U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a new ruling that went into effect on February 18, 2008, which mandates that all guests embarking on a cruise from a U.S. port be checked-in and onboard their ship at least one hour prior to ship's departure. To comply with this mandate and ensure that there is ample time for check-in, MSC Cruises requires that all guests be checked in 90 minutes prior to the ship's scheduled departure. Guests arriving later than the 90 minutes check-in time will be denied boarding.

Caribbean/Bermuda/Canada & New England Cruises

For security and immigration purposes, each guest is responsible for bringing all required travel documents.  

U.S. citizens sailings that begin and end in Fort Lauderdale are required to present proof of citizenship such as a passport or an original birth certificate and a government-issued photo ID.   A U.S. citizen under the age of 16 will be able to present either an original or a copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by Department of State, or a Certificate of Naturalization issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.   All guests over the age of 16 sailing on the November 20, 2009 or December 10, 2009 or sailing back-to-back itineraries (combining sailings) on one of these voyages must present a valid passport. 

Guests of all ages on cruises beginning or ending in Quebec or New York are required to present a valid passport whether boarding in New York or Quebec. 

You may be required to present a passport when you dock at a foreign port, depending on the islands or countries that your ship is visiting.  MSC Cruises also strongly encourages its guests to visit the Department of Homeland Security website (www.dhs.gov) and the United States Department of State website (www.travel.state.gov) for the most up-to-date traveler information including passport and visa requirements as well as immunization requirements, travel advisories and safety recommendations.

PLEASE NOTE: MSC Cruises is not responsible for advising guests of required travel documents or of travel advisories. Guests who fail to have the required documents for vessel security and immigration will be denied boarding and such guests shall not be entitled to any refund nor shall MSC Cruises have any further liability to such guests.

International and Transatlantic Cruises

For security and immigration purposes, each guest is responsible for bringing all required travel documents. U.S. citizens traveling abroad are responsible for bringing all required travel documents for boarding the ship in the country in which they will embark including a valid passport and any visas required for their cruise itinerary.  Alien residents and non-U.S. citizens should consult with their local consulates for proper identification requirements.

All guests are responsible for securing the necessary visas and immunizations.

Please be advised that passports for U.S. citizens flying to the following countries to embark on their cruise must be valid for three months beyond the last day of their stay: Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain. 

NOTE:  Debarkation in Libya by U.S. citizens is prohibited by the Libyan government.

MSC Cruises also strongly encourages its guests to visit the Department of Homeland Security website (www.dhs.gov) and the United States Department of State website

(www.travel.state.gov) for the most up-to-date traveler information including passport and visa requirements as well as immunization requirements, travel advisories and safety recommendations.

In all cases, it is recommended that passengers discuss their plans with their doctor or health care professional prior to departure to ensure they are fit to travel.  Inoculations are often recommended but in certain conditions they are required.  The World Health Organization (WHO) (http://www.who.int/vaccines-diseases) provides guidelines about which vaccinations are necessary for each country.

Guests cruising to Brazil may require an entry visa and/or vaccination against yellow fever. Please note that the following information is subject to change by the Brazilian Authorities without prior notice. Therefore we suggest passengers contact the Brazilian embassy or consulate in their own countries to check the latest information. 

Guests enjoying transatlantic cruises to/from South Africa, must have a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate.  Yellow fever vaccination is also compulsory for passengers originating from the following countries: Angola, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Camarões, Dominican Republic, Congo, Gabão, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Ecuador, French New Guinea, Peru, Venezuela., Gambia, Colombia.

From September 2009 South African and Namibian Health Authorities require that all guests arriving from previous African ports are compelled to show proof of Yellow Fever vaccination. Therefore, guests vacationing onboard MSC Sinfonia October 24, 2009 sailing and all the other South African cruises, any failure to provide proof of vaccination will result in guests being denied boarding.

With reference to the vaccinations requirement, please note that pregnant women and any person with medical issues must have a doctor's note exempting them from the vaccine.

It is recommended that you bring along lightweight, "resort casual" clothing -- including a swimsuit with cover-up, comfortable rubber-soled sandals or deck shoes with to wear poolside, and walking shoes for shore trips.  If you like to exercise or participate in sports, bring any fitness clothing and footwear you may need.  A hat or visor is recommended for sun protection.

For evenings, resort casual is also appropriate (no jeans, T-shirts, shorts, or bare feet please after 6:00 PM on the ship).  Cocktail dresses for women and suits or jacket and ties for men are appropriate for formal evenings (1 formal on 4 to 6-night cruises; 2 formals on 7 to 10-night cruises; 3 formals on 11 to 14-night cruises and 4 on 15-night or longer cruises). 

Be sure to pack all items of importance such as tickets, passports, birth certificates, medicines, jewelry, etc. in a separate carry-on bag.  On the last evening of your cruise your luggage will be collected for disembarkation the following morning.  You will want to pack a separate overnight bag to accomadate your last evenings' clothes and toiletries to carry off the ship with you. 

To make sure you can use any electrical equipment such as an electric shaver, please note that the MSC Armonia, MSC Lirica, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Opera, MSC Musica, MSC Orchestra, MSC Poeasia, MSC Fantasia, and MSC Splendida offer 110/220V current in the staterooms (twin flat USA Standard pins are required and are available on board). MSC Melody offer only 110V current in staterooms. Guests with pre- or post-cruise hotel packages might want to bring converters and/or adapters for their extended stay.

For guests using air transport, please be sure to check with your air carrier prior to beginning your vacation regarding the items with which you are allowed to bring onboard the aircraft.  MSC Cruises also strongly encourages its guests to visit the Department of Homeland Security’s web site (www.dhs.gov) and guests traveling through the UK to visit (www.dft.gov.uk) for the most up-to-date traveler information.