Cabin Change

[14 Days or Longer]

OCCUPATION OF BERTHS AND CABINS
The Carrier reserves the right to transfer the Passenger from one cabin to another and may adjust the Fare accordingly. The Master or the Carrier may if it becomes advisable or necessary at any time transfer a Passenger from one berth to another.
We have recently been given an unwanted upgrade on the 12/16/2008 sailing of the Orchestra. We decided to try and deny the pleasure of an upgrade because it split up our group(total of 4 cabins) and scattered the group on various decks and categories of cabin (no
higher than Cat. 10).
We made these cabin reservations in Jan 2007,the thinking being that we would be able to get our cabins,if not together, then at least on the same deck. We all wanted the fantail cabins and all seemed to be right with the trip until we were told of our upgrade after we made our final payment.
Our wonderful TA called MSC and they said we would have to accept the upgrade because they were accommodating a family. Our TA managed to sort through this with MSC and at least get us all upgrades and on the same deck.
We failed to realize that MSC can take away your cabin assignment even if you book far in advance. The strange thing is that this rule is mentioned on olny one of their web sites and not the one they use for the USA. If we had known that we would not get our chosen cabins we would have not booked this cruise. We should have been informed before our final payment was made and allowed to decide if we wanted to cruise with them.
This change will not spoil the cruise,but it will make us think twice about booking MSC with a group. If we were sailing as a couple we would welcome the upgrade.

[monicajay]

What is a fantail cabin? I haven't heard this expression. Is this an aft cabin?

Sorry to hear of your disappointment. It doesn't seem right that they can just switch you. Were you booked in cabins that could accommodate four but you were only two? This might explain why they would move you. If not why would they do this?

[14 Days or Longer]

A fantail is an aft cabin. Fan tail means over the ships "fan" or prop.
The move upset us because it was a last minute booking. It was not for a family but four adults in the same cabin. They must need the money.

[monicajay]

You have me worried. I booked MSC because of the kids free promotion and because of the Aft cabin I was able to snag by booking early. I would be saddened if we had to move but would most likely accept the change and now my air and port hotel are all arranged.

We are only 3 in the cabin because my son is at college and his break is not at the same time.

[TAD520]

I had a similar experience last week as I went online to do the web check in and found that the cabin numbers had been changed, we originally booked 2 outside obstructed views as we are having a cheap week away with the kids during the school holiday in October that we have in the UK.

I called MSC to query this and they advised me that they could give me no information about it over the phone and that my TA should contact them. I then called my TA who then called them to advise that we had been upgraded. We originally had 2 cabins next door to each other on the 8th floor and now we have 2 cabins with one in the middle which is not ours on the 10th floor.

As it happens this suits us as our kids are teenagers and they are pleased as this is the first time they have had a balcony!

I did however think it was odd to be quoted the same message about them changing cabin allocations. My TA also thought it strange that they had also not been informed!

As it suits us I am happy to go witht he flow but can see the frustration if it was a larger group who end up getting displaced.

[noblepa]

As unfortunate as your situation is, AFAIK, most, if not all, the major cruise lines have similar provisions in their cruise contracts.

This subject has come up on several other boards on CC. Sometimes, what the cruise line considers an upgrade is not what the passenger considers to be one. I've heard of people being moved to a higher category cabin, only to find that they are directly over the kitchen, with a lot of noise very early in the morning, as the crew prepares for breakfast, or over the Casino, which can stay open very, very late.

Even though the cabins in a given category are pretty much equivalent in terms of space and amenities, not all cabins are equipped to handle more than two passengers. Some have pull-out sofabeds, while others in the same category do not. So, when a family of three or four comes along, a couple in a cabin that IS capable of taking three or four passengers can find themselves summarily moved.

Occasionally, I've heard of people being able to reclaim their original cabin, if it was a case of the cruise line trying to "do them a favor" with a complimentary upgrade. I've also heard that sometimes it can not be reclaimed, because it has already been sold to someone else.

I know that this knowledge doesn't help much.

Paul

[14 Days or Longer]

As unfortunate as your situation is, AFAIK, most, if not all, the major cruise lines have similar provisions in their cruise contracts.

This subject has come up on several other boards on CC. Sometimes, what the cruise line considers an upgrade is not what the passenger considers to be one. I've heard of people being moved to a higher category cabin, only to find that they are directly over the kitchen, with a lot of noise very early in the morning, as the crew prepares for breakfast, or over the Casino, which can stay open very, very late.

Even though the cabins in a given category are pretty much equivalent in terms of space and amenities, not all cabins are equipped to handle more than two passengers. Some have pull-out sofabeds, while others in the same category do not. So, when a family of three or four comes along, a couple in a cabin that IS capable of taking three or four passengers can find themselves summarily moved.

Occasionally, I've heard of people being able to reclaim their original cabin, if it was a case of the cruise line trying to "do them a favor" with a complimentary upgrade. I've also heard that sometimes it can not be reclaimed, because it has already been sold to someone else.

I know that this knowledge doesn't help much.

Paul
We have never been upset over a cabin change if it was handled properly.
In this case it was not. We have no problem with a family needing the cabin. In this case it's 4 adults booking at the last minute and MSC has scattered our group around the ship. (eight of us). We will make the best of the change and have a great cruise. It pays to read the contract and hope for the best since this cruse was booked 11 months out. Every one advises ,book early, you'll get your choice of cabin! The statement should read,unless the cruise line needs the cabin for whatever reason they deam
necessary.

[Hchy Girl]

:mad: WE TO HAVE BEEN HAD BY MSC ON A CABIN CHANGE - INFACT THE CABIN THEY ALLOCATED US WAS THE VERY CABIN WE HAD DECLINED WHEN WE FIRST BOOKED. NOT A BAD WAY OF GETTING AROUND SELLING A CABIN THAT PROVING HARDER TO SELL.

WE TRAVEL NEXT SUNDAY ON THE ORCHESTRA SO I DO HOPE THAT THIS IS THE LAST OF OUR "SURPRISES" FROM THIS COMPANY.

I HAVE TAKEN LEGAL ADVICE ON THIS AND AS THIS TERM WAS NOT MENTIONED AT THE TIME OF BOOKING THEN HAVE BEEN ADVISED WE CAN TAKE ACTION.

I WILL POST AS TO HOW WE GET ON IN DUE COURSE

ANYONE THINKING OF BOOKING DECIDE BEFORE YOU BOOK IF THIS IS HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED!

[Athena1026]

Just dealt with a similar issue. Last week I had my TA check on adding a fourth to my cabin. Original booking was for Myself and my 2 DD. We are a group of 6 cabins total. When my TA called them... I HAD NO RESERVATION. They had canceled just my booking. MSC originally quoted my TA a lower deposit as it was only one adult in the cabin. So when they audited the records...mine got dropped for insufficient deposit. They NEVER contacted me or the TA, NEVER REFUNDED THE DEPOSIT.

It was a second TA (mine was off the day I inquired) that made the find with MSC. And at that time they told him they didn't understand what happened because the deposit amount was correct for one adult. at one point they tried giving me an "upgrade" to an ubstructed view one deck down from the rest of my group.They didn't have any record of me being with the rest of the group. The story changed 3 times. Last one being that the deposit was wrong amount, I put down the extra and low and behold they managed to get my original booking back. A week of phone calls and e-mails later we are resolved.

I hope the TA knows he will be checking that booking from now to cruise on a regular basis.

LIKE THE ABOVE POSTS...IT'S HOW IT WAS HANDLED THAT HAS ME CONCERNED.

[henepup]

Just dealt with a similar issue. Last week I had my TA check on adding a fourth to my cabin. Original booking was for Myself and my 2 DD. We are a group of 6 cabins total. When my TA called them... I HAD NO RESERVATION. They had canceled just my booking. MSC originally quoted my TA a lower deposit as it was only one adult in the cabin. So when they audited the records...mine got dropped for insufficient deposit. They NEVER contacted me or the TA, NEVER REFUNDED THE DEPOSIT.

It was a second TA (mine was off the day I inquired) that made the find with MSC. And at that time they told him they didn't understand what happened because the deposit amount was correct for one adult. at one point they tried giving me an "upgrade" to an ubstructed view one deck down from the rest of my group.They didn't have any record of me being with the rest of the group. The story changed 3 times. Last one being that the deposit was wrong amount, I put down the extra and low and behold they managed to get my original booking back. A week of phone calls and e-mails later we are resolved.

I hope the TA knows he will be checking that booking from now to cruise on a regular basis.

LIKE THE ABOVE POSTS...IT'S HOW IT WAS HANDLED THAT HAS ME CONCERNED.
Glad to hear that they fixed it!!
Henepup