If you have ever looked closely at an MSC cruise ship deck plan, you may have noticed something strange.
There is often no Deck 17.
The deck numbers may jump from Deck 16 to Deck 18, which can make you stop and wonder if you missed something. Did MSC hide a deck? Is it crew-only? Is Deck 17 where they store all the missing buffet tongs and lost sunglasses?
Not quite.
The real answer is much more fun: MSC skips Deck 17 because 17 is traditionally considered unlucky in Italian culture.
The Short Answer
Many MSC cruise ships do not have a guest-facing Deck 17 because MSC Cruises has Italian roots, and the number 17 is considered unlucky in Italy.
It is similar to how some hotels and buildings in the United States skip the 13th floor. The building still has the physical space, but the number is avoided because of superstition.
On MSC ships, the same idea applies. There is not a mysterious missing section of the ship. The deck numbering simply skips from 16 to 18.
So yes, Deck 18 is still directly above Deck 16 on ships that follow this numbering pattern. MSC just avoids calling that space Deck 17.
Why Is 17 Unlucky in Italy?
In Italy, 17 has a reputation similar to 13 in many English-speaking countries.
One common explanation goes back to Roman numerals. The number 17 is written as XVII. Rearranged, those letters can form VIXI, a Latin word that means “I have lived.”
That may sound harmless at first, but in this context it has often been associated with death, as in “my life is over.” Because of that, 17 developed a negative superstition in Italian culture.
Italy also has its own unlucky calendar date: Friday the 17th. While many Americans think of Friday the 13th as the classic bad-luck day, Friday the 17th carries a similar feeling in Italy.
Since MSC Cruises is an Italian-founded cruise line, the skipped Deck 17 is a little cultural detail that carried over into ship design and numbering.
Is There Actually a Missing Deck?
No. There is not a physical deck missing from the ship.
This is just a numbering choice.
Think of it like an elevator in a hotel that goes from floor 12 to floor 14. There is still a floor in between, but the hotel chooses not to label it as 13.
On MSC ships, the same thing happens with Deck 17. The ship still has the same height, spaces, cabins, venues, and technical areas planned into its design. MSC simply avoids using 17 in the public deck numbering.
That can be a little confusing when you are comparing cabins or studying a deck plan, but once you know the reason, it makes sense.
Here’s a shot of a document from the MSC World America showing no Deck 17:
Is This an MSC-Only Thing?
MSC is one of the most noticeable examples in cruising because of its Italian heritage, but skipping unlucky numbers is not unusual in travel.
Hotels may skip the 13th floor. Airlines may skip certain row numbers. Some countries avoid numbers that sound like words connected to death or bad luck.
Travel is full of these little cultural quirks, and cruise ships are no exception.
For MSC, skipping Deck 17 is one of those small details that reminds you the cruise line still has a strong European and Italian identity, even as it continues to grow in North America.
Does It Matter When Choosing a Cabin?
Not really.
If you are choosing a cabin on MSC, the missing Deck 17 should not affect your decision. You should still focus on the things that actually matter:
Location on the ship
Distance to elevators
What is above or below your cabin
Whether you want to be near pools, kids areas, the buffet, or quieter spaces
Cabin category and price
The skipped number is mostly a curiosity. It does not mean Deck 18 is unlucky, less desirable, or secretly floating in some alternate cruise dimension.
Although if you do find a secret pizza lounge on the missing Deck 17, please let us know immediately.
Why Cruisers Notice It
Deck plans are one of those things cruisers study before a trip, especially if they are trying to pick the best cabin or figure out where everything is located.
So when a ship jumps from Deck 16 to Deck 18, it naturally stands out.
It is also a great example of how cruise ships mix practical design with tradition, branding, culture, and superstition. A deck number may seem like a tiny detail, but once you understand the story behind it, it becomes one of those fun facts you will probably point out to someone else onboard.
And honestly, that is half the fun of cruising.
Final Thoughts
MSC cruise ships often skip Deck 17 because 17 is considered unlucky in Italian culture.
There is no hidden missing deck, no secret guest area, and no mysterious design problem. It is simply a cultural superstition reflected in the ship’s deck numbering.
For most cruisers, it will not affect anything about the vacation. But it is a fun little detail to know before you sail, especially if you are the kind of person who loves studying deck plans before boarding.
So the next time you see an MSC ship jump from Deck 16 to Deck 18, you will know why.
It is not a mistake. It is just a little bit of Italian cruise superstition at sea.
