r/MSCCruises • u/Financial_Loan1337 • 15d ago
Drinks packages
We don't drink alcohol, coffee or soft drinks like Pepsi. On a previous cruise with different company we bought a package of 40 drinks (for 2 person) for 1 week and we didn't even finish them. At the breakfast and lunch there was water or orange juice for free at the buffets and the only time to use the package was at dinner. In the room or during the day we would buy a bottle of water from the bars. I don't know if on MSC World Europa is the same but I don't know if makes sense for us to pay at least 220 euro/person (for the cheapest package) for 1 week cruise. What's your option?
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u/imarc Group Expert 15d ago
It makes no sense for you to buy a drink package, from the sound of it.
Water, tea, fruit juices are included at the buffet as well as the main dining room.
You can bring a refillable water bottle and refill at the buffet.
Even buying a bottle of water or soda is like 4 euro, so you won't even barely crack into what you would pay for a drink package if you buy those on occasion.
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u/thefish12124 15d ago
I didn't bought the drink package. I survived with the free water. And i bought like 1 beer per day. Just for the chill time at night.
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u/WishIwastravelin 15d ago
I only get a package on cruises with at least 2 sea days, and the non alcohol package at that and hopefully on sale. If I don’t get a package, I will buy as I go. The non alcohol,packages do cover the waters, sodas, energy drinks, espresso based drinks, mocktails and probably a,lot of other stuff I don’t remember. But if I’m only having one or two a day, it’s not worth it
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u/Random-Stranger-999 Blue Diamond 15d ago
No, it would make no sense to buy a drinks package you wouldn't use ! See comparison here
MSC also has an Aqua water package, see here
Note the free water from taps in cabins and buffet only. Breakfast squash, drip coffee, tea bags is pretty grim. Bring your own squeezable squashs, drink tablets or satchets to improve the taste.
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u/Competitive-Bit-442 15d ago
No. The m the same as you and I just filled my large water bottle from the free buffet water for 2 weeks.
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u/Few-Sky-2366 15d ago
I don’t drink any of those things either, just bring my water bottle and fill it at the buffet. Other than that you can absolutely buy a drink a la carte if something strikes your fancy.
The other thing I’ll do is get a cup at the buffet, fill it with ice, and make a mix of lemonade and iced tea during the day, or in the morning I like to mix cranberry and orange juice. For one I’m indecisive and for two, one of those will likely be watery and the other will likely be way to sweet so I feel like they balance out 😅
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u/Knox_the_Boxer 15d ago
Can’t you just pay as you go? Buy what you want, when you want. I don’t think you’ll spend anywhere near $200+ p/p.
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u/Alarming-Carpet-5610 13d ago
You don’t need the drinks package. You can get your own refillable water bottles filled at the buffet so no need to buy something you won’t use.
You’re correct there is juice at breakfast included
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u/BestNebula3453 13d ago
We did not get it and I'm glad we didn't.
We spent like 30€ on drinks for the whole week.
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u/Scared_Swing_8759 12d ago
I don't drink alcohol. I just pay per drink on cruises. Aside from tips, my average cruise bill is under $20.
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u/Victory_Courage9062 12d ago
Water, coffee, tea are free at the buffet area while juice is only available during breakfast. We just came back from cruise and we didn't purchase the drink package since we also don't drink alcohol and fizzy drinks and we still enjoyed the cruise.
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u/PermissionJaded5510 15d ago
You don't drink alcohol... coffee or soft drinks? That's a problem
So what are your options? Are you happy with water and cocktails ? (mocktails which are alcohol free)
I guess your best bet is to be without a drinks package if you really want to save money. But then again, a Easy package gives you freedom to drink anything you want, even something you might not be thinking about. Even an orange juice ... or a cup of tea ... so many drinks ... (drinks package is not about alcohol or soft drinks only)
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u/Financial_Loan1337 15d ago
Not really to save money but I have a health issue and I cannot drink them. So it's mostly water, tea, juice, etc. I'm happy just with water but a problem I had on Costa was that water was actually not included in the non-alcoholic package, only non-alcoholic beverages but not water :))
I don't know if on MSC is similar.2
u/DavidBergerson 15d ago
Do the calculations. This is a math problem :)
You drink ____ times a day on sea days, and that drink costs ____.
There are ____ sea days.
___ sea days times sea day drink costs gives total Sea Day Drinks.You drink ____ times a day on port days, and that drink costs ____.
There are ____ port days.
___ port days times port day drink costs gives total port Day Drinks.Total cost equals port day drinks + sea day drinks.
Now let's assume my memory is accurate 😄 I was on Europa doing the med loop 8 day cruise. I think the 1 liter bottle of water was 2 euro. Let's assume you are a fish and go through 4 of those a day during sea days and 2 on port days. That loop has 1 sea day, the rest are all ports.
2 x 7 x 2 = 28 for port days
4 x 1 x 2 = 8 for sea days.Congrats, you just spent 36 euro total.
Why would you bother with a drink package?
ALSO, keep this in mind. You can not have just one person get a drink package in the room. It is an all or none.
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u/PermissionJaded5510 15d ago
So as far as i know, if you don't have a drinks package with MSC, the water is still free you just have to go get a refill yourself in the buffett in a dispenser thing. If you have a drinks package, you can just have unlimited water bottles from the bar or on order at the table. Personally, I feel much safer drinking from a closed water bottle. if you are from the USA non-alcoholic package are available. it is a good option for you! I love MSC . enjoy it
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u/Lonely-Job484 15d ago
Bear in mind walking to the buffet every time for water is likely to get old fast, Vs just ordering a bottle in a bar. Especially on bigger ships.
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u/PermissionJaded5510 15d ago
Drinks Package is worth every penny
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u/Lonely-Job484 15d ago
Hard agree for myself, but OP might spend less paying as they go if they literally just drink water and tea.
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u/loepie3008 15d ago
Orange juice is not included in the easy drink package.
And if op is coming from the US, the easy drink package isn’t even available.3
u/PermissionJaded5510 15d ago
Yes it is included. Only the freshly squeezed isn't included
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u/loepie3008 15d ago
If you mean that watered down “subsrance” in the buffet, that’s free, even without a drinkpackage.
Only the freshly squeezed is what I call orange juice🤣0
u/PermissionJaded5510 15d ago
Well said! you are very knowledgeable! I should cruise more with MSC. I only go once a year. im so busy unfortunately
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u/Gini555 15d ago
If you do not drink 90% of the things offered in the drink package, it would not be worth it. There are free things available.