For years, the partnerships between Las Vegas casinos and cruise lines has been one of the best-kept secrets in travel. High-rollers and savvy loyalty program maximizers have long known that what happens in Vegas doesn’t have to stay there – it can follow you right onto your favorite cruise ship!
In February 2026, MSC Cruises officially became the exclusive cruise partner for Wynn Rewards, replacing Holland America Line. This new partnership links one of the best casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip with the fastest-growing cruise line.
For Vegas regulars, this means complimentary 10-night sailings, onboard casino free play, and for the high rollers, access to the luxe MSC Yacht Club.
Here is your complete guide to understanding the new MSC and Wynn Las Vegas partnership, how to “hack” your way to a free suite, and how it stacks up against the reigning champion of casino partnerships: Royal Caribbean and MGM Rewards.
The Wynn Rewards & MSC Cruises Partnership: What You Get
The new Wynn/MSC partnership integrates cruise benefits directly into the Wynn Rewards tiered system. Unlike some casino programs that make you wait for an email offer or postcard mailer, Wynn baked these annual cruise benefits into their tier levels.
Here is how the benefits break down by your Wynn Rewards status:
Red Tier (0 – 6,999 Tier Credits)
- The Benefit: 30% off select MSC Cruises fares for two guests.
- The Verdict: Even if you just signed up for a free Wynn Rewards card and barely gambled, you can log into your account and instantly activate a 30% discount on an MSC sailing. While it excludes the Yacht Club, this is a nice perk for casual Vegas visitors.
Platinum Tier (7,000 – 69,999 Tier Credits)
- The Benefit: A complimentary cruise for two for up to 10 nights in an Oceanview stateroom, plus $100 in onboard casino free play.
- The Verdict: This is where the real value kicks in. Earning 7,000 Tier Credits at Wynn is very achievable for a weekend table games player or slot player. Turning that into a 10-night European or Caribbean vacation is a pretty good return on investment.
Black Tier (70,000+ Tier Credits)
- The Benefit: A complimentary cruise for two for up to 10 nights in an Aurea Suite, plus $200 in onboard casino free play.
- The Verdict: The Aurea experience on MSC is a step up from a standard balcony, offering priority boarding, free access to the thermal suite in the spa, and dedicated dining options.
The “Top-Tier” Yacht Club Access
“Top-tier” Wynn Rewards members also receive access to the MSC Yacht Club, the line’s exclusive “ship-within-a-ship” concept featuring 24-hour butler service, a private restaurant and pool deck. While Black Tier gets you the Aurea Suite, Yacht Club access is generally reserved for Wynn’s invite-only Chairman’s Club members or through exclusive, invite-only cruise giveaways hosted by Wynn throughout the year.
How to “Hack” the Partnership for Maximum Value
If you want to leverage this partnership without dropping tens of thousands of dollars at the Wynn tables, there is a strategy.
- The Vegas Status Match Game – Historically, Wynn Las Vegas has periodically offered “Tier Match” promotions to poach players from MGM, Caesars, and Venetian. If you currently hold Caesars Diamond, MGM Gold/Platinum, or a high-tier status at a regional casino, keep a close eye on Wynn’s promotional calendar. If you can status-match your way into Wynn Platinum, you can immediately log into the Wynn app, activate your MSC offer, and book your free 10-night Oceanview cruise.
- Optimize Your Play for Tier Credits – If you have to earn Wynn Platinum the hard way (7,000 points), focus your play on high-coin-in slots or extended table game sessions during promotional multiplier weekends.
- Combine with MSC’s Casino Program – Once you are on your “free” Wynn cruise, your play in the MSC onboard casino counts toward MSC’s own gaming loyalty program. You can use the $100-$200 free play Wynn gave you into earning your next free cruise directly through MSC.
Want to know exactly how to earn free cruises directly through MSC? Check out our complete guide: The Ultimate Guide to the MSC Cruises Casino Program.
Wynn/MSC vs. MGM/Royal Caribbean: Which is Better?
Before this announcement, the gold standard for casino / cruise line partnerships was between MGM Rewards and Royal Caribbean Group. Now that Wynn and MSC have teamed up, let’s take a look at how the programs compare:
The Free Cruise Threshold
- MGM / Royal Caribbean: To get an annual complimentary cruise (up to 7 nights in an Oceanview) through MGM Rewards, you must reach MGM Platinum (200,000 Tier Credits).
- Wynn / MSC: To get an annual complimentary cruise (up to 10 nights in an Oceanview) through Wynn, you only need to reach Wynn Platinum (7,000 Tier Credits).
Winner: Wynn/MSC. The spend required to hit Wynn Platinum is generally much lower than the massive 200,000 points required for MGM Platinum. Plus, Wynn gives you up to 10 nights, where MGM limits you to 7 nights.
The Premium Suite Level
- MGM / Royal Caribbean: MGM’s invite-only NOIR status gets you a complimentary up-to-7-night Balcony stateroom on Royal Caribbean.
- Wynn / MSC: Wynn’s earned Black status gets you up to a 10-night Aurea Suite, while their invite-only members get MSC Yacht Club.
Winner: Wynn/MSC. The Aurea Suite and Yacht Club offerings outpace a standard balcony on Royal Caribbean.
The Onboard Casino Experience
- MGM / Royal Caribbean: Royal Caribbean’s Casino Royale program is pretty much considered the best and most rewarding casino program out there. They offer a good variety of games, are adding additional smoke-free casinos on newer and refurbished ships, and have fantastic benefits like free internet and drinks for Prime members and above.
- Wynn / MSC: MSC’s casinos are beautiful, but they are smaller and not really tailored to the American high-roller like Royal Caribbean.
Winner: MGM/Royal Caribbean. If the actual on-ship gambling experience is your top priority, Royal Caribbean wears the crown (see what I did there?).
To learn how to maximize your play on Royal Caribbean, read: The Ultimate Guide to Royal Caribbean’s Casino Royale Program.
The new Wynn Las Vegas and MSC Cruises partnership is a massive win for gamblers. By lowering the barrier to entry for free cruises and offering 10-night sailings and Aurea Suites, MSC is making an aggressive play to capture the North American casino market.