AQUA by MSC Explained: Cost, Refills and Bottled Water
MSC Cruises is changing how guests get drinking water onboard with a new program called AQUA by MSC.
Instead of relying on millions of single-use plastic water bottles, participating ships will produce mineral-enriched still and sparkling water onboard. Guests will be able to order it in restaurants and bars or refill a reusable bottle at stations around the ship.
The program is designed to reduce plastic waste, but it also changes how water works with MSC drink packages. Here is what guests need to know before their next cruise.
What Is AQUA by MSC?
AQUA by MSC is still or sparkling drinking water created onboard using purification technology. MSC then adds magnesium and potassium to give the water a more mineral-like taste.
It is different from the regular purified water available from the buffet dispensers. Buffet water is purified but is not enriched with additional minerals, while AQUA by MSC is being positioned as MSC’s replacement for much of the traditional bottled mineral water served around the ship.
MSC says a full fleetwide rollout could eliminate an average of more than four million single-use plastic water bottles every month, or more than 49 million each year.
Is AQUA by MSC Free?
It depends on whether you have a drink package.
Guests with an eligible MSC drink package receive unlimited AQUA by MSC on participating ships. Guests without a package can purchase it by the glass, bottle or refill.
Free purified water will still be available to all guests from the dispensers in the buffet. You will not need to purchase AQUA simply to have access to drinking water onboard.
The main difference is that the complimentary buffet water is regular purified water, while AQUA is enriched with magnesium and potassium and is available in both still and sparkling varieties.
How Does It Work With MSC Drink Packages?
MSC drink package holders will have unlimited access to AQUA by MSC throughout participating ships.
Guests can order a glass at a bar, receive it with meals in the main dining room or refill a reusable bottle. Both still and sparkling options are included. Selected self-service stations may also remain available around the clock.
Traditional canned or glass-bottled mineral water is treated differently. MSC says drink package holders who prefer those options can purchase them at a 30% discount rather than receiving them as part of the package.
That means the drink package still includes unlimited water, but the standard included option on participating ships will increasingly be AQUA rather than individual bottles of another mineral-water brand.
Do Drink Package Guests Receive a Reusable Bottle?
Yes. According to MSC, guests with a drink package will receive a complimentary MSC-branded stainless-steel reusable water bottle in their cabin.
Guests can fill the bottle with still or sparkling AQUA at designated refill stations. Refills can also be requested at bars, restaurants and the buffet.
MSC is encouraging passengers to bring their own refillable bottles too. Guests who do not have a drink package can still use their own bottle, but AQUA refills will need to be purchased.
MSC also plans to offer bottle personalization onboard. Guests may be able to have their reusable MSC bottle engraved with their name, cruise date and ship design at The Hub or Photo Gallery.
Is MSC Getting Rid of Bottled Water?
MSC is phasing out single-use plastic water bottles on ships where AQUA by MSC has been introduced.
That does not mean every type of bottled water is disappearing. Traditional mineral water may still be available in cans or glass bottles, but it will not normally be included with a standard drink package. Package holders will instead receive a discount on those options.
There are also some exceptions. Traditional mineral water in glass bottles will continue to be offered in specialty restaurants and within certain MSC Yacht Club venues.
MSC also says it has backup bottled-water plans for equipment failures or emergency situations.
What Happens in the Main Dining Room?
In the main dining room, AQUA by MSC will be served from reusable one-liter glass bottles.
Your server will bring the bottle to the table and pour the water by the glass. Guests can choose between still and sparkling AQUA.
Drink package holders receive AQUA as part of their package. Guests without a package will need to purchase it if they want water served at the table, just as guests have traditionally paid for bottled mineral water in the main dining room.
Complimentary purified water will remain available at the buffet rather than automatically being served in the main restaurant.
Can You Bring Your Own Reusable Bottle?
Yes. MSC specifically encourages guests to bring a reusable drinking bottle that can be filled at AQUA stations around participating ships.
Bringing your own bottle could be useful even if your ship does not yet offer AQUA, since complimentary purified water is available from the buffet dispensers.
However, bringing a reusable empty bottle is different from bringing your own packaged water. MSC says local restrictions prevent passengers from carrying bottled water onboard.
Make sure the reusable bottle is empty when you arrive at the cruise terminal, then fill it after boarding.
What About MSC Yacht Club?
MSC Yacht Club guests will have unlimited access to AQUA by MSC throughout participating ships.
However, MSC says traditional mineral water in glass bottles will continue to be served in the Yacht Club restaurant and Top Sail Lounge. Glass-bottled water remains included for Yacht Club guests rather than being offered at an additional charge.
Yacht Club guests should therefore have both options. They can refill a reusable bottle with AQUA while exploring the ship and continue receiving traditional glass-bottled mineral water inside the private Yacht Club venues.
Is AQUA by MSC Available on Ocean Cay?
Not yet. MSC currently says AQUA by MSC is not available on Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. The cruise line plans to share more information if that changes.
MSC drink packages can still be used on Ocean Cay, although the beverage selection on the island may not be identical to what is offered onboard.
Guests visiting Ocean Cay may want to fill their reusable bottle onboard before leaving the ship. Just remember that availability and rules may change as the AQUA program expands.
Which Ships Have AQUA by MSC?
According to current U.S. information, AQUA by MSC is currently available on MSC World Europa and MSC Poesia. But the cruise line says the program is being gradually expanded and is expected to reach the rest of its fleet.
MSC has promoted a goal of making AQUA available across all 24 ships by the end of 2026, although exact ship-by-ship dates have not been published and rollout plans can change.
Guests should not assume their ship already has the new refill stations. It is a good idea to check with MSC or look for updated information closer to the sailing date.
For now, the most important thing to know is that water is not being removed from MSC drink packages. The included format is changing. Package holders will receive unlimited AQUA by MSC, while complimentary purified water will remain available to everyone in the buffet.