Cruise Service Charge Updates: New Rates Effective July 2026
Budget planning is one of the most crucial steps in preparing for a sea voyage. If you are planning a cruise in the near future, please note some important changes: starting July 2, 2026, a new daily service charge (gratuity) schedule will take effect across the fleet.
According to the official data, the service charge amount traditionally depends on the sailing region, the chosen cabin category (Standard Cabins vs. the premium MSC Yacht Club), and the guest's age.
Below is a detailed overview of the new per-night service charge rates for various destinations worldwide.
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1. Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Antilles & Middle East
For cruises in the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, Northern Europe, Antilles, Dubai, Emirates & Oman, Red Sea, as well as World Cruises, onboard accounts are settled in Euros (EUR) or British Pounds (GBP):
Standard Cabins:
MSC Yacht Club
> Note: For children under 2 years old, no service charge is applied in this or any other region.
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2. Caribbean, Alaska, USA & Canada
In these popular North American regions, a simplified flat rate applies to all guests aged 2 and above, with balances settled in US Dollars (USD):
Standard Cabins: $17 USD per night per guest.
MSC Yacht Club: $23 USD per night per guest.
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3. South America & Far East
For these exotic destinations, the following daily rates in US Dollars (USD) have been established:
South America Cruises
Standard Cabins: Adults (12+) — $19 USD, Children (2–11 years old) — $13 USD.
MSC Yacht Club: Adults (12+) — $23 USD, Children (2–11 years old) — $16 USD.
Far East (China, Japan, and Korea)
Standard Cabins: All guests aged 2 and above — $18 USD.
MSC Yacht Club: All guests aged 2 and above — $21 USD.
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4. South Africa & Indian Ocean Cruises
The South African and Indian Ocean regions feature a separate tariff structure, remaining among the most affordable options (in USD):
Standard Cabins: Adults (12+) — $17 USD, Children (2–11 years old) — $9 USD.
MSC Yacht Club: Adults (12+) — $21 USD, Children (2–11 years old) — $11 USD.
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5. Grand Voyages (Positioning Cruises)
For long-haul positioning cruises, special rules apply depending on the port of departure:
| Grand Voyage Route | Cabin Class | Adults (18+) | Children (2–17) |
| From Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Dubai, Emirates, Antilles, Red Sea, and Far East | Standard | 12 EUR | 10 EUR |
| Yacht Club | 16 EUR | 13 EUR | |
| From South Africa, South America, Caribbean, and Alaska | Standard | $17 USD | $14 USD |
| Yacht Club | $21 USD | $17 USD |