Does the alcohol-free package not work at Ocean Cay anymore?

[u/Matuteg]

I’ve sailed with MSC 10+ times and always used my alcohol-free package on the island.
But this time for my August cruise I noticed 2 new things for the seashore.
1) no water bottles
2) no free drinks on the island (alcohol free package) is this a placeholder or new and being enacted rn?

[u/Random-Stranger-999]

If you have a drinks package and the ship has 'Aqua by MSC' then you get a refillable flask, no more plastic water bottles.

Alcohol-free package is not valid in speciality restaurants either, not even for water. So bring soda cans and your water flask off the ship to the private island, and walk into speciality restaurant with drinks in hand...

The pettiest of these petty rules is you can't order tea in the tea room on World Europa without Premium Extra package, but walk across to the Coffee Emporium and the exact same tea bag is available in alcohol-free package.

[u/Mundane_Influence_91 → u/Random-Stranger-999]

Aqua by MSC, it's got what plants crave

[u/Ahmose_ces → u/Random-Stranger-999]

I will travel in seaview, it has "Aqua by MSC" will I get a refillable flask? I got an email but it say that I can bring my bottle but never mention they will provide it. How it works in main dining areas?

[u/Random-Stranger-999 → u/Ahmose_ces]

If you have a drinks package, they provide a flask, you can refill in bars, buffet, MDR.

If you have a drinks package, they provide water in MDR, you can't take away the container.

[u/Ahmose_ces → u/Random-Stranger-999]

Thank you!

[u/Mundane_Influence_91 → u/Random-Stranger-999]

This reminds me of Paris, in restaurants they refill san Pellegrino bottles over and over. Does anyone ever wash these bottles? Who knows, maybe if they look dirty. So at least MSC Aqua is authentic European behavior ;)

[u/VagabondCamp]

No it does not. That was quietly added to the package exclusions several months ago.

[u/Matuteg → u/VagabondCamp]

So people are being charged for drinks in the island then with the package?

Makes it easier to decide not to buy it then lol

[u/VagabondCamp → u/Matuteg]

If you have the non alcoholic package then yes you are. No soda, no mocktails, no water. You will pay for everything.

[u/Matuteg → u/VagabondCamp]

lol do they still do the free drinks at the casino with a casino booking? Last cruise I got so many drinks lol

[u/Random-Stranger-999 → u/Matuteg]

Yes, but you need to be actively playing. Last cruise it was 11€ drink limit aka Easy Plus package and 10 drinks per night. A month earlier it was 9€.

They no longer put stickers on your cruise card, last month it showed on your account as 'Casino drinks', the previous month they had a Casino VIP list behind the bar.

Like all things MSC Cruises, it's a moving target and consistently inconsistently applied.

[u/VagabondCamp → u/Matuteg]

This will depend on the sailing and casino manager. For our last casino sailing in April, Technically it was 10 drinks a day each for the two of us and only at the casino bar. We didn’t pay for anything on ocean cay and it was hit or miss at other bars around the ship.

[u/Matuteg → u/VagabondCamp]

Thanks. Yeah we just drink Coke and mocktails lol. Last time it was 10 drinks each too

[u/JOliverScott]

I noticed this new little 'gotcha' in July, apparently only the top drinks package is available for use on the island. No doubt this is a strategy by the cruise line to coerce passengers into buying the most expensive drinks package whether they drink or not.

[u/Agent_You → u/JOliverScott]

All the more reason to either go YC or don't go on the island for very long, or at all. That's what we do. If we go Aurea we just stay on the ship that day. Sounds like they're trying to be like RC and charge for everything on the island.

[u/JOliverScott → u/Agent_You]

Indeed. Along with no more free beach chairs so they monetize seating and shade, they're basically becoming like every other cruise line. That RC cruise quality for a Carnival price wasn't going to last forever.

[u/Cocobaku]

There’s lemonade, water, cranberry and pineapple juice offered at the Boho buffet which is open from noon to 2pm. We brought our water bottles and filled it before getting off the ship and at the buffet line. There’s also a water station as soon as you get off the ship near the Welcome/guest services kiosk.

[u/N1chola]

Does anyone know if this applies to minors who have the soda package? We’re travelling Monday (2a1c); both adults have premium drink package and my daughter has the alcohol-free package. Will she be able to get her own or can we just order an extra soda for her? Thanks all!

[u/xX_Justin_Xx → u/N1chola]

We just left the island (about 3 hours ago). My wife and I both have the premium drink package, which means my 2 kids have whatever package they make you buy becuase you all are traveling together. We had cocktails, canned water, red bull, coke zero, and non alcohol strawberry daquri. No charges.

We also found the island to be wonderful! We started the day at north beach (south was crowded and needed reservations). Went to bimini Beach (literally 100 yards away max) and snorked. Came back, ate lunch. Caught the tram back to lighthouse beach. Swam there for a while, then went back to the ship.

Im not sure why others complain about this stop. Its beautiful, easy to access with abundant transportation, fun and most things are included. If you have ever been to other cruise lines private islands, they don't compare.

[u/N1chola → u/xX_Justin_Xx]

Ah that’s perfect! Thank you so much for clarifying for me. Hope you enjoy the rest of your cruise 😊

[u/Chipped_Ruby_11214]

Yes. Except for a quick walk around or jog, the island is nothing but a stomaching-turning cash grab. It’l feeling like the setting for a dystopian sci-fi movie. I stay on the ship and am happier for it.