Carnival and MSC Cruises drink package changes explained

Cruise passengers get up in arms about any changes made to adult-beverage drink packages. 

That’s largely because the changes never involve making the package cheaper or giving people buying it more for their money. It’s an endless series of price increases.

Related: Norwegian starts private-island change; Carnival makes ban clear

The challenge facing cruise lines is that drink-package prices make make people who buy them more inclined to cheat. Most people know that if you share an adult beverage with someone who does not have the package, your package can be rescinded with no refund.

Many also either don’t know, or ignore, the rules on nonalcoholic beverages. On cruise lines that offer refillable cups, parents often give theirs to their kids. This sharing is very much against the rules, but cruise lines do little to enforce the prohibition.

As more people break the rules, the cruise lines’ costs go up and they must raise prices or make other changes.

The popular social-media personality Jayson Judson looked at some recent changes in the beverage-package offerings that Carnival and MSC Cruises have made and that have angered some passengers.

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Carnival, MSC passengers angry over drink package changes

Transcript:

Hey, everyone, it’s Jayson and this is your cruise news update.

And we have passengers that are furious over another drink-policy change. We have a passenger that’s upset with the cruise line and blaming them for losing money.

And I want your opinion on this last one. Would you leave your infant on the ship to go on an excursion?

So, cruise story number one. Do you buy the beverage package when you cruise? And if so, have you noticed all the changes that have been made in the past couple months? First of all, we had Carnival Cruise Line raising their rates on the Cheers beverage package, where many passengers are saying they can’t afford it anymore.

And it’s just not worth the money. And then MSC with a big change coming out with a new daily drink limit of 15 per day, like Carnival Corporation. Now, when they made this change, they said the Yacht Club was not included in this.

Now, the Yacht Club is a ship-within-a-ship experience. It’s a premium experience on MSC cruises. So, it would be like the Haven on NCL and the Retreat on Celebrity Cruises.

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Now, over the weekend, they did make a change to their website. And it said that they will be adding the Yacht Club passengers to this limit. So, it’s 15 per day.

And people are losing their minds over it. I’m on multiple boards on Facebook and other places. And many of them are saying, I’m done with MSC.

And I’m, like, that’s such a strong reaction. Hundreds and hundreds of comments on a post all about the drink package. I saw one that was posted in 10 minutes.

There was 100 comments already. Why on Earth is there such a strong reaction? Now, I personally think that less than probably 5% of people drink 15 drinks per day on a seven-day cruise. Especially in the Yacht Club.

105 drinks per week. Just not that many people are doing that. What I believe is prices are continuing to go up.

And cruise lines are taking away continually. And that is the strong reaction to this. What do you guys think? And would a drink limit stop you from booking an MSC Yacht Club? Or any kind of experience on a cruise ship? Let me know in the comments.

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Cancelling a cruise after final payment

So, cruise story number two. Have you ever had to cancel your cruise after final payment? And if you didn’t have insurance, you know how bad that stings. So, a passenger posted on a Carnival board that they had a scheduling conflict come up.

And they had to change their cruise. Now, this was going to be after final payment. And so, they called up the cruise line and said, Hey, we need to move our cruise back one week.

And Carnival said, Absolutely. We can make that happen for you. But understand you are canceling this cruise after final payment.

So, there will be a $300 cancellation fee there. And they were stunned. They said, We’ve been on Carnival many times. How could you do this to us? That’s terrible customer service. 

Imagine having the audacity that you’re going to get a break. Because you’ve been on a cruise line a few times. And that you don’t want them to adhere to their policies. This is a policy on every cruise line. You cancel after final payment, you’re going to get a fee or a charge there.

More Royal Caribbean:

• Royal Caribbean has a beverage package policy you won’t like
• Royal Caribbean adds a partner passengers should be happy about
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Because it’s after that final payment date. Now, what’s interesting is, is they suggested that everyone move away from Carnival. Because it’s such terrible customer service. Obviously, they enjoyed Carnival up to that date. And go to Royal Caribbean, NCL or other cruise lines.

Now, they’re going to have a rude awakening if they try this again on Royal or NCL. Because they have the same exact policies. Now, if you’re going on a cruise, whether it’s your first one or your hundredth one, please understand the policies. Policy states [that] if you cancel after final payment, you’re going to incur some kind of fee. 

Just the way they work. Now, has this ever happened to you? I’ve had one cruise we had to cancel after final payment.

But I had insurance. And it was something that the insurance covered. And we were able to get our money back.

Let me know if this has ever happened to you. So before I get to cruise story number three. I would ask that you please like this video.

And consider subscribing. As it does help the channel grow. If you could do that for me. I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks so much. 

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Parents leave infant onboard for excursion

So cruise story number three. And I want your opinion on this one. 

Do you think these parents were being selfish? So a passenger posted on a Royal Caribbean board. They’d been on cruises many times before.

But this was their first cruise with their infant child. Nine months old. And they were hoping to set up an excursion and leave their child on the cruise ship. And this set off a firestorm of comments. So much so they had to delete the original message, even though it had been sent over to multiple different pages. 

And hundreds of comments on those pages. Many people calling this parent selfish. And questioning their parenting style. All because of this simple question. Now what’s interesting is Royal Caribbean does offer this service.

There’s many bad advice and information in there. Some said, hey, just get a babysitter through Royal Caribbean and have them come to your cabin.

Well they stopped that in 2018. So that doesn’t even happen anymore. Also they allow this.

What they say you have to do. And this was on the Icon of the Seas. Because I asked.

So on the Icon of the Seas they ask you to register on the first day. And give you the information on the excursion. They want to know that information.

They also suggest that you book an excursion through Royal Caribbean. And that totally makes sense. Because they’ll know how to get a hold of you.

Also they want you to make sure you have your phone available. Now, not on all islands was it be available. But if you’re in Cozumel, for example, T-Mobile and all the major networks do work. So that would be something that you’d want to have. 

What do you guys think about this? Do you think this is being selfish? Now from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. it’s $6 an hour. I personally think that’s very reasonable. And on the Icon it was eight toddlers. They want to have make sure there’s not that many toddlers.

So they can take care of their needs. So they provide the provision. So is this being selfish or not? Can’t wait to hear from you on the comments on this.

Now I don’t have kids. But I do have a three-year-old niece. And I can’t imagine leaving her on the ship while I’m in port.

That’s just not something I would do. But you’re not like me and I’m not like you. And quite honestly I think this is a personal decision.

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Now they made it a public decision by posting it on the internet. And I think those are one of those kind of things where you need to do some more research. Or pick up the phone and call Royal Caribbean directly and ask those things.

Because if you don’t, people love to give opinions on parenting styles. And whether people are being selfish or not. Have you ever done this? No judgment here.

Or how do you feel about it? Appreciate you guys so much for the continued support. And until I talk to you soon, happy cruising.

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