MSC Cruises Gratuities 2026: How Much Are Tips and Service Charges?

MSC Cruises charges a daily Hotel Service Charge, which is what most cruisers mean when they talk about MSC gratuities or tips.

The charge is automatically added to your onboard account unless you choose to prepay it before your cruise. The money is distributed among crew members who contribute to the onboard experience, including stateroom attendants, dining staff, culinary teams and other hotel operations crew.

For many U.S. cruisers, the most important change came in May 2026, when MSC increased its daily gratuity rates for Caribbean, Alaska and other U.S. cruises.

How Much Are MSC Gratuities in 2026?

For Caribbean, Alaska and U.S. cruises booked on or after May 11, 2026, MSC currently charges:

• Standard cabins: $17 per guest, per night
• MSC Yacht Club: $23 per guest, per night
• Children under 2: No Hotel Service Charge

For cruises booked before May 11, 2026, the previous rates still apply: $16 per night in standard accommodations and $20 per night in MSC Yacht Club.

For a typical 7-night Caribbean cruise booked after May 11, 2026, one adult in a standard cabin will pay $119 in MSC gratuities.

How Much Are MSC Gratuities for a 7-Night Cruise?

Using MSC’s current $17 daily rate, the Hotel Service Charge for a seven-night cruise works out to:

These examples assume every guest is at least 2 years old and the cruise falls under MSC’s current Caribbean, Alaska or U.S. rates.

Do Children Pay Gratuities on MSC Cruises?

Yes, in most cases.

MSC currently charges the full daily Hotel Service Charge to all guests who are 2 years old or older on Caribbean, Alaska and U.S. cruises. Children under 2 do not pay the charge.

This is worth remembering when budgeting for a family cruise because MSC’s Kids Sail Free promotions do not necessarily mean children cruise completely free. Taxes, fees and onboard charges can still apply.

How Much Are MSC Yacht Club Gratuities?

MSC Yacht Club guests currently pay $23 per person, per night on Caribbean, Alaska and U.S. cruises booked from May 11, 2026.

That is higher than the $17 charged in standard accommodations, reflecting the additional service provided throughout the Yacht Club experience.

For two adults staying in Yacht Club on a seven-night cruise, the total Hotel Service Charge would be $322.

Yacht Club guests can still tip individual crew members extra if they feel someone provided exceptional service, but additional tipping is optional.

Can You Prepay MSC Gratuities?

Yes. MSC allows guests to add the Hotel Service Charge to the cost of the cruise before departure instead of having it added to the onboard account each day.

If you booked through a travel agent, you can ask the agent to add the service charges to your reservation. MSC specifically says the charge can be included in the cruise price at the time of booking.

Prepaying does not necessarily make the gratuities cheaper, but it can make budgeting easier because the charge is already taken care of before you board.

How Do You Prepay MSC Gratuities?

This is where MSC differs from several other cruise lines. For U.S. bookings, the Hotel Service Charge cannot currently be added online or through the MSC for Me app, so there is no checkbox to tick in Manage My Booking.

Instead, there are two practical ways to prepay:

1. Call MSC Cruises reservations at 1-877-665-4655 and ask for the Hotel Service Charge to be added to your booking.
2. Ask your travel agent to add the service charge to your reservation if you booked through an agent.

Once it is added, the Hotel Service Charge becomes part of your total cruise price and appears on your booking confirmation, so it will not be billed to your onboard account each day.

Guests booking in many European markets do not need to do anything, because MSC already builds the Hotel Service Charge into the total price at the time of booking. Checking your booking confirmation is the quickest way to tell which applies to you.

Are MSC Gratuities Included in the Cruise Fare?

Generally, no.

The Hotel Service Charge is normally separate from the advertised cruise fare and is either prepaid or added automatically to your onboard account during the cruise. MSC’s booking conditions list gratuities and service charges separately from the standard cruise fare.

Certain promotions or markets may package charges differently, so it is always worth checking your booking confirmation to see whether the Hotel Service Charge has already been added.

Can You Remove MSC Gratuities?

MSC says its Hotel Service Charge amounts are not intended to be modified.

However, if you feel that you did not receive satisfactory service, MSC says you can speak with the Guest Relations Manager onboard and request that the daily Hotel Service Charge be removed.

This is intended for genuine service concerns rather than simply as a way to lower the cost of the cruise.

Do You Need to Tip Your Cabin Steward or Waiter Separately?

No. MSC does not recommend that guests separately tip individual crew members as a requirement.

The daily Hotel Service Charge is designed to recognize a wide range of crew members, including many employees working behind the scenes.

You can still give an additional cash tip if someone goes above and beyond, but it is completely optional.

Is There an Extra Gratuity on Drinks?

Yes. The Hotel Service Charge is separate from MSC’s Bar Service Charge.

On North American itineraries, MSC currently adds an 18% Bar Service Charge to onboard bar purchases. Other regions may use a 15% service charge instead.

If you purchase an eligible drink package before or during the cruise, applicable service charges are generally built into the package price rather than added every time you order a drink.

The Hotel Service Charge and Bar Service Charge are two different charges, so paying one does not eliminate the other.

Are Gratuities Included in MSC Specialty Dining Packages?

Yes. MSC says gratuities are included in its specialty dining package prices.

That means guests using a prepaid specialty dining package should not see an additional gratuity simply for using the included meal.

Extra purchases outside the package may still be subject to applicable service charges.

Do MSC Gratuities Change Depending on Where You Sail?

Yes. MSC’s Hotel Service Charge can vary depending on the region and itinerary you are sailing.

It is not strictly based on the country you depart from, but your departure port often determines which regional gratuity rate applies. For example, Caribbean, Alaska and U.S. sailings use one set of rates, while Mediterranean and Northern Europe cruises use another. MSC also publishes separate rates for South America, South Africa and the Far East.

For cruises booked from May 11, 2026, Caribbean, Alaska and U.S. sailings currently charge $17 per person, per night in standard accommodations and $23 per person, per night in MSC Yacht Club. Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Dubai and several other regions currently use euro-based rates instead.

MSC Gratuities in Euros: Mediterranean and Northern Europe Rates

MSC currently lists the following euro Hotel Service Charge rates for Mediterranean, Canary Islands, Northern Europe, Antilles, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar, Egypt and MSC World Cruise sailings:

One important difference is the child rate. On Caribbean, Alaska and U.S. sailings, every guest aged 2 and over pays the full adult rate. On euro-priced itineraries, children between 2 and 11 pay a reduced rate, which can make a noticeable difference for families.

If your onboard account is set to British pounds, MSC charges £11 per night for adults and £6 for children in standard cabins, and £14 for adults and £7 for children in MSC Yacht Club.

Because the amount can also depend on when the cruise was booked, it is always a good idea to check your booking confirmation or MSC’s current Hotel Service Charge page for the exact rate that applies to your sailing.

Do MSC Voyagers Club Members Pay Gratuities?

Yes.

MSC Voyagers Club status does not waive the Hotel Service Charge. MSC says the charge applies to all eligible guests regardless of Voyagers Club membership.

What Does the MSC Hotel Service Charge Pay For?

MSC distributes the Hotel Service Charge among crew members who contribute to the guest experience throughout the ship.

This includes visible crew members such as stateroom attendants and dining staff, as well as culinary teams and other hotel-operations employees working behind the scenes.

This is why MSC uses the term Hotel Service Charge rather than treating it as a tip for one specific employee.

The Bottom Line

For most U.S. cruisers, MSC gratuities are fairly straightforward once you know what to expect.

On Caribbean, Alaska and U.S. cruises booked from May 11, 2026, the daily Hotel Service Charge is $17 per person in standard accommodations and $23 per person in MSC Yacht Club. Guests under 2 do not pay the charge.

You can prepay the charge or allow MSC to add it to your onboard account during the cruise. You do not need to separately tip your cabin steward or waiter, although additional tips for exceptional service are always optional.

Just remember that the Hotel Service Charge is separate from other onboard service charges, including the 18% Bar Service Charge used on North American itineraries.