all passengers must hold fully valid machine readable passport, with expiry date at least 6 months after the return date back into Australia or New Zealand., subject to rate of exchange and local fees.

Mexico: All guests that are not Mexican citizens embarking or disembarking in Cozumel are subject to pay an entry + an exit stamp fee of $612.00 Mexican Pesos (equivalent of $30,00 USD each time) per person including children and infants.

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 Oman 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.

Russia: Passengers in transit who participate on MSC Cruises organized tours, will receive entry permission for the duration of the tour only without applying for Russian Visa. In all other instances a Russian Visa is required and organised prior to arrival in Russia.
Sri Lanka: Passengers embarking, disembarking or transiting Sri Lanka even for day touring must purchase an e-Tourist visa prior to embarkation, cost may apply dependent on passport nationality.

South Africa: All passengers must hold valid passport with 6 months residual validity. Currently Australian passport holders do not require a visa for South Africa. 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 for each child, parents must carry an unabridged birth certificate (English/bilingual) issued by an authorised office or agency. You must contact your nearest South African Embassy or Consulate to have your certificate(s) validated BEFORE you can travel to South Africa.

Turkey: Australians visiting Turkey for tourism must apply for a visa online at www.evisa.gov.tr. Cost is currently approx. US$60 per person including children and infants for a stay of 90 days.

United Arab Emirates (Dubai/Abu Dhabi) Embarkation: The following notes refer to cruises to, from or within the UAE, and transiting Oman, Bahrain and Qatar. All Australian and New Zealand passports must be valid for at least 6 months upon departure from UAE or Bahrain or Oman for stays of up to three months.
Kindly note that passengers holding passports of nationalities other than those mentioned above, will need a pre-issued visa for the UAE. Our office can provide details of an agent for a Multiple Entry Visa for UAE only exclusively for Cruise Passengers which is limited to the performance of the cruise. For this visa it can only be issued by the appointed agent, other visas issued by other agents may be denied by Port Immigration. NOTE no refund is granted if an application for a visa is made but then rejected by the Authorities.

United Kingdom: We recommend passengers kindly 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.

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.

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.
All other passengers/passport holders are kindly required to check with relevant USA Embassy or Consulate.

West Indies/Antilles: Embarkation/Disembarkation from French Territories:
Non-European Passengers subject to Schengen Visa requirements however check with consulate or embassy of same validity also for the French Overseas Territories.
Embarkation/Disembarkation from other territories : passport required. Visa rules applying according to the local Immigration Authorities please check with relevant consulates or embassies prior to cruise.

Vietnam: Australian and New Zealand passport holders require a visa for Vietnam, it can be purchased on board for approx. cost of $50.00 US per person including children and infants.

World Cruise: 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 requirement, passengers are not even allowed to stay on board 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 are required prior to embarkation on 5th Jan 2019.
Schengen Area Ports: Please refer to your cruise itinerary.
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 completely within Schengen area, are required passport and/or Single Entry Schengen Visa. For cruises including one or more NON Schengen ports a Multiple Entry Visa may be required please check with consulate/embassy or travel agent for full details.

Senegal: Health Card and Vaccinations
Fr clients travelling to Senegal on a cruise they require a “Yellow Fever Certificate” Please consult your Doctor prior to cruise departure and original certificate must be produced at embarkation of cruise.

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, travel agents etc.) to recheck the accuracy/costs and requirements of this information and any other detail you may need prior to final payment of your cruise.
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