MSC Cruises has announced a new partnership with Blackeye Gin, bringing the award-winning English spirit to MSC Virtuosa.
Founded by England Rugby World Cup winners Mike Tindall and James Haskell, alongside respected broadcaster Alex Payne, Blackeye Gin has quickly built a reputation as a high quality, characterful spirit, often described as the unofficial spirit of rugby.
Following a successful trial in 2025, where guest feedback highlighted strong demand, MSC Cruises has confirmed Blackeye Gin will now be fully integrated into the onboard drinks offering on MSC Virtuosa. The gin is available at all bars and is included for guests with a Premium Drinks Package or for those staying in MSC Yacht Club, which is MSC Cruises ‘ship-within-a-ship’ concept. In this exclusive area of the ship guests enjoy privacy and personalised service, with priority embarkation and disembarkation; luxurious suites; a private lounge, restaurant, sun deck and pool; 24-hour butler and concierge service; thermal suite access; Wi-Fi and premium drinks – including Blackeye Gin of course!
The Blackeye Gin partnership supports MSC Cruises’ wider strategy to further localise its food and beverage offering for the UK market, ensuring guests can enjoy familiar, high-quality brands with strong national relevance.
Antonio Paradiso, VP of International Sales at MSC Cruises, said “We are delighted to offer Blackeye Gin to guests on MSC Virtuosa. It is an exciting opportunity to introduce something new and distinctive for our guests – a product that delivers both exceptional taste and a strong sense of identity. We knew from the positive guest feedback last year that Blackeye Gin would be a strong addition. Its premium quality and British heritage make it a perfect fit for MSC Virtuosa and for our UK guests to enjoy at sea.”
Mike Tindall, Co-Founder of Blackeye Gin and rugby star said; “The three of us have been on a mission to make a gin we’d actually want to drink, and to give back to the game we love as we drink it. Somehow, we’re pulling it off. James brings the noise, Alex brings a lot of words, and I just make sure the quality’s right. Blackeye has won significant awards, is raising money for the Blackeye Rugby fund and has big plans moving forwards. Now having MSC Cruises serve it on board feels like another proper seal of approval. We hope the MSC guests love it as much as we do.”
With its strong rugby heritage, Blackeye Gin is sure to be popular on MSC Virtuosa’s Rugby Champions Cruise to the Canary Islands on Saturday 8 August 2026, where Ben Cohen, Ben Kay and Neil Back will be onboard giving guests’ rugby coaching sessions, a Q&A in the theatre and the opportunity to meet the rugby legends. Ex-Strictly professional Kristina Rihanoff will also be onboard offering dance classes and the chance to discover the story behind her dance career. The 12-night cruise from Southampton starts from just £1,149 per person.
