Embarkation begins approx three hours before the departure time indicated on your cruise booklet/ticket. Check-in closes one hour before the ship is due to depart, except for American ports where check in closes two hours before scheduled departure time.

MSC Yacht Club guests (on board MSC Divina, MSC Splendida & MSC Fantasia), Suite bookings and MSC Loyalty Card holders enjoy exclusive check-in areas and special staff assistance.

Upon Embarkation: Passengers should proceed as follows (in order specified): 
Drop luggage to the designated area at the port and it will be delivered to your cabin door. Scanned baggage labels are provided with your e documentation before you leave Australia/New Zealand. Proceed to check in desk with e-cruise documents and passport. After document check, passengers receive a Cruise Card. To obtain your cruise card and allow purchasing with your cruise card you will be required to register a current valid credit card (Visa, Visa Electron, Mastercard, Diners, American Express and JCB) or leave a cash sum at embarkation. A daily on board credit amount will be held in suspense on your credit card to cover expenses, this will not be released until day of departure from the cruise.

PLEASE NOTE whilst a Debit card (Visa or Mastercard only) is accepted, in such cases the amount will actually be debited from your account in addition to top up amounts. It can take the BANK back in Australia or New Zealand up to 30 days after your final disembarkation from the ship to clear any outstanding funds. For this reason we discourage this method of card.
 
Cash may also be used to settle your account and a cautionary deposit will be required. Guests should arrange this at the Accounting Office on-board. Usually the requested amount is EUR 150 per passengers or EUR 250 per family (2 adults and 2 children) per day must be provided. Note that we do not accept personal cheques.

Proceed through immigration prior to boarding the ship. We would like to remind you that as a safety precaution, security staff may search a passenger and/or their luggage and can confiscate any articles that the Company considers could risk the safety of the passengers, crew or ship. On-board staff reserves the right to remove any food or beverages present in passenger’s baggage. These will be returned the evening before disembarkation. Passengers are not permitted to bring unpackaged food on board.

We will send your travel documents to you after final payment has been received and usually three weeks prior to your departure date. All air, land, package and additional travel services must be booked and confirmed prior to final payment and issue of travel documents. No bookings for additional services will be accepted three weeks prior to departure from Australia or New Zealand. Additional services booked after final payment and prior to three weeks before departure and after travel documents are issued will incur an amendment fee AUD $55 or NZD $55 per booked service. Documents will not be released without a fully completed and signed Booking Form and all payments and fees received. MSC Cruise baggage labels are provided at the port. We recommend personal or airline baggage labels be affixed prior to departure from Australia or New Zealand.

International airline baggage regulations subject luggage to size and weight limitations; the effective allowance is to be confirmed at the time of booking. Airlines reserve the right to charge a supplement for excess luggage. Our Company accepts no responsibility for issues arising during airport departure or arrival. We advise all passengers to carry travel documents, passport, visas, medicines in line with size and capacity allowances etc in your hand luggage. For security reasons, passengers and/or their luggage may be searched each time they board the ship. Any articles that the cruise company deems potentially dangerous to the passengers, the crew and/or the vessel, will be held in custody while the passenger is on board. Ship’s security will scan all hand-carried baggage when you re board in all ports. If bottles of alcohol are detected they will request these are handed to the ships personnel at the gangway, who will issue a receipt and store the bottles safely for you and return them at the end of the cruise.

MSC recommends rechecking all requirements with relevant embassies, travel doctors or your own physician prior to document issue for most up to date information. Details provided here are subject to change without notice. 

Dakar (Senegal): Cruises calling at Dakar (Senegal) do require Yellow Fever Vaccination or relevant exemption Certificate that has to be sent to us via scancopy in order to submit for approval to both Namibian and South African authorithies. Original has to be kept by owner and taken with passport.

Red Sea: Australian and New Zealand passport holders cruising the Red Sea with MSC will receive a visa on arrival in Egypt with the payment of €22.00 per person in cash for a one time visit (Grand Voyage cruises into the Red Sea will have Visa charged to their on-board account). No visa for the cruise visits to Israel or Jordon is required.  For all cruisers including other passport nationalities,  we recommend  reconfirmation of  all visa and travel requirements with relevant embassies, visa offices before documentation is issued. Details current at 30 Sep 12 however subject to change or withdrawal at any time.

Argentina: An AIRPORT Reciprocity Fee of USD 100 per person applies to Australian, USA & Canadian passport holders and is payable on arrival or departure.  For passengers arriving or departing from Ezeiza Airport (EZE), beginning 29 December 2012 the fee must be paid online prior to flight. For passengers arriving or departing from Jorge Newbery Airport (AEP), beginning 1 November 2012 the fee must be paid online prior to flight. Passengers arriving by land or sea do not have to pay the fee on entrance however if departing from either airport then fee is payable on departure. After these dates failure to produce proof of payment (printed receipt) may result in denied boarding by the airline or transporting company. Online payment website - www.migraciones.gov.ar/accesibleingles

Brazil: Brazil cruises require a Brazilian visa organized by clients before departure from Australia.

USA: For travel to the USA, passengers are advised that new regulations apply and they should visit https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/ for full details before departure from Australia or New Zealand. USA insist on machine-readable passports.

Russia: At time of print if clients did not book a cruise shore excursions in conjunction with their cruise in Russia then a visa with letter of invitation must be organized prior to departure from Australia or New Zealand by the clients. Russia insist on machine-readable passports.

Please note: All passengers must be in possession of a current full passport, valid for the entire period of the cruise holiday with the required correct number of blank pages and must be valid for at least 6 months after the return date to Australia or New Zealand. Certain countries insist on machine-readable passports in particular Russia and the USA. All individual passengers are responsible for reviewing and obtaining any required visas. The Company will collect and hold Australian/New Zealand and Non EU passports in exchange for a receipt. Passengers are required to check with their travel agent or relevant country consulate for full passport and/or visa requirements and details pertaining to all ports of call in plenty of time prior to departure from Australia or New Zealand.

Abu Dhabi & Emirates: Cash exceeding AED 40,000 or its equivalent in foreign currency must be declared to airport customs control on arrival and departure.

Europe: EC Regulation 1889/2005 states that: “any natural person entering or leaving the European Community and carrying cash of a value of EUR€ 10,000 or more shall declare that sum to the competent authorities of the Member state through which they are entering or leaving the Community in accordance with this regulation.”

Guests are encouraged to limit their checked luggage to two suitcases per person (not exceeding 90x75x43 cm in size and 23 kg in weight per bag), and two pieces of hand luggage per person (not exceeding 56x45x25 cm in size and 23 kg in weight per bag). Prams and wheelchairs are always allowed.
 
On all Grand Voyages (positioning cruises) to/from North America, Caribbean, South America, Red Sea, South Africa and Middle East, the above mentioned guidelines represent the maximum limit allowed per person, provided that, in any case, the maximum amount of luggage in each cabin does not exceed 100 kg and/or 8 pieces among all passengers in the same cabin. Any piece of luggage exceeding the allowance will not be accepted at the check-in. Guests intending to exceed these limits are invited to contact directly or via their travel agents MSC Cruises at the time of booking for any information on how to ship the luggage in excess of the free bag allowance separately via freight or cargo at additional charge.
 
All luggage is to be kept in the cabin, keeping all exits free of any obstacles.
 
Guests are invited to bring the luggage tags necessary for embarkation in their hand luggage and attach them at the arrival at the embarkation port.
 
Valuable luggage travels at the passenger’s own risk. Passengers are advised to carry any medicines, documents and other similar personal belongings in their hand luggage. 

AIR TRANSPORT
International airline baggage regulations subject luggage to size and weight limitations; the relevant allowance should be confirmed at the time of booking. Airlines reserve the right to charge a supplement for excess luggage. MSC Cruises accepts no responsibility for issues arising during airport departure or arrival.

We recommend personal or airline baggage labels be affixed prior to departure from Australia or New Zealand. Your free baggage allowance will be that shown on your airline ticket. Passengers are advised to check all baggage allowance directly with the air carrier or on airline tickets prior to check in from Australia or New Zealand.

As a safety precaution, security staff may search a passenger and/or his/her luggage and confiscate any articles that the Company considers could risk the safety of the passengers, crew or ship (such as arms, diving knives, kettles, irons).

On board, staff reserve the right to remove any beverages present in passenger baggage. These will be returned the evening before disembarkation.  Passengers are not permitted to bring unpackaged food on board.

The passenger warrants that they are fit to travel. Passengers with a condition that may affect fitness to travel must submit a doctor's certificate prior to booking. Passengers with physical or mental disabilities are referred to Clauses 10, 11 15 & 16 of the Booking Terms and Conditions. All passengers should check with their doctor prior to departure from Australia or New Zealand, which vaccinations and/or medication maybe recommended for countries being visited or for their personal requirements.

If you require medication or special cosmetics, please bring an adequate supply. The ship’s medical facility may not always have your specific type or brand on board, nor may it be available at ports of call. For passengers who wear glasses or contact lenses, it is advisable to take an extra pair in case of any loss or damage. Every ship carries a doctor and medical personnel who are able to treat ailments and minor injuries. Medical services are chargeable onboard the ship. MSC Cruises is not in any way responsible for any consequence resulting from a passenger’s inability to travel whether evident or not.

Please note: Cruises calling at Dakar (Senegal) do require Yellow Fever Vaccination or relevant exemption Certificate that has to be sent to us via scancopy in order to submit for approval to both Namibian and South African authorithies. Original has to be kept by owner and taken with passport.

MSC recommends rechecking all requirements with relevant embassies, travel doctors or your own physician prior to document issue for most up to date information. Details provided here are subject to change without notice.

Passengers are advised to consult their National Health Service prior to the cruise for information regarding recommended vaccinations. MSC Cruises declines all responsibility for passengers who do not adhere to the recommendations on the prevention of infectious diseases.

Please note: Cruises calling at Dakar (Senegal) do require Yellow Fever Vaccination or relevant exemption Certificate that has to be sent to us via scancopy in order to submit for approval to both Namibian and South African authorithies. Original has to be kept by owner and taken with passport.

MSC recommends rechecking all requirements with relevant embassies, travel doctors or your own physician prior to document issue for most up to date information. Details provided here are subject to change without notice.

All of our ships have a well-equipped Medical Center, supervised by a doctor and medical personnel. The Medical Center is open at the times advertised in the ship’s Daily Program. Emergency services are available around the clock by calling the Medical Emergency number.
While the range of medications held on board is comprehensive, they may not satisfy your precise personal needs, and for this reason, we always suggest that Guests carry a supply of their own prescribed medicines.

Charges will be made on board for medical services. These charges are displayed in the Medical Center and will be debited automatically to your Cruise Card.