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Booking a shore excursion is one of the easiest ways to make more of an MSC Cruises itinerary. Instead of arranging everything independently at each port, you can choose organised tours that include planned transportation, sightseeing, activities, and professional guides.
So, how do you book shore excursions with MSC Cruises? You can explore available excursions through MSC's website and, where supported, through the MSC for Me app. MSC says guests can plan their itinerary, explore destinations and shore excursions, and book services before their cruise. Excursions may also be available for booking onboard, although popular tours can have limited availability.
This guide explains the booking process, when to reserve, what to check before paying, how cancellation works, and how to choose an excursion that fits your cruise and travel style.
MSC shore excursions are organised activities and tours available at ports included in your cruise itinerary.
Depending on the destination, you may find options such as:
MSC groups its excursions into categories such as Scenic Route, Sea and Sun, Something Special, Active and Adventure, Culture and History, and Natural Wonders. Availability depends on the itinerary and destination.
The exact selection is not identical for every sailing. Your itinerary, port schedule, local conditions, and excursion availability all affect what you can book.
The simplest approach is to look for excursions through your MSC booking before the cruise.
Start with your MSC Cruises booking information.
You will generally need your cruise booking number or the details associated with your reservation to access pre-cruise services.
MSC for Me states that guests can log in using their booking number to access pre-cruise features, including itinerary planning and shore excursions.
Once you have accessed your booking, look for the section relating to shore excursions or excursions.
You can review excursions according to the ports on your itinerary.
The official MSC excursions section provides destination and tour information, allowing passengers to compare the types of experiences available.
Choose the port where you want to take an excursion.
This is important because an excursion is normally tied to a particular port and sailing schedule.
For example, an itinerary might offer different activities in:
The actual excursions depend on your specific cruise.
Do not choose the first excursion simply because it looks interesting.
Read the description carefully and compare:
MSC recommends booking early because some excursions have limited allotments and can become unavailable.
Some excursions require more physical activity than others.
A walking tour through a historic city may involve uneven streets and extended periods on foot. A cycling tour may require a particular level of fitness, while a boat or beach excursion may have different requirements.
If you use a wheelchair or mobility equipment, pay particular attention to the excursion's accessibility information.
MSC's Easy & Accessible excursions provide information about equipment dimensions and combined weight limits for applicable tours. MSC recommends booking these excursions well in advance to help secure availability.
After selecting your preferred tour, follow the booking instructions shown by MSC.
Review the booking details before confirming, especially:
MSC's terms state that a booking confirmation is issued by email after the excursion reservation is confirmed.
Save the confirmation email and excursion information.
It is useful to have the details available before boarding and during the cruise.
Also check the onboard information because MSC notes that the final excursion programme and details can be confirmed during the cruise and may change because of local conditions or other circumstances.
Yes. MSC encourages guests to book excursions before departure, particularly when a tour is popular or has limited availability.
Booking early can be useful because you have more time to compare different options and are less likely to find your preferred excursion sold out.
MSC specifically advises passengers to book before departure for destinations where excursions can become unavailable because of popularity.
For some excursions, MSC's online booking terms specify a cutoff before departure. The exact deadline can depend on the applicable market and booking terms, so check the terms displayed for your reservation rather than relying on a single universal deadline.
The MSC for Me app can be used for pre-cruise planning and provides access to itinerary and shore-excursion information.
MSC says guests can:
Once onboard, the app can also provide real-time itinerary information and shore excursion options.
However, the exact features available can vary by ship, itinerary, and service.
Yes. MSC offers onboard excursion booking, subject to availability.
This can be useful if you were undecided before sailing or want to make a choice after reviewing the final onboard programme.
However, waiting has a disadvantage: popular excursions may already be full.
MSC recommends booking early because excursion allotments can be limited.
Depending on the ship and service available, guests can use onboard excursion services and digital tools to review options.
The MSC for Me app can display excursion information, while MSC Concierge can also provide excursion recommendations and assistance through the app on supported ships.
The best time to book depends on the excursion.
For popular tours, booking before the cruise is generally the safer choice.
Early booking is especially sensible when:
MSC says some excursions have limited allotments and recommends booking early to secure a place.
For accessible tours, MSC recommends booking at least two months before the cruise where possible.
There is no single price for MSC shore excursions.
Prices vary according to factors such as:
MSC states that excursion programmes and prices are guides and that prices can change during the season. The final programme and pricing information should therefore be checked against the information applicable to your cruise.
Rather than choosing an excursion solely because it is cheap, compare what the price actually includes.
The inclusions depend on the individual tour.
Some excursions may include transportation, entrance fees, a guide, meals, or other activities, while others may not.
Read the specific excursion description carefully before booking.
MSC highlights price transparency as one of the benefits of its excursion programme and states that planned activities included in an excursion are covered by its stated excursion price.
Still, do not assume that every possible personal expense is included. Check the individual tour description for exclusions.
MSC states that excursions are available in several languages, depending on destination and guide availability.
For many destinations, languages can include:
For South American destinations, Portuguese may also be available.
The final language is confirmed during the cruise and depends on guide availability.
If language is important to you, check the excursion details before booking and confirm the final arrangements onboard.
MSC offers a broad selection, although the exact choices depend on the itinerary.
These are suitable if you want to see major sights without taking part in a highly physical activity.
A scenic coach tour can be a convenient choice when you want to cover more ground in a limited port day.
These excursions focus on landmarks, historic sites, architecture, museums, and local heritage.
They can be particularly useful when visiting a destination for the first time and you want structured information from a guide.
These focus on relaxation, beaches, boat trips, and coastal scenery.
They can be attractive when your priority is a slower-paced day away from the ship.
These may include cycling, hiking, outdoor activities, or other more physically demanding experiences.
Check the physical requirements before booking.
Some excursions are built around local food, shopping, gastronomy, or cultural activities.
These can be a good option if your main interest is experiencing the destination rather than visiting as many landmarks as possible.
MSC's Easy & Accessible programme is designed for guests who need additional accessibility considerations.
Always read the individual tour's requirements because accessible does not necessarily mean that every type of mobility equipment can be accommodated.
MSC sometimes offers excursion packages on selected departures.
One example is the Excursions Explorer Package, which combines three selected excursions for a package price.
MSC says this package is available only on selected departures and destinations and has limited availability. It also states that the package cannot be modified or refunded under its published conditions.
Therefore, check the exact terms before purchasing a package.
MSC Yacht Club guests have access to specially curated excursion options designed around more exclusive experiences.
MSC says Yacht Club excursions can include smaller groups, private transportation, and carefully selected destination experiences. They can be booked online through the My MSC area before cruising, by phone, through a travel agent, or onboard with assistance from the Yacht Club butler or concierge.
These excursions are separate from the standard excursion selection and may have different pricing and availability.
The best excursion is not necessarily the most expensive or the one with the longest list of attractions.
Use your port time and personal interests as the starting point.
Check the tour's departure and return times.
A long excursion may provide more sightseeing but leave little flexibility before the ship departs.
Do not ignore walking distances or physical requirements.
If a tour includes several hours of walking, it may not be suitable if you prefer a relaxed day.
Ask yourself what you actually want from the port visit.
Some activities have minimum or maximum age requirements.
Families should check these rules before booking so that every member of the group can participate.
If anyone in your group uses mobility equipment or needs additional assistance, read the accessibility notes carefully.
For MSC's Easy & Accessible tours, the published description can include equipment limitations such as maximum dimensions and combined weight.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both approaches.
Potential advantages include:
MSC also says its excursion providers are selected with attention to quality and that excursion guides can contact the ship if an unforeseen situation affects the excursion.
An independent tour may offer:
However, you need to manage transportation and timing yourself.
The choice depends on how much flexibility and responsibility you want.
One benefit of a ship-organised excursion is that the tour is arranged around the cruise operation.
MSC says its excursions provide planned transportation and timing and that guides can contact the ship if unforeseen circumstances occur.
That does not mean every delay or local disruption is automatically covered in every situation. Excursions are operated by independent contractors, and MSC's terms explain that these providers operate the tours.
For that reason, read the applicable excursion terms before booking.
Cancellation and modification rules depend on the applicable booking terms, market, and type of excursion.
MSC's published terms state that certain standard shore excursions booked before the cruise can be modified or cancelled without penalty up to a specified deadline before departure. The published international terms currently show different wording for different markets, so passengers should check the terms that apply to their booking.
For onboard bookings, MSC's terms also provide cancellation and modification deadlines before the excursion starts, subject to exclusions and other restrictions.
Because missing the applicable deadline can affect whether you receive a refund.
Special arrangements, including tours involving flights, trains, special events, overland stays, hotel stays, or private arrangements, can have different rules.
Always read the terms attached to your specific excursion rather than assuming that one cancellation rule applies to every tour.
Use this quick checklist:
This simple check can prevent many common booking mistakes.
If you already know which excursion you want, there is little benefit in waiting unnecessarily.
MSC specifically notes that some excursions have limited allotments.
A cheaper tour may be shorter or include fewer services.
Compare the full itinerary and inclusions instead.
Cruise holidays are not a competition to see everything.
If you have several consecutive port days, mixing active excursions with relaxed activities can make the trip more enjoyable.
A tour labelled as sightseeing can still involve substantial walking.
Read the description before booking.
Save your confirmation details so that you can quickly check the excursion name, timing, and meeting instructions.
MSC notes that final tour details can be confirmed during the cruise and that itineraries and prices may change because of local circumstances or other factors.
You can explore and book available MSC shore excursions through the cruise line's pre-cruise services, including its online booking tools. MSC for Me also supports itinerary planning and excursion information. Excursions may also be booked onboard, subject to availability.
Yes. MSC allows guests to plan and book eligible excursions before sailing. Booking early can help secure popular tours that have limited capacity.
Yes. Shore excursions can be booked onboard when availability remains. However, waiting until the cruise may mean that some popular tours are no longer available.
Yes. MSC says the app allows guests to explore destinations and shore excursions before the cruise and view excursion options onboard.
English is one of the languages available for many MSC excursions. However, language availability depends on the destination and guide availability, and MSC says the final language is confirmed during the cruise.
Generally, yes, especially for popular excursions, accessible tours, or experiences with limited capacity. MSC recommends booking early to secure availability.
Cancellation may be possible without a fee if you cancel within the applicable deadline. The exact deadline depends on the booking terms, market, and excursion type, so check the conditions for your booking.
Refund eligibility depends on the excursion and the applicable cancellation conditions. Some packages and special arrangements have different restrictions, so review the terms before booking.
Yes. MSC offers an Easy & Accessible excursion programme in selected destinations. Individual tours specify relevant equipment requirements, including applicable size and weight limits.
Yes. MSC Yacht Club guests can access specially curated excursions and can book them through the My MSC area, by phone, through a travel agent, or with onboard Yacht Club assistance.
Yes. MSC offers an Excursions Explorer Package on selected departures and destinations. The package combines three selected excursions at a package price and has specific terms and availability restrictions.
Not necessarily. MSC states that excursion programmes and prices can change during the season. The final information applicable to your cruise should be checked before making your decision.
Booking shore excursions with MSC Cruises is straightforward when you plan ahead. Start by accessing your cruise booking, review the excursions available at each port, compare duration and inclusions, check physical and accessibility requirements, and confirm the cancellation conditions before booking.
For popular tours, early booking is usually the safest approach because availability can be limited. You can also review excursion options onboard, but waiting may reduce your choices. MSC for Me provides another convenient way to explore excursions and manage your cruise plans.
The most important point is to choose an excursion that matches your interests, available port time, fitness level, budget, and travel needs. Checking those details before confirming your booking can help you enjoy your MSC cruise without unnecessary surprises.
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