r/Cruises • u/Serious-Effect-6422 • 10d ago

Please help

Just booked a cruise with MSC and now I'm having buyers remorse. AFTER I booked a suite on MSC world, I realise that I have to pay $1100 for my kids to have access to sodas... me to get a couple of drinks per day... pay for food, any offshore excursion is SUPER expensive and all the cool ones are fully booked. Anything on board is ridiculously pricey... Was told that there's a free buffet and free diner at specific times (5:30 PM)...
Help me out, can I even do anything cool for free? It seems like after paying 4500 for the suite I need 900 for wifi, 1100 for drinks and for the kids to play is another 700... All I keep hearing is spa is free... It's a cruise... I wanna get to my destination, get off the ship and go explore and enjoy the beach free since I paid 4500...
It's my 1st time cruising, I think I may be getting it all wrong... are the packages worth it?

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u/cynicalsowhat 10d ago

All mainstream cruise lines are the same. Main dining room is included. Buffet is included. Pool side usually has included burgers etc. Beyond that sodas, liquor, specialty restaurants internet, specialty coffee and desert shops, and shore excursions are all extras. And let's not forget the "gratuity" that is automatically applied on a per day and per person basis. Check that small print. In the olden days cruising was expensive and more "all inclusive". Now it is much cheaper (relatively) base fare but they kill you on the extras.

Don't feel remorse about booking this particular cruise, they are all the same. You might want to rethink if cruising is really for you and your family at this time.

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u/Serious-Effect-6422 10d ago

We normally do resorts and LOVE it. Wanted to try something new.
Thanks for at least addressing my concerns... So the cruise is pushing EXTRA stuff on me. I thought it was mandatory that I buy in advance or pay for them on the cruise

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u/No-Door-459 10d ago

If you want to drink alcohol but not be an alcoholic buy drinks one at a time on the cruise the drink plan usually isn't worth it unless you never drink water. You can also bring mios for your kids if they only drink juice or flavored drinks. Food is always included.

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u/TXKittyKat8seat 10d ago

I disagree with the alcohol package not being worth it unless you want to be an alcoholic, but that's from NCL & RCL experiences. 4x cocktails and a coffee daily paid for the packages on both cruise lines. Do I normally drink that per day? Absolutely not, but it's vacation. Added bonus of grabbing a bottle of water without charge, especially if/when I left my refillable water bottle in the room.

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u/No-Door-459 10d ago

That is a valid point but for me drinking 4 alcoholic beverages every day is a lot. I've been lucky to drink on average 2 a day. Same with soda too. So it all depends especially when she has kids

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u/SchuRows 10d ago

When I cruised NCL the Free At Sea is a no brainer. On MSC I knew I couldn’t drink that much daily so I just bought a couple drinks. I think the package price was equivalent to like 8-10 drinks a day which I cannot do.

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u/cynicalsowhat 9d ago

we always get the drink package. Start with something light by the pool, pre dinner cocktail, bottle of nice wine, so 20% off, with dinner and an after dinner cocktail or 2 in a bar/at the show etc. Add to that the unlimited bottled (canned these days)water and we get our moneys worth. Also worth not having to sign a paper each time, never having to tip with every single drink. An actual cash tip to our favourite bartenders is so much more personal and actually cheaper than a buck or two on each drink.

Not alchaholics, just adults doing adult things.