MSC Cruises’ New Infant Policy Forces Families to Cancel Bookings
MSC Cruises has made a significant change to its infant policy, impacting families who had already booked longer voyages.
Starting May 15, 2025, children under two years old will no longer be allowed to sail on cruises lasting 11 nights or more.
This sudden shift has left many guests scrambling to make alternative arrangements, with some forced to cancel their bookings entirely or face partial refunds.
New Policy Details
The updated policy specifies that for sailings of 11 nights or more departing on or after May 15, 2025, children must be at least two years old on the day of embarkation.
Infants under the age of two will not be permitted to board. This change has particularly affected families who had already made travel plans, as MSC Cruises previously allowed infants as young as six months on most itineraries and 12 months on longer voyages.
The cruise line cites safety concerns as the primary reason for the policy adjustment. MSC has highlighted the difficulty of providing urgent medical care to very young children on extended cruises, which often involve multiple days at sea, far from port access.
Impact on Affected Families
The new policy has sparked frustration among those who had already booked their cruises, with many turning to social media to express their dissatisfaction.
Families who had booked multiple cabins for their vacation are reporting issues with refunds. One guest noted that refunds are only being offered for the cabin the baby was booked in, not for the other cabins in their group.
MSC Cruises is offering affected guests a “Free Cruise Move” to another sailing, albeit at new pricing. For those who choose to cancel, the line’s standard cancellation policies will apply.
However, families who have booked two consecutive 7-night cruises are exempt from this restriction, as these are treated as separate sailings.
MSC Cruises’ Commitment to Families
While the policy change applies specifically to longer voyages, MSC Cruises maintains its commitment to being a family-friendly cruise line.
In collaboration with Chicco, ships are equipped with a variety of baby essentials, including bottle warmers, cots, highchairs, and strollers.
Additionally, restaurants and room service offer assistance with warming bottles and baby food, and onboard shops carry necessities like nappies and formula.
For entertainment, MSC offers Baby Clubs for infants up to three years old, where qualified staff supervise children while parents enjoy their time on board.
The cruise line also provides MSC Baby Time, where parents can join in the fun with their little ones, and MSC Baby Care, a service that allows parents to leave their infants with trained staff for short periods.
However, MSC Baby Care is available only to a limited number of infants at a time, with a maximum capacity of 15 babies.
Conclusion
This unexpected policy change by MSC Cruises has raised concerns, especially for families who had planned their vacations around the cruise line’s previous policies.
While MSC Cruises continues to promote itself as a family-friendly option, the new restrictions on longer voyages are a clear indication of the cruise line’s increasing focus on safety protocols.
Families affected by this change are left to navigate the challenges of rescheduling or canceling their travel plans, with the hope that MSC Cruises can find a way to better accommodate families in the future.
