Premium Extra Drink Package does (not) include drinks at specialty restaurants

[LuiK]

Be aware, that the "Premium Extra Package" which is the Yacht Club Drink Package, does not include many drinks at specialty restaurants, despite the written rules for the Premium Extra Package state it otherwise. So better ask before every order if the drink you desire is included - or be prepared to fight for your rights, when the bill will be presented to you.

 

For example, at Hola Tacos, only the standard Margarita is included. If you want one of the flavored Margaritas from the menu, you will be charged the full price. Also, the "Don Pedro" Cocktail (vanilla) was to be charged at its full price of est. 8 Euro on our recent trip with the MSC World Europa. At MSC Grandiosa one week earlier, it was covered by the package if you chose to order it with vanilla flavor - other flavors like chocolate were not included. We politely declined to sign the unexpectedly presented bill because of our "Premium Extra Package". A Manager appeared, we gave him the fine print of the Premium Extra Package to read. He said he has different instructions. We declined again to sign the bill, he argued it will be charged anyway, we said that we will then file a Credit Card Chargeback regarding the amount in question and left the Restaurant. The (not) included drinks were never billed to our cabin...

 

Learning: Next time, we will bring our own drinks to the Diamond-Perk-Specialty-Dining on our next trip. No need to argue then...

Edited May 12, 2023 by LuiK

[Georgia_Peaches]

Would you mind elaborating on the fine print you presented to the manager?  Meaning, did it say your drinks were included?  If so, the manager should have honored it on the spot without the "it will be charged anyway" retort.

[LuiK]

Just have a look at the MSC website:

 

https://www.msccruises.com/en-gl/Discover-MSC/On-Board/All-Inclusive-Packages.aspx

 

"Includes all beverages priced up to €14 / $16! [...] The Premium Extra Package can be enjoyed in our bars, buffet, main restaurant and specialty restaurants as well [...]"

 

The Manager argued that every specialty restaurant can exclude special drinks from the coverage of the Premium Extra Package and all the drinks from the Hola Menu are not included except for the Margarita but only the standard Margarita flavor, not if you choose mango for example. It was handled differently one week earlier at MSC Grandiosa.

 

The fun part is, that a vanilla Don Pedro was included at MSC Grandiosa but not at MSC World Europa just one week later and the manager claimed Don Pedro was never included on World Europa (in any flavor) and it is not possible that it is on MSC Grandiosa... Just the old MSC story: Every Ship has its own rules. Ok, that Cocktails depending on the taste of the syrup are included or not included even if they are covered by the written rules of the Drink Package anyway should be (not) funny enough. 🤪

Edited May 12, 2023 by LuiK

[TheSoccerCoach]

We were in YC and ate at Tepanyaki in April on Seaside and our drinks were all covered. 

[8420PR]

Hola Tacos was always some kind of exception, but the drinks packages work perfectly in all other specialty restaurants.

Edited May 13, 2023 by 8420PR

[Morgsmom]

15 hours ago, LuiK said:

Just have a look at the MSC website:

 

https://www.msccruises.com/en-gl/Discover-MSC/On-Board/All-Inclusive-Packages.aspx

 

"Includes all beverages priced up to €14 / $16! [...] The Premium Extra Package can be enjoyed in our bars, buffet, main restaurant and specialty restaurants as well [...]"

You are missing the part where it excludes signature venues... which Hola is

*The Premium Extra Package can be enjoyed in our bars, buffet, main restaurant and specialty restaurants as well as on private islands, but does not cover our signature venues. 

Add to y

[LuiK]

That is not true. Hola is not a signature venue, it is a speciality restaurant. Read here: https://m.msccruises.com/en-gl/Mobile/About-MSC/News/MSC-Virtuosa-Dining-Offering.aspx If it where a signature venue you could not use the Diamond Speciality Restaurant perk there - what you can do and what we did.

Edited May 13, 2023 by LuiK

[JAGR]

52 minutes ago, LuiK said:

That is not true. Hola is not a signature venue, it is a speciality restaurant. Read here: https://m.msccruises.com/en-gl/Mobile/About-MSC/News/MSC-Virtuosa-Dining-Offering.aspx If it where a signature venue you could not use the Diamond Speciality Restaurant perk there - what you can do and what we did.

I think relying on an MSC document that is two-years old may not carry a lot of weight.  More recently, MSC has outlined the the signature venues.  Hola is  included, since it is not technically an MSC product.  It is separately owned, like Venchi:

[LuiK]

Is that an official document from MSC? Source? The official site (current one!) for the Drink Packages does not list any exception for Hola!: https://www.msccruises.com/en-gl/Discover-MSC/On-Board/All-Inclusive-Packages.aspx

 

On the official MSC Website USA and Europe Hola! is listed as a "Specialty Restaurant": https://www.msccruisesusa.com/on-board/dining-drinks/dining-packages-specialty-restaurants and https://www.msccruises.de/an-bord/speisen-und-getraenke/restaurantpakete-und-spezialitaetenrestaurants

 

The Waiters have "specialty" name tags, not "signature" nobody on board mentioned anything about Hola! to be a Signature Venue nowadays, instead referred Hola! only as a Specialty Restaurant - even the Manager was not aware about this possible new excuse and we used the Diamond Specialty Dining perk, which was always and is as today accepted at Hola! - not any non-existing Signature Venue Perk... 🤪

 

But you might suggest that new trick to MSC. Maybe they will grab it and make other Specialty Restaurants or even the Buffet a "Signature Venue" and the overpriced Drink Packages for will only be usable at one beverage dispensing kiosk within the MDR. 🤑

Edited May 13, 2023 by LuiK

[PTC DAWG]

Not too much to see here…

[morpheusofthesea]

7 hours ago, JAGR said:

I think relying on an MSC document that is two-years old may not carry a lot of weight.  More recently, MSC has outlined the the signature venues.  Hola is  included, since it is not technically an MSC product.  It is separately owned, like Venchi:

Went to website just now and Terms and Conditions: 

FREE DRINKS & WI-FI PLUS ONBOARD CREDIT  

 

Effective Date: May 10, 2023 
Expiration Date: May 18, 2023

The following exclusions apply: Tobacco, souvenir glasses, ice cream menu, retail items, minibar, room service, promotions and signature venues (Venchi 1878 establishments, Lavazza Coffee Shops, Jean Philippe Chocolate, Coffee, Crepes & Gelato, Starship Club, Hola! Tacos & Cantina), regardless of beverage price. Must be of legal age to consume alcohol - see our terms of our guest alcohol policy. Other conditions & terms may apply.

 

 It appears this effective/expiration date was only for this cruise. Perhaps OP is 'targeted'.

[no1talks]

5 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

"Perhaps OP is 'targeted'."

Golly, I hope not.

[Ryan82]

Just off Grandiosa. Had premium plus drinks package. Paid nothing for all the drinks in L'Atelier bistrot nor Kaito Teppanyaki. I suspect the OP had an easy package?

[Morgsmom]

2 hours ago, Ryan82 said:

Just off Grandiosa. Had premium plus drinks package. Paid nothing for all the drinks in L'Atelier bistrot nor Kaito Teppanyaki. I suspect the OP had an easy package?

The OP was reporting about Hola.  The drink package is certainly covered in L'Atelier and Kaito.

[LuiK]

23 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Went to website just now and Terms and Conditions:

 

I just went to the MSC website and there is no exclusion for Hola!, nor is there an exclusion in the description of the Premium Extra Drink Package if I book it right now for a future cruise in the "my bookings" section of the MSC website. This part of the small print seems to vary from regional MSC website to regional MSC website.

So again: The point is that cruisers should be aware and warned that MSC is currently accepting the Premium Extra Drink Package (Yacht Club Drink Package) in Hola! on some ships, but not on others, and that sometimes some of the drinks may or may not be included in the package (and maybe depending on the flavor of syrup, sometimes plain/vanilla is free at some drinks, sometimes not), and that on some regional MSC websites the description may state that the drink packages mentioned may or may not be applicable at Hola! and that sometimes Hola! is a "specialty restaurant" covered by your package but at the same time may or may not be a "signature venue" that might not be covered.

 

So be prepared to receive a bill for your drinks even though you have bought a drinks package. Therefore, whenever you order a drink at Hola!, ask the waiter whether your drink request could possibly be covered by their sinfully expensive Premium Extra Drinks Package and (important!) in which flavor.

Good luck, happy cruisers: Nothing is more consistent than the inconsistency of MSC Cruises!

 

🤪

Edited May 14, 2023 by LuiK

[morpheusofthesea]

There is nothing like a 'perceived' injustice to garner a new CC poster.