Fantastica drink package

We've decided to purchase the all inclusive restaurant and drink package. What happens to the 12 drink vouchers that are included in the Fantastica experience?

- Can you pass them on to someone else?

- Are these actual paper vouchers or are they virtual vouchers loaded on your cruise card?

Thanks

I will be on the Seaside in a few weeks and would love to know this as well

The meal time beverage plan offers beer , wine and sodas during posted lunch and dinner hours. So if you would prefer a cocktail instead , you can use the drink voucher.

You would use the other drink vouchers in the evening or during non meal hours.

You still get the vouchers, but can pass them along if you choose. [emoji846]

They are paper vouchers. We use ours up fast, and wish they still had the 18 voucher package

Safe sailing

Sent from my SM-N950U using Forums mobile app

Slightly off topic...but does anyone know if the vouchers can be used for gelato? It used to say in the description you could, however now there is no mention of it.

The meal time beverage plan offers beer , wine and sodas during posted lunch and dinner hours. So if you would prefer a cocktail instead , you can use the drink voucher.

 

You would use the other drink vouchers in the evening or during non meal hours.

The OP is getting the all-inclusive drinks package - not the mealtime one that is sometimes offered as a promotion. (The mention of 'Fantastica package' in the title is, presumably, a reference to the 12 drinks vouchers which come with a Fantastica cabin), so they won't have any use for the vouchers.

To answer the question - I don't see any problem in passing them on to someone else - the voucher numbers aren't registered against your cruise account, so anyone can use them.

You can use your drink coupons for gelato on seaside at the pool bars. If you have kids staying in your cabin they will get 12 non alcohol vouchers each which can also be used for gelato, large or small.

You can use your drink coupons for gelato on seaside at the pool bars. If you have kids staying in your cabin they will get 12 non alcohol vouchers each which can also be used for gelato, large or small.

The drinks package they're getting will also cover gelato. The point is the OP will have no need for the included vouchers and wants to know if they can be given to someone else to use.

Yes someone else can use them. On our last MSC cruise a gentleman who didn’t want/need his gave the booklet to us when we sat beside him at the Safety Drill.

Paper vouchers.

Can be given to others.

Can also be kept and used on a future cruise where you might not have the drink package.

Slightly off topic...but does anyone know if the vouchers can be used for gelato? It used to say in the description you could, however now there is no mention of it.

Yes they can.

I'm confused with this now!

Weve just booked a cheapie 5 night cruise from Venice to Genoa in October that came with the "All Inclusive bar and restaurant" package.

Not that I'm gutsy and want to get my "moneys worth", this talk of vouchers is a tad confusing!

Ive just copied the details of what it says below...

ALL-INCLUSIVE RESTAURANT AND BAR DRINK PACKAGE ADULT

Drink all you want, where you want, in total freedom and with a light heart!

Unlimited spirits (Premium brands are excluded), liqueurs, aperitifs, wide selection of cocktails, wines by the glass (our selection of white, red and rosé wine), beer, sodas, fruit juices, mineral water, espresso, cappuccino and other classic hot drinks, and takeaway ice cream in a cone or cup. The drinks included in the package can be consumed in all bars, self-service buffet and restaurants, including the speciality restaurants. The following items are not included in this offer: tobacco, champagne, bottles of wine and sparkling wine, premium spirit brands, drinks from the minibar and water provided in your cabin, souvenir glasses and food served in specialty bars and restaurants. Other excluded items are detailed in the onboard Bar List, indicated with an asterisk. TERMS & CONDITIONS: The package is for personal use only and valid for one order at a time. The ID card is non-transferrable. Abusing the terms of the all-inclusive package may cause the service to be withdrawn and the remaining days not to be refunded. The price of the package applies to each day of the cruise except for the day of disembarkation; the package cannot be purchased on daily basis. Once activated on board, the package cannot be interrupted and refunded. The package must be booked by all guests occupying the same cabin, or just travelling together and wishing to eat at the same table, including minors who must book the Child version of the package. The package is not obligatory for infants under 3 years old (i.e. who have not yet reached their 3rd birthday). The package is not available for charter cruises and for large groups (over 250 persons on the Lirica class vessels, over 350 persons on the Musica class vessels and over 500 persons on the Fantasia class vessels). The package is not available for cruises 1-3 night; the minimum number of night is FOUR (4).

Ive underlined the important part! So I'm limited to 12 drinks with a voucher?

Also... the mention of ice cream / gelato. ...... in respect of this package is this what they refer?

I'm confused with this now!

 

Weve just booked a cheapie 5 night cruise from Venice to Genoa in October that came with the "All Inclusive bar and restaurant" package.

 

Not that I'm gutsy and want to get my "moneys worth", this talk of vouchers is a tad confusing!

Also... the mention of ice cream / gelato. ...... in respect of this package is this what they refer?

The all-inclusive has nothing to do with the 12 vouchers, which currently are included with a Fantastica booking in the US. You don't get vouchers with the all-inclusive. There will be a code on your cruisecard (431) indicating that you have the package so the crew will know that you have it. Gelato is included in your package. Everything on the menus without asterisks is covered and you can order when you like, as often as you like.

The all-inclusive has nothing to do with the 12 vouchers, which currently are included with a Fantastica booking in the US. You don't get vouchers with the all-inclusive. There will be a code on your cruisecard (431) indicating that you have the package so the crew will know that you have it. Gelato is included in your package. Everything on the menus without asterisks is covered and you can order when you like, as often as you like.

Thank you beamafar. I was hoping and thought that was the case and did wonder if these vouchers may have been for US based cruises.

Just need to look online to see if I can see a current menu so I can see first hand what is included and not “premium”. Annoyingly I prefer to drink cider - but fairly sure no ciders are included.

Thanks again for your help.

Thank you beamafar. I was hoping and thought that was the case.

 

Just need to look online to see if I can see a current menu so I can see first hand what is included and not “premium”. Annoyingly I prefer to drink cider - but fairly sure no ciders are included.

 

Thanks again for your help.

Cider is only available in bottles, which are not covered, sorry!

Here's a link to the menu from last June - it won't be much different, if at all, when you sail. Just right-click on any of the pics if they're not clear and open them in another tab for zooming. From post #70:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2511337&page=4

That's a comprehensive list. Not all the items will be available at all the bars as some are smaller and carry less stock and some specialise, for instance, the wine bar.

You haven't mentioned what ship you're booked on.

You haven't mentioned what ship you're booked on.

Thanks again for your help. The menus are quite odd in that some of the cheaper items are not included and some more expensive are. I had been told there are lots of bottled beers to chose from but those menus seem to indicate it’s only one draught beer?

The ship is the Poesia. From the photos, it looked nice. I have no idea on the standards set and with a the price we paid, I’m not expecting the ritz! I know I won’t starve and the drink selection is large enough that i’ll be fine.

It’s a long way off still..... and luckily have another cruise to look forward to in 3 weeks from Singapore. Happy days!

We have never tried MSC but happy to do so, we always like having the drink packages. Are these offers usually broad based around a lot of TAs or do you need to book direct? I haven’t noticed them in my brief searches on general sites.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

We have never tried MSC but happy to do so, we always like having the drink packages. Are these offers usually broad based around a lot of TAs or do you need to book direct? I haven’t noticed them in my brief searches on general sites.

I booked mine direct with MSC but this “all bars and restaurants” all inclusive package came free with the booking I made. I was aware of it though through a TA email I received. I was in the process of booking direct, but they kept moving goalposts and adding costs they’d not included when I rang to place a booking. It turned out booking direct with MSC worked out cheaper and booking our own flights and hotels.

I do think where you are booking from makes a significant difference.

The draught beer is Heineken, though there may be others in the Zebra bar such as Newcastle Brown Ale and Murphy's Red. These were available in the equivalent bar on Poesia's sister ship, Magnifica and in the wine & beer bar on another Musica class ship, Orchestra. I've also seen Stella Artois on tap on at least one of MSC's ships.

The only bottled beer included in the package is Heineken.

It does seem odd that the drinks package doesn't cover items according to the price.

We have never tried MSC but happy to do so, we always like having the drink packages. Are these offers usually broad based around a lot of TAs or do you need to book direct? I haven’t noticed them in my brief searches on general sites.

The offers don't come from the TAs. They're part of MSC promotions. The All-Inclusive drinks package is often offered on Fantastica bookings in the UK and Ireland.

The draught beer is Heineken, though there may be others in the Zebra bar such as Newcastle Brown Ale and Murphy's Red. These were available in the equivalent bar on Poesia's sister ship, Magnifica and in the wine & beer bar on another Musica class ship, Orchestra. I've also seen Stella Artois on tap on at least one of MSC's ships.

 

 

 

The only bottled beer included in the package is Heineken.

 

 

 

It does seem odd that the drinks package doesn't cover items according to the price.

I don’t mind Heineken but definitely prefer Stella so will be happy it’s available. Cider would have been preferred and would probably have been €4.50 a pint..... so instead I’ll have to have two €7.50 cocktails! lol

Actually I have thought of a question to ask... it’s one which would seems a strange one but is because I know some cruise lines don’t understand EU VAT.

VAT is chargeable on purchases. If your cruise on the Med leaves EU waters and docks in a non EU country, the whole cruise will not be VAT chargeable apart from in port of EU countries. If it doesn’t leave EU waters then the whole cruise is chargeable at the originating port nations rate.... apart from when in port of another country. Easy really! Lol

If you buy a drinks package on board, you will be charged VAT on this purchase price. If you’ve already paid.... or in my case, comes free as park of the package, there should be no tax when you get a drink from the bar because the purchase price is €0.00 - and (depending on the country) your 10%, 20%, 21%, 24% tax multiplied by 0 wil not break the bank!

18 months ago, I was on Carnival Vista. I was fortunate. I wasn’t charged tax on my “free drinks”. However cruises before and after (And I understand NCL has followed this lead) and made up a new tax called “what it would have cost you”.

So for Italy, if you got your free all included nothing more to worry about €10 drink (the paying customers charge), they whacked another €2.10 to the bill of each drink.

I can only assume this little ruse is a nice little earner, but I can’t help think it’s fraud. It’s at best taking money they are not entitled to.

There was lots more beside this they were up to... but just to concentrate on my specific question.....

Do MSC try to tax you on your all inclusive drinks obtained that have a value of €0 because they’ve already been paid for?

Hopefully just the domain of Carnival (and NCL if what I read is true.)

No tax is ever added on. There have been reports on here that a Spanish tax is added if you purchase something onboard when in Spanish waters, but I've never experienced this and I've sailed numerous times in the region.

No tax is ever added on. There have been reports on here that a Spanish tax is added if you purchase something onboard when in Spanish waters, but I've never experienced this and I've sailed numerous times in the region.

Ok thank you. The fact they charge in Euro (it would seem) I am assuming they do understand how VAT works.

For what it’s worth, it certainly is Spain that kicked this off. The rules of engagement are as described above, so MSC would be duty bound to collect the VAT tax.... but not the made up Carnival one “what it would have cost you” tax.

I’m relieved to hear they understand EU tax laws... unlike some others... though maybe they understand them only too well !!!

I booked mine direct with MSC but this “all bars and restaurants” all inclusive package came free with the booking I made. I was aware of it though through a TA email I received. I was in the process of booking direct, but they kept moving goalposts and adding costs they’d not included when I rang to place a booking. It turned out booking direct with MSC worked out cheaper and booking our own flights and hotels.

 

 

 

I do think where you are booking from makes a significant difference.

Thanks for that, will try there website and see if the promotion is available to us. We are looking for cruises in late sep thru oct in the med so could work. Which location did u book thru?

Sent from my iPad using Forums