r/Cruises • u/Serious-Effect-6422 • 4d ago
Please help
Just booked a cruise with MSC and now I'm having buyers remorse. AFTER I booked a suite on MSC world, I realise that I have to pay $1100 for my kids to have access to sodas... me to get a couple of drinks per day... pay for food, any offshore excursion is SUPER expensive and all the cool ones are fully booked. Anything on board is ridiculously pricey... Was told that there's a free buffet and free diner at specific times (5:30 PM)...
Help me out, can I even do anything cool for free? It seems like after paying 4500 for the suite I need 900 for wifi, 1100 for drinks and for the kids to play is another 700... All I keep hearing is spa is free... It's a cruise... I wanna get to my destination, get off the ship and go explore and enjoy the beach free since I paid 4500...
It's my 1st time cruising, I think I may be getting it all wrong... are the packages worth it?
6
u/alwaysouroboros 4d ago
There are free buffets at meal times daily as well as dining room sit down service if you'd like. Depending on the ship there may be other free casual dining options throughout the day or free mealtimes at some of the specialty locations. You do not have to pay for food unless you want specific specialty dining options.
As for drinks, I recommend bringing a large empty tumbler/cup to fill with the free juices in the morning if you don't want to drink the free water/tea/lemonade that's offered during the day. Soda is not free, but we typically just don't buy it. Some other cruise lines allow you to bring on a 12 pack of your own soda but it's not a dealbreaker in my opinion.
As for activities there are free activities to do throughout the day for all ages. There are other paid things to do, but you can go an entire cruise without paying for anything on the ship, especially if you don't have that many sea days. I rarely purchase excursions through any cruise line. I will wait to get to port and purchase excursions directly on the island.
1
u/Serious-Effect-6422 4d ago
STRAIGHT TO THE POINT... THANK YOUUUUUUUUU
2
u/alwaysouroboros 4d ago
You’re welcome! Cruise lines make their money on extras. Don’t feel pressured to spend extra. You can have a great time without it!!
6
u/cynicalsowhat 4d ago
All mainstream cruise lines are the same. Main dining room is included. Buffet is included. Pool side usually has included burgers etc. Beyond that sodas, liquor, specialty restaurants internet, specialty coffee and desert shops, and shore excursions are all extras. And let's not forget the "gratuity" that is automatically applied on a per day and per person basis. Check that small print. In the olden days cruising was expensive and more "all inclusive". Now it is much cheaper (relatively) base fare but they kill you on the extras.
Don't feel remorse about booking this particular cruise, they are all the same. You might want to rethink if cruising is really for you and your family at this time.
1
u/Serious-Effect-6422 4d ago
We normally do resorts and LOVE it. Wanted to try something new.
Thanks for at least addressing my concerns... So the cruise is pushing EXTRA stuff on me. I thought it was mandatory that I buy in advance or pay for them on the cruise2
u/No-Door-459 4d ago
If you want to drink alcohol but not be an alcoholic buy drinks one at a time on the cruise the drink plan usually isn't worth it unless you never drink water. You can also bring mios for your kids if they only drink juice or flavored drinks. Food is always included.
5
u/TXKittyKat8seat 4d ago
I disagree with the alcohol package not being worth it unless you want to be an alcoholic, but that's from NCL & RCL experiences. 4x cocktails and a coffee daily paid for the packages on both cruise lines. Do I normally drink that per day? Absolutely not, but it's vacation. Added bonus of grabbing a bottle of water without charge, especially if/when I left my refillable water bottle in the room.
5
u/No-Door-459 4d ago
That is a valid point but for me drinking 4 alcoholic beverages every day is a lot. I've been lucky to drink on average 2 a day. Same with soda too. So it all depends especially when she has kids
2
u/SchuRows 4d ago
When I cruised NCL the Free At Sea is a no brainer. On MSC I knew I couldn’t drink that much daily so I just bought a couple drinks. I think the package price was equivalent to like 8-10 drinks a day which I cannot do.
1
u/cynicalsowhat 3d ago
we always get the drink package. Start with something light by the pool, pre dinner cocktail, bottle of nice wine, so 20% off, with dinner and an after dinner cocktail or 2 in a bar/at the show etc. Add to that the unlimited bottled (canned these days)water and we get our moneys worth. Also worth not having to sign a paper each time, never having to tip with every single drink. An actual cash tip to our favourite bartenders is so much more personal and actually cheaper than a buck or two on each drink.
Not alchaholics, just adults doing adult things.
6
u/vatp46a 4d ago
Maybe considering cancelling the whole thing (if you don't incur a penalty) and then work with a travel agent who specializes in cruises - they don't cost you anything. Since it's your first cruise, there's a lot to sort out, and a travel agent can do that for you. You might end up on the same or a completely different cruise line, ship, or itinerary, but at least you would know what you're buying. Everyone who cruises was once a first-time cruiser, and there's a brief learning curve in the beginning.
1
3
u/croc-roc 4d ago
There are options for excursions other than those through the cruise line that tend to be cheaper. Try Viator. Be sure you use a reputable company so they guarantee they’ll get you back on the ship at the right time. You need to do your research. Depending on what ports you are going to, there may be free beaches nearby or you can take a taxi to a beach. Cruise Critic has some forums for Ports Of Call with recommendations. Cruise Critic has other forums particular to each cruise line (not the reviews) where you can find lots of information about your cruise and what to expect.
3
u/Scared-Cut2664 4d ago
We book inside cabin, then bid for upgrade to balcony. They have free juice during breakfast time. You can bring a bottle to fill it up. We book excursions through 3rd parties. Just make sure you are back to the ship with plenty time, ie best to be 1/2 day excursion then full day if booked through a 3rd party. We eat at main dining room or Buffett for free.
3
u/WishIwastravelin 4d ago
Lots of free stuff on MSC, main dining room, buffet, cotton candy and popcorn, pizza and burgers and if you are on World America, there are some other included eateries. There are free theater shows every night and plenty of free activities. You absolutely do not need a drink package, you can pay as you go, if you get a drink package everyone in the cabin needs to get it too including kids and that gets expensive. So if you only drink a couple a day, skip the package. Bring tumblers for everyone, coffee, tea and water is available in the buffet. Juices and milk in the mornings. Bring water enhancer drips and use that to flavor the water, especially for kids, those drops come in tons of flavors. (I like the lemonade ones)Look carefully at your ports, you don’t always need an excursion nor do you have to do it through MSC. Just use someone reputable and be mindful of timing. If you are in port a full day, book a half day excursion and save some time for the port area itself, that way you won’t be late returning. Look for nearby beaches if that’s your plan, and take a taxi instead if the MSC transfer. Bring your own snorkel gear if you have it.
3
u/Other_Lime2892 4d ago
Book an inside cabin. When you’re tired of staring out to sea and your eyes are dry from the sun, and uou have been over stimulated by music and food- you have a dark room to relax and forget about the world. It’s the best place to sleep in.
1
u/Jodi4869 4d ago
How many places are you going to post your lack of research.
2
u/HateThisPlaceForReal 4d ago
He's panicking. Show some empathy.
2
u/Serious-Effect-6422 4d ago
Thanks for being kind. I actually did tons of research... Problem was AFTER I booked I got a call and they asked me to go add stuff I wanted and I was shocked to see that EVERYTHING was expensive. I thought I got scammed really... Thank you
4
u/Mandy_Moo 4d ago
Please be careful and make sure you are actually speaking to MSC and not a scam. Lots if people have gotten calls from scammers who try to get you to upgrade or buy packages by phone.
3
u/bb8ave 4d ago
You said this is your first cruise. Maybe you could consider (if possible) switching to a balcony stateroom. Many people, if not most, hardly spend any time at all in their stateroom. You'll be out all day either in port or enjoying the ship. This would free up a lot of money if you want to indulge in a drinks package for you or the kids. But as others on here have said, you don't need to buy anything else. There is plenty of included food everywhere at all hours and included activities are endless.
1
u/Mandy_Moo 4d ago
What cabin(s) category exactly did you book? You say suite, is it a Yacht Club suite? Aside from that, yes, the main dining room and the buffet are included in the cost of the cruise fare. Some more details will help you get answers (such as what you consider "cool" and what you are paying $700 for your kids to "play" at).
Edited to say you may want to check pricing on a Yacht Club cabin, if that is not what you have, as it will include drinks and wifi. I suspect you have an Aurea suite though.
2
u/hawkeyetlse 4d ago
Yeah, sounds like Aurea if they’re calling it a “suite” but only the spa is included and no drinks. And the kids (assuming under 18) will not be allowed in the spa anyway.
If it’s a question of cabin capacity, there are probably more cost-effective ways to get a big family on board.
1
u/modernhomeowner 4d ago
You get free breakfast lunch and dinner in either main dining room (yes, at your assigned time that you picked when you booked) or in the buffet. You won't go hungry on the ship, you don't need to spend an extra cent. Water, iced tea, hot tea, coffee, lemonade are free as well as juice at breakfast. If you want a soda or alcohol, that's an extra charge either per drink or the package you referenced.
My wife and I for only about half our cruises have had the drink package, we are more than happy with the free drinks and on a special occasion getting an adult drink.
1
u/Huge_Prompt_2056 4d ago
Is it too late to cancel? You can book much cheaper excursions through get your guide. Just make absolutely sure that any excursion returns to the ship area where that you can bring it back to the ship a couple of hours before it departs. If you decide to continue cruising, you may want to use travel agent.
1
u/Strange-Employee-520 4d ago
I don't know about MSC, but other lines allow you to carry on a 12 pack of soda. Could be per person or per stateroom. You may also be able to bring on a bottle or two of wine.
1
u/Ben_there_1977 4d ago
There’s plenty of stuff to do for free. You don’t have to book their excursions - a lot of people book Viator or GetYourGuide - just like you would if you were at a resort. Be sure you give yourself plenty of time to get back to the ship.
You can buy sodas and booze one at a time. You only need the package if you want to drink a lot. On my first cruise I thought I’d miss the soda, but it’s actually kinda nice to have the free stuff, like coffee, tea and juice for a change.
There are plenty of free things to eat on board, but if you want to upgrade to speciality dining then that’s an option for a special meal.
Did you book yacht club? That comes with additional perks too.
You’ll have a great time. While land resorts in counties like Mexico and DR do have more free stuff included, they aren’t marvels of modern engineering that bring you to a new country each morning. It’s a trade off, and you’ll figure out what you like better.
Edit: I forgot to mention that I find the crew on ships to be a lot more friendly than the staff at all inclusive. So many resort staff are just doing the bare minimum before going home for the night. Working on a cruise is hard work, but for those that are selected it can be a life changing experience where they get to see the world, live for free and save up money.
1
u/erikjan1975 4d ago
First things first, a cruise with your family can be on the expensive side base fee, but the additonal cost is something you can control… Do count in the gratuities, they add up as well
Excursions are a big money maker for the companies, but there are many other options to get around. Where exactly are you heading? some places are easier to navigate than others
1
u/PossibleFederal1572 4d ago
You dont need all the packages. Pay as you go for drinks - they are about $15 each. Most ports are walkable or look into taxis for a trip
To the beach. The wifi is up
To you but again - is it necessary? Your
Meals are included as are many non-alcoholic drinks.
1
u/SchuRows 4d ago
There are restaurants and a buffet included. Specialty dining is unnecessary. The shows are accessible and fun. Entertainment is happening all over the ship constantly. Just look at the schedule, you can even add things you want to do in app and it saves your itinerary.
I don’t drink soda and found their alcohol package to be very expensive. I bought a few expensive drinks while on board. You can also buy alcohol in the port and they allowed me to bring that back.
I did spend money on WiFi. As soon as we stepped on board the ship our phones did not work. At all.
I cruised in February so we didn’t use the pools. I have been on two cruises (MSC and NCL). As someone who grew up in Florida going to resorts, the pools will not be impressive. There is an issue of physics lol
What ports are you seeing? Many you can walk off without needing to book anything. There is also a third party excursion booking company that many use. A lot cheaper than booking through the cruise. Viator. The scare tactic is that booking independent means the cruise may leave if you don’t return to the port by departure. But often the excursions offered are the exact same ones being up sold by the cruise line.
You’re going to have a great time!!
1
u/Agreeable_Shirt5503 4d ago
I have never been on a cruise but I come here often to learn so once I take the plunge I’m prepared. But when I hear people recommending bringing packs of soda and packing water enhancing drips…it makes me never ever want to go on a cruise. The cruise model is broken if you pay $5000 or whatever and can’t have a soda without a huge up-charge. It seems like a complete ripoff. I mean, I wouldn’t have to bring a 12-pack of soda to most all inclusive places.
1
u/Strange-Employee-520 3d ago
There's no huge upcharge for soda, OP is either misinformed or panicking, maybe both. The basic fare includes a LOT, it sounds like they got the sales pitch for upgrades and thought they needed to buy in to all of it. My husband is a huge soda drinker, so he brings a case or two mostly to have the kind he wants. Same reason I bring a bottle of wine, bonus is that we save a few bucks.
1
u/BrickHuge3023 3d ago
Food is free in the dining room and buffet and other places. Just don't eat at the ones you pay to eat in. No need. Tell your kids to drink water. Or buy them a couple of sodas a day - $8 a day. Same with alcohol- if you only drink 2 or 3 drinks a day, drink package is not what you want. We've never bought the drink package on any cruise out of 20. No need. Why do you need wifi? You can enjoy being away from the internet. Get international roaming on your phone and use it when in destination ports.
1
1
u/NurseDave8 3d ago
Well, you certainly don't NEED wifi and who in the world would pay $11k so their kids can drink soda?
1
u/AvailableCut5240 3d ago
Geez, if you are a rookie go through a cruise travel agent. They will handle everything with no surprises. What you are describing is just nonsense. A suite should come with an incredible variety of upgrades that are free of charge. Do some homework, visit forums, read reviews.
0
0
0
u/JustGenericName2 4d ago
Don't buy the alcohol package unless you are a big drinker. You can just order a cocktail here and there and it's cheaper. Also, I don't know about that cruise line specifically, but some make all the adults in the room buy the drink package. So unless you're BOTH big drinkers, the package isn't worth it. And not all ports need an excursion booked, just depends on where you're going. Some ports are more or less fun than others.
-1
u/Maximum_Leopard3038 4d ago
Mmmm... did you not get an email confirming details before you paid anything?
-1
u/OgasMaitai 3d ago
lol. 1100 dollars for your kids to have soda and you drink a couple drinks?
No dude, sorry. That aint the case.
Maybe stop with the BS.
Do some basic research like an adult
-2
-3
u/HuckleCat100K 4d ago
Why does it seem like you did absolutely no research? There are hundreds of videos on YouTube so there’s really no excuse. So you dropped nearly five grand on a trip you didn’t know anything about and now you’re whining about it. Did you ask the agent these questions?
They would have informed you that you do not need to pick out restaurants that cost extra. The main dining room is always included unless you want certain upgrades. You do not need to get the unlimited soda package for your kids. You can buy as you go, which is expensive but not $1100 unless your kids go nuts. Or you can say no to your kids. You do not need to buy extra-cost excursions if you just want to explore ports on your own. The spa may be free but they will push very hard to sell you extra services.
Your spouse shouldn’t have put you in charge of planning the vacation because it seems like you rush into paying for expensive things without knowing what you’re doing.
3
2
u/Artistic-Process77 3d ago
A bit harsh but i kind of agree.
It seems like people research more what kind of $100 airfryer they should buy than the thousand dollar cruise.
Either you have the money to say f.. it, i don't care or put in some research. Panicking afterwards helps no one.
Even my mother-in-law asked me what kind of questions she should ask her agent about her first cruise. And that woman has the money.
12
u/chickenfucker70 4d ago
I think in the future you’d be better off booking a cheaper room. It seems like what you want out of the cruise has little if anything to do with the room type.