MSC Cruises - Luxury Cruising

MSC Fantastica Experience: Game-Changer Or Waste Of Money?

July 2, 2025

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News MSC Cruises

Booking an MSC cruise? It’s not just about picking your cabin – you also have to choose an experience. And yes, that choice can seriously affect your trip.

From dining times to cabin locations and added perks, your experience level matters. Bella is the basic one, Fantastica is a step up, and Aurea is the fancy top-tier.

In this post, I’m diving into the Fantastica Experience – what you get, what you don’t, and whether it’s actually worth the upgrade.

MSC Cruises Fantastica Package

The Fantastica experience is the mid-level cruise package available when you book an MSC cruise. It allows you to select your cabin and location, and request either early or late dining. It comes with a small selection of other perks.

When you book with MSC Cruises, you have to choose an experience – these aren’t optional. The Bella experience is the most basic and also the cheapest, while Fantastica is the mid-range option.

The main reason for choosing Fantastica, for most people (me included) is the chance to choose your room and avoid any undesirable cabins, like these ones that have metal rather than glass fronts…

The Aurea package is more of an upgrade for people who want a lot of additional benefits added in. You can read more about the differences between the packages here: MSC Bella Vs Fantastica Vs Aurea.

What’s Included In The MSC Fantastica Package

Firstly, remember that Fantastica is an upgrade on the Bella package, so you get everything that you would get with a Bella experience, plus some extras.

Here’s everything you get with the Bella experience, which you also get with Fantastica:

Your accommodation, meals in the main dining room and buffet, and live entertainment
The option to book a discounted drinks package when you book your cruise
Access to the swimming pools, sports facilities and gym
Kids clubs
Earn loyalty points for the MSC Voyagers Club every time you cruise

The Bella experience is very much what you would consider to be the basic cruise experience.

So you get your room and you don’t have to pay extra for your dining if you stick to the main dining rooms or the buffet restaurant, that’s all included.

As is your live entertainment, which is the nightly theatre shows taking place on most days of your cruise. This doesn’t mean all of your entertainment is free, though – some features may have an additional cost.

There are some things that are always free to use though, including the swimming pools and the sports facilities – including the walking/running track, basketball and so on. The gym’s free too, so if you’re in the mood to burn off that buffet meal you’ve just indulged on, you always can.

The kids’ clubs are always free too, so during normal activity hours, you can drop them off and let them enjoy a wide range of activities with the other children on board. Services like babysitting late at night may have additional costs, though.

Finally, every time you cruise, you’ll earn points towards the MSC loyalty programme, which is called the MSC Voyagers Club. These points will earn you rewards for future cruises with MSC.

Read more: What’s Included in MSC Cruises

So, what else do you get with Fantastica that you don’t get with Bella? Here are the perks…

Here are the benefits of upgrading to a Fantastica experience:

The chance to choose your own cabin and location on the ship
One free change to your cruise (cabin or cruise date)
Breakfast served in your cabin with free delivery
20% discount on a speciality restaurant pre-paid package
Chance to request your preferred dinner sitting (subject to availability)

Now, let’s take a closer look at each of the Fantastica perks to help you decide if it’s worth the extra cost…

Choose Your Own Cabin Number

The main reason people tend to choose Fantastica is the chance to choose your cabin number, since it means you’ve got a better chance of getting one of the better rooms on the ship.

The Bella cabins are usually in undesirable locations, such as right at the top front, where you will feel the movement more and so are more likely to suffer from seasickness. The Fantastica cabins, however, have the best mid-ship locations.

Suggested read: Will You Get Seasick On A Cruise? How To Know

This is the Fantastica balcony cabin that we stayed in onboard MSC Virtuosa:

Fantastica balcony cabin on MSC Virtuosa

We had previously booked a Bella balcony, but it was right at the front and MSC Virtuosa is a very big ship, so we didn’t fancy all of that walking with two young kids.

Nipping back to your room for your sunglasses can be a 15-minute job if your cabin isn’t in a convenient spot. And don’t get me started on carrying sleeping children while wearing heels!

The Bella balcony room also had a metal balcony rather than glass, which meant that our children wouldn’t have been able to see the view.

So, before the cruise, we paid an extra £80 to upgrade to a Fantastica balcony, which I think was worth it.

With the Fantastica package, you get one free change to your cruise. With Bella, if you need to change your cabin or your sailing date, you need to pay an additional fee, which we did.

Free Breakfast Room Service

A nice touch with Fantastica is the free breakfast served in your room. Room service normally has a delivery charge, and outside of breakfast, you have to pay for the items you order, too. But at breakfast time, Fantastica guests get both the food and the delivery for free.

To order, you just hang this card on your door handle before you go to bed.

On the other side is the room service menu, so you just write how many you would like of each item.

Speciality Dining Discount

With MSC Cruises, you can also book a speciality dining package, paid up front, to allow you to experience some of the different restaurants on board. Do this with a Fantastica experience package and you’ll save 20% compared to if you wait until you’re on the ship.

If you like speciality dining, this could make the upgrade worth it for you. But really, I think it’s just a way for MSC Cruises to encourage more people to book multiple dining experiences.

Choice Of Dining Sitting

Finally, you’ll also have the chance to request your preferred dinner sitting, either early or late. The actual times will vary, but you’ll be assigned a time either in the early window (usually 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm) or the late one (usually 7.45 pm to 9.45 pm).

That doesn’t mean you can pick a time, but if you request early, it means you’ll be given a time between 5.30 pm and 7.30 pm, and that’s when you’re expected to turn up.

These are subject to availability, with guests assigned their seating in priority order from the Suites down, so there’s a chance you won’t get your requested time still if you book an Inside cabin.

Also, those times are just an example and the actual times for each sitting can vary depending on the ship and itinerary.

If you’re given a time that you don’t want, you can always try to change it. If you have a particular reason, such as young kids who can’t wait until 9 pm to eat dinner, then you have a very high chance of success, particularly if you booked Fantastica.

But even if you booked Bella and you just don’t fancy that time, then it’s still definitely worth asking if you want to switch.

The Difference Between MSC Bella And Fantastica

The main difference between MSC Bella and MSC Fantastica is that Fantastica gives you more choice – choice of where your cabin will be, and when you’ll eat dinner.

Experience Benefits	Bella	Fantastica
Opportunity to choose your cabin and location	NO	YES
Change your cruise for a fee	YES	NO
One Free Cruise Change	NO	YES
Breakfast in cabin, including delivery	NO	YES
Discounted drinks package when you book	YES	YES
Main Dining Room and Buffet restaurants included	YES	YES
20% discount on speciality dining package	NO	YES
Request your preferred dinner seating	NO	YES
Use of the pools, sports facilities and gym	YES	YES
Live theatre shows	YES	YES
Kids clubs	YES	YES
MSC Voyagers Club loyalty points	YES	YES

The Cost Of A Fantastica Experience

What’s clear is that the Fantastica experience is an upgrade – you wouldn’t choose the Bella experience over the Fantastica if both cost exactly the same.

So, how much does Fantastica cost?

There isn’t a fixed price, and it’ll depend on your cruise date and how sold out the ship is. Generally, the cost to upgrade from Bella to Fantastica will cost around £50-100 ($60-120) per person, but it may be more depending on your itinerary.

There may even be some cruises where Bella is not an option, and you have to book Fantastica – but if you do, then the cost will already be included in your fare. You might think that it’s free, but it just means that you aren’t seeing the lower Bella costs. The extra fee is incorporated into the fare you’re paying.

This will happen when all of the cheapest cabins have sold out, those that are in less desirable locations on the ship. MSC doesn’t want you to get the benefits of Fantastica without paying for them, so it puts a limit on how many people can book Bella instead.

Sorry if you saw a ‘free’ Fantastica upgrade and thought you were getting a great deal – it just means you’re a little late, and Fantastica is the minimum option available!

Final Word

So the big question is whether Fantastica is worth paying the upgrade price, or if you’re better off sticking to Bella.

With a lot of options for different cruise packages, you’re able to pay extra for the benefits if you decide not to upgrade, which means you can pick and choose the things that matter most to you. But that doesn’t work with MSC.

If you decide to book Bella, you can’t then pay a fee to request a different dining sitting, or to change your cabin location.

So you have to look at the benefits that Fantastica offers, and decide whether they’re something that matters to you.

The main reasons to upgrade would be if you cared about the location of your cabin, and if you want to have more of a choice when it comes to eating in the main dining rooms.

If you’re not that bothered about where your cabin is, and you will spend more evenings eating in the buffet restaurant, Fantastica probably isn’t worth it, and you might as well get the cheapest MSC cruise you can with Bella.

But if you want the best views, or to be closer to the elevators, and you do want to make sure you avoid a super-early or super-late dinner sitting time, then pay for the upgrade.

The other perks – the free breakfast in your room, the speciality restaurant package discount and the free cruise change – are nice to have. The cruise change is only useful if something happens to cause you to move your cruise, and your travel insurance may cover you for that anyway.

So check the prices for the upgrade when you’re planning on sailing, and think about whether you want to control your cabin location and have a say on your dinner dining time. That’ll tell you whether you should be booking Bella or Fantastica.

Or maybe you should be booking Aurea instead. Read more about the MSC Aurea experience to see whether it’s worth paying for the top-tier package.

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

Don’t miss the latest MSC Cruises offers…

See deals

The post MSC Fantastica Experience: Game-Changer Or Waste Of Money? appeared first on Cruise Mummy.

Source link

Large cruise ship docked at a sunny Mediterranean port, the kind of sailing sold in cheap MSC cruises deals

Cheap MSC Cruises: How £99 Fares Work and What You Will Really Pay

November 8, 2026

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News MSC Cruises

Cheap MSC cruises at around £99 per person do exist, but they are rare, short or off-season, and they buy you a basic Bella fare with no drinks. A more typical low price for a full week was roughly £250 to £370 per person in early November 2026. Add travel and drinks and the true cost is often two or three times the headline, which can still be very good value.

This guide explains how MSC can sell so low, what the cheapest fare covers, and how to work out what you would really pay.

Why are MSC cruises so cheap?

There is no single trick. Several things combine to produce those eye-catching prices.

An empty cabin earns nothing. Passengers who pay little for the cabin still spend on drinks, excursions, Wi-Fi and speciality restaurants. It makes commercial sense to fill the ship.
The fare is unbundled. The headline price covers the cabin, main meals and entertainment. Most extras are sold separately.
Bella is a guarantee fare. MSC gets to place you wherever it has space, which helps it fill awkward cabins.
Timing does the rest. The lowest prices cluster around November to March and in the final weeks before departure.
“From” prices are the floor. They are generally per person, based on two people sharing the lowest cabin grade, and very few cabins may be sold at that price.

Agents’ last-minute pages have advertised from-prices as low as £45 per person, so a £99 fare is plausible. Expect those fares to be for short breaks or sailings about to depart, often from a port you would need to fly to.

MSC cruise deals: what prices look like now

These fares were listed by UK agents in early November 2026 for inside cabins. They are a snapshot, not a promise, and they change daily.

Ship	Sailing	Departs	From, per person
MSC Seashore	4 nights, Bahamas	Port Canaveral, 15 Nov 2026	£204
MSC Grandiosa	7 nights, Caribbean	Port Canaveral, 23 Jan 2027	£256
MSC Seascape	7 nights, Caribbean	Galveston, 15 Nov 2026	£283
MSC Sinfonia	7 nights, Mediterranean	Barcelona, 15 Nov 2026	£338
MSC Preziosa	7 nights, Northern Europe	Southampton, 4 Dec 2026	£366

The pattern is useful. The US sailings look cheapest but need long-haul flights. The late-autumn Mediterranean is cheap partly because the weather is less reliable. Older, smaller ships such as MSC Sinfonia often undercut the newest ones, while a winter week from Southampton needs no flight at all. To see how the fleet compares before you chase the lowest price, look at our MSC ships ranked by customer reviews.

Compact inside cabin on a cruise ship with a made-up double bed — The cheapest MSC fares are usually for inside cabins allocated by the cruise line. Photo: t. on Pexels

What the MSC Bella experience really includes

Bella is MSC’s entry-level fare. You still get the core cruise: your cabin, breakfast, lunch and dinner in the main restaurants and buffet, entertainment, pools, the gym and children’s clubs. The savings come from giving up control.

Your cabin is assigned. You can ask for a category, but not a cabin number. MSC allocates it within four days of departure, and it can be an obstructed or promenade-view room depending on the ship.
Groups can be split. MSC says triples and quadruples may be placed in two cabins on the same deck and side, which matters for families.
Changes cost money. A change has to be made at least 30 days ahead and carries a fee, while Fantastica includes one free change.
Dinner sitting is not yours to pick. You can make a request, but higher fares get priority.
Family offers may not apply. Kids-sail-free promotions are generally tied to selected dates, and one UK agent reports they do not usually apply to Bella.

If you are worried about where you could end up, remember that a guarantee fare takes that decision out of your hands, so it is not the right choice for anyone with firm views on cabin location.

Feature	Bella	Fantastica	Aurea
Choose your cabin	No	Yes	Yes
Booking changes	Fee applies	One free	One free
Dinner	Sitting assigned	Can request sitting	Eat when you like
Room service	Delivery charge	Free delivery	Free delivery
Thermal spa area	Extra	Extra	Included

The gap between Bella and Fantastica is often only about £30 to £80 per person. If you care which cabin you get or are travelling as a family of four, that is often the best money you will spend.

The real cost of a cheap MSC cruise

Service charge

This is the good news for British passengers. MSC’s UK deals page and UK agents state that hotel service charges and port taxes are included in UK-booked fares. For comparison, MSC’s published rate from July 2026 is €12 per adult per night on Mediterranean and Northern Europe itineraries, and US$17 on Caribbean ones, so a week would be about €84 or US$119 if it were added. Agents’ small print sometimes excludes gratuities from specific offers, so check your confirmation.

Drinks

Only basics such as tea, coffee, water and iced tea come with meals. UK prices per person per day, as reported in July 2026, are usually:

Easy package: £35 to £45
Premium Extra: £60 to £85
Alcohol-free: £20 to £30
Under-18s: £15 to £20

Discounts regularly bring these down, and MSC was advertising reduced packages from £196 per person for seven nights in November 2026. Adults sharing a cabin usually have to buy the same package. Our guide to MSC drink prices breaks down whether a package is worth it.

Flights and transfers

A £300 Mediterranean fare can look less clever once you add flights. MSC’s fly-cruise packages from UK airports include flights, transfers, checked bags and ATOL protection, so compare those with the cost of booking separately. No-fly Southampton sailings remove the issue, leaving only rail or parking.

Wi-Fi, excursions and everything else

Wi-Fi is extra on Bella, and MSC tends to show the price only after booking. US-market prices were around $16 per person per day for basic browsing in 2026, so treat that as a guide. Excursions, speciality dining and travel insurance are extra too.

Couple at a table with a laptop and notebook comparing holiday costs — Add drinks, flights and Wi-Fi to the headline fare to see the true price. Photo: Mikhail Nilov on Pexels

Cheap MSC cruises: a worked seven-night example

This is what one person might actually pay, using the fares above. Flight, parking and Wi-Fi figures are our own estimates. The low column assumes no drinks package or Wi-Fi.

Cost per person	Barcelona, low	Barcelona, high	Southampton, low	Southampton, high
Cruise fare	£338	£338	£366	£366
Flights and transfers, or rail and parking	£150	£300	£40	£100
Easy drinks package	£0	£315	£0	£315
Wi-Fi	£0	£100	£0	£100
Estimated total	£488	£1,053	£406	£881

Notice that the slightly dearer Southampton fare comes out cheaper overall. That is why comparing total cost matters more than comparing the headline number. It is also why it pays to think about what you would spend, since a light drinker’s week can cost half as much as a heavy drinker’s on an identical fare.

How to find cheap MSC cruises from the UK

Start with MSC’s own site. Check the UK deals and last-minute pages, then price the same sailing with two or three UK agents.
Stay flexible. November to March and the weeks just before departure tend to be cheapest, so shift dates where you can.
Search by port. Cheap MSC cruises from Southampton are worth pricing first if you want to avoid flights.
Look at the whole offer. A slightly higher fare with drinks or a balcony promotion can beat the lowest Bella price.
Join the loyalty scheme. MSC Voyagers Club members and over-65s have had access to dedicated discounts.
Compare drinks prices before you sail. Packages are usually cheaper bought in advance than on board.

To compare MSC with other lines, browse the latest cruise deals for 2027.

Is a cheap MSC cruise worth it?

For most flexible travellers, yes, provided you go in with realistic expectations. You get a full-size ship, meals and evening shows for less than many hotel holidays. It suits couples happy with any inside cabin, first-time cruisers wanting a low-risk trial, and anyone who can sail outside school holidays.

It suits you less if you want a particular cabin, need a family kept together, or would buy a drinks package anyway. In those cases, move up to Fantastica and budget for the extras. The best deal is the one where the final figure still looks good after you have added everything up.

FAQs

Why are MSC cruises so cheap?

MSC sells the cabin at a low price and earns more from drinks, Wi-Fi, excursions and speciality dining. The lowest fares are usually off-peak sailings on the Bella experience, where MSC chooses your cabin.

How do you get the cheapest MSC cruise?

Be flexible on dates, look at November to March, accept a Bella inside cabin, and compare MSC’s own price with two or three UK agents. Then add drinks and travel before deciding it is the cheapest.

Are MSC cruises cheaper last minute?

Often, because unsold cabins get discounted in the final weeks. The trade-off is limited cabin choice and flights that may cost more at short notice, so Southampton sailings tend to suit late bookers best.

Are gratuities included on cheap MSC cruises from the UK?

UK agents and MSC’s UK site say hotel service charges are included in UK-booked fares, but some agents’ deal terms carve out exceptions. Confirm it in writing, because MSC’s standard rate on European itineraries is €12 per adult per night.

Does MSC offer an NHS discount?

MSC’s UK deals page did not list a standing NHS discount in November 2026. It did list offers for over-65s, single parents and MSC Voyagers Club members, and promotions change often.

MSC Cruises Status Match Charts

June 11, 2025

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News MSC Cruises

Being enrolled in a cruise line’s loyalty programme is great for getting extra rewards, but the best perks are locked behind higher tiers – which means you feel like you’re locked into one cruise line.

MSC Cruises has a ‘Status Match Program’ that’s designed to attract guests who are already loyal to other cruise lines, hotel brands, or tour operators.

It acknowledges the loyalty status that you may have earned with other travel brands by offering a matching status in the MSC Voyagers Club, which is MSC Cruises’ own loyalty program.

But is it any good?

First, choose your cruise line below to see what level your loyalty status matches to with MSC Cruises

AIDA Cruise Line

	Classic	Silver	Diamond
Blau	✔
Rot	✔
Gelb		✔
Grün			✔

Azamara Cruises – Le Club Voyage

	Gold	Diamond
Adventurer	✔
Explorer		✔
Discoverer		✔

Carnival Cruises – VIFP

	Classic	Silver	Gold
Blue	✔
Red	✔
Gold		✔
Platinum			✔
Diamond			✔

Celebrity Cruises – Captain’s Club

	Silver	Gold	Diamond
Classic	✔
Select		✔
Elite		✔
Elite Plus		✔
Zenith			✔

Costa Cruises – Costa Club

	Classic	Silver	Gold	Diamond
Aquamarine	✔
Coral		✔
Pearl			✔
Gold Pearl				✔
Pearl Diamante				✔

Cunard Cruises – World Club Cunard

	Classic	Silver	Gold	Diamond
Silver	✔
Gold		✔
Platinum			✔
Diamond				✔

Disney Cruise Line – Castaway Club

	Silver	Gold	Diamond
Silver	✔
Gold		✔
Platinum			✔

Holland America – Mariner Society

	Classic	Gold	Diamond
Star mariner	✔
2 Star mariner	✔
3 Star mariner		✔
4 Star mariner			✔
5 Star mariner			✔
President’s Club			✔

Norwegian Cruises – Latitudes

	Classic	Silver	Gold	Diamond
Bronze	✔
Silver	✔
Gold		✔
Platinum			✔
Platinum Plus			✔
Ambassador				✔

Oceania Cruises – Oceania Club

	Classic	Silver	Gold	Diamond
Blue	✔
Bronze	✔
Silver		✔
Gold			✔
Platinum			✔
Diamond				✔
President’s Circle				✔

Ponant Yacht Cruises & Expeditions

	Classic	Silver	Gold	Diamond
Major				✔
Admiral				✔
Grand Admiral				✔

Princess Cruises – Princess Captain’s Circle

	Classic	Silver	Gold	Diamond
Gold	✔
Ruby		✔
Platinum			✔
Elite				✔

P&O Cruises – Peninsular Club

	Classic	Gold	Diamond
Pacific Tier	✔
Atlantic Tier	✔
Mediterranean Tier	✔
Caribbean Tier		✔
Baltic Tier		✔
Tier Ligure			✔

Regent Cruises – Seven Seas Club

	Classic	Diamond
Bronze	✔
Silver		✔
Gold		✔
Platinum		✔
Titanium		✔

Royal Caribbean – Crown & Anchor Society

	Classic	Silver	Gold	Diamond	Blue Diamond
5% cruise discount	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
10% cruise discount on advance bookings	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Email newsletter	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Personalised luggage tags	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Welcome back cocktail	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Onboard discounts	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
$50 credit on advance bookings		✔	✔	✔	✔
One hour in the thermal area			✔	✔	✔
Free gift			✔	✔	✔
Priority disembarkation by tender			✔	✔	✔
Free photo			✔	✔	✔
Birthday cake			✔	✔	✔
Priority line for embarkation				✔	✔
Free speciality restaurant dinner				✔	✔
Priority disembarkation at end of cruise				✔	✔
Bathrobe and slippers				✔	✔
Dance class				✔	✔
Diamond Party				✔	✔
Late check-out				✔	✔
Sweet chocolate gift				✔	✔
Free WiFi package					✔
Flexible check-in times					✔
Free tickets for shuttle services (select ports)					✔
Exclusive event invitations with officers					✔

Source link

Why MSC Cruises Are So Cheap

June 10, 2025

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News Cruise Tips MSC Cruises

When you search for cruise deals online and order the results by price from lowest to highest, MSC Cruises usually appear at the top of the list. They’re one of the cheapest cruise lines.

According to my research about how much cruises cost with each cruise line, MSC Cruises cost around 25% less than the average cruise.

But why are MSC Cruises so cheap? Are MSC Cruises bad? Or just great value for money?

My Experience

I’ve cruised with MSC Cruises four times. On our first cruise with MSC back in 2018, we paid just £798 for two adults, a toddler and a baby for a week on MSC Preziosa.

That works out at just £28.50 (around $40) per person, per night. Unbelievable, right?

Then in 2024, I paid just £99 for a two-night cruise on one of MSC Cruises’ newer ships, MSC Euribia.

As well as taking cruises with MSC, I’ve worked in the cruise industry since 2015. During this time, I’ve become very familiar with what MSC Cruises offers compared to other cruise lines, what people like about MSC Cruises, and what they often complain about.

So why are MSC Cruises so cheap? Let me explain…

How MSC Compares With Other Cruise Lines

MSC Cruises are very glamorous with Swarovski crystal staircases, elegant Italian-styled decor and lots of fun facilities for the whole family to enjoy.

MSC Cruises has copied many of the popular features from Royal Caribbean ships, so on the newer ships you might see robot bartenders, huge slides and the newest ships like MSC World Europa even have hollow middles like Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class ships.

Suggested read: Royal Caribbean Vs MSC Cruises Compared

Royal Caribbean's Ultimate Abyss slide and MSC Cruises' Venom Drop slide — Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate Abyss slide and MSC Cruises’ Venom Drop slide

I think that what MSC Cruises does is pretty clever – they take the most popular features from other ships, any apply them to their own. First-timer cruisers would never notice.

Don’t Expect a High Space-to-Guest Ratio

One of ways MSC Cruises can offer cheaper cruises is by packing more passengers into the available space on each ship.

The table below shows how many cubic feet of space each guest has on board some of the world’s most popular cruise ships…

Ship	Cubic feet per passenger
MSC Virtuosa	29
Carnival Mardi Gras	29
P&O Cruises’ Iona	29
Sky Princess	32
Norwegian Encore	32
Icon of the Seas	32
Disney Magic	34
Cunard Queen Elizabeth	36
Marella Discovery	36
Celebrity Edge	37
Scarlet Lady	39
Azamara Quest	39

Cubic feet per passenger is worked out by dividing the gross tonnage (internal volume) of a ship by the maximum number of guests. For example, MSC Virtuosa has a gross tonnage of 181,541GT and can accommodate up to 6,334 guests (181,541 / 6,334 = 28.7)

The cruise ships towards the bottom of this table are much more expensive than MSC Cruises.

You may wish to note that Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady and Azamara’s Azamara Quest are adult-only ships, so there will naturally be more space per guest with a maximum of two people in each cabin, rather than families of four.

On cruises in the school holidays, MSC Cruises ships can feel very, very busy. But, outside of this time, if the ship isn’t full and there aren’t many kids on board, then this isn’t an issue at all.

So, the cheapest MSC Cruises are actually the best, because a low price last minute means that it’s not sold out.

MSC Cruises Offers Cheap Deals on Their Older Ships

MSC Cruises has 23 cruise ships in the fleet. The newest is the 6,000+ passenger MSC World America, while the oldest is the twenty-year-old MSC Armonia which accommodates 2,500 guests.

As with any cruise line, cruises on the smaller, older ships are usually the cheapest. You’ll often find that MSC’s Lirica-class ships (MSC Armonia, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Lirica and MSC Opera) offer the cheapest deals.

The difference between the oldest and newest ships in any fleet can be quite stark. Not only are the newer ships bigger and more modern, they also have a lot of facilities.

The older MSC ships don’t have much to do besides swimming, the casino and the gym. This makes them better suited to port-intensive itineraries where you’ll be off the ship each day exploring new destinations.

Cruise ships are generally refurbished every two to three years, although that is sometimes stretched a little longer with MSC Cruises. In MSC’s Mistral Class, some ships underwent a significant upgrade in 2014-2015 but haven’t been touched since.

For more information about each of the MSC Cruises ships, take a look at my guide to MSC Cruise ships by size, age and class.

On the whole, the MSC Cruises ships are comparable to most other cruise lines in terms of the size of the ships and the facilities you can expect on board.

However, it’s important to know that many things that are included in the cruise fare with other cruises have an extra fee on MSC Cruises. More on that further in this guide.

MSC Cabins

MSC Cruises offer a choice of budget and luxury accommodation with a choice of inside cabins, sea view cabins, balcony rooms and suites. Some ships even feature duplex suites with private whirlpool baths on the balcony.

On the newest MSC Cruises ships like MSC World Europa and MSC World America, the cabins are fresh, modern, and very spacious.

Our standard balcony cabin on MSC Virtuosa was the largest cruise cabin I’ve ever stayed in at 205 square feet. This is 20% larger than standard balcony cabins on P&O Cruises’ Iona.

Even the inside cabins are much larger than you would expect. Look how much floor space there is in this inside cabin on MSC Euribia…

Not every cabin is this nice though! Be sure to check out my guide to MSC Cruises Cabins to Avoid before you book because some of the cabins are super weird. Some don’t even have proper beds!

MSC Cruises Cabin Upgrades

On MSC Cruises, the cabins and suites are also grouped into something the cruise lines calls ‘experiences’. These are Bella, Fantastica and Aurea.

The Bella experience is the standard cruise package. You can choose from inside, outside or balcony cabins, although these will be located in less-desirable areas of the ship, such as right at the front or above the nightclub. Bella balcony cabins may have obstructed views or be very windy.

If you choose to upgrade to the Fantastica package, you can choose from the more desirable cabin locations like midship. You’ll also get a few extras the first choice of dinner sittings and a free photo. Of course, this comes with an extra cost.

The Aurea package comes with yet more perks, like priority boarding and access to exclusive areas of the ship so you’ll be able to find an empty sun lounger more easily.

The price that you see listed for MSC Cruises is almost always based on a Bella Inside cabin. When you proceed to book, you’ll see how much extra it costs to upgrade.

As most people upgrade to a different cabin type and/or a different experience, it’s rare to pay the price that you actually see advertised. Although being a budget cruiser, I usually do!

To help you decide which MSC Cruises experience is the best for you, take a look at this guide to what’s included with MSC Bella, Fantastica and Aurea.

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

Don’t miss the latest MSC Cruises offers…

The Food on MSC Cruises Can Be Hit-and-Miss

MSC Cruises offers a variety of cuisine from Italy, the Mediterranean and around the world. You can dine in the main dining room or buffet for free, or pay extra to eat in a speciality restaurant.

A question that I get asked a lot is what is the food like on MSC Cruises. The food is often mentioned in negative reviews, but that doesn’t mean that it’s necessarily bad. It can be hit-and-miss though. It’s really hard to please everyone when it comes to food!

I’ve enjoyed some delicious food on MSC Cruises and I’ve also had some food that I couldn’t bring myself to eat.

In the main dining room, the portions of food are very sometimes small. I don’t actually mind this as it means that less is wasted. Just be sure to order side dishes like vegetables, potatoes or fries because these don’t come unless you ask for them.

main course in main dining room on MSC Cruises — A main course on MSC Cruises (it didn’t come with anything else)

If you have a large appetite, don’t hesitate to order more than one dish for each course or to choose another main for your starter. The staff don’t mind at all.

One great thing about the food on MSC Cruises is that it’s tailored to the nationalities of the guests.

On my recent cruises on MSC Virtuosa, everyone on board was British. The buffet featured real English bacon and sausages, baked beans, roast beef and Yorkshire puddings. There was even a kettle in each room with Yorkshire Tea.

tea and coffee making facilities on MSC Cruises — Tea and coffee-making facilities are popular with British cruisers

If you take a cruise where most of the other guests are European or American, you can expect cuisine that’s more tailored to what they enjoy. So don’t expect English bacon in the Caribbean!

MSC Cruises has recently introduced a vegan menu, and there are usually vegan items on the regular menu too, so there’s always plenty for vegans to eat.

vegan burritoon MSC Cruises — This vegan burrito was incredible!

You can read more about how to eat vegan on MSC Cruises here.

All the food on MSC Cruises ships is really fresh and the pizza, pasta and bread are made on board. On some ships you can even watch as the crew make their own Mozzarella cheese!

MSC Cruises mozarella making — The Mozzarella factory is visible from the Marketplace Buffet on MSC Virtuosa and MSC Euribia

Just like other cruise lines, MSC Cruises offers speciality dining restaurants for an extra charge. So if you want a special treat or get bored of the main dining room and the buffet, you have more options.

Included Drinks with MSC

Most MSC Cruises do not include drinks, although you may sometimes get a drink package included as part of your cruise fare, depending on the deal that you booked.

Even if your cruise does not include drinks, you’ll always be able to get free water, coffee, tea, iced tea, lemonade, milk and chocolate milk as well as fruit juice at breakfast time.

The free drinks aren’t available in the bars though, usually only in the main dining room or buffet at set times. This is similar to the offering on most other cruise lines.

Just like other cruise lines, MSC Cruises offer a selection of drink packages that you can purchase to transform your cruise from full-board to all-inclusive. The prices vary depending on what drinks you’d like to be included and also where in the world your cruise takes place.

You’ll find more info on MSC drinks packages here.

Jamaican Paradise cocktail on MSC cruise — My favourite cocktail on MSC Cruises is Jamaican Paradise

The drinks on MSC Cruises are priced similarly to other cruise lines – which means that they’re a little more expensive than you may expect in bars and restaurants on land. Take a look at these MSC drinks menus with prices to get an idea of how much you might pay for drinks.

Drinks Package – Worth It?

If you need help deciding whether a drink package is worth it for your cruise, feel free to use my drink package calculator which will work it out for you…

While some other cruise lines allow you to bring a certain amount of alcohol on board with you, MSC Cruises does not allow guests to bring any drinks at all. Bottled water is only allowed on board if you need it for medical reasons.

I did accidentally bring a bottle of Dr Pepper that was in my backpack, which gives me the impression that they don’t always check.

One thing to consider when buying a drink package is that if your cruise is very busy, you may get tired of lining up to order drinks, so this can limit how much you actually drink.

On very busy cruises, waits of 30 minutes or more for a drink were common. By the time you have your drink, you’d basically have to rejoin the back of the queue at the bar for another. And that’s not a fun way to spend your cruise! I didn’t drink as much as I would if a waiter were to come around regularly offering drinks.

I can understand why MSC Cruises don’t have many bar staff or waiters on cruises where everyone has a free drink package. The more staff they have, the more drinks they would make which would mean less revenue for them. But it’s not the best experience for guests, in my opinion.

One great thing about MSC Cruises drink packages is that you can get one even for a two-night weekend cruise, whereas many other cruise lines only let you buy one for a longer trip.

MSC’s Entertainment

Each MSC Cruises ship has a theatre where you can enjoy shows on most evenings. You’ll often find live music in other venues around the ship as well as trivia and quizzes and street artists.

I’ve found the entertainment on MSC Cruises to be pretty good. If you take a cruise in Europe, you’ll probably find that the shows aren’t in English – rather a mix of lots of different languages so that everyone can enjoy them.

MSC Cruises does charge extra for some of the shows. That’s something that you’ll rarely find on other cruises.

On our MSC Virtuosa cruise, the extra shows cost £15 each and included a free cocktail. This can be a good deal for some, as the cocktails cost around £10 anyway.

As we already had a drink package and the price was the same for kids and adults, we felt that £60 for a 30-minute show was over our budget. However, other cruisers reported that the paid shows were well worth the money.

If you want to see the shows, I recommend that you book them online before you go, as the prices will be cheaper.

comedy show on MSC Cruises — Comedy show on MSC Virtuosa

Things to Do Onboard

I’ve always found that the daytime entertainment to be lacking on MSC Cruises. With no free activities on offer, people are encouraged to visit the boutiques, casino and spa – all of which provide extra revenue to supplement the low fares.

At first glance, the daily planner looks like it has a lot of activities, but on closer inspection, many of these are things like ‘David Beckham Sunglasses’ (that’s just shopping), ‘The Modern Assessment of Health’ (that’s a sales pitch) or paid activities like yoga.

If you’d rather not spend more money on board, I recommend bringing a few card games on board. Our favourite is Monopoly Deal.

My family paying Monopoly Deal on an MSC cruise — My family

The newer MSC Cruises ships are packed with exciting activities that kids and adults will love. However, while similar activities are included in the cruise fare on other cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises charge extra for these things.

Here’s a rough guide to what you can expect to pay to use the facilities on MSC Cruises ships:

Activity	Cost	Ships
Zip Line	$10	MSC Seaside, MSC Seaview
Bowling	$45	MSC Grandiosa, MSC Bellissima, MSC Seaview, MSC Seaside, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Magnifica, MSC Divina, MSC Splendida, MSC Preziosa, MSC Virtuosa, MSC Euribia
Arcade	$3	All ships
Formula Racer	$10	MSC Grandiosa, MSC Bellissima, MSC Seaview, MSC Seaside, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Divina, MSC Splendida, MSC Fantasia, MSC Preziosa, MSC Virtuosa, MSC Euribia
4D Cinema	$10	MSC Seaview, MSC Seaside, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Preziosa, MSC Divina, MSC Splendida, MSC Fantasia, MSC Magnifica.
Billiards	$30	MSC Seaview, MSC Seaside, MSC Magnifica.
Flight Simulator	$15	MSC Meraviglia

The cost may vary depending on the currency of the ship and the prices may vary slightly for kids or if two people do the activity at once.

To save money on these activities you can buy an MSC Fun Pass before your cruise. If you pay a certain amount for the pass, you get extra credit which you can use to pay for the activities. The pass can be used by everyone in your family.

You can also buy the Fun Pass on the ship, but you’ll usually get a better deal by buying it in advance.

Things like swimming pools, waterslides and the high ropes course are free of charge. But as these are so popular it can be very tricky to get a place. Depending on your sailing, you may have to queue for a very long time to get a ticket.

Read more: Is the MSC Fun Pass Worth It?

Service

In my experience, one area where MSC Cruises falls a little short of other cruise lines is the service. It just doesn’t have the wow factor that you may be used to if you’re a regular cruiser with cruise lines such as Disney.

But remember, MSC Cruises are cheap and you get what you pay for. If the service were better, you would expect to pay more!

The guest-to-crew ratio on MSC Cruises is pretty high, with an average of 3.4 guests for each crew member. The actual number varies depending on the ship and how full it is.

MSC Cruises’ newest ships, MSC World Europa and MSC World America, accommodate up to 6,774 guests with a crew of 1,413, giving a ratio of 4.8 to 1.

By contrast, some ultra-luxury cruise ships actually have more crew than guests, meaning that a higher level of service can be offered.

Suggested read: MSC World Europa Review

The following table shows the guest to crew ratio on some popular cruise ships:

Ship	Guest-to-Crew Ratio
MSC Virtuosa	3.70
Carnival Mardi Gras	3.63
P&O Cruises Iona	3.63
Sky Princess	3.26
Norwegian Encore	3.01
Cunard Queen Elizabeth	2.78
Marella Discovery	2.73
Symphony of the Seas	2.66
Disney Magic	2.59
Celebrity Edge	2.56
Scarlet Lady	2.47
Azamara Quest	1.91

Because there are fewer crew members in relation to the number of guests, the MSC Cruises crew really have to work their butts off. They do so with a smile, but they don’t usually have time to chat as their next guest is waiting.

I noticed that one bartender was wearing a jacket on a very hot day when I went to the bar in just a bikini. “Aren’t you hot?”, I asked?

“Yes”, he replied, “But I don’t have time to remove my jacket.”

Because the crew are so busy, there’s not always time for them to collect glasses, so you may see areas like this appear where guests dump their stuff and it’s not moved straight away…

The lower number of crew members means that you may also have to wait a little longer for things than you might be used to. Lunch in the main restaurant could take up to two hours.

In my experience, MSC Cruises crew members rarely enforce the cruise line’s rules. So you may see babies in nappies in the swimming pools, even though this isn’t allowed for hygiene reasons.

The cruise line’s rules state that sun loungers should not be reserved for more than 30 minutes when not in use. But, as the crew members never remove towels, this can create a chain reaction of no sun loungers being available, which in turn encourages people to get up before 7 am to lay down their towels the moment the loungers are laid out!

Sun loungers with towels — Scenes like this are common in summer (this was 11am)

Gratuities – It Depends

MSC Cruises include gratuities for some people, but others will pay up to $14 per person, per day. Whether you have to pay gratuities on your cruise depends on where in the world you live.

As British people aren’t generally used to paying tips, MSC Cruises include the gratuities in the cruise fare. This means that if you compare the price of an MSC cruise with an American cruise line that adds gratuities, the MSC cruise will come out even cheaper once you factor that in.

For more information on how much MSC gratuities cost in each country, check out this guide to MSC gratuities by Emma Cruises.

Of course, you’re welcome to tip individual crew members for great service if you wish, but the cruise line doesn’t do anything to encourage this.

So, Are MSC Cruises Good?

In my opinion, MSC Cruises offer great value. At the end of the day, you get what you pay for, so if you want the very best service, food and entertainment, you may wish to go for a slightly more expensive cruise with a cruise line such as Royal Caribbean or NCL.

Suggested read: What’s included in a Royal Caribbean cruise?

If you’re on a budget, MSC Cruises is a great option. Although a lot of the activities cost extra, they’re all optional so you don’t have to spend a penny more than the advertised price if you don’t want to.

I usually leave with a zero balance at the end.

That said, I think that some people forget just how little they paid for their cruise when they write reviews online. And this has led to MSC Cruises being named among the worst cruise lines online.

Don’t Expect Luxury

MSC Cruises is not a luxury cruise line, it is very much mainstream. However, the MSC Group does also have a luxury brand called Explora Journeys. This luxury cruise line sailed for the first time in 2023.

Explora Journeys Ship — Explora Journeys

When it comes to cruising, it’s important to consider the definition of luxury. Even budget cruise lines like MSC Cruises offer something akin to a luxury five-star hotel.

Across the cruise industry, standards are generally very high. Even on the cheapest cruises, you can expect everything to be perfectly clean, in good working order and the service to be very good. You shouldn’t ever experience tired furnishings or outdated facilities as you may do in accommodation on land.

When it comes to cruising, the word luxury is usually reserved for ships offering a ‘six-star’ experience, with private butlers, free-flowing champagne, lobster dinners and caviar canapes.

If you like the sound of MSC Cruises want a more luxurious experience, then I recommend that you look into the MSC Yacht Club.

The MSC Yacht Club is like a ship within a ship. It offers exclusive areas where you can enjoy fine dining, panoramic views from the top of the ship, luxurious suites and dedicated concierge service.

Of course, the Yacht Club costs a lot more than your standard MSC cruise, but it’s certainly an option to consider if you like the sound of MSC Cruises but want a more luxurious experience.

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

Don’t miss the latest MSC Cruises offers…

To Conclude

In my opinion, MSC Cruises offer good value cruise holidays for a relatively low price. Of course, there are things that could be done better, but fixing these issues would push up the price.

If don’t have a lot of money to spend and are wondering if you should try MSC Cruises, I would say yes. However, if you can afford to spend a little more, you may find that you have a better experience by cruising with a slightly more expensive cruise line such as Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises or Norwegian Cruise Line.

If you want to cruise as cheaply as possible, taking an MSC cruise in the off-season and choosing an inside cabin is the ultimate way to do it.

If you found this interesting, please share!

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

MSC Cruises Vegan Guide 2026: How to Eat Plant-Based On Board

November 6, 2026

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News Cruise Tips Food and drink MSC Cruises

Yes, MSC Cruises vegan options are good, but you need to plan ahead a little. MSC builds vegetarian and vegan-friendly dishes into its main dining room and buffet menus on every ship. Recent guest reports say the main restaurant usually has at least one vegan starter, main and dessert each night. Tell MSC before you sail and confirm with the maître d’ on day one, and the rest of the cruise usually goes smoothly.

This guide is only about MSC. It covers how to make the request, what to expect in each type of venue, drinks and desserts, kids, and the hidden ingredients to watch for. If you are still comparing lines, see our roundup of the best cruise lines for vegans.

MSC Cruises Vegan Options: Is MSC Good for Vegans?

MSC is a European, Italian-run line, so a lot of the food is already vegetable-based: tomato pasta, grilled vegetables, bean soups, salads, and bread made with olive oil instead of butter. The line says vegetarian and vegan-friendly dishes are part of its standard menus. Guest feedback from 2025 and 2026 is broadly positive, with two common complaints. Vegan main dining room dishes can get repetitive, often leaning on Indian curries and dal. Vegan desserts at the buffet can also be limited.

The experience varies more by ship than by country. MSC sails worldwide, with ships based in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Caribbean, the Middle East and beyond. Whether you book through MSC’s US site or a European one, the menus and the special-diet process are broadly the same. Newer, bigger ships such as the World class and the Seaside and Meraviglia families tend to have more choice than the older Lirica and Musica class ships.

How to Request Vegan Meals on MSC Cruises

Add it to your booking. Tell your travel agent or MSC when you book, and fill in MSC’s Special Needs form (listed as Accessibility and Medical Requests on some country sites). MSC requires this form for allergies and intolerances. Using it for a strict vegan diet puts the request on record. Aim for at least 30 days before departure.
Confirm on embarkation day. Stop by the main dining room or Guest Services and ask to speak to the maître d’. Say that you are fully vegan: no meat, fish, dairy, eggs or honey. Ask how vegan dishes are flagged on the menu.
Pre-order for the next night. On many sailings, the head waiter will show you the next day’s menu so the galley can adapt dishes or make something extra. If you have the same waiter each night, this quickly becomes routine.
Repeat for specialty restaurants. Mention it when you book any paid venue, and again when you sit down.

A clear script helps with a multinational crew: “I am vegan, so no animal products at all, including butter, cheese, cream, eggs, honey and meat or fish stock.” Saying “plant-based” as well as “vegan” usually removes any confusion.

Bowl of vegetable curry with rice, a common vegan main dish on MSC Cruises menus — Indian-style curries and dal are a staple vegan option on MSC ships. Photo: Muhammad Khawar Nazir on Pexels

Vegan Options on MSC: Venue by Venue

Venue	What vegans can usually expect	Tip
Main dining room	A nightly vegan starter, main and dessert; dishes can be adapted on request	Pre-order the next night’s meal with your head waiter
Buffet	Salad bar, fruit, Indian and Asian dishes, pasta and pizza stations, grilled vegetables; newer ships may have a labelled plant-based area	Ask the crew at each station; cross-contamination can’t be ruled out
Hola! Tacos and Cantina (selected ships)	Bean, rice, guacamole and vegetable tacos	Ask for no cheese or sour cream
Kaito and Asian venues (selected ships)	Vegetable sushi rolls, rice, noodles and grilled vegetables	Check sauces for fish or egg
Butcher’s Cut steakhouse	Mostly sides and salads	Usually the weakest choice for vegans
MSC Yacht Club restaurant	More personal service and easier changes to dishes	Tell your butler or the restaurant manager early

Main Dining Room

The main dining rooms are where MSC can best control a special meal. The galley makes these dishes to order instead of keeping them in a buffet tray. Expect starters like soups, bruschetta and salads, and mains like vegetable curries, chickpea or lentil stews, risotto made without butter or cheese, and tomato-based pastas. Vegan desserts are often sorbet, fruit or a dairy-free cake. Ask your waiter what the pastry team can make, because vegan options sometimes go beyond what’s printed.

Buffet

The buffet offers the most variety and needs the most checking. Good choices include the salad bar (dress it with oil and balsamic instead of creamy dressings), roasted vegetables, rice, Indian dal and curries, and fresh fruit. At the pizza station, ask for a base with tomato sauce and vegetables and no cheese. At the pasta station, dried pasta is usually egg-free, but fresh pasta usually contains egg. Ask before you choose. MSC itself says it can’t guarantee no cross-contamination at the buffet, so anyone with a milk or egg allergy should eat in the main restaurant.

Specialty Restaurants

Which specialty venues you get depends on the ship. Read the menus before you buy a dining package, since some carry vegan symbols and others don’t. Mexican and Asian venues usually work best for vegans. Steakhouses and seafood restaurants work least well. If a specialty dinner is part of a package, ask the restaurant ahead of time whether they can make a dedicated vegan menu. Many do with notice.

Latte made with plant milk in a cafe cup, as vegan cruisers can order at MSC coffee bars — Soy and other plant milks are usually available at MSC coffee bars. Photo: Dasha Klimova on Pexels

MSC Plant-Based Drinks, Coffee and Desserts

Plant milks: Soy milk is the most common, and oat or almond milk is sometimes available at coffee bars and the buffet. Supply varies by ship and sailing, so ask early. If you rely on one type, bring a few shelf-stable cartons for your cabin if the line’s rules allow it.
Cocktails and wine: Some cocktails, such as sours, use egg white, and some wines are fined with animal products. Ask the bartender for egg-free versions. Spirits and most beers are generally fine.
Gelato and sweets: Fruit sorbets are usually the safest frozen treat. Check whether paid gelato and chocolate shops on board offer dairy-free flavours on your ship.
Breakfast: Look for oatmeal made with water or plant milk, fruit, toast with jam, baked beans, potatoes and grilled tomatoes. Many pastries contain butter.

Vegan Kids on MSC Cruises

MSC is popular with families, and its children’s menus focus on simple dishes like pasta with tomato sauce, rice, vegetables and fruit. Many of these are easy to make vegan. Note your child’s diet on the Special Needs form too. Also tell the kids’ club staff, because snacks and activities there sometimes involve food. In the main dining room, ask the head waiter to treat your child’s order the same way as yours.

Tips for Eating Vegan on MSC Cruises

Know the hidden ingredients. Butter, cream, cheese, egg in fresh pasta, chicken or fish stock in soups and risottos, honey in dressings and glazes, and gelatine in desserts.
Use the same waiter. A fixed dinner time and table makes it easier for the crew to remember your needs. If you have flexible dining, ask to sit in the same section each night.
Expect some repeats and mix things up. If the vegan main starts to repeat, ask for pasta with fresh tomato and basil, or a plate of vegetable sides.
Pack snacks for port days. Ashore, especially in smaller ports, vegan food can be hard to find. Our cruise packing tips include ideas for cabin snacks.
At Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, MSC’s Bahamas island, expect veggie burgers and salads. MSC says it can’t cater for specific allergies there.

If you are still choosing a ship, cabin location matters as much as food on a long cruise. Our MSC Virtuosa cabins to avoid guide covers one of MSC’s newer, food-rich ships.

FAQs

Does MSC Cruises have vegan food?

Yes. MSC builds vegetarian and vegan-friendly dishes into its main dining room and buffet menus, and the main restaurants usually have a vegan starter, main and dessert each night.

How do I request vegan meals on MSC?

Add it to your booking and fill in MSC’s Special Needs form, ideally at least 30 days before sailing. Then confirm with the maître d’ on embarkation day.

Is the MSC buffet vegan-friendly?

Mostly. There are salads, fruit, curries, vegetables, rice and cheese-free pizza, and newer ships may label plant-based dishes. MSC can’t guarantee no cross-contamination at the buffet.

Does MSC have plant milk?

Usually. Soy milk is the most common, and oat or almond milk is sometimes offered at coffee bars. Availability varies by ship, so ask early.

Are MSC specialty restaurants good for vegans?

Mexican and Asian venues work best. Steakhouses offer little beyond sides. Check menus before you buy a package and give the restaurant notice.

MSC Starship Club & Rob the Humanoid Robotic Bartender

April 9, 2025

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News Food and drink MSC Cruises

The MSC Starship Club is a space-age bar that debuted on MSC Cruises’ ship, MSC Virtuosa, and later came to sister ship MSC Euribia. This futuristic bar and entertainment experience features a humanoid robot bartender by the name of Rob.

Rob, the humanoid robotic bartender at the MSC Starship club

I cruised on the maiden voyage of MSC Virtuosa and am excited to show you more about Rob the robot and the MSC Starship Club…

The World’s First Humanoid Robotic Bartender at Sea

A robot bartender? Hasn’t Royal Caribbean had those for years, you might ask…

Well, yes. Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class ships like Anthem of the Seas do feature robot bartenders. But the MSC Starship club knocks Royal Caribbean’s Bionic Bar clean out of the water. Here’s why…

For starters, MSC’s robot bartender, Rob, is a humanoid. Much more than just a mechanical arm, he has a face with human-like expressions and a voice. Rob speaks eight languages and has a clear personality that adjusts to match the atmosphere of the room!

Royal Caribbean's bionic bar — Royal Caribbean’s Bionic Bar

MSC's humanoid bartender, Rob — Royal Caribbean’s Bionic Bar

Cool Features Of MSC Cruises Humanoid Bartender

Interactive – Robot bartender Rob Loves to tell people jokes, riddles and space trivia
Multilingual – He speaks English, Italian, Spanish, French, German, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese and Japanese
Emotions – Rob has an LED face with human-like expressions to convey emotions
Personality – His personality adjusts to match his surroundings
Entertaining – If he’s in the mood, Rob will show off his dance moves
Flexible – Rob moves his arms, body and head just like a real person
Attentive – He can scan the room to recognise and greet guests walking by
Unlimited – Rob can make an infinite number of unique, personalised drinks

So while Royal Caribbean’s Bionic Bar, which has been around since 2014, is undoubtedly very cool, the technology behind MSC Cruises humanoid bartender Rob is lightyears ahead.

What To Expect Inside The Starship Club

Robotic bartender Rob is the star of the show inside the MSC Starship Club. But this integrated bar and entertainment experience offers more than just fancy cocktails.

The Starship Club is inspired by MSC Cruises’ vision of the spaceship of the future – the MSC Starliner One. It features some incredibly innovative technology that makes this fun venue a must-visit attraction for adults and kids of all ages.

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

Don’t miss the latest MSC Cruises offers…

Inside the MSC Starship Club you will find:

3D holograms
Immersive digital art wall
12-seater infinity digital interactive table
Human bartenders in sci-fi costume

Here’s a poster for the Starship Club…

poster for the starship club onboard MSC cruises

How The MSC Starship Club Works

Use one of the ‘vertical digital cockpits’ to order drinks
Choose your preferred language from a choice of eight
Pick from 16 signature cocktails or create your own unique recipe from over 40 ingredients
Check on the status of your order with a ticker-tape-style LED strip above the robotic island
Watch humanoid bartender, Rob, as he shakes, pours, stirs and garnishes your cocktail
Keep your futuristic glass as a souvenir
Come back as often as you like during your cruise

MSC Starship Club Drinks Selection

In the MSC Starship Club, you can order an infinite variety of cocktails from the humanoid robot bartender.

You can create your own alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink from a choice of over 40 ingredients. If you’re not sure what to have, there’s a menu of 16 signature cocktails to choose from.

There will also be real human bar staff on hand to help and take additional drinks orders if needed.

The Cost

Drinks ordered from Rob the Robot in the Starship Club cost £18 for alcoholic drinks and £10 for non-alcoholic drinks.

You can also order drinks from regular bartenders and waiters if you prefer.

Keeping The Cup As A Souvenir

Drinks made by Rob the Robot in the Starship Club are served in souvenir glasses which you can take home with you. You even get a little box to put it in.

Using Your Drinks Package

MSC drinks packages do not include drinks prepared by the robot bartender in the MSC Starship Club. If you want to use your drink package in the Starship Club, you must order from a human.

Suggested read: MSC Drink Packages: The Ultimate Guide

Ships Featuring The MSC Starship Club

The MSC Starship Club debuted as the MSC Virtuosa robot bar and later came to sister ship MSC Euribia. Despite the popularity of the bar, it hasn’t been included on the new Seaside EVO-class ships, or the World-class ship MSC World Europa.

MSC cruises ship sailing on the open ocean

To Conclude

This bar and entertainment venue with its humanoid bartender is an incredibly exciting and futuristic venue for MSC Cruises and one that guests love. Make sure you check it out next time you’re cruising on MSC Virtuosa or MSC Euribia.

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

Don’t miss the latest MSC Cruises offers…

If you found this interesting, please share!

MSC Easy Plus Package Price & Menu (2025)

February 10, 2025

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News MSC Cruises

If you’re booking a cruise with MSC, one of the options you need to think about is whether to get a drinks package, and if so, which one should you book?

One of your options is the Easy Plus package, which isn’t quite the top-tier option but will be sufficient for many, once you know what you get and how much it costs. MSC’s more clear on the former than the latter, so I’m here to clear everything up.

Read on to learn everything you need to know about the Easy Plus package, including restrictions.

What Is the Easy Plus Drinks Package on MSC?

The Easy Plus Drinks Package for MSC Cruises is a package that includes a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. There are cheaper options available including one which still includes alcohol, but if you want a good range of drinks without paying top price, this may be the best option.

Of course, it might be that a drinks package isn’t right for you at all. If you don’t drink much then you might be better off if you pay for each drink individually. After all, the Easy Plus package has to be bought for the full duration of your cruise, not just the days you pick and choose.

So, you should weigh up whether it’s best to buy drinks individually before deciding on getting a package, and then decide which is right for you.

My drinks package calculator will help:

Drinks Included in the MSC Easy Plus Package

The Easy Plus Drinks Package with MSC includes all drinks priced up to $10, €9 or £10 – the currency will depend on where your ship is sailing. It covers a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

Here’s the full list of what you get with the package:

A variety of draught and bottled beers
A selection of wines by the glass
A variety of frozen and classic cocktails
Non-alcoholic cocktails
Selected house and brand spirits
Liqueurs and cordials
Soft drinks – fountain sodas and fruit juices
Mineral water
Coffee drinks (latte, espresso, cappuccino, etc.)
Hot chocolate and hot teas

You also get a 10% discount on any bottles of wine that you buy while you’re onboard.

So that’s a pretty good list – you aren’t going to be short of choice when it comes to deciding what to drink during your cruise. Still, it’s not all-inclusive – there are lots of drinks that cost more than these limits.

Take a look at the MSC Cruises drinks menus here.

It’s important to note that the Easy Plus package does cover you in speciality restaurants, as well as the Main Dining Room, the buffet and the bars on the ship. The package below this one, the Easy package, doesn’t include drinks in speciality restaurants, so Easy Plus is the starting point if you plan on dining in various restaurants onboard.

It’s also good to know that, on MSC cruises in the Middle East, you won’t be able to get served an alcoholic drink while your ship’s in a Saudi port, even with the Easy Plus package. You’ll have to wait until the ship’s in international waters again.

A crew member in a white shirt hands over a beverage tomy husband seated on the sunny deck of the MSC Virtuosa cruise ship.

MSC Easy Plus Drinks Package Price

The cost of the Easy Plus Drinks Package varies depending on where you’re sailing, and how long for. You’ll also get it cheaper if you book in advance. You’ll pay between $61 and $74 per person, per night on US cruises and between £47 and £57.50 per night on cruises from the UK.

MSC are a little secretive about their drinks package prices – they don’t publish them online and only let you see them once you’re booking or have booked a cruise. The prices are fixed though, unlike some cruise lines that don’t publish them because they like to change them for different dates, or depending on demand.

Here’s a full breakdown of the Easy Plus drinks package prices:

Cruise	Price Per Night (Bought Onboard)	Price Per Night (Prebooked)
North America & Caribbean Up To 6 Nights	$74	$64
North America & Caribbean 7+ Nights	$70	$61
Europe & Middle East Up To 6 Nights	€54	€47
Europe & Middle East 7+ Nights	€62	€54
Cruise From UK Up To 6 Nights	£57.50	£50
Cruise From UK 7+ Nights	£54.05	£47

The discount for booking before you sail is 15%, so it’s definitely worth booking before you travel if you want a drinks package. Over the length of a cruise, it works out at quite the saving.

Plus, you’ll be glad to know that all of these prices (either prebooked or booked onboard) include the gratuity that would normally be charged for each drink you buy – so there’s no extra 18% on each drink for US cruises, or 15% for Europe and Middle East cruises. The package price is all you’ll pay.

A hand with teal nails holding a frosted glass of red slush drink with a striped straw, set against a calm ocean backdrop, suggesting a relaxed vacation vibe.

What Happens if You Order Outside of the MSC Easy Plus Drinks Package?

If you order a drink that costs more than $10, €9 or £10 on your MSC cruise and you have an Easy Plus drinks package, you’ll only pay the difference – you don’t have to pay the full price of the drink.

So if you order a cocktail that costs $14, you’ll only pay $4, since the $10 is covered in the drink’s package. You’ll also pay the gratuity on that drink but only on the extra you pay – so a $14 cocktail will actually cost you $4.72, since you’re paying 18% on the extra $4.

This is still a better deal than with some other cruise lines that would charge you the full price of the drink.

You can also upgrade while you’re onboard, if you decide you want the Premium Extra drinks package instead. Remember though that you’ll pay the full onboard price for the package.

What Is the Difference Between the Easy Package and Easy Plus Package on MSC?

The Easy Plus drinks package covers all drinks up to the values of $10, €9 or £10, depending on your sailing. With the Easy package, you only get selected drinks included, so your choice is more limited.

Here’s a comparison of what you get with each package:

Drink	Easy	Easy Plus
Beer	Heineken only	Selection of beers
Wine	House wines	Selection of wines
Cocktails	Classic cocktails & mocktails	More cocktails, including frozen options
Spirits	House spirits	House & branded spirits
Liqueurs	No	Yes
Soft drinks	Fountain sodas	Fountain & bottle
Water	Yes	Yes
Coffee	Yes	Yes
Hot chocolates and teas	Yes	Yes
10% discount on wine bottles	No	Yes

Also, remember that Easy Plus includes drinks in speciality restaurants whereas the Easy package does not.

You Can Use the MSC Easy Drinks Package On Private Islands

If your cruise calls at any of MSC’s private resorts – Ocean Cay or Sir Bani Yas – then you can use your Easy Plus drinks package in that resort. The drinks selection may be more limited than on the ship, but anything that would normally be included is still covered.

Ocean Cay - A beautiful island in the middle of the ocean with a huge MSC cruise ship docked beside it

You Have To Buy A Drink Package For Kids

It’s not possible for only some guests in an MSC cabin to have a drinks package, and this includes children. If the adults buy an Easy Plus drinks package, the children must have an appropriate drinks package for them too.

Depending on their ages and where you’re sailing, they may not be eligible for the Minors drinks package. In Europe, anyone 17 and under can get the Minors package, but on sailings from the US, that only applies to kids up to the age of 12. From 13 to 20, they can buy the Alcohol Free package, and then get one that includes alcohol when they turn 21.

I find this very frustrating as my six-year-old only ever drinks water. He’s just not interested in any other drinks, so buying a package for him is a complete waste of money as tap water is free. He won’t even have ice in it or a slice of lemon!

My son with a contemplative expression, sitting in a high-back dining chair in the main dining room on MSC Virtuosa

Is the MSC Easy Plus Drinks Package Worth It?

There’s no simple answer on whether the Easy Plus drinks package is worth it – it all depends on how much you drink on a typical day, and the kind of drinks you like to enjoy.

Also, you should check your cruise fare as you might get the Easy Plus (or even the Premium Extra) package included anyway – so you don’t need to pay any extra for it.

Weigh up how many drinks you’re likely to buy each day, and then decide whether it’ll be cheaper to get a drinks package or buy them individually. Then think about which drinks you’ll likely want, and that’ll help you decide whether the Easy Plus is the right one for you.

If you’re still not sure which package to get, then you can read my MSC Cruises Drinks Packages Guide which will explain the differences between each.

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

Don’t miss the latest MSC Cruises offers…

MSC drink package prices for 2026 (US and Caribbean sailings)

On MSC’s US website, new bookings can choose from Premium Extra, Alcohol-Free and Minors. The old Easy package was withdrawn from new US purchases in December 2024, and Easy Plus followed in August 2025. Anyone who bought them before those dates keeps them.

Recent guide prices for Caribbean and North America sailings look like this, per person per day:

Package	Up to 6 nights: pre-cruise	Up to 6 nights: onboard	7+ nights: pre-cruise	7+ nights: onboard
Premium Extra	about $88	about $101	about $85	about $98
Alcohol-Free	about $30	about $35	about $28	about $32
Minors	about $21	about $24	about $19	about $22

Other trackers report slightly different figures for the same period (for example, about $85 to $95 a day onboard for Premium Extra, depending on whether the cruise is three nights or longer). Shorter cruises nearly always cost more per day. Gratuities are already included in the package price.

Three pricing points matter more than the headline number:

Buy before you sail. Pre-cruise prices in MyMSC are lower than the onboard rate, and flash sales have taken up to around 35% off the onboard price.
You pay for the whole cruise. Packages are sold per cruise rather than per day, and priced for every day except disembarkation day.
Everyone in the cabin buys the same package. More on this rule below.

MSC drinks package prices for UK and European sailings

MSC’s UK and international websites still list the Easy package alongside Premium Extra, Alcohol-Free and Minors, and the UK site also mentions Easy Plus for pre-cruise online booking. Neither site shows a fixed GBP rate, because prices depend on the ship and sailing. As a rough guide, UK agents have quoted Easy from the mid-£30s and Premium Extra from the mid-£60s per person per day. You will see promotional rates far lower than that during sales. Log in to the My MSC area for your real figure.

MSC has also confirmed new packages, with new pricing and conditions, for sailings from summer 2026 onward. Since 1 October 2025, only those new packages have been sold for those cruises. If you bought earlier, you keep what you paid for. If you move your booking to a later date, you switch to the new terms. This is one reason older price lists online no longer match what you are offered.

If you are still deciding between lines, our P&O vs MSC Cruises comparison sets out how the two handle drinks, dining and fares for UK passengers.

Colourful cocktails lined up on a bar counter, the kind of drinks covered by a cruise drink package — Cocktails are where a premium drink package earns back its cost. Photo: Skills Media on Pexels

What each MSC drink package includes

Premium Extra drink package

This is the top package and the only alcoholic one sold on new US bookings. It covers draught and bottled beer, premium wine and sparkling wine by the glass, premium spirits and liqueurs, cocktails made with premium brands, non-alcoholic beer, wine and cocktails, specialty coffee, tea, soft drinks, energy drinks, juices, smoothies and AQUA by MSC water. Drinks priced above about $16 (or EUR 14) are not included, but you can usually pay just the difference. It works in specialty restaurants and on MSC’s private islands, Ocean Cay and Sir Bani Yas, though the island drinks menus are shorter. Holders also get a discount on bottles of wine and Champagne. Premium Extra is included automatically for MSC Yacht Club guests.

Easy package (Europe and UK)

Easy is the cheaper option where it is still sold. It covers house wine and sparkling by the glass, selected draught and bottled beer, classic cocktails and mixed drinks made with house spirits, soft drinks, juices, coffee, tea and AQUA by MSC water. It is valid in selected bars, buffets and main restaurants, but not in specialty restaurants or on the private islands. Easy holders get discounts on cocktails, wine and Champagne that are not included.

Alcohol-Free package

This covers everything non-alcoholic in Premium Extra: specialty coffee, tea, soft and energy drinks, juices, smoothies, mocktails, alcohol-free beer and wine, and AQUA by MSC water. It is not accepted in specialty restaurants or on the private islands.

Minors Package

This is for under-21s on US sailings (MSC’s rules count guests aged 20 and under as minors there). It covers soft drinks, juices, smoothies, mocktails, hot drinks and AQUA by MSC water. It is only sold alongside an adult package in the same cabin.

MSC drink package rules: daily limit and same package per cabin

15 alcoholic drinks a day. Premium Extra, Easy and the Yacht Club allowance all stop at 15 alcoholic drinks per person per day, counted from 6am to 6am. Non-alcoholic drinks are unlimited. A double counts as two. After 15, you pay menu prices.
One package per cabin. MSC requires everyone sharing a cabin to have the same package. Minors in the cabin need the Minors Package if the adults buy any package. Infants are exempt.
No refunds once it starts. After the package is activated onboard, you cannot cancel it. You can, however, upgrade to Premium Extra before sailing or during the cruise.
Specialty dining. To use packages in a specialty restaurant, everyone dining together needs a package that is valid there.
Not on every ship. Packages are sold fleetwide except on ships sailing from South Africa.

Free drinks on MSC Cruises

Before you pay for anything, know what is free. In the main dining rooms and buffet you can have AQUA by MSC, MSC’s filtered, mineral-enriched still and sparkling water. Basic filter coffee, tea and water are available at the buffet, and breakfast usually includes juice there. Traditional bottled mineral water, soft drinks, espresso-based coffee and anything from a bar costs extra. If you drink mainly water and the occasional buffet coffee, you probably do not need a package.

MSC bar prices without a package

Recent menus put MSC drink prices at roughly these levels on US sailings, before the service charge added to bar purchases:

Beer: about $6 to $9
Glass of wine: about $7 to $12
Cocktails: about $8 to $14 (premium and signature drinks more)
Specialty coffee: about $3 to $5
Soft drinks: a few dollars each

Menus vary by ship and bar, so treat these as ballpark figures.

Two cups of specialty coffee on a cafe table, a drink that counts towards the value of a non-alcoholic package — Specialty coffees add up quickly when you work out whether a package pays off. Photo: Wendy Wei on Pexels

Is the MSC drink package worth it? A break-even calculation

The simplest way to decide is to divide the daily package price by what you would typically pay per drink. Here is the maths using mid-range menu prices plus a typical service charge (about $14 for a cocktail, $9 for a beer or wine, $5 for a specialty coffee, $4 for a soda):

Package (pre-cruise, 7+ nights)	Daily cost	Break-even roughly equals
Premium Extra	about $85	6 cocktails, or 4 cocktails + 2 beers + 2 coffees, or 9 beers or glasses of wine
Alcohol-Free	about $28	about 2 mocktails + 2 specialty coffees, or 7 sodas
Minors	about $19	about 4 to 5 sodas or smoothies

Some practical points the averages hide:

Count whole days, not your best day. Port days, shore excursions and early nights pull the average down. If you would have six drinks on sea days but three on port days, your average may sit below break-even.
Multiply by everyone in the cabin. Because the whole cabin buys the same package, two adults on a 7-night cruise at $85 a day are spending around $1,190 before any minors are added.
Remember the 15-drink limit and the $16 cap. Neither affects most people, but very expensive spirits and wines will need a top-up.
Value convenience honestly. Some passengers pay a little over break-even simply to stop thinking about the bill. That is a reasonable choice, as long as it is a deliberate one.

In short: Premium Extra tends to pay off if you have around six alcoholic drinks or more a day across the whole cruise, or slightly fewer if you also order lots of specialty coffee. Alcohol-Free suits heavy coffee and soda drinkers. Moderate drinkers are often better off paying as they go.

Ways to pay less for drinks on MSC

Watch the MyMSC account in the months before sailing, as flash sales come up often.
Check whether your fare or a promotion already includes drinks. MSC Yacht Club includes Premium Extra, and some agency deals bundle a package.
Compare drink offers across lines when booking. Our guide to cruise deals for 2027 covers when packages are most often discounted.
If you like a lively bar scene but a quiet night, check where your cabin sits relative to the bars. Our MSC Virtuosa cabins guide flags rooms near busy bars and lounges.

If you are not sure you will drink enough to justify a package, check our breakdown of MSC drink prices without a package first.

FAQs

How much is the MSC drink package per day?

At the time of writing, Premium Extra on US and Caribbean sailings costs roughly $85 to $101 per person per day, depending on cruise length and whether you buy before sailing. Alcohol-Free is about $28 to $35, and Minors about $19 to $24. Your MyMSC account shows the exact price.

Is there a limit on the MSC drink package?

Yes. Alcoholic packages allow up to 15 alcoholic drinks per person per day, counted from 6am to 6am. Non-alcoholic drinks are unlimited, and drinks priced above about $16 need a top-up payment.

Does everyone in the cabin need an MSC drink package?

Yes. MSC requires everyone in the same cabin to buy the same package, and minors need the Minors Package if the adults buy one. Infants are exempt.

Can you still buy the MSC Easy package?

Not on new US bookings, where it was withdrawn in December 2024. MSC’s UK and international sites still list the Easy package for many sailings outside North America.

What drinks are free on an MSC cruise?

AQUA by MSC filtered water in the main restaurants and buffet, plus basic filter coffee, tea and water at the buffet, are free. Soft drinks, bottled water, espresso-based coffee and alcohol cost extra.

MSC Easy Package Drink Menu & Cost (2025)

February 10, 2025

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News MSC Cruises

If you’re looking to book an MSC cruise then you’ll want to think about your drinks package options – should you pay for your drinks individually, or book a package – and if so, which one?

The Easy Drinks Package is one option, but MSC isn’t always super-clear on what you get with it and what’s excluded, and especially on how much it’ll cost you.

Two vibrant tropical cocktails on a glass table, with a green drink garnished with a slice of lime and a red-orange cocktail adorned with an orange slice, both served on coasters.

So read on to have all your Easy Package questions answered.

What Is the Easy Drinks Package on MSC?

The Easy Drinks Package is the cheapest drinks package on an MSC cruise that includes alcohol. With this package, you can order any drink priced up to $7 or €7 and it will be free.

There is an Alcohol-Free package which is cheaper, but if you want to enjoy beer, wine, spirits and cocktails without buying drinks individually, this is the cheapest option.

A drinks package isn’t for everyone – it depends on how much you tend to drink each day. You can only buy it for the full duration of your cruise, not for occasional days, so you have to work out whether you’ll drink enough each day to justify the cost.

I have a drinks package calculator that can help:

What is Included in the MSC Easy Drinks Package?

The MSC Easy Drinks Package includes “Selected Drinks” – a range of popular cocktails and mocktails, house wines and spirits, Heineken beer on draught, and a selection of soft and hot drinks.

Here’s the full list of what you can get:

MSC does state that the drinks available will depend on where you’re sailing, and that the brands involved may change over time. So assume it will be Heineken for now, but don’t bank on it.

A really important thing to note is that the Easy Drinks Package can’t be used in speciality restaurants on an MSC ship – it can only be used in the buffet restaurant, the Main Dining Room, and the bars onboard.

In bars that have the generic menu, there’s a section for the ‘Easy Package drinks’ so it’s really easy to see what you can have.

But, not all bars have this menu. In some bars, you’ll just have to remember not to go over the $7 limit if you want your drink to be free of charge.

If you plan on dining in speciality restaurants, you might want to consider upgrading to the Easy Plus or Premium Extra packages, since they are included.

Plus, it’s worth noting that if you’re cruising through the Middle East with MSC, you won’t be able to get an alcoholic drink while the ship is in a Saudi port – only once it returns to international waters. This applies even if you have a drinks package.

A smiling MSC waiter in a vest and tie taking an order from guests at a well-appointed dining table, with a focus on customer interaction in the main dining room of an MSC Cruises ship.

How Much Is the MSC Easy Drinks Package?

The cost of the MSC Easy Drinks Package varies depending on which ship you’re sailing on, where you’re travelling to, how long you’re sailing for and whether you book in advance. Expect to pay between £34 and £42.55 per night on cruises from the UK, and between $46 and $56 per night on US cruises.

Cruise lines tend to fall into two camps with drinks packages – those that have a simple, clear pricing structure and those that like to be a bit more secretive, likely so they can charge more on sailings where it’s in demand. MSC is somewhere in the middle – they don’t advertise the prices, but once you’re logged into your cruise booking the price will be fixed.

Here’s a breakdown of the Easy package prices:

Cruise	Price Per Night (Buy Onboard)	Price Per Night (Pre-Book)
North America & Caribbean Up To 6 Nights	$56	$49
North America & Caribbean 7+ Nights	$53	$46
Europe & Middle East Up To 6 Nights	€49	€43
Europe & Middle East 7+ Nights	€45	€39
Cruise From UK Up To 6 Nights	£42.55	£37
Cruise From UK 7+ Nights	£39.10	£34

You save 15% when you book your Easy drinks package before you sail, so if you’re considering it then I’d definitely recommend booking in advance.

It’s also worth noting that these prices include the drinks gratuities that you’d otherwise have to pay – so you don’t need to pay the extra 18% for each drink on US/Caribbean cruises, or the 15% on cruises in Europe and the Middle East. You’re covered within the package.

What Happens if You Order Outside the MSC Easy Drinks Package?

If you choose an MSC Easy Drinks Package and then decide to order a drink that isn’t included, you’ll only pay the difference between the drink and the value covered in the package.

So for cocktails, you get $7 cocktails included. If you order a $10 cocktail you’ll only pay $3 for it.

Some cruise lines would charge you full price for any drinks that aren’t covered by your package, so this is a pretty good deal. However, if you decide you’re more interested in drinks that aren’t covered, you are allowed to upgrade your package either before you sail or while you’re on the ship.

If you upgrade on the ship, you’ll pay the onboard price in full for the rest of the days on the cruise. You might also be turned down if you wait until the latter part of your cruise.

A refreshing mojito with fresh mint and a classic stout beer with a creamy head, both served on branded coasters in a traditional pub setting.

What Are the Alternatives to the MSC Easy Drinks Package?

There are several other options for a drinks package if you’re cruising with MSC Cruises. In total, there are five MSC drinks packages, although one of those is for minors only.

With the adult drinks package, you can also choose from:

Premium Extra Drinks Package – all drinks up to $16 / €14 / £14
Easy Plus Drinks Package – all drinks up to $10 / €9 / £10
Alcohol-Free Package – mocktails, soft and hot drinks

If you’re someone who doesn’t really drink much, beyond the occasional cocktail or beer, then consider getting the Alcohol-Free Package and paying individually for the alcoholic ones.

A cup of cappuccino with latte art on top, presented on a saucer, with the ocean glistening in the background, capturing a serene coffee moment by the sea.

Whereas if you like to dine in speciality restaurants, or you prefer a wider range of drinks, then upgrading to the Easy Plus or Premium Extra package may be worthwhile.

You should also check as, depending on the cruise fare you’ve bought, you might already have a drinks package included. Also if you’ve booked the Yacht Club Experience then you already get the Premium Extra package included, so there’s no need to buy the Easy one.

You Can Use the MSC Easy Drinks Package On Ocean Cay

The Easy Drinks Package does apply ashore in the private MSC resorts – Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, and Sir Bani Yas in the Emirates. While the island bars likely won’t have the full range of drinks that the ships do, you can still enjoy any that would normally be included in the package.

You MUST Get A Drink Package For Kids

Everyone in your MSC cabin must have a drinks package, including minors aged 3 and over. So if you’re buying the Easy Drinks Package, you’ll have to pay for the Minors Package for your children if they’re aged 17 or under on European itineraries.

My son with a contemplative expression, sitting in a high-back dining chair on MSC Virtuosa.

You may want to note that for US and Caribbean itineraries, the age limits are slightly different – the Minors package is only available for guests aged 3 to 12 years old.

Anyone aged 13 to 20 years old can buy the Alcohol-Free Package, since the packages including alcohol are only available to anyone 21+ on those sailings.

Is the MSC Easy Drinks Package Worth It?

Whether or not the MSC Easy Drinks Package is worth it depends entirely on you, and the kind of drinks you enjoy. If you only drink one or two alcoholic drinks per day, then it probably isn’t – you may as well buy drinks individually, either with the Alcohol-Free Package or without it.

My daughter enjoying a fruity drink with a striped straw, dressed in a striped top and pink hoodie, seated in a casual dining setting on MSC Virtuosa with patrons in the background.

If you do like to enjoy beers, wines, spirits and cocktails but you aren’t too fussed about which ones, the package may offer great value – especially since you can still enjoy the occasional drink outside the package and only pay the difference.

But, if you plan on dining in the speciality restaurants, or you like a better quality of spirit or wine, then it might be better value to pay for one of the more premium options instead.

1. Interactive Splash Park

MSC Virtuosa has one of the most exciting water parks at sea. Kids will love the water guns, huge tipping bucket and multiple interactive water elements in the Savannah Waterpark. It’s the perfect place to cool off on a hot day.

2. Bowling Alley

The entertainment area on MSC Virtuosa has a full-sized bowling alley with two lanes. Here, you’ll also find lots of arcade games providing fun for all the family.

3. Galleria Virtuosa

This 100-metre long indoor promenade has a long domed LED ceiling. This space features eleven shopping boutiques as well as several bars and restaurants. It’s the perfect place to wander and socialise, whatever the weather.

4. MSC Starship Club

More than just a bar, The MSC Starship club will transport you to another world! It features a humanoid bartender by the name of Rob, who will make you cosmic cocktails and tell you jokes.

5. Swimming Pools

MSC Virtuosa has five swimming pools and one of the biggest waterparks at sea. The Tropical Pool has a retractable roof and four large hot tubs, which means that even if it’s raining you can still enjoy a day drinking cocktails by the pool.

6. Himalayan Bridge

If you’re feeling brave, have a go on this high ropes course which is located up on Deck 19, an incredible 80 metres above the ocean.

7. Water Slides

The MSC Virtuosa water park is the Savannah Aquapark, and kids and adults love the three twisting waterslides including a fun bowl slide that spins you round and round.

8. Kids’ Clubs

MSC Virtuosa has five dedicated kids clubs for ages from 0 to 17 years old with over 98 hours of kids’ activities each week. Kids can be entertained all day long with games, arts and crafts, competitions, parties and more!

Some of the features introduced for the MSC Virtuosa kids club include a silent disco and a Junior Detective game where they must solve puzzles in search of the truth.

New updates as of summer 2024 also include some exciting Guinness World Record quiz challenges and some conservation-themed learning. Plus the teens hours are now extended so you can leave them there from 3 pm until midnight!

9. Formula One Simulator

Climb into the driver’s seat of an F1 racing car and get your adrenaline-pumping with a virtual reality race.

10. Sportplex

Sporty types young and old can take part in all sorts of tournaments including tennis, football, basketball, table tennis and table football.

11. Swarovski Crystal Staircases

MSC Cruises ships are incredibly glamorous with thousands of Swarovski crystals used to make the staircases in the main atrium.

12. LEGO Experience

MSC Cruises has partnered with LEGO to create LEGO and Duplo-themed experiences, challenges and competitions for kids. There are over 64,000 LEGO bricks on the ship and kids may even be able meet life-sized LEGO people on board.

13. Le Grand Theatre

The theatre on MSC Virtuosa has 945 seats where guests can enjoy live performances every evening with three sittings per night.

14. Baby Club

MSC Cruises’ Baby Club has activities that parents and under-threes can enjoy together. There’s also the option to leave your toddler in the care of qualified childcare professionals while you relax.

15. Carousel Lounge

In the Carousel Lounge, you can enjoy spectacular entertainment up-close on the round stage as well as stunning sea views.

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

Don’t miss the latest MSC Cruises offers…

MSC Cruises Fantastica Package

What’s Included In The MSC Fantastica Package

Choose Your Own Cabin Number

Free Breakfast Room Service

Speciality Dining Discount

Choice Of Dining Sitting

The Difference Between MSC Bella And Fantastica

The Cost Of A Fantastica Experience

Final Word

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

Related Posts:

Why are MSC cruises so cheap?

MSC cruise deals: what prices look like now

What the MSC Bella experience really includes

The real cost of a cheap MSC cruise

Service charge

Drinks

Flights and transfers

Wi-Fi, excursions and everything else

Cheap MSC cruises: a worked seven-night example

How to find cheap MSC cruises from the UK

Is a cheap MSC cruise worth it?

FAQs

Why are MSC cruises so cheap?

How do you get the cheapest MSC cruise?

Are MSC cruises cheaper last minute?

Are gratuities included on cheap MSC cruises from the UK?

Does MSC offer an NHS discount?

AIDA Cruise Line

Azamara Cruises – Le Club Voyage

Carnival Cruises – VIFP

Celebrity Cruises – Captain’s Club

Costa Cruises – Costa Club

Cunard Cruises – World Club Cunard

Disney Cruise Line – Castaway Club

Holland America – Mariner Society

Norwegian Cruises – Latitudes

Oceania Cruises – Oceania Club

Ponant Yacht Cruises & Expeditions

Princess Cruises – Princess Captain’s Circle

P&O Cruises – Peninsular Club

Regent Cruises – Seven Seas Club

Royal Caribbean – Crown & Anchor Society

Seabourn Cruises – Club

SilverSea – Venetian Society

Star Cruises – Resort World at Sea

MSC Voyagers Club Levels

How To Register For Status Match

My Opinion

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

Related Posts:

If you found this interesting, please share!

My Experience

How MSC Compares With Other Cruise Lines

Don’t Expect a High Space-to-Guest Ratio

MSC Cruises Offers Cheap Deals on Their Older Ships

MSC Cabins

MSC Cruises Cabin Upgrades

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

The Food on MSC Cruises Can Be Hit-and-Miss

Included Drinks with MSC

Drinks Package – Worth It?

MSC’s Entertainment

Things to Do Onboard

Service

Gratuities – It Depends

So, Are MSC Cruises Good?

Don’t Expect Luxury

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

To Conclude

Related Posts:

If you found this interesting, please share!

MSC Cruises Vegan Options: Is MSC Good for Vegans?

How to Request Vegan Meals on MSC Cruises

Vegan Options on MSC: Venue by Venue

Main Dining Room

Buffet

Specialty Restaurants

MSC Plant-Based Drinks, Coffee and Desserts

Vegan Kids on MSC Cruises