Are you wondering if you should purchase one of the drink packages on MSC Cruises? You are not alone, as it is a question we get quite often from fellow cruisers. While there are many pros to getting a drink package on a cruise, there are also some reasons why cruise ship drink packages might be waste of money for you.
So, in this Complete Guide to Drink Packages on MSC for 2024, we detail all the beverage package options, drink prices, and FAQs to help you decide if one is right for your next vacation with MSC Cruises.
Complete Guide to Drink Packages on MSC (2024)
What drinks are free on MSC?
Like most cruise lines, some basic beverages are included in the price of your cruise fare. These include non-bottled ice water, iced tea, lemonade, brewed coffee, hot tea, and juice at breakfast. These beverages (aside from the juice) are available 24 hours a day in the cruise ship buffet or during meals in the main restaurants.
However, soft drinks, espresso-based beverages, and all alcoholic beverages cost extra money.
Can you take your own alcohol on an MSC cruise?
Many cruise lines do allow guests to bring a limited amount of alcohol onboard during embarkation day, usually bottles of wine. However, MSC Cruises is an exception. Guests cannot bring any alcoholic beverages onboard at embarkation. If bottles of alcohol are purchased during a port call, they are held by the ship for safekeeping until the last evening of the cruise.
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MSC Drink Package Basics
There are a few basic things you need to know about the drink packages on MSC before we dive into the details of each option.
- Drink packages on MSC are sold on a per cruise basis, not a per day basis.
- Beverage packages are not transferrable and may not be shared with other guests.
- Drink packages are available on all MSC Cruises ships, except those sailing in South Africa and China
- In respect to the Saudi Law, alcohol is not served during calls in Saudi Arabian ports.
- Packages must be booked by all guests occupying the same cabin, and who are traveling together and wish to dine at the same table. This includes minors, for whom the Minors Package must be booked.
- Guests may get one beverage only per order.
- Drink packages work in all bars, the buffet, and main restaurants. They also work on the private island of Ocean Cay in the Bahamas and on Sir Bani Yas in Emirates. Some drink packages do NOT work in specialty restaurants though.
- The Premium Extra Package is included for all cruises booked with the Yacht Club Experience.
- Bella, Fantastica, and Aurea Experiences do not include drink packages, but they do include discounted drink package options at the time of booking.
- On an MSC World Cruise, guests can enjoy house wines, draught beer, soft drinks, and mineral water that can be consumed during lunch and dinner in the main restaurants and the buffet.
- On an MSC Grand Voyage, the packages are not included by default but may vary according to your travel agency offer/promotion.
- None of the drink packages include menu items purchased at signature venues, which include Venchi 1878 (chocolate, gelato, and coffee), Lavazza (coffee), Jean Philippe (chocolate, coffee, crepes, and gelato), Starship Club (bar with robot bartender on MSC Virtuosa) and Hola! Tacos & Cantina.
How much are the drink packages on MSC Cruises?
The MSC drink package prices when purchased once on board are listed below. They are priced per person, per day, and can vary based on the cruising region. Be sure to check your online cruise planner for the most up-to-date prices for your particular cruise. Currently, guests can save up to 15% by purchasing a beverage package pre-cruise.
- Easy Package — 1-6 night cruise: $60, 7+ night cruise: $57
- Easy Plus Package —1-6 night cruise: $76, 7+ night cruise: $72
- Premium Extra Package — 1-6 night cruise: $104, 7+ night cruise: $100
- Alcohol-Free Package — 1-6 night cruise: $35, 7+ night cruise: $33
- Minors Package — 1-6 night cruise: $25, 7+ night cruise: $22
Can you upgrade your drink package on MSC?
If you booked your MSC cruise during one of the “All In” promotions that includes free drinks and WiFi, you will receive the Easy Plus drink package. You may upgrade this package if you choose to do so at a discounted per-day cost prior to sailing, or at the full per-day cost once onboard.
What happens if you want a drink that costs more than your drink package allotment?
If you order a drink that costs more than your beverage package’s maximum price allotment, you only need to pay the difference; not the entire à la carte price.
Are gratuities included in MSC drink packages?
Yes. All MSC Cruises’ pre-paid drink packages include 18% beverage gratuities. However, guests purchasing drinks individually will be responsible for this per-drink gratuity.
Can just one person get a drink package on MSC?
Unfortunately, no. The same drink packages on MSC must be booked by all guests occupying the same cabin and who are traveling together and wish to dine at the same table. This includes minors who must purchase the Minors Package.
Are MSC Cruises drink packages unlimited?
Like many other cruise lines, MSC Cruises drink packages are unlimited. This means that guests can enjoy an unlimited number of both alcoholic beverages and non-alcoholic beverages each day. However, guests are only allowed to order one drink at a time. Further, MSC Cruises does have the right to refuse service due to intoxication.
What are the MSC Drink Packages?
MSC Cruises currently offers five different drink package options. These cruise drink packages include the Easy Package, Easy Plus Package, and Premium Extra Package. There are also two non-alcoholic options, the Alcohol-Free Package and the Minors Package.
Easy Package
What is the Easy Drink Package on MSC? This is the cheapest MSC Cruises drink package. This option entitles guests to a limited number of alcoholic beverages including:
- Select classic and international cocktails
- Non-alcoholic cocktails and mixed drinks
- Spirits (one brand per type)
- House wines by the glass
- Draft and bottled Heineken beer
- Fountain and canned soft drinks
- Bottled and by-the-glass fruit juices
- Bottled mineral water
- Classic hot drinks (espresso, cappuccino, latte, hot tea, hot chocolate)
This package covers all of the above served in bars, the buffet, and the main restaurant, as well as on MSC’s private islands. However, it does NOT cover drinks in specialty restaurants or signature venues like Venchi 1878 or Jean Phillippe Chocolate, Coffee & Gelato.
Easy Plus Package
The Easy Plus Package covers all beverages priced up to €9/$10. This includes:
- Variety of frozen and classic cocktails
- Fresh fruit cocktails and protein shakes
- Well spirits, liqueurs, and cordials
- Variety of draught and bottled beers
- Non-alcoholic cocktails and all non-alcoholic drinks
- Bottled mineral water
- Wide range of hot drinks
- Selection of wines by the glass
- 10 percent discount on bottles of wine
The Easy Plus Package works at all bars, the buffet, the main dining room, and specialty restaurants, as well as MSC’s private islands. However, it does not work in signature venues either.
Premium Extra Package
The Premium Extra Package is the most inclusive of the MSC cruise drink packages. This package covers all drinks up to €14/$16. It includes:
- Wide selection of premium and international cocktails
- Non-alcoholic cocktails and all non-alcoholic drinks
- Fresh fruit and protein cocktails
- Premium brand spirits, liqueurs, and cordials
- Wide selection of fine wine by the glass
- Champagne by the glass
- Wide variety of draft and bottled beer
- Bottled mineral water
- Wide selection of classic and specialty hot drinks
- 25 percent discount on bottles of wine and champagne
The Premium Extra Package works at all bars, the buffet, the main dining room, and specialty restaurants, as well as on MSC’s private islands. However, it does not work in signature venues either.
Alcohol-Free Package
This cruise drink package includes:
- Non-alcoholic cocktails
- Fresh fruit and protein cocktails
- Energy drinks
- Sodas
- Flavored water
- Wide range of hot drinks
- Soft-serve ice cream
This package does NOT work in the specialty restaurants or at signature venues. Yes, this means that if you purchase this package, you can’t even order a soda while enjoying dinner at Butcher’s Cut.
Minors Package
Lastly, MSC Cruises offers a Minors Package. This drink package gives kids the freedom to enjoy a selection of:
- Non-alcoholic cocktails
- Fresh fruit and protein cocktails
- Energy drinks
- Flavored water
- Soda by the glass and bottle
- Wide range of hot drinks
- Soft-serve ice cream
This package does not work in the specialty restaurants or signature venues either.
Minors are considered ages 3-17 on European sailings and ages 3-20 on North American and Caribbean itineraries. These packages are only applicable to minors who are part of a family purchasing an adult drink package.
MSC Drink Prices
Below are a list of the sample drink prices on MSC Cruises.
- Bottled Water (non-premium)- $3.75
- Espresso-Based Beverages- $4.25
- Soft Drinks- $3
- Mocktails- $7
- Energy Drinks- $5
- Beer- $7.50
- Wine- $9+
- Cocktails- $10-$13
- Signature Cocktails- $14-$16
Are the drink packages on MSC worth it?
This is a question that only you can answer. Essentially, the question is whether you will consume enough beverages to make the purchase “worth it”. Knowing your drink preferences, onboard drink prices, and typical consumption, you can estimate whether or not you would hit the “break even” price point.
Other considerations include the length of the cruise and how many ports of call are on the itinerary. For instance, will you be able to sustain the same drinking pattern over the course of a 10-day or 14-day cruise? If your cruise is port intensive, will you be on the ship enough to make good use of your drink package?
Overall, cruise drink packages certainly do offer convenience, as you never have to worry about the bar tab at the end of the cruise! Still, you should weigh the pros and cons for yourself before you decide to purchase one or not.
Of course, if you wish to forego a beverage package, you can always pay a la carte for your drinks purchased on the ship.
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Comments
Have you purchased one of the drink packages on MSC Cruises? Do you find them to be a good value? Drop us an anchor below to share your reviews of MSC beverage packages.
I’m not sure if your information or mine is incorrect. In your article you state “The Easy Plus Package covers all beverages priced up to $9.” On the MSC site it says the Easy plus package covers up to 9 euros/$10. Did you mean Euros or USD in you article, or is the information incorrect?
https://www.msccruisesusa.com/on-board/dining-drinks/drinks-packages
I meant to include this link in my above post but forgot.
If the drink is over by a dollar or two of your drink package, do you then have to pay for the entire drink or just for the overage of what your drink package allows?
Entire drink. That’s always been the MSC policy.
Can you get all drinks available delivered to your cabin from free if you have a drinks package and have fantastica or above which have free delivery
MSC easy drink package : is alcohol free beer now included or not ? Or what is to pay in addition if not included in easy package ?
Bruno from Switzerland on MSC Spendida in one oct 2023
Hi all
The new method of package drinks is far too more expensive, the vouchers we used before were affordable. How can a non alcoholic pay R1900 for 12 nights? Im only drinking 2 sodas and water per day , is it worth it? The answer is NO. Please review these prices.
Kindly
Zanele
If i upgrade to premium does my wife have to upgrade? She will still have the Easy plus.
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