MSC Musica Cabins to Avoid

Launched in 2006, MSC Musica is the first of three ships in MSC's Musica Class. This Italian-designed vessel combines both classic and modern elements. She measures 965ft (294m) long with a capacity to carry 3,223 guests over 16 decks with 1,275 staterooms.

After the ship's scheduled maintenance in 2025, which saw improvements made to the Wi-Fi, the ship's dining venues, and family areas, she continues to be a popular option for cruises departing from Genoa (Italy) to the Mediterranean, South Africa, and South America (Durban and Buenos Aires) that visit ports such as Cannes, Cape Town, and Rio de Janeiro.

As highlighted in guest reviews posted on various cruise review platforms, Reddit r/MSC Cruises, and YouTube channels, although the cabins of the MSC Musica are known to be comfortable and stylish, there may be noise/movement, obstructed views, or layout problems depending on where your cabin is located. Deck plans found on Cruisedeckplans.com, Seascanner.com, and MSC's website provide additional details regarding the layout of the ship. This guide contains information on the cabins of the MSC Musica that you should avoid and highlights of some of the best things to do onboard MSC Musica, also includes descriptions of the problems associated with specific staterooms, reasons why the problem exists, and recommendations for alternate cabins. In general, cabins in the Bella category are more likely to have these problems, but those in the Aurea suite category tend to have better noise insulation around them.

You should always verify the location of the stateroom on MSC's interactive deck plan and check cruise forums for information regarding your sailing; particularly at the present, the guest experience will be very much affected by increased vessel movement due to high winds while sailing in the Mediterranean.

Why Some Cabins on MSC Musica Are Best Avoided

Musica’s public spaces have been arranged such that their location results in low noise. Yet, despite these measures, the Decks 5-7 theaters and the Deck 14-15 pools are located within the ship in such a way that they will still create noise hotspots. The 12-15 decks experience buffet chaos, the 5-8 decks experience entertainment vibrations and other obstructions, and the forward/aft positions further amplify motion sickness when the seas are choppy, which often occurs when sailing in South Africa or the Mediterranean. The lack of connecting rooms & GTY (guarantee) cabins assignments will increase the risk. Bella cabins assigned via GTY have the greatest risk for noise problems. Comments/complaints from a review of both Genoa, Italy, sailings stated that there were “chairs scraping from the first light” and “blocked views." Musica’s 2024 routine maintenance has improved some sound insulation, but there are still structural sound issues. Additionally, it is a good idea to refer to visual representations of ships on sites such as CruiseMapper.

Noisy Cabins

The most common complaint at high-traffic dining/entertainment venues continues to be noise.

Cabins Below Pools or Buffets (Deck 14): The cabins located on Deck 14 (i.e., 14001–14050, 14100–14150) are under Deck 15 (Pool & Buffet) and have continuous thumping caused by early morning dragging of loungers (approximately 6:00 a.m.), foot traffic, and cleaning. A cruise review from 2025 of an itinerary from South Africa described it as 'like there was a stampede above them, chairs dragging all night long.' ' Additionally, cabins located on Deck 13 (13001–13050), which are under the buffet, experience the same situation because of the rolling carts and kitchen prep.

Next to the Theater or Casino (Decks 5–7): Cabins located on Deck 5 (i.e., 5001–5050, 5100–5150), which are located under the Teatro La Scala (Theater) and Sanremo Casino, hear bass vibrations, applause, and rehearsals until 1:00 a.m., and in the opinion of a TripAdvisor reviewer from a 2025 Mediterranean cruise, 'it felt like they were in a concert venue; the walls were thumping." 'Additionally, cabins located on decks 6–7 that are located near the Golden Bar or Q32 Disco (6001–6050, 7001–7050) hear the booming of the music and crowds.

Adjacent to Crew Areas or Elevators (Decks 5-12): Cabins close to crew and elevator areas on decks 5 through 12 (9101-9150) face movements of luggage carts and crew members during the embarkation process. The same is true of decks 8 through 10 (9101-9150). In a 2025 thread from r/MSCCruises on Reddit, cabins near elevators (9001-9050) received frequent reports of "being exposed to endless dings and slams near elevators."

Specific Trouble Spots: Cabins 8116 (deck 8) are obstructed by lifeboats and have a great deal of noise coming from the bar next door. Therefore, if you are on deck 10, please do not book cabins 10059, 10060, and 10061 (the thick bulkhead line represents a noise wall).

Alternatives: If you do decide to book on decks 5 to 10, I would highly recommend booking midship (8101-8150, 9001-9050) closest to the middle of the ship to provide yourself with an adequate buffer from the crew area and service. Alternatively, Aurea suites from decks 12 and higher will provide soundproofing for your cabin.

Motion-Prone Cabins

Musica is generally stable but can sway due to winds from the South Atlantic Ocean or the Mediterranean Sea and/or swells.

Forward Cabins High Decks (Decks 12-15, Bow): These include cabins such as 12001–12040 and 13001–13040, which pitch forward and backward in rough seas and can make you feel dizzy. A 2025 Reddit post of the Cape Town itinerary called these cabins "a rollercoaster" and suggested avoiding them if you're sensitive to motion. The higher the cabin is toward the forward (cabin numbers 15001–15040), the more noise will be produced by the wind.

Aft Cabins (Decks 5-11, Stern): These include rooms 5700–5750 and 6700–6750; these cabins will vibrate from the engines, especially when they are docked. A critical post from 2025 referred to these rooms as having "a constant hum like an earthquake. "

Alternatives: Other options are to book a mid-ship cabin on one of the lower decks (decks 7-9, example: cabin #7500-7600). These areas represent the most stable locations on the ship, and they are often the most affordable accommodations that do not have motion.

Obstructed View Cabins

There are a lot of cabin options on most cruise ships that offer a "partial view" for a lower price than a full view. There are a few options with severely restricted views.

Lifeboat-Obstructed Ocean View Cabins (Deck 8; Midship/Forward): Cabins 8001 – 8050, 8100 – 8150, ocean views are 50-70% obstructed by lifeboats or tenders. "Was paid for a view but got a hull of a boat," wrote a reviewer on TripAdvisor in 2025. The OO category is obstructed.

Partial Balcony View Cabins (Deck 12; Midship): Cabins 12001 – 12050 offer partial views due to overhangs or structures. The majority of reviews claim that there is "flying sky and no view of the ocean." The BP category is also a partial view.

Alternatives: Ocean view cabins on Deck 5 (OR1) and/or full balcony cabins on Decks 8-9 (BL1).

Connecting and Cramped Cabins

They are surely great for large families but carry with them certain aural liabilities related to noise. Let’s have a look at these kinds of cabins to avoid.

Cabin Connections (Levels 5-15, Midships): Very thin between connecting cabins 7230-7232 & 8234-8236 & therefore they transmit all sounds. "I could hear everything their guests were saying," a statement from Reddit in 2025.

Interior Cabins (Lower Levels): Very small (16 sq m) with Pullman beds, making them feel even smaller, and very minimal natural light, leading to a claustrophobic environment. "The four of us were crammed into an inseparable space with nowhere to fit," from a YouTube review in 2025.

Alternatives: Midship non-connecting on decks 8-10. Ocean views without the premium for these cabins, providing light in your cabin.

Guarantee (GTY) Cabins

GTY is the best way to get a cabin without much hassle, but the cost might be high in terms of peace of mind.

Random Assignments (Decks 5-15): Usually when cruisers opt for GTY, the hangars are usually placed into a bad or noisy spot (like 8001 - 8050 and sometimes 12001 - 12040). An example from a Cruise Critic review in 2025 is "I ended up with an obstructed view underneath the pool."

Alternatives: If you are getting a GTY regardless, make sure to specify booking in the midship areas of Decks 8 through 10.

Suites Near Service Areas

Suites are great, but some of them might not be optimal to your sensitive-to-sound sleeping patterns.

Noisy Premium Rooms (Decks 12-15): Suites near crew areas (e.g., 12001–12020) are filed with noises of carts and other preparations. "Ruined our suite," as per a 2025 TripAdvisor post.

Alternatives: Midship suites on Deck 15 or aft-facing on Decks 12-14.

Updates, General Tips, and Booking Strategies

Scheduled maintenance for MSC Musica in 2025 was related to sustainability (and dining) and cabins (minimal improvements to cabins such as improved lighting and addressing noise issues per recent reviews). With the recent focus on Durban-South Africa, you may encounter sea waves that can help you experience any motion-sickness issues, if any. Check MSC’s app for virtual tours & r/MSCCruises forum for shared experiences with the latest itineraries.

Booking Tips: Don’t book a guaranteed cabin. Use Seascanner.com for finding and mapping noise zones so you can avoid them.

How To Avoid Seasickness: Midship decreases rolling. Use Sea-Bands.

Family Info: Surprise, surprise! The front part of Deck 11 (located near children’s playrooms) can be loud if you aren’t travelling with children.

Budget Tips: Obstructed-view cabins can be had with a 20-30% discount. Book 6-9 months in advance for the best selection.

Accessibility: It has improved recently, but check older suites for ramp access.

Summary Table of Cabins to Avoid

Conclusion

It's best to avoid staying in MSC Musica's certain standard cabins as they may not provide a peaceful atmosphere. We have as such described which ones to avoid, in great details. We hope it maximizes your peaceful nights. You should select your cabin from mid-ship decks 8 - 10. In addition to a strong emphasis on South Africa as the ship's base location, there will also be many additional exciting cruise destinations in the future. That being said, before booking your cruise, you should be sure to consult with other guests' cruise reviews to see if the weather will adversely affect your ability to enjoy your vacation. If you'd like to have a particular cabin assigned to you, you should book that cabin as soon as it becomes available so that you can enjoy MSC Musica's Italian flair during your vacation.