MSC Cruises Fare Comparison: Bella vs. Fantastica vs. Aurea vs. Yacht Club

• Bella (Base): Value-focused with essential dining and entertainment; restricted cabin choice, no-priority dining, and fees for booking changes.

• Fantastica (Mid-Tier): Adds cabin choice, complimentary room service breakfast, and one free booking amendment for greater convenience.

• Aurea (Premium): Top-level, offering My Choice Dining (flexible times), priority boarding, free 24-hour room service, and complimentary Thermal Spa access.

MSC Cruises are one of the world-leading cruise brands. Sailing for an incredible 300 years, they know how to curate a cruise that provides glorious, unforgettable memories.

When you cruise with MSC, after selecting your holiday itinerary and ship, you’ll need to decide which of the MSC cruise fares, or 'experiences', you would like to book.

In this article, we share the differences between the MSC Cruises’ experiences to help you decide which is right for your holiday.

What are MSC Cruises’ Experiences?

When booking an MSC cruise holiday, you can choose from three MSC cruise experiences: Bella, Fantastica, and Aurea. The key differences between MSC Bella, Fantastica and Aurea categories are in the booking flexibility, the cabin types, the food and drink options and the services and amenities available.

To help you decide which offers you the best value, let’s take a closer look at what the difference is between MSC Bella, Fantastica and Aurea experiences.

What is the MSC Bella Experience?

As MSC Cruises’ standard-class package, MSC Bella costs less than the other options. However, just because the price of the Bella experience on MSC Cruises is lower, it doesn’t mean you won’t get to enjoy an outstanding cruise experience.

MSC Bella benefits include access to the main restaurant, which serves a range of fine dining dishes, and an extensive buffet- open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night snacks.

You’ll also enjoy MSC’s sports and entertainment options, including Broadway-style theatre shows, modern gym facilities, open-air sports courts, swimming pools, and children’s club activities.

Cabin choice is more limited than the other experiences, and although preferred dinner sitting requests can be made with the MSC Bella, priority is given to the other two classes. Regarding booking flexibility, with Bella class, you can make changes to your booking but will be charged a fee.

Are Drinks Included with MSC's Bella Experience?

When sailing with MSC Cruises, the main restaurant serves tea, coffee, water, milk, and iced tea free of charge. Juice is also complimentary at breakfast time.

Some, but not all, of these drinks will also be free in bars elsewhere on the ship.

Are there any Discounts Included with MSC's Bella Experience?

MSC Bella experience comes with discounts on the drinks packages that are available at the time of booking. MSC Cruises recently updated its drink packages and now offers five options to suit various needs, ranging from a Premium Extra package to Alcohol-Free and Minors packages.

You can also earn MSC Voyager Club points with the MSC Bella class, which will give you discounts and additional benefits the next time you cruise with them.

What is the MSC Fantastica Experience?

MSC Fantastica is the next level up of experience with MSC Cruises. Therefore, the price of MSC Cruises’ Fantastica experience will be more than the Bella experience. However, with the added MSC Fantastica experience cost, you get some great additional benefits.

As well as all the perks you can enjoy with MSC Bella, MSC Fantastica experience benefits include being able to choose your cabin and its location, with the option to amend your booking once without charge.

You can also enjoy breakfast served in your room with no delivery fee. And, if you are staying in a Balcony room or a suite, you’ll also get the first refusal on your preferred dining times.

What are the Discounts with MSC's Fantastica Experience?

MSC Fantastica benefits also include a 20% discount on a dedicated speciality restaurant prepaid package, giving you the chance to enjoy some of the cruise line's top restaurants onboard at a great price!

Besides the standard free drinks provided on MSC ships, no other drinks are included with the Fantastic package. However, like the MSC Bella experience, the Fantastica experience offers reduced prices on drinks packages at the time of booking.

What is the MSC Aurea Experience?

MSC Aurea is the top-level experience available with MSC Cruises and offers some fantastic benefits, particularly around their spa and wellness facilities. As the most luxurious package, the MSC Aurea experience costs the most of their three experiences.

However, depending on how much you think you would make the most of these additional benefits, the price of Aurea on MSC Cruises may offer the best value.

This top-level experience package comes with all the extra perks that the Fantastica experience offers, including cabin choice and booking flexibility. However, Aurea benefits also include free 24-hour room service and My Choice dining style- allowing you to dine at any time when the main restaurants are open. You’ll also receive a welcome gift of prosecco and chocolates, and have access to priority boarding.

One of the excellent MSC Aurea experience benefits is the use of their spa facilities. You get free access to the Top Exclusive Solarium, the thermal area (adults only), and a range of well-being amenities in your cabin, including a bathrobe and slippers, plus a pillow menu.

What are the Discounts with MSC's Aurea Experience?

Discounts included when you book MSC's Aurea experience include a 40% discount on a dedicated spa prepaid package and 10% off all spa treatments purchased while on your cruise.

You can also enjoy the same 20% discount on a dedicated speciality restaurant prepaid package as with the Fantastica experience. When it comes to looking at whether drinks are included with the MSC Aurea experience, MSC Cruises has made some changes.

MSC Aurea class no longer gets the Easy Drinks package included, but you can still get discounts on drinks packages at the time of booking and the standard free drinks.

There are some key differences between the MSC cruise experiences. It is, therefore, worth taking time to consider how significant these benefits are for you during your cruise holiday against the cost of each package to ensure you get the very best value.

Frequently Asked Questions: MSC Cruises' Bella, Fantastica & Aurea Experiences

1. What are the key differences between Bella and Fantastica?

The primary difference is cabin choice and flexibility. Bella is the no-frills option, with your cabin location assigned by MSC. Fantastica lets you choose your specific cabin and location (subject to availability) and includes perks like free continental breakfast, room service and one free pre-cruise booking change.

2. Is the MSC Yacht Club considered one of the 'Experiences'?

Yes, the MSC Yacht Club is the fourth and most luxurious experience level, often referred to as a 'ship-within-a-ship' concept. It’s an exclusive, key-card-access enclave with private restaurants, lounges, pool decks, all-inclusive premium drinks, and 24-hour butler service.

3. Does the Aurea Experience include a drinks package?

No, not automatically. Historically, it included the Easy Drinks Package, but MSC has since changed this. While the Aurea fare no longer includes the standard drinks package, it still provides great discounts on drink packages purchased at the time of booking.

4. What is "My Choice Dining" in the Aurea Experience?

My Choice Dining is MSC's term for Anytime Dining. It means Aurea guests can dine at their convenience within the opening hours of the dedicated main restaurant or dining area, without being tied to a fixed early or late seating time like Bella and Fantastica guests.

5. Can Bella and Fantastica guests still access the spa?

Yes, all guests can access the MSC Aurea Spa; however, Bella and Fantastica guests must pay a fee to use the Thermal Area (saunas, steam rooms, and relaxation rooms). Complimentary, unlimited access to the Thermal Area is a key benefit exclusive to the Aurea experience.

6. Can I upgrade my experience (e.g. from Bella to Fantastica) after booking?

Yes, in most cases, you can upgrade your experience level after your initial booking, though this is subject to availability and will incur an additional cost.

7. Which experience is best for families with children?

The Fantastica experience is generally considered the best mid-range option for families. Key benefits include the ability to choose specific cabin locations (useful for proximity to kids' clubs or family cabins) and priority on requesting dining times.

8. Does any experience include free Wi-Fi?

No. None of the standard Bella, Fantastica, or Aurea experiences include complimentary Wi-Fi. Internet packages must be purchased separately. However, MSC Yacht Club does include a complimentary internet package.

9. Which fare gives me priority boarding?

Aurea and Yacht Club experiences both include priority boarding and luggage drop-off on embarkation day, allowing you to bypass the main queues and start your holiday sooner. Bella and Fantastica guests board in the standard manner.

10. Can Bella guests still request a preferred dinner time?

Yes, Bella guests can request an early or late dinner sitting. However, priority is given to guests booking Fantastica and Aurea, meaning the Bella guests' request is not confirmed until they board the ship.