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MSC Cruises has announced an update to its hotel service charges applicable on sailings departing from the United States and Canada, effective from May 11, 2026. This new fee structure reflects changes for cruises to popular destinations including the Caribbean, Alaska, and various routes within the U.S. and Canada. This adjustment underlines the cruise line’s growing commitment to the North American market.
The revised service charges will be applied to voyages departing from key ports such as PortMiami, Port Canaveral in Florida, Galveston in Texas, and Seattle in Washington. With a stronger presence in the U.S. market, MSC Cruises now offers a variety of itineraries that cater to holidaymakers seeking destinations across the Caribbean, The Bahamas, Alaska, Canada, and Mexico.
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Essentially, the hotel service fee is a daily charge imposed on guests for onboard hotel services, designed to enhance the cruise experience. This fee is generally calculated per person, per day and can be included in the fare as a prepaid amenity, unless specified otherwise.
Under the revamped fee schedule, guests aged two years and older traveling in standard staterooms will incur a hotel service fee of $17 per person, per day—marking a $1 increase from the prior rate. Notably, children under the age of two will not be subject to this charge.
For those guests residing in MSC Yacht Club suites, the service charge will now be set at $23 per person, per day, a rise from the previously set $20. The exemption for infants under two years also holds for suite guests, making this a family-friendly policy.
Importantly, MSC Cruises has reassured guests who have prepaid gratuities prior to the revised charge date that they will not be impacted by this increase. Thus, bookings made with paid service charges before May 11, 2026, will retain the earlier agreed-upon rates.
This service charge update encompasses all MSC Cruises itineraries in North America, including sailings to the Caribbean, Alaska, coastal departures from the U.S., and a range of itineraries tied to Canada. Such markets form a substantial segment of the cruise line’s operational footprint in the region.
The Caribbean continues to be a critical focus for MSC Cruises’ North American operations. With multiple ships deployed from Florida and Texas, the cruise line connects U.S. homeports with stunning island and coastal destinations across the region.
In particular, PortMiami serves as a central base for MSC Cruises. This bustling port is among the busiest cruise terminals globally, facilitating access to a plethora of itineraries that traverse the Eastern and Western Caribbean, as well as The Bahamas.
Notable vessels such as the MSC World America, which launched in 2025, are currently promoting week-long cruises from PortMiami, alongside the MSC Seaside. This LNG-powered ship operates trips that strike a balance between relaxing days at sea and stops at captivating regional ports, reinforcing Miami’s status as a significant gateway for Caribbean adventures.
The MSC Seascape operates from Galveston, Texas, another burgeoning Gulf Coast cruise port, while the MSC Seashore departs from Port Canaveral, further enhancing Florida’s prominence in the cruise industry, especially near Orlando and its array of tourist attractions.
In a bid to broaden its North American footprint, MSC Cruises has launched its Alaska program with the arrival of the MSC Poesia in Seattle. This West Coast hub serves as a key departure point for memorable Alaska cruises, emphasizing breathtaking scenery, coastal communities, and remarkable wilderness adventures.
As one of the prominent seasonal cruise regions in North America, Alaska—renowned for its stunning glaciers, fjords, and diverse wildlife—remains an intrinsic component of MSC’s operational framework. By deploying the MSC Poesia from Seattle, MSC Cruises augments its offerings, complementing established Caribbean programs.
In addition, the Alaska season capitalizes on the summer months, allowing ships to reposition to other regions after the sailing season concludes. Seattle’s cruise initiatives are crucial in facilitating connections between the U.S. mainland and Alaska’s captivating coastal corridors.
The recent updates regarding service charges also extend to cruises involving Canada and the U.S., encompassing coastal sailings, repositioning voyages, and seasonal routes. Canada continues to act as a significant cruise destination within North America, particularly for itineraries focused on Atlantic Canada, the Pacific Coast, and seasonal operations.
U.S. itineraries may include popular locales such as Florida, Texas, Washington, and Alaska, depending on the cruise schedule. By applying the updated service charge across North American sailings, MSC Cruises aims to standardize its fee structure, thereby streamlining operations across all regions.
This current adjustment aligns with an earlier update that was instituted in October 2023, during which MSC Cruises differentiated service charge structures based on children’s ages, specifically for those between two and eleven. The 2026 changes bring about greater simplicity by applying uniform daily charges to all guests aged two years and older, while still preserving the exemption for children under two.
MSC Cruises has bolstered its fleet in North America, adding five ships to its U.S. operations. Vessels such as the MSC World America, MSC Seaside, MSC Seascape, MSC Seashore, and MSC Poesia highlight the company’s commitment to expanding its influence in the North American cruise sector.
With operations across key ports in Miami, Port Canaveral, Galveston, and Seattle, MSC Cruises can effectively navigate both warm weather and seasonal cruising opportunities. The Caribbean and The Bahamas remain essential components of this growth strategy, while Texas leads Western Caribbean adventures and Seattle connects to breathtaking Alaskan voyages.
As the revised hotel service fees take effect, they will be integrated within this expansive North American operational framework, covering the Caribbean, Alaska, U.S., and Canada itineraries from MSC Cruises.
Source: The post MSC Cruises Service Charge Update Applies to United States and Canada Sailings, Everything You Need to Know first appeared on www.travelandtourworld.com.
