Last Updated May 2026
Wondering if an MSC Bahamas cruise is actually worth booking?
We sailed a 3-night MSC Bahamas cruise from Miami, visiting Nassau and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, discovering what MSC does exceptionally well, where it falls short and who this cruise is actually best for.
In this honest MSC Bahamas Cruise Review, we’ll cover:
- What the ship was like
- Nassau and Ocean Cay reviews
- Food and entertainment
- Gluten-free options
- Cabin quality
- Costs and hidden fees
- MSC vs Virgin Voyages
- Whether we’d sail MSC again
By the end of this review you’ll know if an MSC Bahamas cruise is right for you.
Table of Contents
Why Trust This MSC Bahamas Cruise Review?
We have personally sailed this itinerary and paid for the cruise ourselves. Here we share our honest onboard experience, we were not sponsored. We also sailed the Virgin Voyages on a Caribbean cruise and compare the two experiences. We are Kelly and Mike, we travel the world and share our thoughts on every destination and experience here to help you plan your trip.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Quick Verdict โ Is MSC Worth It?
โญ Overall: 7/10
๐ฝ Best for: Families & budget travellers, quick getaway cruisers
๐ฐ Worth the price? Yes
โ๏ธ Best feature: The ports
โ Biggest downside: Dated cabins but good size
๐ฝ Food: 7/10
๐ถ Entertainment: 6.5/10
๐ณ Gluten free: 7/10
๐ฐ Value: 8.5/10
Our MSC Bahamas Cruise Itinerary
Miami Embarkation
We embarked at the Miami cruise port and it was quick and easy. There were plenty of staff to assist you if you need it. Upon boarding we were able to go straight to our room. Once there we could see it still needed cleaning so we grabbed the key from the door and went up to get some lunch and look out at the views. The ship was clean and spacious with lots of seating options near the windows so we could look out.
Nassau Bahamas
Our first port day was in Nassau, it was quite big with lots to see so we had a busy day getting around to as much as possible. We spent the day walking out to a beach, walking the town, doing a rum tasting and finding a historical site. We were so surprised at how much there was to do, we easily filled the time and didn’t feel like we needed an excursion as it was our first time here. If we came back we would definitely do one, these are our top picks.
Our Nassau Port Guide has all the information you need to spend your day at Nassau port.
Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve
We weren’t sure if we really wanted to visit Ocean Cay, thinking it might be just a fake tourist place but so many of the staff we spoke to said it was the prettiest place they had seen we began to become intrigued and a little excited. They were so right! The beaches here were some of the best we had seen in our time in the Caribbean. The water was crystal clear blue and the sand was light and fine.
The closest beach to the port has a lighthouse and you can walk around the whole island pretty easily or there are buggies you can catch to get around. There are day beds, sun-beds, lots of beaches and excursions you can do. They also set up 2 main buffets and multiple snack huts selling food. The food on the island was great. This was such an unexpected highlight for us, we really loved it and would go back when we cruise with MSC next.
Tip – We have a full Ocean Cay Review so you can completely plan your day here, it really is paradise.
What Is Included On MSC Cruises?
Included
- Cabin
- Buffet
- Coffee, tea, water
- Main dining room
- Shows
- Pools
- Kids clubs
Extra Costs
- WiFi
- On-board activities like bowling, F1 car simulator, zip line and retro arcade games
- Specialty dining
- Drinks
- Excursions
- Spa
MSC Cruise Food Review
The food on MSC was good, it was not incredible. We ate at the buffet and main dining room while on the cruise as they were both included. There was nothing wrong with the food, but it wasn’t as impressive as the food on Virgin Voyages, but for the price we paid for the cruise it was appropriate.
Buffet Review
The buffet was pretty extensive and busy! There was always lots of people here and lots of kids milling around. Two buffets were located on different levels and only one had a gluten free section. There were different cuisines such as Italian, Mediterranean, Indian, salads, desserts and burgers. Everything was fine, just nothing outstanding.
Main Dining Room Review
We heard that the main dining room wasn’t that amazing but it was really quite good. The staff here are second to none. They were so kind and friendly, we really loved our waiter. The menus were good adn they changed each day. There was a selection of about 2 or 3 choices for each course, which were all included in our basic fare. We really enjoyed the meals in the restaurants and recommend using them.
You will be assigned a seating time and restaurant location for your dinner. This is your dinner reservation for the whole cruise and you must arrive within 15 minutes of the time or you will not be allowed to enter. The food service is fast and well organised and the food quality was great, much better than in the buffet. We also had theme night for an Italian night and the staff danced around the room, it was a lot of fun!
Best Food We Ate
We loved our dinner in the restaurant, Mike loved the veal dish and I was made a gluten free pizza that was great. The desserts were so good as well, Mike was obsessed with the cheesecake and I had a surprise gluten free cake each night.
Worst Food We Ate
We really didn’t enjoy some of the food in the buffet, Mike had some unpleasant fish and I had an awful chicken chilli.
MSC Gluten Free Review
As a celiac on this MSC cruise the experience wasn’t quite as incredible as on Virgin Voyages but it was still very good. The restaurant staff were great, as soon as I mentioned I had to eat gluten free they said they would not serve me but get the head waiter to take my orders. The head waiter was very well versed in what was suitable for me to eat and could arrange different meals if I requested them the night before. I asked for a gluten free pizza and was given it the following night.
The staff awareness was not as high in the buffet area. I was constantly asking if things were gluten free as there was no signage to indicate what the allergens or ingredients were. The staff members here would get the floor manager who would check things or find the packaging for me to check but it seems like it may have been easier to list this on the signs. There was a buffet area that was dedicated gluten free with about 5 options available only.
While it was great that there was a section of the buffet dedicated to gluten free, it was concerning as I often saw other guests coming to this area and getting served the food with the ladle right on top of obviosuly gluten-containing food. This really defeats the purpose of a dedicated gluten free area.
The gluten-free menu options were fine, the buffet really didn’t have a huge range and wasn’t very exciting. I didn’t feel that the buffet was overly safe, even the dedicated gluten free section. I go into more detail in my full MSC Gluten Free Review, check this out before you book!
MSC Entertainment Review
The entertainment on the MSC cruise was more of a theatre show style. There were two main shows, a Queen and Michael Jackson inspired performance. These were good but not incredible. The singers for the Queen performance were excellent and the Michael Jackson performer was good at the dancing but lip synced the songs. It was entertaining but not mind blowing.
There was a comedian who was good, he does an all ages and an adult gig. There was live music and ctivities such as trivia. The theme nights were held each night with a party and many people were dressed up for them and taking part. The pool deck has a kids area and an adult area but there are kids everywhere and it was all pretty busy. Travelling as a couple we could only compare this to our kids free Virgin Voyages experience which we did prefer. But if you have children it looked like they were well catered for on this cruise.
MSC Seaside Review
We sailed on the MSC Seaside and it was a good ship. Built in 2017 it has a promenade that wraps around the boat for you to stroll around the exterior. There were 3 pools, a South Beach and Miami Beach Pool as well as a Jungle themed pool. The interior of the ship felt modern and clean, there was ample seating and lots of areas to chill out in.
The elevators were interesting, you select the floor you want to go to on the outside and it directs you to a certain elevator to catch. We had heard that people loved this feature but honestly we found it really just slowed down everyone getting around the ship.
Our Cabin Review
Our cabin was good, quite large and spacious with enough room for us both to not feel like we were squashed in. It was a little dated however, the carpet and lounge looked really tired and worn.
Cabin Layout
Our room was really big, there was a full wall-length desk, 2 seater lounge and big bed completed the space. We had a balcony cabin, which was great! The balcony was really big and so wide, we could see loads of the ship and a great view out to the water.
Storage
We had a great cupboard area where you could store your suitcase and also drawers and hanging space. There was plenty of room for us to fit everything away.
Bathroom
When entering the room there was our bathroom on the right hand side, this was also really well organised and big! We really weren’t expecting so much room.
Comfort
Our cabin was really comfortable, the bed was excellent. The only two issues we had were the room had a musty smell and the lounge was stained. We asked our steward for an air freshener which they brought and we later found out that we could have asked for an extra blanket to cover the lounge, I would do that next time.
Would We Book A Balcony Cabin Again?
We would book this cabin again, we would just be prepared to bring a room spray and get a blanket to cover the lounge. You also have to ask the steward to unlock the mini fridge, unlike Virgin Voyages there are products in the fridge which you have to pay for.
How Much Does an MSC Bahamas Cruise Cost?
| Item | Typical Cost in USD |
|---|---|
| Cruise fare | ~ $200 up to $1000 |
| Drinks | Included water, coffee, tea and soft drink. (Extra charges for Beer ~$7-10, Wine ~$15, Cocktails ~$15-18) |
| Excursions | Start from ~$40 up to $150 |
| Drinks Package | There are a few types of drinks packages available usually cost between $30 – $100 USD per day. (They include 15 drinks per day) |
| Extras | Hairdressers, beauty & spa services. Prices vary. |
| Gratuities | Tips are included on the MSC cruise, it covers everyone working on the ship and is the most fair way to tip. It also means that money is not being touched by the people making the drinks and carrying food which is more sanitary. You will see the gratuities listed on the breakdown of your cruise fare. |
What We Loved Most About MSC
There was a lot to love about cruising with MSC, our absolute favourite thing was visiting Ocean Cay. This was a perfect beach day and it was so easy to just relax and enjoy the whole day. Another thing we loved about our MSC cruise was that it was such great value for money, had a simple itinerary and felt pretty relaxed.
What We Didn’t Love On Our MSC Cruise
We didn’t love that there were extra charges for things like arcade games, bowling and jukeboxes. The buffet was always crowded, and the range of gluten free options at the buffet was limited, with some cross contamination concerns.
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MSC Cruises vs Virgin Voyages
| Feature | Virgin Voyages | MSC |
|---|---|---|
| Atmosphere | Adults-only, friendly, relaxed | Family friendly, busy |
| Food | Premium | Standard |
| Entertainment | Modern | Traditional |
| Adults-Only | Yes | No |
| Gluten Free | Excellent | Good |
| Value | Excellent | Excellent |
| Included extras | More | Less |
| Best for | Couples, groups, | Budget travellers, families |
Our Final verdict: We loved our time on both cruises but if we had to choose then the Virgin Voyages cruise really suited us best. We loved the adults only aspect which made the atmosphere feel more relaxed and everyone felt more at ease. The itinerary was excellent and the food was higher quality as was the finishes in the cabin. Check out our Virgin Voyages Caribbean Review to see why we really loved this cruise.
Is Ocean Cay Worth Visiting?
Yes absolutely! Ocean Cay is the best stop on our cruise with MSC and honestly one we weren’t sure we would enjoy and now it is the one we would love to come back to! Ocean Cay is stunning, had the best beaches, the food was great on the island and the facilities are great. We thought this was a very worthwhile stop. Ocean Cay is definitely worth visiting. Our full guide on how to spend a day at Ocean Cay will help you plan your time.
Tips For First-Time MSC Cruisers
There are a few things that will help first time cruisers with MSC:
- Make sure to download the MSC app. Once you are aboard and have your room number you can open it properly and start signing up.
- Check drink package pricing as it may not be the best value for you if you are not planning on having the 15 drinks a day.
- Arrive a bit early for check in because you will more than likely get onboard early.
- Don’t overbook excursions for port stops, you want to be able to relax as well.
- Make sure you spend time on Ocean Cay! It really is gorgeous, we spent a whole day here.
Who Is MSC Cruises Best For?
Best For
- Families
- Budget travellers
- First-time cruisers
- Weekend getaways
- Groups
Not Ideal For
- Luxury travellers
- Food-focused travellers
- Adults-only seekers
FAQ โ MSC Bahamas Cruise Review
Is MSC Cruises worth it?
Yes, MSC is worth it as it is great value for money, you get a room, 2 destinations and food included for as little as $250USD.
Is Ocean Cay better than Nassau?
Ocean Cay is better than Nassau for beaches, Nassau is better for a city experience.
Are drinks included on MSC?
Tea, coffee and water are included on MSC cruises. For any other drink you need to purchase a drinks package.
Is MSC good for families?
Yes MSC is great for families and the price point is affordable and the ship is family friendly.
Is MSC good for gluten-free travellers?
MSC is good for gluten free travellers but not the best for gluten free. I would advise to eat at the restaurant for the safest food.
Is MSC cheaper than Royal Caribbean?
Royal Caribbean is a bit more expensive although in a similar price range as MSC cruises in the Bahamas. Prices on MSC start at ~ $200 USD and Royal Caribbean starts at ~$450 USD.
Is MSC cheaper than Virgin Voyages?
Yes MSC is cheaper than Virgin Voyages and has less inclusions.
What is included on MSC Cruises?
An MSC cruise includes a cabin, drinks such as tea, coffee and water, food in the buffets and dining rooms, onboard entertainment and pool areas.
How much does an MSC Bahamas cruise cost?
A cruise with MSC for 3 days in the Bahamas starts at ~$200 USD per person.
Is Ocean Cay worth visiting?
Yes Ocean Cay is the prettiest beach stop when cruising with MSC, we really recommend that you visit here.
Is Ocean Cay free?
Yes, Ocean Cay is free to visit on your MSC cruise and it is really worth it.
Final Verdict โ Would We Cruise MSC Again?
This MSC Cruise was a great little getaway and an excellent option for families and budget-conscious travellers. It is such great value that we would absolutely book with them again. It was super easy with no stressful planning, perfect for a weekend away or a short family trip. The destinations made for fun excursions and we could easily just kick back and relax. This MSC cruise was a great little getaway and perfect if you are a family or budget traveller.
Plan your trip:
๐ Read next: Our full Virgin Voyages Caribbean Cruise review
๐ Plan your trip: Caribbean Cruise Travel Guide
๐ Donโt miss: Our Caribbean Travel Guide
Want to see it all in action? Watch our full Caribbean series on YouTube (subscribe to our channel to stay up to date with our travel guides) and follow along on Instagram @passport_nomads and @kelly___buckley for real-time travel tips, guides, and behind-the-scenes moments.
We hope this guide helped you plan an unforgettable trip.
