MSC Cruises Service Charge Update Applies to United States and Canada Sailings, Everything You Need to Know

Image generated with Ai

Hotel service fees on MSC Cruises ships operating in North America have been revised to reflect the following rates. The new rates apply to cruises to destinations in the Caribbean, Alaska, and in the United States and Canada regions. This change became effective on May 11, 2026, for guests taking their voyages in the MSC Cruises fleet operating in North America.

These fees have been increased to cover cruises sailing out of main US ports such as PortMiami, Port Canaveral in Florida, Galveston in Texas and Seattle in Washington. This includes the growing presence of MSC Cruises in the U.S. market, offering various destinations in the Caribbean, The Bahamas, Alaska, Canada and Mexico cruise regions depending on the season.

The Hotel Service fee is basically the daily fee charged for providing cruise ship guests with hotel services on board. They are generally charged per guest per day and can be included in the cruise fare as a prepaid fee, unless otherwise stated.

Revised Charges for Standard Cabins and Yacht Club Suites

Under the new structure, guests aged two years and older sailing in standard staterooms will pay a hotel service charge of $17 per person, per day. The amount reflects a $1 increase from the previous level. Children under two years of age will not be charged.

For guests sailing in MSC Yacht Club suites, the service charge has been adjusted to $23 per person, per day. This is an increase from the earlier level of $20 per person, per day. The exemption for children under two years of age also applies to Yacht Club accommodation.

MSC Cruises has stated that guests who prepaid gratuities before the date of the increase will not be affected by the revised charge. This means existing bookings with prepaid service charges before May 11, 2026, will continue under the previous arrangement.

The update applies to MSC Cruises’ North America programs, including Caribbean sailings, Alaska cruises, United States coastal departures and Canada-related itineraries. These markets represent a significant part of the company’s regional deployment.

Caribbean Sailings Remain Central to U.S. Operations

The Caribbean remains a major focus for MSC Cruises in North America. The company currently has ships operating from Florida and Texas, connecting U.S. homeports with island and coastal destinations across the region.

PortMiami, located in Miami, Florida, continues to serve as a key MSC Cruises base. The port is one of the world’s busiest cruise hubs and provides access to Eastern and Western Caribbean routes, as well as itineraries to The Bahamas.

The MSC World America, which entered service in 2025, is sailing from PortMiami alongside the MSC Seaside. The LNG-powered vessel operates weeklong cruises to the Caribbean. These sailings typically combine days at sea with visits to regional ports, supporting Miami’s role as a major gateway for Caribbean cruising.

The deployment also includes the MSC Seascape from Galveston, Texas. Galveston has become an increasingly important Gulf Coast cruise port, offering access to Western Caribbean destinations. The MSC Seashore is sailing from Port Canaveral, another major Florida cruise port located near Orlando and the state’s Atlantic coast tourism corridor.

Alaska Program Expands West Coast Presence

MSC Cruises has also entered the West Coast cruise market with the arrival of the MSC Poesia in Seattle, Washington, for a summer season in Alaska. Seattle is one of the main U.S. departure points for Alaska cruises, with itineraries often focused on scenic cruising, coastal communities and wilderness destinations.

Alaska, a U.S. state known for glaciers, fjords, wildlife and coastal ports, remains one of North America’s most prominent seasonal cruise regions. The MSC Poesia’s deployment from Seattle adds another regional dimension to MSC Cruises’ North American operations, complementing its Caribbean programs from Florida and Texas.

The Alaska season also places MSC Cruises in a market that depends heavily on summer deployment, with ships operating during the warmer months before repositioning to other regions. Seattle’s cruise activity plays an important role in connecting the U.S. mainland with Alaska’s southeast cruise corridor.

Canada and U.S. Itineraries Included in the Update

According to the company’s published service charge information, the revised North America structure also applies to cruises involving Canada and the United States. These itineraries may include coastal sailings, repositioning voyages or seasonal routes depending on the ship and deployment calendar.

Canada remains an important cruise destination in North America, particularly for itineraries linked to Atlantic Canada, the Pacific coast and seasonal programs. U.S. cruise itineraries may involve Florida, Texas, Washington, Alaska and other coastal regions depending on the operating schedule.

By applying the hotel service charge update across North American sailings, MSC Cruises is aligning the revised amounts with its regional operations rather than limiting the change to a single homeport or ship.

Previous Update Took Place in North America Market

The latest adjustment follows the company’s previous North America service charge update in October 2023. At that time, MSC Cruises also applied different service charge amounts for children aged two to eleven.

The 2026 update simplifies the current structure by applying the stated daily charges to guests aged two years and older, while maintaining the exemption for children under two. The structure varies by accommodation category, with one amount for standard staterooms and a higher amount for Yacht Club suites.

Growing Fleet Presence in the United States

North America has seen an increase in the number of ships by five at ports across the United States by MSC Cruises. The fact that these ships include the likes of MSC World America, MSC Seaside, MSC Seascape, MSC Seashore and MSC Poesia shows how the firm is dedicated to developing its business in North American cruise industry.

With ships operating in Miami, Port Canaveral, Galveston and Seattle, the company can operate in warm weather or seasonal locations. The Caribbean and The Bahamas have remained important for the company out of Florida, with Texas enabling the Western Caribbean cruises and Seattle the Alaska cruises.

The revised hotel service fees will now be applicable within this framework of operations in North America, for the Caribbean, Alaska, the US and Canada programs of the company.