HAVE MSC LOST THE PLOT on DRINKS ?

Bea ... Not sure what is offered to those in the USA on our Xmas cruise, I for one think the NCL thing is bad because as you say there will be people who either do not drink much or not at all having to pay for something they do not want, or they have to cruise with another line.

If they are aligning with NcL, they should be giving the drink package for free. And they might want to put an actual 4th bed in rooms that supposedly sleep 4. While they are at it, maybe they should also provide more dining and entertainment options. I could go on.

who is aligning with NCL? :o and why? They have nothing to do with NCL or even have something common and I hope its stays that way.

Recently we are hearing that the powers that be in Geneva have decided to stop certain drinks vouchers for cruises out of Miami and the decision was made in October, no attempt it seems was made to inform MSC USA or those who had booked after their cut off date!

 

I decided to see what drink packages are still on offer for those booked from the UK on the December 23rd sailing, assuming that a person had not yet booked one.

 

There are now only Two packages available ...

 

All Inclusive package A at £238 per week / £34 pppd

$310 per week / $45 pppd

 

All Inclusive Deluxe package A at £273 per week / £39 $355 per week / $51pppd

 

As we have an Aurea package as people will be aware drinks are included, so glad that we upgraded to the Deluxe package at a total of £70 / $91 for the week a while back.

 

MSC are going to do themselves some serious damage in the USA with this customer wise and possibly those in the UK heading to Miami.

my guess web is screwed again :mad: checked yesterday my booking and nothing could be booked at all. give it couple days or call.

Bea ... Not sure what is offered to those in the USA on our Xmas cruise, I for one think the NCL thing is bad because as you say there will be people who either do not drink much or not at all having to pay for something they do not want, or they have to cruise with another line.

I must add that I was delighted to see the "Get More, Get All" promotion had been extended to cruises of more than 7 nights when I was booking our upcoming (11 night) Christmas cruise in a Fantastica balcony (entitling us to the basic all-inclusive drinks package and €50 each OBC) as I had a casino discount voucher so got almost 35% off the 'included' items as well as the cruise fare! ;p

If they are aligning with NcL, they should be giving the drink package for free. And they might want to put an actual 4th bed in rooms that supposedly sleep 4. While they are at it, maybe they should also provide more dining and entertainment options. I could go on.

I hope they don't align themselves with NCL as NCL has only gone downhill the last 3 years.

NCL rooms for 4 are a hodge-podge across the ships whether they actually have separate beds for pax 3/4.

What gets me upset about MSC is we can't book a room with separate beds for 4 (brother/sister) unless we have 5 pax.

MSC began a promotion last year which comes and goes (on selected sailings - mainly for Med cruises), known as Get More, Get All. It includes drinks packages (mealtime or basic all-inclusive, depending on cabin category), some OBC and the Social internet package. However, these inclusions are NOT free - the price goes up accordingly when these promotions are on. The same applies to NCL - they are not giving free packages. In fact, it forces people who wouldn't normally have use for one, having to fork out for one.

As far as I'm aware and other than NCL Sky, they don't force you to choose any packages - you can decline even if a suite where you get all 4 or 5 packages. Prices don't change though if you take less perks, you just don't pay the service charge on "value" of package which is a bunch of garbage.

That being said, overall prices bumped up when they started the perks a couple years back.

MSC Geneva have definitely lost the plot by choosing to alienate moderate drinkers in the cheaper cabin classes, particularly among novice cruisers where price point drives brand loyalty.

Sorry to jump on but re the drinks package has anyone who has had the 'classic' all inclusive drinks package (ie non premium spirits) able to update what spirits are available and what non branded spirits actually are? Also, with the wine - is there a poor selection to choose from rather than what's offered in the deluxe package? Is there also a price limit like on RCI as to what price drinks you can choose on the package?

There non-alcoholic drink packages are ridiculous compared to NCL and PCI. I’m not sure what to do for our family.

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Sorry to jump on but re the drinks package has anyone who has had the 'classic' all inclusive drinks package (ie non premium spirits) able to update what spirits are available and what non branded spirits actually are? Also, with the wine - is there a poor selection to choose from rather than what's offered in the deluxe package? Is there also a price limit like on RCI as to what price drinks you can choose on the package?

There are drinks menu's somewhere on this message board. There are cut off prices, anything with an asterisk on the menu's is cut off. Also the La Luna bar is cut off, (if you want to listen to the piano get your drinks in the golden or sports bar). The house cab is good, the house Chardonnay is too sweet. Most of the premium stuff just has snob value, there are some anomalies though, like makers mark is premium but Elijah Craig isn't.

If this link works it should take you to a thread with up to date menu's

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2527257&highlight=Drinks+menu

Sorry to jump on but re the drinks package has anyone who has had the 'classic' all inclusive drinks package (ie non premium spirits) able to update what spirits are available and what non branded spirits actually are? Also, with the wine - is there a poor selection to choose from rather than what's offered in the deluxe package? Is there also a price limit like on RCI as to what price drinks you can choose on the package?

This might help some. Shows Classic vs Premium.

http://www.msccruisesgetforms.com/cms/CMSIMAGES/FLYER/drinks/classicvspremium.PDF

Bret

This might help some. Shows Classic vs Premium.

http://www.msccruisesgetforms.com/cms/CMSIMAGES/FLYER/drinks/classicvspremium.PDF

 

Bret

Crown Royal has been demoted from premium to classic. And one of the bars had a bottle of Woodford, presumably premium. No doubt there are other anomalies. Also Bellini's are no longer in the menu's but you can still get them and they are classic.

This might help some. Shows Classic vs Premium.

http://www.msccruisesgetforms.com/cms/CMSIMAGES/FLYER/drinks/classicvspremium.PDF

 

Bret

Thanks a mil for that link, Bret. MSC doesn't give a list like that for the equivalent Euro offerings.