Families planning to cruise with little ones received an unwelcoming notice from MSC Cruises.
A new policy, starting on or after May 15, 2025, will no longer allow infants under the age of 2 to sail on itineraries that last 11 nights or longer.
The change requires children to be at least 2 years old – 24 months – on the day of embarkation in order to board.
Those who do not meet the age requirement will be denied boarding on affected cruises.
According to the MSC Cruises website, “For sailings of 11 nights or longer departing on or after May 15, 2025, children must be at least 2 years old (24 months) on the day of embarkation.”
“Infants under 2 years of age will not be permitted to sail on these itineraries.”
MSC Cruises states that the policy is in place for safety reasons, citing the challenges of caring for very young children on longer cruises that have multiple sea days.
The cruise line noted that providing urgent medical care for infants could be more difficult when ships are far from ports.
Families already booked in 2025 took to social media to voice their concerns, with some saying they received word that refunds would be available and others unclear if refunds would be provided for families that booked multiple cabins.
“Only refunds being given to the cabins euth [sic] the baby is in,” shared one passenger. “So, if like me, you’ve booked a family holiday consisting of 3 cabins, you will not be fully refunded.”
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However, on its website, MSC Cruises says passengers “will be offered a Free Cruise Move with new pricing or the booking will be cancelled according to the standard cancellation policy.”
A caveat to the new policy, however, is that it does not apply for families who have booked two back-to-back 7-night cruises, “as these are considered two separate sailings,” according to the new policy.
New Policy Replaces 1-Year Minimum
Previously, MSC Cruises allowed infants as young as 6 months old to sail on most itineraries, with a minimum age of 12 months required for specific longer or more remote cruises.
There was no general restriction preventing infants under 2 from sailing in cruises based solely on voyage length.
“Infants under one year of age are permitted on board, except for Cruises that include eleven (11) nights or more, in which case all passengers must be at least one (1) year of age at the time of embarkation,” stated the cruise line in its October 2024 Terms and Conditions.
Although the policy change has upset some guests, the cruise line is actually very welcoming to infants.
Partnering with Chicco, ships are equipped with a limited number of bottle warmers, strollers, highchairs, cots, and other items parents need in their cabins and suites.
Its restaurants and 24-hour cabin service will help parents warm infant formulas, milk, and baby food, and its onboard shops sell baby products, including diapers.
Vessels in the MSC Cruises fleet also feature Kid Clubs, which feature a Baby Club for infants 3 years and under.
Parents can choose between MSC Baby Time, where parents can play with their infants in the kids’ club, or MSC Baby Care, where moms and dads can leave their babies in the care of qualified staff.
MSC Baby Care is limited to ages 6 months to 3 years and is available to a maximum of 15 babies at a time.
