MSC Easy vs Easy Plus vs Premium Extra: Which Drink Package Fits?

Quick Answer

For a new booking, this is no longer a three-way shopping choice on MSC Cruises' current U.S. drinks page. MSC states that Easy and Easy Plus are no longer available for purchase. It says those packages remain valid when they were added to an upcoming cruise before December 18, 2024. Premium Extra is the currently presented alcoholic package, alongside Alcohol-Free and Minors options. If you hold a legacy package, compare the benefits shown in your reservation with the current upgrade offer; if you do not, check MyMSC for what your exact sailing permits.

Last Reviewed / Sources Checked

Reviewed October 31, 2026. The current official MSC Cruises USA drinks page was checked directly. Its primary package section lists Premium Extra, Alcohol-Free, and Minors packages and gives a specific notice about Easy and Easy Plus purchase status. The same long page contains some older FAQ language that is not fully aligned with that notice. We therefore use the explicit current notice for general guidance and direct every traveler to the package options and terms attached to the individual reservation.

Who This Guide Is For

This guide is for MSC guests who hold Easy or Easy Plus, travelers seeing older comparisons, buyers assessing Premium Extra, and families coordinating adult and minor packages. It is not a substitute for the live MyMSC offer or sailing contract. Availability, rules, venues, brands, and service can vary by itinerary, ship, season, purchase date, and market.

Key Facts Table

Best For / Not Ideal For

Legacy Easy or Easy Plus is relevant for: guests whose booking documentation shows the package was added under MSC's stated grandfathering condition. It is not a current general purchase recommendation, and it is not safe to reconstruct benefits from an old blog or another traveler's sailing.

Premium Extra is best for: eligible adults who value the broader current alcoholic selection and expect to use the listed venues enough to justify the package. MSC currently describes specialty coffees and teas, soft and energy drinks, juices, water, nonalcoholic selections, beers, wines by the glass, spirits, and cocktails within the package framework. It is not ideal for light drinkers, guests satisfied with included or pay-as-you-go choices, or anyone whose preferred drinks or venues are outside the exact terms.

Detailed Comparison

Begin with purchase status

Many comparisons present Easy, Easy Plus, and Premium Extra as three selectable products. MSC's current U.S. page says Easy and Easy Plus are no longer available for purchase, while preserving qualifying older additions. First ask what package is attached, when it was added, and what the confirmation says. Without that evidence, compare only options offered in MyMSC.

Legacy holders should preserve documents

Save the original invoice, package name, purchase date, and benefit description. Changes to date, ship, market, or fare may affect an older product, so obtain written clarification before modifying the booking. Do not cancel a legacy package to explore an upgrade unless you know whether it can be restored. The official page preserves qualifying packages; it does not make later changes risk-free.

Premium Extra has a broader current role

MSC describes Premium Extra as available in selected bars, buffets, main restaurants, specialty restaurants, and on private islands. It also says drink selections may vary by ship, destination, and season. The page lists multiple alcoholic and nonalcoholic types and says beverage gratuities are included. It states a daily alcoholic-drink maximum. These are important boundaries, but they do not prove a particular brand, pour, venue, or island selection will be available on every sailing.

Families must compare the whole room

MSC presents packages as shared-stateroom decisions and its FAQ describes linked requirements for minors and adults. Before purchase, check the rule applied to every occupant, legal drinking age for the itinerary, whether travelers in linked rooms must align, and how specialty dining is treated. A package that appears reasonable for one adult can become a different household decision when every eligible guest must carry a corresponding product. Use the final cart total, not one person's displayed amount.

Calculate from realistic consumption

Build a conservative day using only drinks you normally order. Separate sea days from port days. Multiply by package days and eligible guests, then compare the final amount with a realistic pay-as-you-go estimate. Do not consume more to chase value. Consider whether convenience matters when the arithmetic is close.

Check venue and product fit

Write down the beverages and venues you care about, then match them to the current MSC list. Premium Extra's stated specialty-restaurant and private-island coverage can matter, but MSC warns that selections vary. Ask how the package handles items outside its scope, bottle purchases, room service, minibar, retail products, and destination-specific service. Only the live terms for the sailing can answer those edges. A broad label cannot guarantee your preferred brand.

USCRUISE Expert Tip

Take two screenshots before changing anything: the package already attached to your booking and the current upgrade screen with final terms. For a legacy Easy or Easy Plus holder, compare what would be lost and gained, not three historical package names. For a new buyer, ignore outdated three-tier charts and compare Premium Extra, nonalcoholic alternatives, and pay-as-you-go based on the complete party cost.

Decision Matrix

Common Mistakes

• Using an old three-tier chart as a current purchase menu.

• Canceling a legacy package before confirming restoration and upgrade rules.

• Comparing one guest's cost instead of the whole eligible party.

• Assuming every listed beverage or venue is identical across ships and seasons.

• Drinking more than desired to make a package appear valuable.

• Ignoring port-day consumption, room service, minibar, or bottle exclusions.

• Relying on page FAQ fragments that conflict with the explicit current status notice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy Easy or Easy Plus now?

The current MSC USA page says both are no longer available for purchase. Check MyMSC because the exact sailing and market control the selectable options.

Is my old Easy package still valid?

MSC says Easy or Easy Plus added before December 18, 2024 remains valid for the upcoming sailing. Confirm that your booking record meets the condition.

Does Premium Extra work everywhere?

MSC names selected bars, dining venues, and private islands, while warning that selection varies. Review the specific sailing terms for exclusions and availability.

Are gratuities included?

The official page says beverage gratuities are included in Premium Extra. Charges tied to items outside the package should be checked separately.

Related Guides

Browse more cruise package explanations in the USCRUISE common questions library.

Plan Your Cruise with USCRUISE

USCRUISE can review the package shown in your reservation, compare the full-party cost, and identify questions for MSC before any change. Send the sailing and package evidence through our cruise consultation form.

Sources & Methodology

We used the current official MSC Cruises USA package page, gave priority to its explicit purchase-status notice, excluded promotional pricing, and require reservation-specific confirmation.

• MSC Cruises USA drinks packages and current terms