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Yes, meals are included on MSC Cruises. A standard MSC cruise fare includes full-board dining, with breakfast, lunch and dinner available in the main restaurants and buffet. Buffet dining also includes late-night snacks on many ships.
This means you generally do not need to purchase a separate meal package simply to have regular meals during your cruise. However, MSC also operates specialty restaurants and dining experiences where charges may apply.
Understanding what is included can help you plan your cruise budget and avoid unexpected dining costs.
MSC Cruises describes its standard cruise offering as full board. This includes meals served in the main restaurants and buffet.
Depending on the ship and itinerary, included dining can cover:
The exact venues and operating hours vary by ship.
Yes. Breakfast is included as part of the regular cruise fare.
Guests can generally choose between buffet breakfast and breakfast service in the main restaurant, depending on the ship's schedule and available dining venues.
The buffet can be particularly convenient if you want to eat quickly before going ashore for an excursion.
Yes, lunch is included.
The buffet normally provides a broad selection of food for lunch, while the main restaurant may also offer an included lunch service according to the ship's daily schedule.
MSC's buffet offerings can include different cuisines, pasta, meat dishes, salads, desserts and other casual choices.
Yes. Dinner in the main restaurant is included in the cruise fare.
MSC's main restaurants serve a changing selection of international and Mediterranean cuisine throughout the cruise.
Depending on your ship and booking experience, you may have an assigned dining time or another dining arrangement.
With assigned seating, you may receive a scheduled dinner time and table for the duration of your cruise.
This can provide a more consistent dining routine because you generally return to the same dining arrangement each evening.
Some MSC ships and experiences offer more flexible dining arrangements.
For example, MSC's My Choice dining allows eligible Aurea guests to dine at their preferred time during the main restaurant's operating hours. Availability and arrangements depend on the ship and itinerary.
Yes. The regular buffet is included in the cruise fare.
MSC says its buffet is available for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night snacks.
The buffet can include a wide variety of options, such as:
The precise selection differs between ships.
Usually, specialty restaurants are not included in the standard cruise fare.
MSC offers specialty dining venues featuring options such as steak, seafood, sushi, Asian cuisine and other premium dining concepts. Charges apply to many of these restaurants.
Some ships may also have specific casual venues or restaurants that are included, so it is important to check the dining information for your particular ship.
For example, MSC Seashore lists several specialty restaurants alongside complimentary dining venues, demonstrating that dining inclusions can differ by restaurant and ship.
The simplest distinction is:
| Dining option | Usually included? |
|---|---|
| Main restaurant | Yes |
| Main buffet | Yes |
| Breakfast | Yes |
| Lunch | Yes |
| Dinner | Yes |
| Late-night buffet snacks | Yes, where offered |
| Specialty restaurants | Usually extra |
| Premium menu items | May cost extra |
| Dining packages | Extra purchase |
MSC's terms also state that selected premium menu items can have an additional charge, while specialty dining packages are subject to their own terms and availability.
The food included with your cruise should be distinguished from beverage packages and individual drinks.
Depending on your booking, cruise experience and any package purchased, some beverages may be available without an additional charge while others may cost extra.
If drinks are important to your cruise budget, check exactly what your booking includes rather than assuming that all beverages are complimentary.
MSC also sells beverage packages separately, and certain promotional or special cruise packages can have different inclusions.
Room-service availability and charges depend on your booking, ship and experience.
MSC's experience information shows that certain experiences can include free 24-hour room-service delivery and continental breakfast delivery, subject to the applicable terms.
Therefore, you should check your specific booking rather than assuming that every room-service order is included for every guest.
If you want to try restaurants beyond the included dining venues, MSC offers specialty dining packages.
These can allow guests to purchase meals at selected specialty restaurants, sometimes covering multiple dining experiences. MSC currently advertises packages covering up to four specialty restaurant meals on eligible ships.
A specialty dining package may be useful if you:
Remember that package availability varies by ship and itinerary.
Children can eat at the included dining venues as part of the cruise's regular meal arrangements.
MSC also provides children's food selections in its buffet and offers dedicated children's menus for certain specialty dining packages. The exact arrangements depend on the restaurant and package.
Parents should check the details of any specialty restaurant before booking because specialty dining has separate pricing rules.
Yes. MSC states that vegetarian and vegan-friendly dishes are incorporated into its main restaurant menus and buffet offerings.
Guests with specific dietary needs should communicate their requirements to MSC before the cruise.
The main restaurants can provide greater control over special meal preparation than the buffet, particularly for guests with allergies or intolerances.
MSC provides gluten-free options on most ships.
According to MSC, gluten-free meals using gluten-free ingredients can be available for breakfast, lunch and dinner in the main restaurants on most ships. Some ships have more limited gluten-free options.
Guests with allergies or intolerances should notify MSC in advance through the appropriate special-needs process and confirm their requirements onboard.
MSC also notes that it cannot guarantee the absence of cross-contamination at the buffet.
Kosher meals may be available, but they can involve an additional charge.
MSC's current information states that pre-packaged kosher breakfast, lunch and dinner may be available for an additional daily charge and must be booked in advance.
Because availability and requirements can change, passengers who need kosher meals should arrange them well before departure.
MSC states that halal products, including beef, lamb and poultry, may be available following a request made before departure.
Passengers requiring halal food should contact MSC in advance rather than relying on availability after boarding.
The dining process is relatively straightforward.
Before sailing, review your booking to see which dining experience and restaurant arrangements apply.
Once onboard, consult the daily program or MSC's onboard information for restaurant opening times.
Use the main restaurant or buffet when you want included meals.
If you want a premium restaurant, check its menu and pricing before ordering.
If you plan to eat at a popular specialty restaurant, making a reservation early can help you secure your preferred time.
MSC states that specialty dining reservations and meals are subject to availability.
MSC's included buffet and main restaurant provide regular meals throughout the cruise, but "all you can eat" should not be interpreted as every food item on the ship being free.
Included dining covers the applicable complimentary restaurants and menu offerings. Specialty restaurants and certain premium selections can carry additional charges.
So, you can enjoy included meals throughout your cruise without paying separately for every standard breakfast, lunch or dinner, but premium dining is a separate category.
MSC's main restaurants focus on international and Mediterranean cuisine.
The buffet offers a wider casual selection, with MSC highlighting options such as:
The exact menu changes and depends on the ship and itinerary.
Yes. Dinner at the main restaurant is included.
Your dining arrangement depends on your ship, cruise experience and itinerary. Some guests may have assigned seating, while eligible experiences can offer more flexibility.
MSC says assigned seating can involve keeping the same table and dining schedule throughout the cruise.
No.
You generally do not need to buy a specialty dining package to have breakfast, lunch and dinner during your MSC cruise.
The standard cruise fare already includes meals in the main restaurants and buffet.
A dining package is primarily an option for guests who want additional specialty restaurant experiences.
Although MSC provides full-board dining, some food and dining experiences can cost extra.
These may include:
Exact inclusions depend on the ship, itinerary, booking and experience.
MSC specifically notes that prices and inclusions can vary by ship and itinerary.
A few simple steps can make your onboard dining budget easier to manage.
Look for whether the venue is an included restaurant or a specialty venue.
Some specialty menus contain premium dishes that may carry an additional charge even when you have a dining package.
Do not assume that every drink served with a meal is covered.
If you require gluten-free, halal, kosher or other special meals, contact MSC before your cruise.
Restaurants and included venues differ between ships, so your ship's official dining information is the most reliable source for your sailing.
Regular meals are included in the MSC cruise fare. The main restaurants and buffet provide included dining, while specialty restaurants and certain premium items can cost extra.
Yes. Breakfast is included, with buffet and other dining options depending on the ship's schedule.
Yes. Lunch is included in the standard cruise fare at applicable main dining and buffet venues.
Yes. Dinner in the main restaurant is included. Specialty restaurants generally involve an additional charge.
Yes. MSC states that buffet dining is included and is available for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night snacks.
Generally, no. Specialty restaurants are separate from the standard included dining and commonly require payment or a dining package.
Not all drinks are automatically included. Beverage inclusions depend on the cruise, package and applicable terms.
Yes. MSC states that vegetarian and vegan-friendly dishes are available in its main restaurants and buffet.
Yes. MSC offers gluten-free meals in the main restaurants on most ships, although options can vary by ship. Guests with allergies or intolerances should notify MSC in advance.
No. A specialty dining package is not required for standard meals. It is an optional purchase for guests who want to dine at specialty restaurants.
Yes. Main restaurant dinner is included, although the dining time and seating arrangement depend on your ship and booking experience.
The buffet offers late-night snacks, although operating hours and exact offerings vary by ship.
Meals are included on MSC Cruises, making regular dining a built-in part of the cruise fare. Guests can generally enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner through the included buffet and main restaurants, with late-night buffet snacks also available.
The important distinction is between included dining and specialty dining. Specialty restaurants, premium menu selections and some other dining services may require an additional payment.
Before sailing, check your specific MSC ship, itinerary and booking experience because restaurant availability, dining schedules and inclusions can vary. This is especially important if you want specialty dining, have dietary requirements, or are trying to keep your onboard spending within a fixed budget.
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