drsel

53 minutes ago, Number34 said:

So will they reinstate my cancelled 25 September sailing?

I doubt that.

MSC has never reinstated cancelled bookings. It would make them look stupid

7 hours ago, marielco said:

@Beamafar I just had a call from my travel agent.  They said they had checked with MSC and assured me travellers from Ireland are not affected by the restriction on non-Shengen countries. She told me we need PCR test  within 72 hours of embarkation and our EU Covid vaccination cert.  She could not explain why Ireland being an exception is not on the MSC website but was very sure we could cruise.  This is the most definite response I have had. Ringing MSC has been different answers from different call staff. 

I don't think you can trust what your travel agent said, when MSC has clearly excluded Ireland from the list of European countries allowed to board.

What were the different answers from different MSc call staff?

1 hour ago, drsel said:

You will get a full refund of your deposit if its more than 90 days prior to sailing

Refund to your credit card should take 2 billing cycles or 60 days, as advised by my agent

4 hours ago, Mark3811 said:

September cruise just cancelled by MSC (UK)

Is MSC offering a full refund or FCC + 200 OBC or both options?

What is the expiry date or last sale by date of the FCC?

MSC rules have just become more stringent.

Now even fully vaccinated passengers from US and some permitted European countries have to do a 72 hour antigen or RT PCR test, show a hard copy proof of vaccination and also buy the MSc full travel protection plan, or else they will be denied boarding

4 hours ago, rusky123 said:

Just had our September 17 th cruise on the Seaside out of Rome cancelled, no reason given. We were hoping the Italian government were going to announce an ease of quarantine restrictions next Monday. Torn between rescheduling or cancelling. 

 

I guess MSC is cancelling Med Cruises date wise.

So now ( end of August), they have started cancelling September Mediterranean Cruises for 150 nationalities.

I think by late September they will start cancelling October Mediterranean Cruises for nearly 150 nationalities.

On 8/25/2021 at 9:49 PM, HappyInVan said:

 

That's why I cancelled my October cruise before FP. Forfeited my $199 deposit without regrets. 😄

You will get a full refund of your deposit if its more than 90 days prior to sailing

12 minutes ago, johnnylincoln said:

If it were me and you could afford it I would wait for MSC to cancel as has been my way of doing it through the pandemic. 

 

Our most recent October Med Cruise had a huge itinerary change so we took the offered £200 OBC and moved to a short cruise on the MSC Virtuosa. 

 

So far I belive we have had around £4,000 worth of incintives and OBC to move our cruises and have managed to add all manner of drinks packages and cabin upgrades for zero cost. 

 

Infact we have a cruise next May...it originally started life as a 7 night cruise on an inside cabin with no extras in April 2019...it has since become a 7 night cruise in a suite in May 2022 peak time with full drinks package at zero cost to ourselves. 

How did you manage to get 4000 pounds worth of  freebies and free drinks packages and cabin upgrades?

all we have been getting is only $200 OBC for each and every cancellation till date

I guess I will have to wait till 30th September to know anything about my October & November 2021 Med Cruises.

And then maybe have to make use of MSc Cruise flex up to 48 hours prior to sailing to shift the Cruises to 2022,  in case the rules remain the same.

But it would be much better if MSC cancels our bookings,  because then they will have to issue us FCCs with an expiry date beyond 30 September 2022, (hopefully)

Just now, johnnylincoln said:

 

Supposedly an update is coming in the next 7/10 days which should answer all question about European cruises for UK and Ireland residents for this year. 

What about 148 other countries?

Yes they should announce something by 31 August

29 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

Ireland is an EU country and currently we’re being denied boarding, too.

 

We made final payment last Thursday for our October cruise as we had €500 deposit down so, rather than lose it, or move to another, new booking (no thanks, MSC!) we’ll wait it out.  There’ll be an update on the situation next Wednesday week;  hopefully it’ll be good news. 

Was your final payment date only 60 days prior to sailing?

for many it is 90 days prior to sailing.

I guess MSc will update us about September Cruises only on 31st August.

And October Cruises only on 30th September?

14 minutes ago, soloadventurer said:

Don’t see anything new for Europe

Yes, for Europe cruises up to 31st August 2021, only residents of many European countries and US are allowed to board

Upto 31st August, only EU and US residents are allowed to board MSC European Cruises, possibly due to Italian government Covid restrictions.

MSC is denying boarding to nearly 150 other countries, after selling them the cruises and collecting full payment also.

So should citizens of these 150 countries reschedule/ postpone their Cruises sailing around the Mediterranean in October & November 2021 or wait for MSc to cancel them?

There is no option for any refund without penalty for those who have made full payment.

On 8/12/2021 at 7:53 PM, fairhsa12 said:

I am based in Hong Kong

At the moment their website says that until 31 August only Shenghen area residents can board... my cruise is early September, FROM THE UK WHICH IS NOT A SCHENGEN AREA!  I have no idea if they will let me board. 

For MSC Virtuosa sailings around the British Isles only UK residents are allowed to board.

It seems Ironic that  MSC is selling Cruises and collecting money from residents of all countries in the world, but allowing only US and European residents to sail, right from the restart of cruising until 31 August 2021.

MSC has chosen to allow boarding to a country with the highest number of active cases and highest number of total cases in the world, while denying boarding to nearly 150 other countries.

If they don't change this policy,  MSC will have to cancel the bookings and offer FCC + 200 OBC to all those who are not residents of US and Europe

On 8/16/2021 at 7:13 PM, vowenx said:

I'm experiencing the same issue, I'm based in Singapore but the policy is only applicable for US residence. I see on MSC Singapore's website they offer Europa Assistance for £22, but it's only for UK residence. I've tried looking for an affordable 3rd party cruise insurance for those who reside in Asia; however, coming up short of MSC's min requirement of ($25K/$50K coverage). One insurance won't cover any country on Singapore's amber list, which is pretty much every country we'll be docking in: Spain, Malta, etc. Any suggestions?

Yes, you have to buy the MSC full travel protection plan only.

It is mandatory without which you will be denied boarding.

Anyway till 31st August only residents of US and most European countries are allowed to board MSc European Cruises.
.

By 31st August MSc will announce whether this restriction on boarding is extended till 30th September or not, depending on the Covid situation at that time

16 hours ago, Native Floridian 26 said:

Are you US?  Is it $100 for each passenger or just $50 each?  I'm inside on a Voyagers Select cruise and just got $50 per pax.

That is correct.

insides get $50 OBC per person, even if you're a diamond

I never have any problem.

When I choose my cruise, I send an email to my agent to make sure that I get the following (for 2 adults in one cabin)

1.  MSC $200 OBC for using the FCC

2.  MSC 50 + 50 =$100 OBC for an inside cabin for voyagers club, (or 100+100=$200 OBC for an outside cabin or balcony)

3. MSC 5+5% discount on the basic fare. (Or 5 + 10% or 5 + 15%)

4. Agents 8 to 10% discount on the basic fare.

My agent does the needful and I get all 4 benefits mentioned above

4 minutes ago, Native Floridian 26 said:

Thanks.  I'm a happy camper today because I did see DH's $50 on the details today.  

 

I guess the only thing now is that St. Thomas will probably be cancelled due to their vaccination requirements.

Please check the entry requirements of each country on 

blog dot wego dot com

and

kayak dot com travel restrictions.

The first one is updated daily but a little complicated

21 hours ago, Native Floridian 26 said:

.  This is just the first $50 for my DH, let alone asking someone about a 2nd $50 for each of us.  We're booked Inside Bella, so it may not apply.  Unfortunately, nothing really lays out the benefits.

I had mentioned earlier that inside cabins get only $50 per person if you are Silver status and above

1 hour ago, DCGuy64 said:

Thanks! Good site. So far we are OK for the ports of call, we're only going to ports in Italy, Croatia and Greece. I'll keep checking until we leave in case there's a change. Thanks again.

Also check kayak dot com travel restrictions.

You will be allowed to enter but you need to check if quarantine and/or rt-pcr rapid antigen test are required before flying

2 hours ago, DCGuy64 said:

I definitely hope you’re right, as we have a cruise in Italy beginning on the 28th. We are both fully vaccinated. 

Check blog dot wego com for detailed travel advisories which are updated daily, although rather complicated.

You may have to check the travel advisory of every country where the ship docks.

5 hours ago, fairhsa12 said:

we have cancelled.  We are NOT US citizen

How did you manage to cancel 30 days prior to sailing without any penalty?

Don't you have to forfeit the full fare paid 30 days prior to departure?

MSC allows you to change the ship and date (upto 30 September 2022,) but does not allow any refund

On 8/12/2021 at 7:53 PM, fairhsa12 said:

I purchased my European cruise with MSC from ***** (a US website).  I am based in Hong Kong and have used them before.  They sent me an email today saying I must purchase mandatory MSC insurance costing 100 dollars.  My cruise costs 279 dollars (it's only 4 days).  This is a HUGE increase in price, and I already have travel insurance as I need it ex-HK for this as well as all the other things I am doing.  And when I go onto MSC european website, this requirement does not exist, but the insurance does, at 25 euros.

 

WHAT is going on? Does anyone know?  At the moment their website says that until 31 August only Shenghen area residents can board... my cruise is early September, FROM THE UK WHICH IS NOT A SCHENGEN AREA!  I have no idea if they will let me board. 

 

I spent 3 hours trying to get through to MSC to ask them directly, and when someone FINALLY picked up the phone, they hung up on me.  It reduced me to tears.  I've spoken to *****, they say they have no information! Is this what I can expect from this cruise line?  I have cruised often before, but never with them.  I am now very worried that I made a mistake booking it.

As of now only residents of US and EU countries can board MSC European Cruises  till 31st August 2021.

I expect that this might get extended.

So you are advised to use MSC Cruiseflex and postpone your Cruise to a date in 2022 (but before 30th September 2022).

There will be no charges or penalties, but similar 2022 Cruises are much more expensive, at least double the cost. Hopefully by then Covid will be well under control and most people will be fully vaccinated all around The World

So the mandatory insurance and restrictions may not be there

It is ironic that the only country allowed to board MSC cruises (outside EU ) is the country with the largest number of ACTIVE cases and total number of cases.

But that may change soon.

Just a few hours back, 27 were found Covid positive on Carnival Vista sailing from Galveston.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2021/08/13/carnival-vista-cruise-covid-cases/