MSC DRINKS PACKAGES AND INTERNET PACKAGES: DETAILED GUIDE FOR CRUISERS
If you’re going on a cruise with MSC and wondering how much the MSC drinks packages and Internet packages cost, this blog post is for you!
MSC Cruises are generally very well-priced, but for the full experience, there are quite a few add-ons you can choose from. Of course, you can sail without them, but this guide will show you exactly how much you’d need to pay to enjoy internet at sea and unlimited drinks!
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We spent our last cruise without either of the two, and this one with both, so I’ll also share a comparison and help you decide whether they’re really worth it!
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MSC DRINKS PACKAGES
The MSC drinks packages are the most expensive add-on and there are a few different options you can choose from. If you don’t get a drinks package, you’ll have juices, coffee, and tea during breakfast, and only water for the rest of the day.
On our first cruise, we didn’t purchase a drinks package, we just bought a few drinks whenever we felt like it and drank water the rest of the time. However, if you’re not someone who enjoys drinking mostly water, you might not like this option.
Here are the available drinks packages you can choose from, which you can book either before your cruise or during the first few days on board.
EASY PACKAGE
The Easy Package lets you enjoy 15 alcoholic drinks per day and unlimited non-alcoholic drinks. You can get your drinks almost anywhere on the ship, from complimentary restaurants to bars all over the ship, and even at MSC’s private island if it’s on your itinerary.
This package includes cocktails, house wine and beer, soft drinks, coffee and tea, mocktails, and still or sparkling water. Keep in mind, the package does not cover drinks at specialty restaurants, where you’ll still need to pay separately.
The price is 47 euros per person per day. Since you must get it for both passengers in the cabin, that comes to 94 euros per day for two people, or 658 euros for a 7-day cruise.
PREMIUM PACKAGE
The Premium Package includes everything in the Easy Package, but with some major upgrades. You get premium-brand liquor, champagne, high-end cocktails, bottled beers, specialty coffees, and more. Like the Easy Package, it’s capped at 15 alcoholic drinks per day, but unlike Easy, it applies everywhere, including specialty restaurants.
The price is 87 euros per person per day, which comes to 174 euros per day for two people. For a 7-day cruise, that totals 1,218 euros. On a longer cruise, like our current 20-day Grand Voyage, it would exceed 3,000 euros just for drinks.
Unless you’re certain you’ll drink the full 15 alcoholic drinks each day, this package is likely not worth the cost. It’s almost as much as, or even more than, the cruise itself.
DINE AND DRINK PACKAGE
This is the package we chose, and we’re really happy with it. It includes drinks with your meals, so basically you can enjoy drinks from noon until midnight. You get unlimited house wines by the glass, draught beer, sodas, fruit juices, and mineral water. Drinks are served in the complimentary restaurants (the buffet and your assigned lunch/dinner restaurant).
Even better, you can grab drinks at the buffet anytime and take them to the bars, by the pool, or to your cabin, which is super convenient.
The cost is only 15 euros per person per day, which comes to around 210 euros for two people on a 7-day cruise. Compared to the Easy and Premium packages, this one is really reasonable. It’s perfect if you just want drinks with meals and aren’t bothered by getting the drinks at one place only.
ALCOHOL-FREE PACKAGE
This package covers almost every non-alcoholic drink on the ship. It includes mocktails, soft drinks, fruit juices, energy drinks, coffee, tea, water, and even soft-serve ice cream. You can use it anywhere on the ship, except for specialty restaurants.
The cost is 29 euros per person per day, which comes to about 420 euros for two people on a 7-day cruise. It’s a good option if you don’t drink alcohol but still want unlimited beverages throughout the day.
MINORS PACKAGE
The last package is for kids and includes all the non-alcoholic drinks they could want: soft drinks, smoothies, mocktails, energy drinks, hot drinks, and soft-serve ice cream.
It’s available for children whose parents have already booked an adult drinks package. Like the others, it can be used anywhere on the ship except specialty restaurants. The cost is 20 euros per child per day, which comes to 140 euros per child for a 7-day cruise.
MSC DRINKS MENU PRICES
Here’s a quick overview of the most common drinks on MSC Cruises and their prices if you decide not to get a drinks package and just buy a few drinks as you go:
- Coffee – from 2.5 euros
- Soft drinks – 3.5 euros
- Water (1l) – 3.25 euros
- Fruit juices (by glass) – 3 euros
- Digestives (one shot) – 9 euros
- Bottled beers – 7-8 euros
- Craft beers – 8 euros
- Wine by glass – from 8 euros
- Wine by bottle – from 30 euros
This gives you an idea of how much you’d spend if you only have a few drinks during the cruise instead of committing to a package. Over 7 days, a few drinks here and there can be much cheaper than a full package!
MSC INTERNET PACKAGES
Nowadays it’s almost impossible to do anything without internet, and as a full-time travel blogger, having a connection is super important for me. On MSC, internet isn’t included, so you’ll need to pay for a package if you want to be online. There are two options on MSC Wifi – the Cruise package or the Daily package. Both use satellite internet, so speeds aren’t super fast, but they’re enough for browsing, messaging, and uploading to social media.
CRUISE PACKAGE
The Cruise Package gives you unlimited internet access for the entire length of your cruise. You can purchase it on the first day of your cruise or up to two days before disembarkation, as long as at least one day remains.
You also choose how many devices you want to connect, anywhere from 1 to 4. The price is calculated per device and per day. For example, the basic Browse Package costs 12.99 euros per device per day. On a 7-day cruise, that’s 91 euros for one device. If you connect two devices at 10.99 euros per day each, it’s 153 euros for the week.
The basic Browse Package only allows light internet use, like messaging and emails. If you want to enjoy Instagram, TikTok, or Netflix, you’ll need the Stream Package, which starts at 16.99 euros per device per day, which is 119 euros for one device for a 7-day cruise. It’s definitely a notable extra cost to factor into your trip budget.
DAILY PACKAGE
If you don’t want to commit to the entire cruise, there’s also a Daily Package. This one is valid for a single device and lasts 24 hours from the moment you activate it. It costs 29.99 euros for the Browse Package and 35.99 euros for the Stream Package.
We personally used the daily package once or twice, since in most ports we could access our own internet (EU) or use an e-Sim (US and the Caribbean). I’d suggest thinking about whether you really need internet all the time or if you can manage without it for a few days. If it fits your budget, it’s a great option. You can work, stream Netflix, and even download large files within 24 hours.
CONCLUSION: MSC DRINKS PACKAGES AND INTERNET PACKAGE
Both internet and drinks can definitely make your MSC Cruise more enjoyable, but MSC knows that and the prices reflect it. I’d recommend getting internet only for the days you’re at sea and actually need it. Otherwise, it’s smarter to rely on an e-Sim while you have signal, since at night you’re sleeping anyway. If being connected 24/7 is a must, then consider the full cruise package.
As for drinks, I have to admit they made our cruise much more fun, especially with 5 days at sea across the Atlantic! Still, anything beyond the Dine & Drink Package feels overpriced for what you get. That said, if budget isn’t a concern, go for it, you’ll definitely enjoy your cruise even more.
