Jean-Philippe Chocolat & Café and Venchi Café on MSC Cruises

If you’re looking for a proper dessert stop or a high-quality coffee and chocolate experience while sailing with MSC Cruises, chances are you’ll run into either Jean-Philippe Chocolat & Café or Venchi 1878 Chocolate & Gelato Café during your cruise.

While the branding varies by ship, these venues serve the same purpose across the fleet – a premium, European-style chocolate and café experience that goes beyond what you’ll find in the buffet or main dining room.

Overview of the Chocolate Cafés

MSC partners with two established European chocolate brands for its onboard chocolate cafés:

Jean-Philippe Chocolat & Café leans more French, with pastries, plated desserts, coffee drinks, and chocolate-focused specialties.
Venchi 1878 Chocolate & Gelato Café reflects Italian chocolate traditions, with a stronger emphasis on chocolate retail, gelato, and chocolate-forward drinks.

Most ships feature one or the other, not both. Regardless of which appears on your ship, the overall experience is very similar.

These venues are:

Walk-up, counter-service cafés
Entirely a la carte
Focused on desserts, chocolate, and specialty drinks
Located in high-traffic public areas

Important: Drink packages do not apply at either venue, so everything will be price a la carte.

Venchi Chocolate Cafe – Provided by MSC Cruises

What’s on the Menu

Detailed menus and offerings vary by ship, but both cafés share a similar structure and price range.

Chocolate and Sweets

Individual chocolates, pralines, and truffles
Chocolate bars and boxed assortments
Chocolate tastings or small sampler-style offerings on some ships
Specialty chocolate desserts

Expect prices to generally fall in the $2–$4 range per piece, with boxed or tasting selections typically $8–$25, depending on size.

Desserts and Pastries

Cake slices and plated desserts
Chocolate-forward desserts like lava cakes or mousse-based items
Macarons and small pastry items on select ships

Most desserts fall in the $6–$10 range, depending on presentation and ship.

Coffee and Chocolate Drinks

Both cafés offer a full café menu, including:

Espresso and double espresso
Cappuccino and lattes (including flavored options)
Iced coffee drinks
Hot tea

Coffee drinks generally range from $3–$6, with specialty drinks on the higher end.

Hot chocolate is a major highlight at both venues, with:

Classic and specialty chocolate blends
Options with whipped cream or added flavors
Alcohol-free and alcoholic versions offered on some ships

Hot chocolate drinks typically range from $5–$7, while alcoholic chocolate cocktails or spirit-infused drinks are usually $9–$12.

Note: Alcoholic drinks at these venues are also not covered by drink packages.

Pricing Overview (Typical USD Ranges)

Pricing varies slightly by ship and itinerary, but these ranges reflect what guests commonly see onboard:

Individual chocolates: $2–$4 each
Chocolate bars or boxed selections: $10–$25
Desserts and pastries: $6–$10
Espresso and coffee drinks: $3–$6
Hot chocolate drinks: $5–$7
Alcoholic chocolate cocktails or spirit coffees: $9–$12

A service charge is typically added automatically, and prices may vary slightly based on itinerary.

Where You’ll Find These Cafés Onboard

One of these chocolate cafés appears on most MSC ships, particularly newer builds.

General trends:

Jean-Philippe Chocolat & Café is more common on newer ships
Venchi Café appears more often on earlier generations

They’re usually located in:

The main promenade
Central atrium areas
Shopping and lounge districts

For exact placement and branding, your ship’s deck plan or overview page is the best reference.

Gelato and Crêpes on MSC Ships: Separate Venues

In addition to the chocolate cafés, many MSC ships feature separate gelato or gelato-and-crêpe venues.

Here’s how they’re split:

Gelato venues
- Found on most MSC ships
- Focus on scoops, cones, sundaes, shakes, and specialty gelato cups
- Typically priced around $3–$6 per scoop, with specialty items closer to $7–$9
Crêpes
- Available only on Meraviglia-class ships
- Offered at a dedicated gelato and crêpe venue
- Not part of Jean-Philippe or Venchi cafés

While Venchi cafés may offer gelato on some ships, crêpes are always handled as a separate onboard venue.

Jean-Phillipe Gelato – Provided by MSC Cruises

Common Gelato Flavors You’ll See on MSC Ships

While flavors rotate slightly by ship and sailing, MSC’s gelato venues tend to offer a familiar mix of classic and crowd-favorite options. These are some of the most common flavors cruisers will encounter:

Chocolate – Rich and creamy, often darker than standard ice cream
Stracciatella – A vanilla-style gelato with fine shards of chocolate mixed throughout
Berry – A mixed berry or berry-forward flavor, often slightly tart
Lemon – Bright, refreshing, and closer to a sorbet-style gelato
Dulce de Leche – Caramel-forward with a smooth, sweet finish
Banana – Creamy and mild, popular with kids
Mint Chocolate – Mint gelato with chocolate pieces mixed in
Strawberry – Fruit-forward and lighter than ice cream versions
Tiramisu – Coffee-infused gelato inspired by the classic Italian dessert
Coffee – Bold espresso flavor, not overly sweet
Pistachio – Nutty and slightly savory, a classic Italian favorite
Cookies and Cream – Vanilla gelato with cookie pieces mixed in
Nutella – Chocolate-hazelnut flavor that’s especially popular
Vanilla – Simple, smooth, and often used as a base for sundaes or affogatos

What Is Stracciatella?

Stracciatella is one of the most traditional Italian gelato flavors. It starts with a vanilla or milk-based gelato, then thin streams of melted chocolate are poured in while the gelato churns, creating delicate chocolate shards throughout. The result is similar in concept to chocolate chip ice cream, but with finer chocolate pieces and a smoother texture.

Final Notes for Cruisers

Detailed menus and pricing vary by ship
These cafés focus on desserts and drinks, not meals
Drink packages do not apply at either venue
Some ships feature additional gelato or crêpe venues beyond the chocolate cafés

For the most accurate, ship-specific information, including menus, locations, and venue names, be sure to check out our ship overview pages, where we break everything down deck by deck.