The MSC £xtra promotion – which starts on March 23 – combines superb low prices with the benefits of up to £500 onboard credit per cabin and the option of a cabin upgrade.

Holidaymakers can get more for their money on sailings from July 1, 2016 until April 2017, including autumn ex-UK sailings from Southampton, cruises in the Caribbean and sailings in the Emirates meaning there’s plenty of choice for guests planning their next big adventure. The offer is valid on both fly-cruise and cruise-only holidays.

New managing director UK & Ireland Antonio Paradiso said: ”By giving guests money to spend during their MSC cruise, we are giving them access to the huge range of activities available on board. MSC Cruises offer something for everyone on board so we are confident that this offer will tempt in new guests and win us more fans.”

Onboard credit available is £100 per cabin for an inside; £150 for an outside; £200 for a balcony and £500 for a suite, including Yacht Club. Options for spending this credit include luxurious spa treatments, exciting excursions, a meal in one of the speciality restaurants and a shopping spree in the duty free shops on board.

As well as onboard credit, guests also have the option to upgrade their Experience from just £30 per person (from Bella to Fantastica) and their cabin from just £80 per person (from inside to outside).

Of course the ‘Allegrissimo’ drinks package is available as an add on for just £20 per person per night (children £9 per night). The ‘Allegrissimo’ package includes unlimited drinks, featuring a wide range of big-name brands from the bar list; cocktails; a dedicated selection of wines by the glass; draught beer; soft drinks; milkshakes; smoothies and fruit juices. It also includes hot drinks such as MSC Cruises’ acclaimed Italian coffee selection and its award-winning gelato in a cone or cup. All items are available in all bars and restaurants, including speciality restaurants.

MSC Cruises is the undisputed leader in the Mediterranean, with seven ships in the region for summer 2016. MSC Preziosa, MSC Fantasia, MSC Poesia and MSC Armonia will operate seven-night cruises in the Western Mediterranean, with MSC Magnifica, MSC Orchestra and MSC Sinfonia operating seven-night cruises in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Alternative summer 2016 options include the Norwegian Fjords or Baltic capitals aboard MSC Opera and MSC Musica; Caribbean sailings aboard MSC Divina; and Northern Europe sailings from Southampton on MSC Splendida.

For winter 2016/2017, the MSC £xtra offer applies to a varied selection of winter-sun destinations. This includes three Caribbean options (sailings from Miami, Bridgetown, Barbados and Havana, Cuba); the Emirates and the Mediterranean.

 Summer 2016 example prices:

MSC Preziosa: Seven-night Western Med fly-cruise from Genoa, Italy, departing October 16, 2016, calling at Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy; Palermo, Sicily; Valletta, Malta; Valencia, Spain; Marseille, France and Genoa. Fly-cruise from £649pp, including flights from London or Manchester, overseas transfers and £100 per cabin onboard credit. Cruise-only price £449pp also including £100 per cabin onboard credit [Civitavecchia and Marseille embarkation also available].

MSC Magnifica: Seven-night Eastern Med fly-cruise from Venice, Italy, departing October 8, 2016, calling at Bari, Italy; Katakolon, Greece; Mykonos, Greece; Piraeus, Greece; Dubrovnik, Croatia; and Venice. Fly-cruise from £699pp, including flights from London, overseas transfers and £100 per cabin onboard credit. Cruise-only price £499pp, including £100 per cabin onboard credit.

MSC Musica: Seven-night Baltic Capitals fly-cruise from Kiel, Germany, departing September 3, 2016, calling at Copenhagen, Denmark; Stockholm, Sweden; Tallinn, Estonia; St Petersburg, Russia; and Kiel. Fly-cruise from £949pp, including flights from London, overseas transfers and £100 onboard credit per cabin. Cruise-only price £649pp including £100 per cabin onboard credit

MSC Divina: 7-night Western Caribbean fly-cruise from Miami, US, departing July 30, 2016, calling at Nassau, Bahamas; Philipsburg, St Maarten; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Miami, US; All-inclusive fly-cruise price from £1,049pp, including flights from London, overseas transfers and £100 per cabin onboard credit. Cruise-only £349ppwith £100 per cabin onboard credit.

MSC Splendida: Seven-night Continental Coast cruise from Southampton departing September 7, 2016, calling at Zeebrugge, Belgium; Amsterdam, Netherlands (overnight); Hamburg, Germany; Le Havre, France and Southampton. Cruise-only from £499pp including car parking for the duration of the cruise and £100 per cabin onboard credit.

Winter 2016/17 example prices:

MSC Magnifica: 11-night Western Med fly-cruise from Genoa, Italy, departing December 17, 2016, calling at Barcelona, Spain; Casablanca; Morocco; Santa Cruz, Tenerife; Funchal, Madeira; Malaga, Spain; Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy and Genoa. Fly-cruise from £649pp, including flights from London, overseas transfers and £100 per cabin onboard credit. Cruise-only price £449pp including £100 per cabin onboard credit [Civitavecchia embarkation also available].

MSC Fantasia: Seven-night Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Oman fly-cruise from Abu Dhabi, UAE, departing January 8, 2017, calling at Muscat, Oman; Khasab, Oman; Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; Dubai, UAE (overnight stay) and Abu Dhabi. All-inclusive fly-cruise from £849pp, including flights from London, Manchester or Dublin, overseas transfers and £100 per cabin onboard credit. Cruise only £349pp [Dubai embarkation also available] including £100 per cabin onboard credit.

MSC Opera: Seven-night Cuba and Caribbean fly-cruise from Havana, Cuba, departing January 28, 2017. Guests stay two nights on-board in Havana before sailing to Montego Bay, Jamaica; George Town, Cayman Islands; Cozumel, Mexico and Havana. Fly-cruise from £1,149pp, including flights from London, overseas transfers and £100 per cabin onboard credit. Cruise-only price from £399pp including £100 per cabin onboard credit

MSC Poesia: 14-night Southern Caribbean fly-cruise from Bridgetown, Barbados, departing January 24, 2017, calling at Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago; St George, Grenada; Roseau, Dominica; Fort de France, Martinique; Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe; Philipsburg, St Maarten; Road Town, BVI; La Romana, Dominican Republic; Basseterre, St Kitts & Nevis; St John’s, Antigua & Barbuda; Fort de France, Martinique; Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe; Castries, St Lucia and Bridgetown. All-inclusive fly-cruise from £1,049pp including flights from London, overseas transfers and £100 per cabin onboard credit.

 All prices are all based on two sharing