Butcher's Cut steakhouse on MSC Cruises typically costs $45–$59 per person for dinner, depending on the ship and sailing — making it one of the pricier specialty dining options in the MSC fleet but still competitive with steakhouses on rival cruise lines.
Photo: MSC Cruises
MSC's Butcher's Cut steakhouse looks incredible in the brochure photos, and your wallet is about to feel the difference from the main dining room. Before you book, here's exactly what you'll pay — and whether it's actually worth it.
How Much Does Butcher's Cut Cost on MSC?
Butcher's Cut operates as a specialty dining surcharge restaurant on MSC ships. You pay a fixed cover charge per person that includes a multi-course steakhouse meal — appetizer, entrée, sides, and dessert. A la carte pricing is available on some sailings but the set-price format is standard.
Typical cover charge: $45–$59 per person for dinner.
The price varies by ship class and itinerary. MSC's newer, larger ships (World Class, Meraviglia class) tend to price at the higher end. Older ships or repositioning sailings sometimes price lower. Lunch service, where offered, can run $10–$15 cheaper per person.
| Dining Tier | Cost Per Person | What's Included |
|---|---|---|
| Budget (older ships / lunch) | $35–$44 | Set menu, appetizer, entrée, sides, dessert |
| Standard (most sailings) | $45–$52 | Full set-price steakhouse menu |
| Splurge (World Class ships / prime itineraries) | $53–$59 | Premium cuts, expanded menu, upscale presentation |
| Kids (under 12, where applicable) | $15–$20 | Smaller portions, limited menu |
| Drinks | Not included — charged separately | Wine, cocktails, or use your beverage package |
Important: Drinks are never included in the cover charge. If you don't have MSC's Premium Extra or Premium beverage package, budget an additional $10–$18 per glass of wine or $12–$16 per cocktail on top of the meal cost.
Photo: MSC Cruises
Key Factors That Drive the Price
1. Ship class matters a lot. MSC World Europa and MSC Seascape price Butcher's Cut at the top of the range. Older ships like MSC Divina or MSC Musica can be noticeably cheaper — sometimes $8–$12 less per person.
2. When you book it. Pre-cruise online booking almost always saves you 10–20% compared to walking up to the restaurant on embarkation day. If you're sailing MSC, lock in specialty dining before you board. The discount is real — that's $5–$12 saved per person just for clicking a button in advance.
3. Dining packages. MSC sells specialty dining packages that bundle 2–3 specialty restaurant visits at a discount. A 3-night specialty dining package typically runs $99–$129 per person, which can bring the per-meal cost down to $33–$43 — meaningfully cheaper than paying à la carte each time.
4. MSC Voyagers Club status. Gold, Diamond, and Black card members sometimes receive specialty dining discounts of 5–15%. If you're a repeat MSC cruiser, check your member benefits before paying full price.
5. Itinerary and embarkation port. European sailings occasionally price specialty dining slightly differently than Caribbean or North American departures — though the gap has narrowed in recent years.
Photo: MSC Cruises
Practical Tips to Save Money (or Decide If It's Worth It)
Book online before you sail. Head to the MSC website or app as soon as your cruise is booked. The pre-cruise price is consistently lower than onboard walk-in pricing. This is the single easiest way to save.
Consider the specialty dining package if you plan to eat at more than one specialty restaurant. MSC's packages make Butcher's Cut significantly cheaper per visit. If you're also eyeing Kaito Sushi or another specialty venue, the bundle math almost always wins.
Use your beverage package strategically. Butcher's Cut doesn't include drinks, but your existing beverage package works there. If you have the Premium Extra package (which covers premium wines by the glass), you're effectively getting a full steakhouse experience — food + drinks — without paying extra per drink. Factor this in when calculating total meal cost.
Compare it honestly to main dining room steak nights. MSC's main dining room does serve steak on certain nights, and for some travelers the difference in quality doesn't justify $50+/person. If you're not a serious steak person, skip it. If you are — Butcher's Cut uses USDA or equivalent dry-aged cuts and the quality is genuinely better.
Go for lunch if the ship offers it. Not all ships do, but when lunch service is available at Butcher's Cut, the menu is similar and the price is lower. It's a legitimate way to get the steakhouse experience for less.
Is Butcher's Cut Worth It Compared to Rival Cruise Lines?
| Cruise Line | Steakhouse | Typical Cover Charge |
|---|---|---|
| MSC | Butcher's Cut | $45–$59/person |
| Royal Caribbean | Chops Grille | $55–$65/person |
| Norwegian | Cagney's Steakhouse | $45–$55/person (or included in dining packages) |
| Carnival | Fahrenheit 555 | $38–$48/person |
| Celebrity | Tuscan Grille / Fine Cut | $55–$75/person |
| Princess | Crown Grill | $39–$49/person |
MSC's Butcher's Cut sits in the middle of the pack on price. It's more expensive than Carnival's and Princess's steakhouses but cheaper than Celebrity's and Royal Caribbean's. Quality-wise, Butcher's Cut is generally considered on par with Chops Grille for cut quality and execution — so you're getting reasonable value relative to competitors.
The bottom line: At $45–$59 per person before drinks, Butcher's Cut is a solid splurge for a special dinner at sea. Book it pre-cruise, consider a dining package if you're hitting multiple specialty restaurants, and make sure your beverage package covers wine — that's how you get the most out of it without the bill spiraling.
Want to see how Butcher's Cut fits into your total MSC cruise budget? Run your numbers with CruiseMutiny to figure out exactly what your sailing will cost before you commit.