MSC Cruises Overhauls its Specialty Dining Options Fleetwide
Specialty restaurant dining is all the rage onboard cruise ships, as passengers embrace the VIP feeling that comes from enjoying gourmet cuisine created by a cruise line’s most celebrated chefs and served in a luxurious venue.
In a series of value-added changes to its specialty dining policy, MSC Cruises is making it easier for guests to expand their experiences beyond the main dining rooms on its ships.
The cruise line, on May 21, 2025, announced a three-pronged overhaul of its specialty dining program. Across the fleet, MSC Cruises operates 16 specialty dining venues, which vary from ship to ship.
First, let’s talk value. Booked guests who purchase a specialty dining package before embarkation will save up to 20% off the cost of the plan versus buying it onboard the ship. Prices are shown when guests select the type of package they want; specific prices are not listed in the line’s announcement.
Second, booked guests can now pre-purchase a multi-restaurant dining package with a choice of up to four dinners. The key change here is flexibility, since the new policy enables guests to eat at the same venue as many times as they wish, up to the total number of dinners they pre-purchased.
This means that if a guest buys a four-dinner package, they can eat all four dinners at the same venue if they wish, with one exception: the Butcher’s Cut steakhouse remains limited to one visit per multi-restaurant specialty package.
That scenario is unlikely, however, since the motivation behind purchasing a specialty dining package is usually to experience multiple types of cuisine in different venues.
The multi-restaurant plan includes one meal in Butcher’s Cut. Also, children aged 3 to 12 can order from a special Kids Menu for a flat charge of $12, while those under 3 eat free.
The new plan is offered on MSC Bellissima, MSC Divina, MSC Euribia, MSC Grandiosa, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Preziosa, MSC Seaside, MSC Seashore, MSC Seaview, MSC Seascape, MSC Splendida, MSC Virtuosa, MSC World America, and MSC World Europa.
And finally, MSC Cruises has altered the specialty dining menus to offer one fixed price for a three-course meal — an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert. However, there will still be some items that will carry an additional charge, such as Osaka Wagyu beef, for instance.
Fixed-price dining is available aboard 10 ships: MSC Bellissima, MSC Euribia, MSC Grandiosa, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Seaside, MSC Seascape, MSC Seashore, MSC Virtuosa, MSC World America, and MSC World Europa.
“Simplified single-price menus mean greater transparency for guests, and customizable packages add flexibility to create a seamless dining experience for our guests,” said Stéphane Franchini, Senior Director of Food and Beverage Product at MSC Cruises.
“With these enhancements, MSC Cruises continues to redefine dining at sea, offering guests an unforgettable gastronomic journey with world-class cuisine and ultimate versatility,” added Franchini.
Cruise Line Operates 16 Specialty Venues Across Fleet
MSC Cruises’ specialty restaurants feature a wide variety of cuisine, with something for everyone, from steakhouse and seafood venues, to Asian, Italian, and Greek venues, and more.
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They include Butcher’s Cut, Ocean Cay Seafood, La Pescaderia, Galaxy Kaito, Sushi Bar, Teppanyaki, Sushi & Robatayaki, and Oriental Restaurant.
Also, Sea Pavilion Hot Pot; Eataly; Paxos; L’Atelier Bistrot; Indochine Restaurant; Hola! Tacos & Cantina; Le Grill; and Chef’s Garden Kitchen.
The upgrades to its dining packages followed another major announcement from MSC Cruises just days prior — a ship order that will deliver two more World-class ships to its fleet.
The cruise line revealed the order with French shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique on May 19, 2025. The two new ships, temporarily called World Class V and VI, are on track to enter service in 2029 and 2030.
MSC Cruises Overhauls its Specialty Dining Options Fleetwide