Home › Articles › Drink Packages

MSC drinks package prices 2026 UK full list guide

By Cruise Advisor Editorial Team · Updated 2026-08-08 · 12 min read

Passengers enjoying drinks on MSC Virtuosa deck in 2026

A complete 2026 UK guide to MSC drinks package prices, with a full list of packages, per-ship examples, money-saving tips and comparisons to P&O, Cunard and Marella.

If you searched for msc drinks package prices 2026 uk full list, you’ve landed in the right place. This article gives a clear, practical and fully up-to-date (2026) rundown of what MSC Cruises charges for drink packages for UK guests, with a full list of package options, ship examples and money-saving tips. Expect prices in £, comparisons with P&O, Cunard and Marella, and pointers to current 2026 offers.

Overview of MSC drink packages in 2026

In 2026 MSC’s drink portfolio sold to UK guests remains structured to suit different budgets. The most common choices you’ll see on MSC Virtuosa, MSC Seashore, MSC Bellissima and MSC Meraviglia are: Soft Drinks package (non-alcoholic), Premium Drinks package (standard cocktails, beer, wine by the glass up to a value limit), Premium Plus or Top Shelf (increased value limit including premium spirits), Sparkling & Wine by the Glass and a children’s package. MSC has kept things relatively simple in 2026, but note that what’s included and exact price can alter by ship and itinerary.

When we say 'full list' we mean every drink package MSC offers to UK guests for 2026 sailings and the typical per-day prices you should expect to see. Below we list packages with the typical inclusions and recommended buying strategies.

<table><thead><tr><th>Package</th><th>Typical UK price per person per day (£)</th><th>Who it suits</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Soft Drinks (non-alcoholic)</td><td>£8</td><td>Children, drivers, soft-drink lovers</td></tr><tr><td>Water & Soda bundle</td><td>£6-£8</td><td>Families and long sailings</td></tr><tr><td>Specialty Coffee & Tea</td><td>£5</td><td>Daily coffee drinkers</td></tr><tr><td>Premium Drinks Package</td><td>£39</td><td>Most adults who drink casually</td></tr><tr><td>Premium Plus / Top Shelf</td><td>£55</td><td>Spirits, top-shelf cocktails, high-value wines</td></tr><tr><td>Wine by the Glass bundle</td><td>£18</td><td>Wine drinkers who don’t want full packages</td></tr><tr><td>Kids & Teens Package (alcohol-free)</td><td>£10</td><td>Under 18s</td></tr></tbody></table>

Price breakdown and what’s included

Let’s unpack the numbers above. The Soft Drinks package typically covers fountain soft drinks, bottled water (limited litres per day) and selected juices. The Premium Drinks package usually covers drinks up to a fixed value — in 2026 MSC’s standard is drinks up to approximately £8-£10 per serving, meaning most standard cocktails, beers and house wines are included. The Premium Plus or Top Shelf option broadens that ceiling to about £15 per serving in 2026, allowing most premium spirits, cocktails and many wines by the glass. Wine-by-the-glass bundles are aimed at moderate wine drinkers who want a cheaper option than the full drinks package.

Three main factors change the final price you’ll be offered: ship age and type, itinerary (Mediterranean in peak summer vs a northern Europe repositioning cruise), and booking channel or promotions. Newer or luxury-leaning ships like MSC Seashore and MSC Virtuosa often have slightly higher per-day charges. Similarly, speciality cruises (Transatlantic repositioning, Christmas or New Year sailings in 2026) usually carry a premium. Booking via MSC’s UK website, a UK travel agent or during a flash sale in 2026 can knock an estimated 10-20% off posted rates.

MSC Virtuosa example prices (2026)

During a January 2026 Canary Islands sailing the line ran a promotion offering the Premium package at £35 per day if purchased before embarkation. Always check the 'offers' page for your ship, since speeds and supply costs vary by itinerary.

MSC Seashore — one of MSC’s newer Seaside EVO ships — typically shows Premium at £41 per day and Premium Plus at £58 per day on 2026 Western Mediterranean cruises. That £3 difference multiplied by two people over a week becomes meaningful.

How ship differences affect prices — Bellissima, Meraviglia and older ships

On older Meraviglia-class vessels like MSC Bellissima and MSC Meraviglia, standard Premium prices in 2026 often remain in the £35-£40 per day range, reflecting slightly lower operating overheads. That said, for itineraries with more port days (where passengers spend less time on board), MSC sometimes reduces package prices to entice buyers. So on a 10-night Norwegian Fjords cruise in August 2026 you might see a promotional Premium price of in the region of £35 per day on Bellissima.

<table><thead><tr><th>Ship</th><th>Itinerary</th><th>Premium (£/day)</th><th>Premium Plus (£/day)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>MSC Virtuosa</td><td>7-night Mediterranean (July 2026)</td><td>£39</td><td>£55</td></tr><tr><td>MSC Seashore</td><td>7-night Mediterranean (July 2026)</td><td>£41</td><td>£58</td></tr><tr><td>MSC Bellissima</td><td>10-night Norwegian Fjords (Aug 2026)</td><td>£34 (promo)</td><td>£50</td></tr><tr><td>MSC Meraviglia</td><td>5-night Western Med (May 2026)</td><td>£37</td><td>£52</td></tr></tbody></table>

Examples of on-board versus pre-cruise pricing

MSC often sets a lower price if you purchase before you sail.

All prices shown are inclusive of UK-facing advertised prices in £, but note that a service charge or gratuity (usually around 15% in 2026) still applies to all drinks when they fall outside the inclusive package. MSC's packages include the service charge on included drinks, but if you order a drink above the package limit you will pay the difference plus the service charge on that amount.

Comparing MSC with P&O, Cunard and Marella (UK-focused)

UK cruisers will naturally compare MSC’s 2026 drink prices with P&O, Cunard and Marella. Broadly speaking, P&O's package pricing in 2026 for comparable inclusions sits in the estimated £30-£50 per day band, Cunard’s more premium offering starts higher (typically £45-£70 per day on 2026 itineraries), and Marella — often a budget-friendly British line — offers packages from somewhere around £20-£40 per day. MSC positions itself competitively in the middle but frequently uses promotions to undercut rival lines for the same sailing dates.

<table><thead><tr><th>Line</th><th>Standard package (£/day)</th><th>Premium/top-shelf (£/day)</th><th>Notes</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>MSC</td><td>£39</td><td>£55</td><td>Frequent pre-cruise offers</td></tr><tr><td>P&O</td><td>£35</td><td>£48</td><td>UK-focused promotions and Flex offers</td></tr><tr><td>Cunard</td><td>£45</td><td>£70</td><td>Luxury on Queens, higher wine limits</td></tr><tr><td>Marella</td><td>£22</td><td>£40</td><td>Value brand, many included drinks in fares</td></tr></tbody></table>

Value depends on drinking habits. If you enjoy a couple of glasses of wine or a cocktail daily, MSC’s Premium package is often excellent value — especially when bought pre-cruise. For heavier drinkers who favour branded spirits, Cunard’s top-shelf options are broader but costlier. Marella can be the best budget choice for many UK cruisers, and P&O often sits in the middle with frequent flash sales.

  1. Buy pre-cruise — often 10-20% cheaper. 2. Check for special offers on MSC's UK site or through your travel agent. 3. Compare Premium vs Premium Plus — you may not need the estimated higher £15+ limit. 4. Share cost calculations with your travel companion — sometimes wine-by-the-glass bundles work better. 5. Use onboard promos on sea days to top up with a smaller package or drinks vouchers.
    • Soft drinks and fountain sodas. • Selected bottled waters (subject to limit). • House wines by the glass. • Standard cocktails and spirits up to a price cap. • Beer, cider and non-premium bottled beers. • Specialty coffee only where stated (often separate).

      Kids and family packages — what UK families need to know

      MSC’s kids and teens drink packages remain alcohol-free and priced competitively in 2026. The children's package (under 18) is typically £10 per day and covers soft drinks, selected juices and non-alcohol drinks in bars and restaurants. Infants and small children can usually have complimentary water and some juices, but the package is recommended for families who want to control spending.

      If you travel as part of a group or club, ask your agent about group discounts on drink packages. In 2026 some UK agencies secured group add-ons where a group of 10 or more could access drink packages at a reduced per-person rate. It never hurts to ask.

      Wine-by-the-glass and bottle policies in 2026

      MSC’s wine-by-the-glass bundle in 2026 tends to cover wines priced up to £8-£10 per glass. If you order a glass above the value limit, you’ll pay the excess. Buying a bottle separately is often the better choice for two sharing; a reasonable bottle in the speciality restaurants might cost £20-£35 and could be cheaper than two days of package costs if your drinking is light.

      <table><thead><tr><th>Scenario</th><th>Cost</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Two people sharing a £28 bottle</td><td>£28 total</td></tr><tr><td>Two people on Premium (£39 each)</td><td>£78 per day</td></tr><tr><td>Verdict</td><td>For one evening, bottle cheaper than full day package</td></tr></tbody></table>

      If you’re a light drinker — one glass of wine per night — buying by the glass can be cheaper. Equally, if most of your days are shore excursion days where you won’t be on board much, it might be better to buy drinks as you go or purchase the package only for specific days when there are sea days and long evenings.

      Practical tips for buying and using MSC drink packages (UK)

      Plan ahead and do the maths. Start by estimating the drinks you and your travel companion typically consume. Use the per-day package price and multiply by nights at sea (not port days) — remember packages may apply across all days but you’ll likely drink more on sea days. If you’re weighing Premium at close to £40 vs Premium Plus at £55, or so ask how many drinks you’d need to make the upgrade worth it. If you’re into cocktails with premium spirits, Premium Plus can easily be worth it during a 7-night cruise.

      A simple rule of thumb

      Count a typical day's drinks before you buy: for example, one pre-dinner cocktail, one soft drink, a glass of wine with dinner and a nightcap. Then use the table below to check whether that level of drinking would beat the package price for your cruise.

      <table><thead><tr><th>Scenario</th><th>No package</th><th>Premium (£39/day)</th><th>Savings/Cost</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Average 3 drinks/day at £8 each (per person)</td><td>£168</td><td>£273</td><td>Package costs more by £105</td></tr><tr><td>Average 5 drinks/day at £8 each</td><td>£280</td><td>£273</td><td>Package saves £7</td></tr></tbody></table>

      Buy via the MSC UK website or your UK travel agent. Select the package for all passengers in the booking if you want the onboard service to be seamless; mixing and matching can complicate bar tab calculations. Print or screenshot confirmation and have it handy for check-in. When onboard, your purchases will be charged to your account, but package drinks will be listed as included so you can monitor use.

      Using shore days and speciality dining to your advantage

      On shore days you’ll usually spend less time on board, so factor that into your decision. If you have a mixture of port and sea days, consider purchasing the package only for sea days through guest services if MSC offers that flexibility in 2026. Also, if you plan to dine in speciality restaurants, check whether the package covers speciality venue drinks; often it does not fully cover the most expensive menu items.

      Upgrading, downgrading and refunds — MSC policy in 2026

      MSC allows pre-cruise purchase changes up to roughly 48 hours before sailing in many cases, though exact deadlines vary by offer. Upgrades onboard are possible but often at a higher daily rate. Refunds for unused days are rare once the cruise has started; check the exact booking terms in your confirmation email and ask your agent if you need flexibility.

      FAQ: Can I share my package with my partner?

      No. MSC’s terms in 2026 generally prohibit sharing of drink packages between guests. Each person must have their own package for the benefits to apply. Bars and restaurants will check accounts and deny package coverage if sharing is attempted.

      FAQ: Are there daily drink limits?

      Packages cover unlimited drinks within the package terms, but there is a per-drink maximum value (the price cap). If you order a drink above that cap, you will pay the difference plus any applicable service charge. Abuse of unlimited rules (eg, drink spiking) is policed by staff.

      Photo of guests enjoying cocktails on MSC Seashore promenade (2026) with sunset views, adults raising glasses.

      FAQ: Are soft drinks included for kids with adult packages?

      Not automatically. Adult packages do not transfer benefits to under-18s. Families should buy the Kids & Teens package in 2026 for children to have unlimited non-alcoholic drinks included.

      FAQ: Do drink packages apply ashore?

      No. Drink packages cover intra-ship purchases only. Drinks bought ashore at bars, restaurants or excursions are separate and not part of the MSC package.

      Younger travellers comparing adult-focused options can also read our best cruise for young adults UK guide.

      Frequently Asked Questions

      How much does the MSC Premium Drinks package cost in the UK in 2026?

      Typical UK price for the MSC Premium Drinks package in 2026 is around £40 per person per day on many ships, though prices vary by ship and itinerary; pre-cruise offers and promotions can reduce this to about £35 per day.

      What does the Premium Plus or Top Shelf package include and cost?

      The Premium Plus (Top Shelf) package in 2026 usually raises the per-drink limit to allow premium spirits and higher-priced wines; typical UK prices are around £55-£65 per person per day, depending on ship and sailing date.

      Are family and kids drink packages available on MSC in 2026?

      Yes. MSC offers kids and teens non-alcoholic packages in 2026, typically priced around £10 per day for those under 18, covering juices, soft drinks and selected non-alcoholic beverages.

      Should I buy a drink package before boarding or onboard?

      Buy before boarding if possible. Pre-cruise prices in 2026 are usually cheaper — sometimes by £3-£10 per day per person. Onboard upgrades are possible but often cost more.

      How does MSC compare to P&O, Cunard and Marella on drinks pricing in 2026?

      MSC generally sits between budget Marella and premium Cunard in 2026. Expect MSC Premium roughly £40 and Premium Plus £55; P&O is often slightly cheaper or similar, Cunard is costlier for top-tier options, and Marella tends to be the most budget-friendly.

      Can I get refunds for unused drink package days?

      Refunds for unused days are uncommon once the cruise has started. Changes before sailing may be permitted per the booking terms; always check your confirmation and ask MSC UK guest services or your travel agent for flexibility.

      Related articles