MSC Raises Daily Service Charges on North American Sailings

MSC Cruises has raised daily hotel service charges on North American itineraries, with the new schedule taking effect May 11, 2026. Guests age 2 and older now pay $17 per person per day in standard staterooms and $23 per person per day in MSC Yacht Club suites, MSC’s ship-within-a-ship product with private venues and butler/concierge service.

The revision is MSC’s first North American hotel-service-charge change since October 2023 and covers sailings listed for the Caribbean, Alaska, the United States and Canada. The standard charge rose by $1, while Yacht Club increased by $3, adding $14 and $42, respectively, for two adults on a seven-day sailing if charges were not prepaid.

Prepaid charges and child pricing

“The hotel service charge helps us maintain the highest quality standards of service by supporting the dedicated crew members who work to enhance your onboard experience,” MSC told guests.

The company said guests who prepaid service charges before the May 11 increase will not be affected. The age rules also differ from MSC’s 2023 North America schedule, which had separate amounts for children ages 2 to 11; under the new notice, anyone 2 or older is covered by the posted stateroom or Yacht Club rate, and only children under 2 are exempt.

How MSC compares with Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian

MSC’s updated standard-stateroom charge is now the same as Carnival Cruise Line’s $17 daily charge for most cabins. Royal Caribbean charges $18.50 for most rooms, while Norwegian Cruise Line charges $20.

For suite products, the Yacht Club fee is higher than Carnival’s $19 and Royal Caribbean’s $21 suite charges, but below Norwegian’s $25 daily charge for suites and The Haven.

U.S. sailings covered by the change

Five MSC ships are currently sailing from U.S. ports. At PortMiami, MSC World America is operating weeklong Caribbean cruises alongside MSC Seaside, while MSC Seascape is sailing from Galveston and MSC Seashore from Port Canaveral.

MSC Poesia arrived in Seattle in May for a summer Alaska season, the line’s West Coast debut.