MSC Drink Package Changes

[@travis23lee]

Haha The look on Beth's face at 17:55 when she was trying to figure out where he was going when Chris made his 2 year old joke. He starts with "you look a lot older..."

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

😂😂 you just never know what he is going to come up with.. 25 years and I’m still not prepared 😂😂

[@bmlaurent32137]

Our 1st MSC cruise in Feb is Yacht Club. But going forward we would probably just get the non alcoholic pkg. With my Diamond status on Royal I get 4 free drinks a day. That's more than enough for me. So buying a couple of drinks a day is better than paying close to a thousand dollars for the drink pkg

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Absolutely agree!!! Or we just work our way up to Blue Diamond 🤪🤪🤪

[@bmlaurent32137]

​@@Taste-Try-Travelrather go for the double black diamond super fun time status. (I think that's what Chris calls it) 😂😂😂

[@AspireToInspire_22]

Just love all of your videos. Thanks for sharing this info.

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Thank you!😊

[@williamcasteel6849]

Love your podcast

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Thank you! ❤️

[@skipfrey4603]

I only sail in The Yacht Club so it really doesn't affect me, but I believe as well it came down to a financial decision, period. This BS about cruising experience and healthy consumption is a cop out. Hopefully the only other cruise line I sail with, NCL doesn't cave as well. I feel like as usual a few idiots who can't control themselves get everyone else punished. Reconsider MSC!!

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Unfortunately, I don’t think MSC will reconsider anytime soon. But, one of the things we love about MSC being a family non-corporate company is their ability to change quickly. Maybe if they get enough pushback… 🤷‍♂️

[@denad2]

I spent a loooooooot of time in the Master‘s of the Sea Pub on the Euribia - I liked the flair there and the beer selection was really great. On some days it probably would easily have been doable to hit the 15 drinks there. But tbh, it should be enough. Question is just, does one small beer count the same as a large beer.

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

We have heard it is a great bar!! Excited to hang out on WA. Yes, every drink will count against the 15. 😢

[@d28picker]

Yacht Club drinks are not even counted while in YC, only counted when your card is scanned in gen pop. So, you can drink 15 in gen pop and go back to YC and drink all your heart desires! Although I have only hit 15 once or twice. I'm not a pro like some of you! 🙂

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

😂😂 far from pro but it can be a fun way to spend the day around the ship! YC has nothing to worry about… you are right

[@peterbunter2059]

We're on the World America January 26. Travelling from England. Can't wait.

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

We are so excited for that ship!🥳

[@diegoquirino96]

Engineer here and according to the second law of thermodynamics, due to the entropy caused by the change in the drink packages, the cruise it self is going to be less "agitated" because most people that usually buy the package will think it's not worth it anymore. Even the people that can handle more than 15 drinks. Hopefully they go back on this decision. Seeing they making this decision I belive more things are coming...

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Ha! Yes!! Diego, we’re just a couple men of science trying to interpret our MSC observations! 😎

[@CruisingTipsDotCom]

It appears that if you go over the 15 drink limit, unlike on Carnival, you WILL be able to purchase additional drinks. You just have to pay for them.

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Exactly. So, if anybody attempts another of our 18 bar pub-crawl, they’ll have a chance!😊

[@CruisingTipsDotCom]

@@Taste-Try-Travel Did you ever know that you're my heroes? You're everything I wish I could be. You are the wind beneath my too-drunk-to-fly wings.

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

@ together we can fly higher than an eagle, so high we can almost touch the top shelf liquor 😂😂

[@JosephDickersonUX]

This has definitely changed how we will cruise on MSC. We were pricing a 23 day transatlantic for April next year, and it was going to be $5800 for an oceanview room with the discounted Easy Plus and wifi promotion. After Thursday's change the price jumped to $7600 (!) because we now had to pay for the Premium drink package and the wifi. That put a kibbosh on our plans, and we are instead going on a much cheaper NCL tranatlantic instead. So MSC lost out on almost $6000 from yours truly due to this change. Still planning on going on future MSC trips but we will now focus on 4 or 7 day cruises instead of longer trips. I also have some ideas on why they are counting YC customers' drinks when they are at venues outside of the YC. First, to make sure the bar staff gets tips for every drinks they serve - if they didn't enter the order they would not get that tip. Also, letting them not "count" a YC member's drinks would mean a wholesale change to the point of sale system in every venue (to add the button to not be counted against their package). As someone who has worked in IT for 20+ years this is no easy thing to roll out (because it would have to be almost fleet wide). And we know that MSC doesn't have the best tech folks behind the scenes. While I hate that the Easy Plus is being phased out, I also think a factor was customer confusion. Several times I have seen people angry that they had to pay extra for a drink, because they didn't understand the limits of the package. So you probably had bar staff relaying this frustration to management at some point - With one package, it's easier for them to deal with. And I've only drank more than 15 drinks once, years ago on Carnival... And I usually don't get anywhere close to that. Usually. 🙂

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Hi there… you have made very good points. Crazy price change and I don’t blame you, that is quite a difference and I think MSC might start feeling this. You nailed it on the POS… and that’s one thing that YC does not have, at least any guest facing. Unfortunately many people wanted them to be like the other cruise lines and so it is happening. 😢

[@TimothyMichaelPatrickOSullivan]

I was disappointed to learn that MSC is changing their drink packages. I think this change is more about people sharing or "buying" drinks for others than about a cash grab. We will probably still buy the package after doing a "is it worth it" cost analysis to determine the breakeven point, which is likely to be around five to seven drinks per day. In my opinion, MSC is still the cruise line with the most competitive pricing.

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

💯 We feel almost the exact same way… plus, that feeling of being able to ask any crew for any drink at anytime is kind of nice. 🤪😊🤪 MSC pricing is still a pretty darn good value, for sure!

[@jackiewilkey]

Merry Christmas! This is sad but goes to show someone is looking at all the FB posts about people bragging on beating the system; sharing drinks, bringing on liquor, etc. I still think MSC is a great value

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Ugggg why did those people ruin this great thing 😢 Have a wonderful holiday

[@michaellane8195]

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas Chris and Beth! As well as Happy New Year! May 2025 see you in good health, recovered from the hurricane, and see you prosperous as well! Best wishes for you and your extended families! As for the drink package, I personally don't drink alcohol so it's not something I'd worry about. I haven't had an alcoholic drink since the night before the end of the cruise on Seashore in Dec 2023 to toast a great trip. If I added up the waters, sodas, and juices, I might have hit 10 each day but I also have an overactive bladder so I'd be running to the restroom all the time. If you think about it, if a person sleeps 8 hours, that almost means 1 alcoholic drink per hour while awake. And if you leave the ship on port days your window for drinks probably shrinks to 12 hours or less. That's a lot of drinks whether it's alcoholic or not. Great info and breakdown by the way on the new drink packages.

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Thank you! Happy Holidays right back atcha!☺️ Chris is right there with you… alcohol isn’t his favorite either. However, that feeling of just walking up to any bar and they hand you whatever you want is pretty nice though. 🤪

[@Nicole-077]

I find this very disappointing. For those who don’t drink much, the Easy and Easy Plus packages were reasonably priced options for exploring different drinks. However, with the new premium pricing, the cost no longer justifies the value for me. Going forward, we won’t be purchasing the package. It used to be nice to relax and enjoy without worrying about the cost. As for the drink limit, I don’t mind it being capped at 15. Shame on MSC for following the trend-don’t be like the rest! Thank you both for everything! Merry Christmas and see you next year!🎉

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Merry Christmas!!! We agree, it will change what we do also. Shame shame shame MSC. No one is happy

[@bobhidley9037]

Help me understand this drink package thing better: We're booked in Yacht Club on three cruises this year: the Seascape in Jan '25, the Miraviglia in Aug, '25, and the Grandiosa in Dec '25. When you said that YC members who get a drink OUTSIDE YC premises will have to live by the 15 drink limit, does that mean they'll combine ALL our drinks in the daily limit (including YC bars)?

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Being that you’ve already booked these cruises before Dec 18th, this change won’t apply to you on those sailings. In the future, the drinks ordered in YC will not count against the 15 drinks limit… only the ones ordered outside those YC doors. (In fact, they don’t even ring up orders at a point-of-sale terminal at all in YC) You don’t have to worry at all on your upcoming cruises!😊

[@bobhidley9037]

@@Taste-Try-Travel Thank you Beth and Chris! We're seeing a big future for MSC since its expansion west.

[@LidoLife]

we are taking our first transatlantic cruise on the Seaside next April for 24 days!!!!! struggling with the non alcohol pkg price…. 624.00 each!!! Don’t think we can drink that much to payoff!

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

That’s a whole heck of a lot of Diet Coke! Have a wonderful cruise… 24 days!😊😎😊

[@LidoLife]

@ yes that’s what we are looking at!! Can’t drink that many!!!

[@Cami_1606]

We are from europe and have a cruise booked for october next year with easy package, that still gets us unlimited drinks but what if we decide to upgrade our package to easy plus, will we loose the unlimited drinks then?

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Hi there. As far as we know these changes are for cruises around US. I would ask MSC just to be sure before upgrading.

[@annikki73]

Only time I got a drink package was the Easy Plus that was part of the wifi/drink package at initial booking, on my first cruise late last year. Since then, four other cruises (two MSC, one RC, one Virgin), I've barely had any drinks because no package. I liked being able to try a few different cocktails each day as I pleased, and looked forward to doing that again someday....but not for an even greater cost because it now includes premium booze that I can't taste the difference in. Boo! Anyhow, I hope your holiday season goes well and that the two of you have a fabulous 2025!

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Thank you… happy Holidays to you as well! I think it will be a deciding factor for a lot of people. Just too expensive 😢

[@MC-ys4yf]

The folks that wanted MSC to be more "American" got their wish. On a serious note this may change the way we cruise a lot. Recently made Blue Diamond, so YC may not provide the value it once did. Many of the cruises we had been looking at increased very little for base fare + drinks and wifi. Now that fare included Premium Extra package YC seems to be a bigger step up as that was a big add-on. Now we get Any Time dining as BD booking a Bella fare seems like a great way to cruise. Merry Christmas Chris and Beth!

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Yes. Totally agree! And that’s kinda unfortunate. Maybe they didn’t think this thru all the way. 🙃

[@billiejoeluver1]

If we booked the yacht club before dec 18th are we limited outside the yacht club?

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

No. Any cruise (with the drink package) booked before Dec 18th is not subject to the limits. Don’t know how the crew is going to know that, but we’ll find out in April on our World America cruise.

[@selseybill]

If I leave yacht club and drink elsewhere am I still covered by premium extra?

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Yes you are! You will fall under 15 alcoholic drinks in that 24 hour period and unlimited coffee, water and nonalcoholic once outside those magic doors

[@tondrahill5646]

Drink #18!!!! 😂😂😂😂😂

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

😂😂😂😂

[@jayvoas1976]

it's all about the money, if it weren't they wouldn't allow you to purchase drinks after the limit.

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Agree. So sad 😢

[@jerrymcghee6788]

Love the Second Law reference! I'm guessing Chris is an engineer?

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

In his mind, Chris is an engineer… and an architect, an astronaut, and a professional wrestler!😊

[@gregpierce2468]

It’s a money decision…. We drink mostly wine and bubbly and have never seen drunks or heavy party crowds on MSC. Thats why we love MSC. We have always had the easy plus package… maybe they will get enough backlash and will change it back.

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Yeah we have never seen “Carnival-like” drunk crowds either. So wish they would change it back and stay unique

[@DopplerNC]

Woof, that was a Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. All over the place. lol.

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Yeah… Chris brain can get that way! 🤣

[@berges104]

15 drinks, perhaps you heard the phrases DRINK LIKE A FISH or DRINK LIKE A SAILOR Plenty of us in the military could get 15 beers in 5 hours let alone 24 hours. I don't like beer but I could probably manage 15 hard drinks in 8 hours if I had no responsibility that day. Might eventually maintain a decent buzz.

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

😂😂 well you would drink way more than we could handle which is no where near a fish for Chris. Somehow I can handle more than him but 15 is ok for us ❤️

[@gabrieleisen5241]

Could be a thing MSC has to do to protect themselves legally. People are sue happy

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Could be… wish we knew what lead up to this decision

[@williamcasteel6849]

Will they now have premium alcohol.

[@MC-ys4yf]

Yes, all cruises booked with drinks + wifi now get the Premium Extra package, same as YC.

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Ha! Doubt they change their selection, if that’s what you mean. 😊

[@Pirtosi]

We were not happy about this news. It's not that we hit a 15 Drink limit every day on every cruise we go on, BUT.... there are times that yes we BOTH have hit our 15 on Carnival. In fact this last cruise we met a bunch of people in the Piano Bar each night and easily hit 15 every day of that cruise just as a result of how crazy it got in the Piano Bar with those folks. But, that was the exception for us. Do we need 15 every day every cruise. No. Do we want someone else telling us how many I can have when it was originally unlimited. Absolutely. In fact it is one of the things we Hype up to all our friends. "No limit on drinks! *Whispering* unlike others" We had already decided that when we sail MSC from here on out that we will go YC, so the limit not a factor.... EXCEPT they ONLY allow it INSIDE yacht club... that is pretty messed up. The only thing I can think of reasoning why there is, maybe because it is a more contained space...? Bottom line: Not happy with the change but it won't stop us from choosing MSC, ya know... Because Yacht Club Baby! 🤣

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Ha! 💯 agree! Don’t nobody be tellin’ us how much we be drinkin’! 🤪🥴🤪

[@johndehof4076]

My wife and I were on the Seaside out of Port Canaveral in October of 2023, We did not enjoy our cruise. The food was terrible. At night we ate in the main dining room. I order a New York Strip and the steak was quarter inch thick. The pizza was terrible. The pizza only had sauce no cheese or no other addition. The other thing was there was sinks to wash your hands at the buffet, did not any soap or towels.. I did not see any crew members cleaning the ship. My wife caught covid after we got home. I have seen other videos for other msc ships and they were nothing like what we experienced . We went on Wonde of the seas and found that it was not as good as we previous experienced. I think that cruises have gone down since the pandemic. We are thinking about going on the msc again.. The price is so good that it is hard to pass on. The one thing that msc has is the best coffee on any cruise. We have on Carnival, Celebrity, and Royal Caribbean and the coffee on the msc was the best.

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Ahhh I’m so sorry to hear about your experience. Definitely not the way to have a vacation. I believe you are correct that cruises have gone down a bit but I will say that it is across the board even on land. Just the sign of our times when you go to eat at a restaurant. Give them another try. We struggled with our first MSC cruise also. We had to accept the differences and embrace them. Now it is hard to book any other cruise line ❤️