MSC Cruises plans to streamline its beverage program. Instead of offering three alcoholic packages, the cruise line will reduce the number of options to one simplified plan.
Historically, guests sailing with MSC could select the Easy, Easy Plus, or Premium Drink Package. Effective December 18, 2024, the only alcoholic package available on sailings departing on or after April 1, 2025, is the Premium Extra Package, which eliminates the cheaper packages.
The Premium Extra Package includes 15 daily alcoholic beverages valued at up to $16 and features a wide selection of cocktails, spirits, wines, and draft and bottled beer. Guests will also receive a 25% discount on bottled wines and champagne.
It also includes all non-alcoholic beverages with no daily cap, so cruisers can enjoy unlimited soft drinks, still and sparkling water, energy drinks, tea, specialty coffee, and hot chocolate.
If guests consume 15 alcoholic drinks, they can purchase additional beverages at the full menu price. Moreover, the 15-drink limit only applies to beverages ordered in areas outside of the Yacht Club areas.
While they removed the cheaper alcoholic drink packages, the cost of the new Premium Extra Package is similar to the mid-tier Easy Plus Package, which was around $61 per day. Comparatively, the previous Premium Extra Package came in at over $80 per day.
For the July 19, 2025, cruise aboard MSC World America, the Premium Extra Package costs $70 per day, per person, totaling $490 for the 7-night cruise. The price includes the mandatory service charge.
The new drink package updates apply to all ships sailing in the Caribbean, North America, and Pacific Ocean regions. Guests sailing in other areas can still purchase an Easy or Easy Plus Package. Plus, those who purchased an MSC drink package to one of the impacted regions before Dec. 18, 2024, will not be impacted by the overhaul.
Please note that the Premium Extra Package can still be used at all bars and dining venues on board and ashore at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.
Non-alcoholic drink packages
While MSC cut two of its alcoholic packages, they kept the non-alcoholic options. The Alcohol-Free Package is available for adults who want an inclusive drink experience but don't care about alcoholic beverages.
As such, it includes zero-proof cocktails, sodas, energy drinks, flavored water, fruit juices, coffee, and ice cream. The cost of the Alcohol-Free Package on the July 19, 2025, cruise aboard MSC World America is $210 or $30 per day. This pricing is consistent with what MSC used to charge for the Alcohol-Free Package before the overhaul, just $2 more per day.
Finally, the Minors Package, designed specifically for younger cruises, includes alcohol-free cocktails, sodas, energy drinks, flavored water, fruit juices, coffee, and ice cream.
Not the first cruise line to condense its drink packages
Royal Caribbean used to offer different drink packages tiers. However, the cruise giant simplified its beverage program a few years ago, eliminating the Select, Premium, and Ultimate Packages and creating the Deluxe Beverage Package. They also have two unlimited non-alcoholic packages: Royal Refreshment and Classic Soda.
The popular all-you-can-drink alcoholic package includes beverages valued at up to $14 and varies in price depending on the sail date, ship, and itinerary. However, you can normally expect to spend at least $65 for the Deluxe Beverage Package.
Unlike MSC, however, there's no limit as to how many alcoholic drinks Royal Caribbean cruisers can order per day. The policy is left to the discretion of the bartender, who has the right to refuse service if a guest appears intoxicated.
That said, MSC is following in the footsteps of other popular cruise lines with daily drink package limits while lines like Royal and Celebrity remain unlimited. Popular companies like Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and Holland America Line all cap passengers at 15 drinks per day. However, the latter two have two tiers of packages for guests to choose from.
Recently, Carnival quietly hiked the price of its CHEERS! drink package without warning. Though the minimum price is $82 per day regardless of the cruise's length, no changes were made to the daily drink limit.
In comparison, while Princess Cruises also implements a daily cap, their cheapest package costs $64.99 per day, which is more akin to MSC's new offerings. It can also be bundled with Wi-Fi, gratuities, and casual dining meals with Princess' inclusive Princess Plus package, costing just $65 per person, per day.
Read more: Carnival quietly raises drink package price without warning
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
