One of the many things I love about cruising is how easy it is to try new things. It’s not just the new places to go and new sights to see. There is always something you haven’t tried before on the menu at one of the dining venues or bars onboard.
While some cruisers debate the value of drink packages, it’s hard to dispute the freedom that a good package brings. Especially if you were buying a package of services that include the drinks anyway. Princess Plus package or MSC’s Aurea and Yacht club experiences both include drinks.
After many Princess cruises, we recently took our first cruise on MSC. There were countless new drinks we hadn’t seen before. I love trying a new drink knowing that if I don’t like it then I can leave it. If I get something else I haven’t just paid my hard-earned money for two drinks. One drink for the price of two isn’t fun.
Things were very different when we cruised on MSC Virtuosa compared with Princess. Here are 5 differences between the Princess and MSC drinks packages.
Counting drinks
There are always variations and limitations between different packages. If you have an alcoholic drinks package from Princess, there is a 15 drink per-person-per-day (pppd) limit on alcoholic drinks. Whilst I’ve not hit this limit, on a hot sea day it is easy to get through lots of drinks. A beer here, a cocktail there, wine with meals, an after-dinner brandy or an alcoholic coffee soon add up. Once you hit that 15-drink pppd limit any further alcoholic drinks will cost you the full price.
Onboard MSC there is no limit on the number of drinks you can have. Want a 17th or 18th drink, then get your order in.
It’s worth noting that you won’t be served by staff on either line if you are seriously drunk. Regardless of if you are within your 15-drink limit on Princess.
Package costs
Princess has a flat rate price for each of their packages. At the time of writing the Princess Zero-Alcohol Drink Package is USD 29.99 pppd.
Onboard MSC the situation is not so clear. The pppd price of a drinks package varies by region with different prices for the Caribbean and Mediterranean. The length of your cruise also changes the pppd prices with shorter cruises costing more per day than longer ones.
You need to log in and check the site to find out the price for an MSC drinks package.
More expensive drink charges
One huge difference between Princess and MSC is how they handle charging for drinks above your package limit.
On Princess, a Remy Martin XO cognac cost $19 which was above the $15 limit for our package. Princess charges the difference between your drinks package and the cost so I would get charged $4 instead of $19. The other $15 counted as one drink against my limit.
MSC charge full price for any drink above the package limit! A €17 Remy Martin XO would cost the full 17 Euros even when our package included drinks up to €13. I did enjoy the Armagnac Janneau XO which is included in the package up in the sky lounge on occasion.
Included venues
Make sure you check what a drink package includes. It is probably even more important to check exclusions.
Princess is very inclusive when it comes to venues.
“Private Islands and all onboard Food and Beverage Venues and other areas such as the Theater or public spaces that offer beverage service.”
Princess includes Hot chocolate or speciality coffee at International Cafe on plus and premier packs.
With MSC there are limitations on where you can use your package.
“does not cover the specialty restaurants and signature venues”
MSC will charge for any hot chocolate or coffee at Jean-Philippe regardless of the limit on your package.
In practice, this is not always straightforward. Butcher’s cut didn’t charge us for our drinks. Hola tacos and cantina, does include some drinks but others were not. If in doubt, make sure you ask. Staff will happily let you know if something is included or not.
Drinks package availability
It’s best to buy a drinks package before you sail as it is usually discounted in advance. If you want a package after boarding on Princess you can only buy it on embarkation day. The drinks package is not sold later in the cruise.
On MSC you can add a package at any time before the cruise. You can also add it after embarkation day. If you are drinking more than expected then you can scan a QR code and add it to your cruise.
Conclusion
We always travel with a drinks package as long as it offers reasonable value for money. But make sure you understand what is, and is not included before you commit to one. Neither cruise line offer refunds once you’ve bought it.
I hope you find this look at some of the major differences between the two line’s drinks package offerings useful. Was there a difference that surprised you or one that I missed? Please let me know in the comments down below.
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