MSC Drink Package Upgrade - Easy to Premium

[Epos Man]

As long as i can get the cocktails we used to get with the old all inclusive restaurant and bar package on our cruise on seaside in june we'll be happy bunnys

[dav1041]

13 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

 

As I've said, the only drinks that won't be included in the Premium package will be those on the Connoisseurs' Selection page of the menus - very straightforward and not complicated at all.

 

Great, thank you! I can definitely live without the Connoisseurs stuff so I think the premium will treat me perfect.   I was mainly frustrated with the difference between the mealtime, classic, deluxe, easy, premium, premium +, and trying to figure out which one would be the best selection for the experience I was looking for, but it does look like the premium is the way to go.  

 

19 minutes ago, Até said:

I thought Drinks On Us package was pretty well the established package for US bookings on Seaside by April, 2018. The corresponding Classic and Deluxe were some of the best package values I've ever sailed with. 

 

We booked Seaside on 04/19/18 and at the time I didn't pay much attention to the drink packages they were offering because we booked Aurea.  I had always planned on upgrading from classic to deluxe (because deluxe seemed to be just like the all-inclusive on Carnival), but they happened to change everything before I got a chance.   

[thecruisers6]

1 hour ago, dav1041 said:

but at this point, IMO anyway, you can't beat the all or nothing drink package that Carnival offers.   

 

 

Isn’t that Carnival package affectionately known as the ‘detox’ package. 

Only 15 beverages allowed in 24 hours 🙄

[dav1041]

Just now, thecruisers6 said:

Isn’t that Carnival package affectionately known as the ‘detox’ package. 

Only 15 beverages allowed in 24 hours 🙄

 

Haha... Some detox.  I never hit the limit or came close, if I did I wouldn't have been able to get out of bed the next day.  

[paceyswife]

Looking at booking Seaside for 2/20 sailing... with the easy package, are any “foo-foo” drinks included or is it basically the two beers and house wine? My husband is fine with the beer, but I do like a frozen drink now and then. I don’t think it’s worth the extra to upgrade for a frozen drink or two a day. TIA!

[Até]

1 hour ago, paceyswife said:

Looking at booking Seaside for 2/20 sailing... with the easy package, are any “foo-foo” drinks included or is it basically the two beers and house wine? My husband is fine with the beer, but I do like a frozen drink now and then. I don’t think it’s worth the extra to upgrade for a frozen drink or two a day. TIA!

See the attached list of drinks.  If those cocktails aren't what you are looking for there really isn't anything that stops you from ordering a zero-proof cocktail and a shot of liquor.

[paceyswife]

Thank you Ate... I think we will do fine! 

[JoeFo44]

So we booked around September of last year fro Seaside this July and have the Drinks on Us package.  Our reservation is Me, my wife, my mother, my sister, and my 2 kids (6 and 3) in one of the family double cabins.  I am the only one really interested in upgrading but my wife would do it too if we had to.   I was told by an MSC representative one of the million times I've called that if you upgrade the package at checkin before you board, they can shift adults assigned to specific cabin numbers and then upgrade the adults in only one of the cabins that are connected in the family cabin (even though it is technically supposed to be all adults on the reservation).  So I have a couple questions...

 

1) Has anyone had any success doing this? We are under the same reservation but technically are staying in two cabins with the connecting door open.  So has anyone in this situation been able to upgrade only the people assigned to one cabin?

2) Would MSC let me switch so that I am assigned to one cabin number with the two kids and assign the other three adults to the second cabin and then let me upgrade alone?

[emerald6273]

On 3/23/2019 at 7:55 PM, Beamafar said:

The following thread has the current drinks menus with the prices for US-based sailings so you can compare the difference between what's included in the Easy (up to $6) and Premium (up to $12) packages:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/topic/2645640-current-bar-menus/

 

Sorry to jump in on this thread but just booked our first MSC Cuba cruise sailing from Miami. Booked Balcony Aurea experience which includes easy package. Have paid extra to upgrade to Premium package. Whilst we mainly drink beer, gin, wine and prosecco, brands of which are covered in Easy package. We also like Pina Coladas and Mojitos. Found the mojito menu ($9.95 per mojito) but have you any idea how much a Pina Colada costs and which package includes it?

[Epos Man]

pina will be fine in the premium

 

[emerald6273]

1 minute ago, Epos Man said:

pina will be fine in the premium

 

Thanks Epos Man for this info. Really only upgrading for the 2 Mojitos and Pina Colada I would drink each day. Hoping I haven't made a mistake upgrading. Husband has a few Miller or Coors Lite Beers during day, we each have couple of glass of wine with dinner and some G&T's during evening. Will be on Armonia. What package or cabin includes complimentary mini bar contents in cabin?

Edited May 15, 2019 by harv2015
Error

[Beamafar]

5 minutes ago, harv2015 said:

Sorry to jump in on this thread but just booked our first MSC Cuba cruise sailing from Miami. Booked Balcony Aurea experience which includes easy package. Have paid extra to upgrade to Premium package. Whilst we mainly drink beer, gin, wine and prosecco, brands of which are covered in Easy package. We also like Pina Coladas and Mojitos. Found the mojito menu ($9.95 per mojito) but have you any idea how much a Pina Colada costs and which package includes it?

 

Pina Colada is listed on the Frozen Drinks page at $8.50.  From what I've read on the forum, it's also possible to order a non-alcoholic cocktail (which is covered on the Easy package) and add a shot of rum.

[Beamafar]

13 minutes ago, harv2015 said:

 What package or cabin includes complimentary mini bar contents in cabin?

 

Only the Premium+ package and the old Deluxe package include the mini-bar on Armonia.  (On ships that have the Yacht Club, the mini-bar is included there).

 

You'll also get a much better range of wines on the Premium package and better quality gin for your G&Ts.

😊

 

Edited May 15, 2019 by Beamafar

[emerald6273]

Just now, Beamafar said:

 

Only the Premium+ package and the old Deluxe package include the mini-bar on Armonia.  (On ships that have the Yacht Club, the mini-bar is included there).

 

You'll also get a much better range of wines on the Premium package and better quality gin for your G&Ts.  😊

We've mainly cruised with Celebrity and NCL. Particularly enjoyed Cafe Albacio on board Celebrity. Understand there's  a coffee shop onboard Armonia.  Does the Premium package include it and are desserts and pastries included in coffee shop?

[Beamafar]

They don't have desserts and pastries in the coffee shop in the way that Celebrity does.  You can get a small range of complimentary pastries/croissants up to 11am IIRC.  The list of coffees available is included in the photos in the link for the current bar menus;  they would all be included in Premium.

 

I did a review of our January cruise on Armonia.  Here's a link to the thread if you're interested:

 

2631573-notes-from-armonia-miami-havana-jan-2019

Edited May 15, 2019 by Beamafar

[Gluis0722]

On 5/13/2019 at 12:46 PM, JoeFo44 said:

So we booked around September of last year fro Seaside this July and have the Drinks on Us package.  Our reservation is Me, my wife, my mother, my sister, and my 2 kids (6 and 3) in one of the family double cabins.  I am the only one really interested in upgrading but my wife would do it too if we had to.   I was told by an MSC representative one of the million times I've called that if you upgrade the package at checkin before you board, they can shift adults assigned to specific cabin numbers and then upgrade the adults in only one of the cabins that are connected in the family cabin (even though it is technically supposed to be all adults on the reservation).  So I have a couple questions...

 

1) Has anyone had any success doing this? We are under the same reservation but technically are staying in two cabins with the connecting door open.  So has anyone in this situation been able to upgrade only the people assigned to one cabin?

2) Would MSC let me switch so that I am assigned to one cabin number with the two kids and assign the other three adults to the second cabin and then let me upgrade alone?

That sounds weird.i know cruise employees are supposed to be accommodating but man that’s really going out of the way. Hopefully it can be done. I have a question for you about the package. When you booked it did everyone on the reservation get the packages included? Or is it just the first 2 people in the room? Cause usually that’s how most promo’s work.

[china1095]

Hi, if I purchase the premium drink package for my husband and me, are we required to buy the non-alcoholic package for both of my kids in the same cabin?

[jamon]

thanks for the info

[jamon]

If you are on the Easy package, can you get alcohol😀 drink in the dining room, which would be covered by the package???

[Beamafar]

On 7/14/2019 at 7:49 PM, china1095 said:

Hi, if I purchase the premium drink package for my husband and me, are we required to buy the non-alcoholic package for both of my kids in the same cabin?

 

Simple answer:  Yes.

[jamon]

Beamafar.....do you have knowledge about my question about using easy package, can you use it in the dining room at no charge.?

[Beamafar]

3 minutes ago, jamon said:

Beamafar.....do you have knowledge about my question about using easy package, can you use it in the dining room at no charge.?

 

You can certainly use it in the MDR for wine, beer and water.  In my experience they don't serve hard liquor;  others may have different experiences.

 

ETA ... the only places that don't honour the Easy package are the speciality restaurants.

Edited July 15, 2019 by Beamafar

[Justaddvodka68]

Reviving this older post because I read through it and don't see my question answered. 

 

If you're on a casino comp and get free drinks in the casino, does anyone know what drinks are included? 

We are also getting the easy package with our Aurea upgrade, which would be fine for my husband, everything he drinks is on there, and fine for me during the day, but in the casino if I want a vodka martini, I'd want better than Smirnoff. Anyone know what vodkas are included with the free casino drinks? 

[FMZ]

Hi all. We cruised.on Seaside.in May and at that time you could upgrade easy to premium for $27 pp/pd. Is that still the case? 

[Até]

Easy to Premium is still $27pp per day, if paid on the ship they will add 15% gratuity.  Sorry Justaddvodka68, I don't know about casino comped drinks.