Rhea98

On 1/11/2023 at 6:39 PM, Morgsmom said:

Just a warning... on my most recent cruise (YC, on Mera) I was HELD UP from getting off the ship because I had a TWO DOLLAR and change CREDIT balance on my account.  Yup.  The security guards wanted me to leave the line, go to guest services (AS IF!) and fill out a form agreeing to forfeit the excess OBC.  It was LUNACY.  So I suggest that you get a final statement just to make sure that you neither owe, or are "owed" any money.  

This happened to us last May in Copenhagen after 25 days of cruising. After waiting for over 3 hours at the handicap area, we got to the exit. DH went first riding his scooter, then I get stopped. I knew we hadn't spent the last 20€ but thought it was non-refundable ( compensation---which I had to fight for over 3 weeks while on board to get placed on our acct---when MSC canceled passengers on Seashore transatlantic fall 2021). We'd actually had 120€ remaining the last night. I donated 100 to the MSC fund and saved 20 for cappuccinos in the morning. We couldn't get to the chocolate shop as we were required to wait for handicap disembarking. I told DH to continue and wait for me in the terminal. Most likely he'd see me again.

On Friday, I made one last effort to correct my situation. I replied to the SR response I had received, and, unbelievably (as I thought the request had been closed), I received a response: 

"After further review, we have confirmed you are entitled to the $200 and an extra $50 per person shipboard credit. Please note we have forwarded an email to the ship. 

On behalf of MSC Cruises, please accept our sincere apologies for any inconvenience."
The extra $50/pp would be VC Booking. 

I didn't check until today, but the money (in €) is in my account. 

9 hours ago, rusky123 said:

Sailing in Europe we had steak, chicken and fish as always available.

Sailing Norway now. Steamed fish, grilled chicken; "V"=side dishes. Steak is available every night for €19 (+/- I'm not sure about exact cost) surcharge. 

14 hours ago, NMsunset said:

Hi Rhea-

It is not clear, did you use a TA or other 3rd party to book your original cruise?

 

What is existingreservations.com?

 

Cheers!

Booked all (#1 fall 2019 cancelled for covid; #2 rebooked Seashore TA cancelled for "operational" issues; and, #3 our current rebooked Grandiosa Baltic/Norway changed to Norway/Norway) through MSC. I was sure I'd messed up the email address: mscexistingreservations@msccruisesusa.com. The email contact I use when several phone calls go nowhere. Amazingly, except for a response to the now necessary handicap assistance email, the response I received was a first for about 20 emails over the past 2 yrs. 

I sincerely hopes it works for you. After our Seashore transatlantic was cancelled in Oct., we were offered $200 ($100 each) compensation if we booked 7+ days cruise. We are on the 14 day cruise we booked with the cancelled cruise credit. The compensation did not show up on our shipboard acct. I have the compensation email, the cruise papers, and an email from existingreservations.com verifying that we HAVE $200 ($100 each which is how it is listed by our individual billing sheets) but, so far, we've only been granted $100. We had another $50+$50 for VC 5%+15% (also clearly stated on the booking) which had not been given to us until brought to their attention. 

The reason given for only $100 was wording (per cabin) on the FCC/Compensation email( which also clearly stated $200). Supposedly, they are waiting for corporate to affirm what my paperwork and follow-up email states.

It may turn out as promised. I will let you know if that is the case. 

Just be aware, and perhaps, be armed with email addresses you may want to use, should you be left powerless by Guest Services. For me, I am working hard at practicing ACCEPTANCE. 

2 hours ago, pappahbuttz said:

Great, thanks Rhea98. I just did not want to have to go through all the testing, check in etc twice.

When I asked about the MSC required test, I was told that, at the moment, none of our stops (Norway, Kiel, and Copenhagen) require a test. If that should change, the ship would handle it.

On 5/9/2022 at 8:10 AM, oilsand said:

it was necessary to go to front desk to get a new cruise card . even though i had status match, and a voyager number. it wasnt until i pointed it out did I receive the benefits of Voyager club status match

This happen to us (and many others as told by VC rep onboard). We have had Black/Diamond status for 5 yrs. It was easily corrected; however, even after receiving the Diamond cruise cards for the second of our B2B cruise, and double checking that the status for the current cruise was properly entered, Guest Services later told us we didn't get our VC 5/15% booked 50€ OBC each because we have no status.  Check check, and check again. EVERYTHING is listed on our paperwork. How can there be such a disconnect?

We did not have to leave the ship in Copenhagen on May 8. 

7 hours ago, mackfam said:

This is very interesting as I phoned MSC today to see if they would accept a proctored self test from Switch Health (which was accepted no problem by RCCL in January ) and of course they said “no”.  I guess we’re going to have to get a test somewhere in Barcelona to be on the safe side 

MSC failure to speak with one voice strikes again! I understand your concerns. My opinion (99% worthless) is that as long as you have a digital or official form showing the test result and the day it was issued, it will be accepted. FWIW, many of our UK members have posted that a tele-monitored test was accepted. Of course, you do what causes the least stress. Good luck.

On 5/5/2022 at 5:27 PM, Millaar37 said:

Our Antigen test needs to be 48 hours before our Embarkation time.

So my question is this: Is this your boarding time or the time the ship leaves port?

 

Thanks in Advance

 

(May 14th MSC Grandiosa- Copenhagen- Norwegian Fjords - Kiel -Copenhagen)

We boarded in Genoa on April 27. The agents only looked at the dates, not the time (although we were within the 48 hrs.). FWIW, we used the ihealth tests which came free from USPS and paid $25 to get the tests monitored at 6AM --finished about 30 minutes before heading to the airport on May 25. The tests worked on ipad mini as well as on Chromebook. We just transitioned to Norway cruises (same ship) for 14 days and tests (at this time--as guest services said) were not required. I don't know what was required for those just boarding today. We will be on the ship when you board.

11 hours ago, lasnev said:

Are you saying that it's not happening, or have you heard something to that effect?

It will happen at some point. With the mask mandate dropping for transportation, some non-random speculation was that the testing requirement would go. I can't relocate the source (thought is was The Points Guy), but it reported that the White House said that no plans to stop the entry testing. Now, that was yesterday, who knows what's happening today. We return on 23 May. That test doesn't concern me as much as the terminal test. The 23rd is the end date for our insurance so, perhaps it would cover any quarantine. As my husband has lung disease, even with 2x boosts, we will continue with N95 masks under most situations while traveling. 

4 hours ago, Rhea98 said:

 

It's also starting to look like we won't need a test to return to US. 

That thought didn't live long. Maybe I should have watched the morning news today instead of working on my Plex Media Server???? At least I have a little control over my server.

7 hours ago, lasnev said:

 

It's updated on the "Travel requirements for Northern European cruises" on the MSC CRUISES USA website too!

Yay!

 

"

COVID-19 TEST REQUIREMENTS:

• All guests 2 years & older must show proof of a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR or antigen test taken no more than 2 days before embarkation. Guests must bring the valid negative test certificate with them to the terminal."

Thanks. I think it had been an error for a while, but..... At least I feel more confident that if MSC will charge us for test for second leg of our b2b, I'll have tele-monitored tests I can take using my GoogleFi account.

It's also starting to look like we won't need a test to return to US. We'll have them with us, just in case. Now, we just sweat out the terminal test on 27/04, but at least, we are able to actually take the trip as per our physician yesterday.

On 4/16/2022 at 7:56 AM, Floridado2020 said:

Omg is that true ! My parents are freaking out for their Northern Europe cruise in may 2 about where to get a PCR in marseille 48 hours prior to cruising  they can’t find a place for a quick PCR outside of the airport 

When they go to the MSC website it still says PCR only , where did they post that antigen would be accepted too ? Thanks 

As I'm posting between this forum and FB, I don't always remember what posted where. FWIW, here's what the MSC for Me app shows regarding testing and Northern Europe. That is different from what the MSCcruisesusa site shows, although, in the app, one must link to the web for this information. One cannot screenshot this info, either.

7 hours ago, Floridado2020 said:

Omg is that true ! My parents are freaking out for their Northern Europe cruise in may 2 about where to get a PCR in marseille 48 hours prior to cruising  they can’t find a place for a quick PCR outside of the airport 

When they go to the MSC website it still says PCR only , where did they post that antigen would be accepted too ? Thanks 

If you'd clicked the link, you would have seen that is for the Mediterranean. Northern Europe still posts PCR only. I have both scheduled but the N. Europe part starts on the second leg of our B2B--booked as two separate cruises. I haven't bothered calling MSC about how we test if we are already on the ship but will next week.  If you search for tests in Marseille, many sites show up.  Marseille has a very efficient metro system and buses, but you have to check based on their location. If they are staying overnight, their hotel can probably direct them ahead of time to a nearby testing site. Local hotels have always been the best resource for local information when we travel--anywhere.

It may be that the airport is the best location. It's looking that way for us in Orlando. There's no free antigen testing that is documented. The tests at the airport appear to be half the cost of other facilities in the area. We have the free tests from the usps plus the iHealth app so we will try that first thing the morning of our departure. Those are antigen so they won't work for Northern Europe. 

How do they plan to test for their return to the US?

On 4/10/2022 at 2:01 PM, Fiona2011 said:

We are also out of Genoa on 4/27 and according to the website, we need to have PCR tests within 48 hours and I don't think we can do those ourselves. We have appointments at our airport to get them before we fly from the West Coast, but will be en route when the results are back, fingers crossed.

FWIW, two (maybe three) days ago, the website posted (as the app web link had already posted) that antigen tests--changed from 24 hrs on the first day to 48 hrs on the second day- are acceptable for US and non-schengen residents. This is to begin on April 23 per earlier MSC post.

Hope you had a great cruise. What did you discover about the time factor?

6 hours ago, xcell said:

Since OP is from Canada -- just check on the msc canada website and it will tell you what you are required to do to get on the ship.  Don't forget they also want insurance coverage.

 

I am hoping things will change for my Med cruise in Dec because the timing is hard, especially with the time difference.  For instance, when do they count the 48 hours?  If my cruise out of Barcelona is at 6pm Friday, what is 48 hours in Toronto?  Because 6pm in Barcelona is really 12 pm Toronto -- so do I pick that as the start time for the 48 hours???  I seriously don't know what the difference of 2 days before the cruise vs exactly 48 hours before the cruise.

 

 

You use Barcelona time. I've also read that it's based on when you actually check in. Nice, eh? If you check in at noon on Friday, Barcelona time, then test at noon or later (Barcelona time) on Wednesday. In any case, it really may be totally different by Dec. I'm scheduled to sail from Genoa then from Copenhagen 27/04, and it's (what's printed on the USA website) changed at least three times this past week. The app's link info has remained steady for US sailings in Med and Northern Europe

I live in Florida so anything remotely cool appeals to us. We did a 10 day Nordic Fiords cruise (up to North Cape) in spring 2018 and loved it. That was followed by a cruise around the entire British Isles in 11 days and loved that just as much--despite a miserable heat wave at the time. This was our first (currently "only" MSC cruise) as we attempt to take the cancellations replacements. It was on the fairly new Mera. Even as the Baltic stops were dropped from our up-coming 14 day cruise and replaced with dual Norway passages, we didn't hesitate to continue with our plans. I don't know UK pricing, but is seems a decent price.

They use to accept them. Some Brits have posted that, for them at least, a telemonitored test is currently accepted. However, this is what is posted today for US/non-Schengen Med cruises. 

Yesterday, the April 22-April 23 was printed and the antigen, was, indeed 24 hrs. The link from the MSC app still shows "to provide a certificate of a negative Antigen or RT-PCR taken within 48 hours before embarkation." The bold is on the web page linked to from the app.

3 hours ago, 8420PR said:

 

My recommendation is to also check the UK website, which seems to be more updated/accurate compared to the US one, and then to check with customer services.   There was another thread where someone was denied boarding in Barcelona because of inaccurate information on the US website.

 

On the UK website an antigen test is also accepted for Northern Europe cruise:

https://www.msccruises.co.uk/health-and-safety-measures

 

I've taken 5 [short] Mediterranean cruises in 2021 and 2 this year on MSC, and for all of them took an antigen test before boarding (including some video monitored tests).

 

 

Are you from the US/non-Schengen area? I was sent to the UK site accidentally where I saw the antigen was acceptable--within 48 hrs. We have the 14 day Northern Europe cruise after the Grandiosa repo--on Grandiosa. I didn't even check the N E site. (particularly confusing as both Denmark and Norway have lifted ALL travel restrictions for ALL visitors) I don't know what will be required test-wise when we get to Copenhagen. This is typical MSC on the front end.

I will be calling next week either to cancel our cruises (possible issue at home) or to try to get clarifiction on all this. 

Just found this on msccruisesusa:

Lost 12 hours of pre-testing time, but at least the tele-monitored test should be a go now. The app still doesn't give the shorter timeframe. Our cruise departs 27/04.

For any other US citizens reading, I just clipped this from the Grandiosa FB page 21 hrs ago--"depends where you are coming from. US residents need a PCR. I’m a US passport holder but live in Germany. We had antigen tests and were twice questioned for a PCR. When I explained that we live in Germany and showed proof they let us through."

Except that we were flying AA/BA so used the Verifly app, it was similar for us going from US to Rome in Dec. Two flight arrivals were going through immigration when we arrived. Many people had to pull out papers and spend 15 minutes at the windows. All they wanted from us were our passports. The app info may have precluded additional checks. I had paper copies of EVERYTHING and carried vaccination cards with our passports. I'll do the same this time minus an app as Delta says our flight doesn't qualify for their app. It did appear that NCL presented straightforward, unified info for what they expected. If the MSC app still shows antigen test before we leave, I'm going for that and taking a time-stamp photo of the app should there be an issue.

Enjoy your cruise!

This confusion (PCR/Antigen) existed ahead of the Seashore TA. However, at that time, MSC posted that telemonitored (antigen) test results were acceptable. PCR tests were only required for unvaccinated cruisers, and the timeframe was 72 hours. Antigen timeframe was 48 hr.

I do understand the fluid nature of the requirements so that the only fact I can count on at this time is that MSC publishes/emails/ speaks conflicting information. I will be happy to grab a $75 (x2) antigen test at MCO or DTW. I will not be happy to pay $175 (x2) for a PCR.