Sensible Pre-Planning of the Drinks Package..

Nowadays, I find those slightly newer to cruising than others generally do tend to ask for an all inclusive drinks package with their cruise. Now this is a relatively new thing that has been introduced over the last few years or so by the major players in the cruise industry.

Traditionally, drinks was never included and always added to your on board account and then paid at the end of the cruise. However, with the cruise market changing it seems the ‘marketing’ of cruises is more geared towards a newer type of cruiser such as younger couples and families, the cruise industry is aware that most prefer where they can, to have drinks included.

Currently, most cruise companies require you to add the drinks package onto your booking via your cruise personaliser and pre pay for this before departure.The choices for drinks packages, especially with some companies can be very overwhelming.

Thankfully, here at cruise.co.uk we have a page that gives you further information to help you decide.http://www.cruise.co.uk/guides/cruise-information-drinks-packages/

One of the best drinks packages on the market for both value and what you actually receive in your drinks package is… yes you guessed it, my cruise line of the month MSC.

Me after too many on the Allegrissimo drinks package – Only joking I was trying to Pose on the beautiful staircase, but it looked more liked I’d fallen down drunk!

MSC offer various packages from coffee packages, to lunch and dinner packages, to just wine and water packages, but by far their best offer is the Allegrissimo Drinks Package.

They offer two options: the standard and the premium. The standard is perfect for someone just wanting the option of wine, beer, spirits, cocktails, teas, coffees, soft drinks and specialty ice cream… but if you do like a particular branded malt whisky or a Grey Goose Vodka then you are best taking the Premium to make sure you get what you want included.

Starting at JUST £22 per person per night, this also includes the 15% service charge that is applied as standard when buying a drink. Now, I have had guests in the past advise me that there is no way that they can justify spending £22 per night on drink and that they will not spend that much on their cruise drinking.. oh how wrong this can be.

To give you an example of what some drinks can cost on board an MSC ship :.Water 1 litre bottle approx 2.50 euros, soda drink approx. 3.50 euros, cocktails approx. 6.70 euros, Cappuccino approx. 2.00 euros and don’t forget you have to add 15% surcharge on top of these prices.

Some of the fantastic team here at cruise.co.uk being thankful they had pre paid for their drinks package

The great thing about MSC is that you can actually add it at time of booking and include it in your overall cruise cost, rather than as mentioned above adding itafter via the cruise personaliser and having to pay the whole amount up front. I do believe that by pre-booking a drinks package you will end up much better financially off after the cruise, I have heard of reports where guests have decided not to pre-book a drinks package and then had a bill at the end of their cruise similar to the bill they paid for their cruise!

There are some great offers out there at the momentthat are offeringin some way or another a form of drinks package within the cost. But you need to check the small print.. Not always are they all included and you do need to be advised what is and isn’t included. For example, the Royal Caribbean campaign is currently advertised with All Inclusive, but in fact the SELECT drinks package they offer only includes beer, wine and soft drinks and these are up to a certain valueper glass. Celebrity Cruises are also once again offering there superb Classic Drinks Package, that although it does have restrictions to value, it is unlimited and includes spirits and cocktails as well as beer and wine.

Of course with any of these offers you can always upgrade to the next level of drinks package to get the better options.One of the advantages with most cruise line companies and the same goes for MSC, you can always add on the drinks package once you are on board, especially if you are unsure until you see the prices of the drinks. But, they do have a cut off period as to when this can be added and sometimes additional surcharges can be applied if taken once on board.

So if you are a heavy drinker, a sociable drinker or a teetotal, there is a drinks package available for you.

Dawnx