MSC Cruises Drink Package Price: Is It Worth It?
MSC Cruises's all-in drink package is a good deal for some guests and an expensive habit for others — the maths below tells you which you are.
The price
Roughly $50–75 USD for Easy Plus, with prices varying by market per person per day at recent pricing, plus a 15–18%, market-dependent gratuity added to the package price, bought for every day of the cruise. Pre-cruise purchase through your booking is typically cheaper than the on-board rate. Prices vary by ship and sailing; confirm current figures.
Break-even
With cocktails, wine and premium beer each running roughly $10–16 on board, the package pays for itself at around 5–7 drinks per person per day per person per day. Below that, pay as you go; above it, the package wins. The general framework is in Are Drink Packages Worth It on Your First Cruise.
What's included
Easy Plus covers cocktails, spirits, wine by the glass, beer, coffees, sodas and water up to a per-drink cap (around $10 at recent policy); Premium Extra lifts the cap and adds more; the basic Easy tier is beer, house wine and sodas only. Drinks above the package's per-drink price cap cost the difference.
Who it suits
Sea-day-heavy itineraries (Caribbean, transatlantic) with steady drinking from lunch; Alaska's port-heavy days and early mornings suit it less, as covered in Cruise Vs Flight and Hotel Vacation Costs.
The both-adults rule
Yes — MSC requires all adults in the same cabin to buy the same package tier, and pricing differs between its North American and European sailings.
Cheaper alternatives
MSC Cruises's soda, coffee or beer-and-wine packages cost a fraction of the full package; bringing your wine allowance aboard (see MSC Cruises Alcohol Policy) covers cabin drinking for nothing.
More MSC Cruises policies
- MSC Cruises price drop policy
- MSC Cruises gratuities
- MSC Cruises cancellation policy
- CPAP on MSC Cruises
- MSC Cruises dress code
- MSC Cruises smoking and vaping policy
- MSC Cruises alcohol policy
- MSC Cruises kids club ages
- MSC Cruises wifi packages
- Is MSC Cruises right for you?
Have a question about this? A licensed cruise expert can answer it for free — no booking required, no pressure.
Ask a cruise expert →Getting the package bundled instead
Many MSC Cruises promotions include the drink package in the fare — for a couple who'd buy it anyway that's worth hundreds of dollars, and it's the first thing worth checking for your dates before paying separately.
Want this priced up for your dates? Speak to a licensed cruise expert — same price as booking direct, plus perks like onboard credit and prepaid gratuities the websites don't show. No fee, no obligation, and you can book online if you'd rather.
Get a quote or book online →Frequently asked questions
How much is the MSC Cruises drink package?
Roughly $50–75 USD for Easy Plus, with prices varying by market per person per day at recent pricing, plus a 15–18%, market-dependent service charge on the package price, with pre-cruise purchase usually cheaper than buying on board; confirm current pricing for your sailing.
Do both adults in a cabin have to buy the MSC Cruises drink package?
Yes — MSC requires all adults in the same cabin to buy the same package tier, and pricing differs between its North American and European sailings.
More questions you might have
- Which Cruise Line Has the Best Military Discount? Canada GuideHow each line's military, veteran, first-responder and senior rates compare, who qualifies in Canada, and how to claim them at booking.
- Transatlantic Crossing Cost From Canada: A Realistic BudgetWhat a transatlantic crossing costs from Canada — liner vs repositioning fares, the one-way flight math, and the full budget for a crossing-plus-Europe trip.
- Booking Two Standard Cabins vs One Connecting Suite: The Real ComparisonThe exact math worth running before assuming either option is obviously better — a side-by-side worked example.
- What Is Cruise Price Protection and How to Ask For ItThe informal practice that lets you capture a later price drop — what to actually say, and the window in which it works.
- Toronto to Miami for a Caribbean Cruise: Flights, Timing and CostsFlight times, realistic fares, MIA to the port in 20 minutes, and what the whole week costs from Toronto — Miami vs Fort Lauderdale decided.
- Cruise Wifi and Phone Roaming for CanadiansThe maritime roaming trap that bills by the megabyte, what ship wifi really costs and delivers, and the airplane-mode routine that saves hundreds.
Booking essentials: Is It Cheaper to Book a Cruise Through a Travel Agent · What Are Expedia Extras on a Cruise Booking · Onboard Credit Explained and How to Get More