MSC Cruise

TonyMiggs

Hi, Can anyone tell me about ALLEGRISSIMO ALL INCUSIVE. on MSC Cruises.
Is it worth purchasing. What drink does it include. I was told you have to
pay for water on MSC Cruise. Would appreciate any info. This would be my
first cruise if I go.

coylemj

Unless you and everyone in your party (see below) expect to drink more than the average heavy drinker (moderate drinkers don't buy those packages), I would avoid buying any kind of all-in drinks package. All you need is one alcoholic problem drinker in your party and he/she will persuade others not to go on shore reccies or excursions.

Drinks aren't too expensive on MSC and if you're paying with your swipe card you'll get good service from the waiters who get commission on drinks sales, I'm not sure they'd be too bothered to serve you if there's no payment involved.

Was on an MSC Baltic cruise in 2010, no negatives to report, smart ship, smart crew, spotless cabins etc. I can't remember the situation regarding drinking water, I don't recall that it was a problem.

Not sure why you're asking the question, it's all explained on the MSC website and make sure that you're aware of this condition....

The package must be booked by all guests occupying the same cabin, or just travelling together and wishing to eat at the same table, including minors, who must book the Child version of the package

http://www.msccruises.co.uk/uk_en/Special-Services/Allegrissimo-Packages.aspx

TonyMiggs

Hi COYLEM, Thank you very much for your reply. The reason I asked the question is I wanted to hear from someone who was on one of there cruises.
If I went on there site http://www.msccruises.co.uk/uk_en/Special-Services/Allegrissimo-Packages.aspx" I would not have got the info you gave.
(you'll get good service from the waiters who get commission on drinks sales, I'm not sure they'd be too bothered to serve you if there's no payment involved.)
I label myself a weekend drinker and my wife also would be in this category, but on holidays we will drink a bit more.I also drink a lot of coffee which I believe we will have to pay for. Thank you again for the info. If anyone else was on a MSC
cruise I would glad to hear from you.

coylemj

On MSC the coffee is free at breakfast time but you have to pay for it with your lunch and they don't serve coffee after dinner in the dining room so you'd have to go and find a bar or cafe that was serving it.

I wouldn't buy any kind of drinks package, you probably won't drink as much as you think you will. That's based on my experience.

TonyMiggs

Hi Coylemj, I am thinking you might be right. I am booking Cruise next weekend,
without drinks package. Thanks for advice.

coylemj

TonyMiggs wrote: »

Hi Coylemj, I am thinking you might be right. I am booking Cruise next weekend,
without drinks package. Thanks for advice.

No worries, Bon Voyage!

Just to inform you as you said it's your first cruise, you are not allowed to bring booze on board the ship. When you return from shore trips your bags will be scanned in airport type scanners and if you have any booze, they reserve the right to confiscate it and return it to you at the end of the cruise.

It seems to be a combination of protecting the bar profits and preventing people from having boozy parties in their cabins and keeping their neighbours awake.

13. ALCOHOL

13.1 Alcoholic drinks, including wines, spirits, beer or other liqueurs are available for purchase onboard the vessel at fixed prices. Passengers are not permitted to bring onboard any such drinks for use during the voyage, whether for consumption in their own cabins or otherwise. Alcoholic drinks in any form will not be sold to Minors during the cruise when the itinerary includes a port located in the USA, the same conditions will apply for any passengers under the age of 21.
13.2 The carrier and/or its servants and/or agents may conviscate alcohol brought onboard by passengers.
13.3 The carrier and/or its servants and/or agents may refuse to serve a passenger alcohol or further alcohol where in their reasonable opinion the passenger is likely to be a danger and/or nuisance to himself/herself, other passengers and/or the Vessel.

peppa 1986

I am also thinking of booking an MSC Cruise and have been told that the drinks package is 23.00 euro per day per person. If you cost a bottle of wine with dinner and a few drinks in the evening, and various coffees and minerals during the day, it would cost more than 46.00 a couple. Maybe I am missing something. Would appreciate feedback from people who have been on an MSC cruise.

coylemj

In the description of the drinks packages it states that you can only order wine from the 'by the glass' selection which means that you will probably be relying on waiters to bring you a glass of wine at a time and from my memory of how the MSC dining room operates, that will not be a happy experience. They do the wine and bottled water at the beginning of the meal and then look after serving the various courses. Each waiter does more than one table so he will disappear from your table while you're eating each course and you may be looking at empty glasses for a while before he finishes serving or clearing the other table and comes back to you at which point he will be more interested in clearing the plates and serving the next course than getting you and your other half two glasses of wine.

Pablo Sanchez

peppa 1986 wrote: »

I am also thinking of booking an MSC Cruise and have been told that the drinks package is 23.00 euro per day per person. If you cost a bottle of wine with dinner and a few drinks in the evening, and various coffees and minerals during the day, it would cost more than 46.00 a couple. Maybe I am missing something. Would appreciate feedback from people who have been on an MSC cruise.

Recently booked with MSC and i opted to take the drinks package as i felt €23 a day was very reasonable. On previous cruises (not with MSC) i found that the alcohol spend was a constant worry as you might spend $40 on a bottle of wine (and then a 15% gratuity on top of that) and then a couple of $8/9 cocktails and it really mounts up over the week. At least this way there should be no nasty surprises when your settling up when you get back to Southampton.

With that said i take on board what Coylemj says re the potential lack of service one might receive, its not something i considered.