stuart2468

25 minutes ago, xcell said:

 

Well at least they put you on a curise, my Divina August 2021 has just disappeared and no news when they will start booking Divina at Port Canaveral.  I would love for them just to have moved my cruise to PC if it was the same time and length of cruise, otherwise just refund my deposit (speaking of which, still waiting for the cruise deposit I cancelled 4 months ago)

 

I understand these are strange and difficult times but it looks like  MSC has no plan, just musical chairs with no end in site.

Yes the length of the cruise, coupled with it being a transatlantic was the selling point for me. Obviously getting me on another 23 night cruise in January will be a tough ask, and as such im open to negotiation. 

It was the shock of being moved to a 7 nighter. That I cannot accept. 

Roll on July now. 

Just now, MM42 said:

Mine too. I had booked the Divina for the Med cruise and then the TA. They changed my cruises for the Grandiosa  Med cruise from JAN/03/2021 to JAN/10/2021 and then the Meraviglia Caribbean cruise from JAN/09/2021 to JAN/23/2021.......

 

Hahahahahaah.... so funny..... how can I board the Meraviglia on Jan/09/2021 in the Caribbean if I'm still on the Grandiosa until JAN/10/2021in the Med?????

Will call today and cancel!!!!

Hold fire on the cancellation. I spoke with the office this morning. The change to Meraviglia isn't the offer they're likely to give. They just had to put the booking somewhere. Contact for changes will begin July 1st so should know more a few days after. Might be worth the wait. 

7 minutes ago, sidari said:

Not sure how they can get you close to the original booking as there are no transatlantic sailings.

I do understand this so I am prepared for quite a change. But from 23 to 7 days? That is not even remotely close. 

Thankfully I now know this is only temporary so I'm a little more relaxed than last night. 

We shall see of course. 

Both my Fantasia and my Divina cruises have been cancelled, so they've some work to do keeping me satisfied lol

10 minutes ago, emmas gran said:

Hi, we cannot do April 2021 as we are taking an island trip that was cancelled for April this year. I have just looked at doing the Nov 2020 sailing from the Med to Dubai on Fantasia and the pricing is crazy its £1800 pp more for YC than we got priced in January 2020 for our trip next March. If that is how pricing is going for YC we will not be doing it, the product is very good but the food needs to match the pricing and on our previous cruises it hasn't. Regading flights we think we get charged £100 fee pp by Emirates if we request a refund.

Liz

Prices on every category seem high at the moment, which, annoyingly, I suspect is because of all the changes they are making. Over £700 for a Caribbean inside 7 night cruise in Jan. Never have I seen that price prior to C19. 

If people start cancelling cruise because they no longer match what they booked, and I'm sure there will be a huge amount, the. Prices should plummit to avoid empty sailings. 

During a conversation this morning with the UK office, she seemed to indicate my 7 night Fantasia bargain has been changed to the 21 night repo. I'm not getting my hopes up until I have the confirmation in writing. But I would consider it a lottery win if it happens. Fingers crossed

So on the dot I called MSC UK at 9.30am. A lovely lady told me not to worry. Divina repo has been cancelled but my booking just needed to be moved to a ship but it is not the definite cruise I'm changed to. She assured me they will get me as close to the original booking as is possible. 

I just have to be patient and await the offer they send me through. Fingers crossed

Just logged into my booking to see the 23 night repo cruise from Barcelona to Miami Has now been changed to a 7 night Meraviglia Caribbean Cruise. from the 09/01/21 till 16/01/21. I'm then supposed to find something else to do until my flight home on the 06/02/21.

No way MSC. This is not an acceptable alternative!

55 minutes ago, marcoigna said:

We are currently on that repo cruise - but likely we are going to cancel.  No comparison from Seaview to Fantasia.  

Can understand that. I only paid £227pp for the cruise so I can't grumble too much with what I get. But the repo would be a steal of I got that. 

I just noticed Grandiosa departs Barcelona on the 20th I'd happily take that for the price I paid. 

1 hour ago, marcoigna said:

Curious - did you cancel the Fantasia Cruise or did MSC, as literally they just changed ships from Seaview to Fantasia for these sailings to the UAE

No, I called MSC, when I couldn't access my booking through the website, to find out why. The guy said the sailing had been cancelled but couldn't see why and that he would need to speak with a supervisor and he'd call back. So far no call. 

I can see why it's cancelled, because the ship is repositioning to dubai, but I don't yet know what they are doing with my booking. Am I cancelled and refunded? Am I moved to another Med sailing on another ship? Am I being sent on the repo cruise to dubai? 

I'm hoping for the repo, but sadly I think my expectations may be too high 🤔

19 minutes ago, Sancho_proudfoot said:

 

 

On 14 November Fantasia departs Barcelona for Dubai, arriving 4 December. This was originally scheduled to be Seaview, but they're keeping her in S America and using Fantasia instead ( only know this for sure as we were booked on this itinerary on Seaview and have been switched to Fantasia)

Thanks for the info. I had suspected this. So far my cruise has been confirmed by MSC as cancelled (took me calling to have that confirmed though) but I have no idea what they may be moving me to, or if they're going to just issue a refund. 

Due a call back today so I'll update incase it is of use to anyone

58 minutes ago, dritan said:

We're booked on a short Preziosa cruise from Hamburg to Southampton at the end of August. I think this is getting less and less likely to happen as the Preziosa has been at Ocean Cay for well over a month now.  

I'm not missing anything am I?  No news on the Preziosa?

I too am on this short cruise. One of 3 i booked over the last coupe of weeks and starting to see them dropping one by one. My fantasia cruise has been cancelled due to its requirement in Dubai. I don't yet know what my options are as a replacement, only that its been cancelled.  

Bagged a cracking deal on a 7 night cruise from Valencia to Barcelona. But it appears the sailing has been cancelled. I cant access the booking on the website, and looking at new bookings, there are no other sailings on Fantasia during November once the 07/11/20 departure has commenced from Genoa. 

Am i right in thinking the ship will then commences its repo to dubai? Might i be lucky enough to get a place on the repo instead? 

Does anyone know or have a hunch at what may happen with the Repositioning of Divina in January? I'm booked to sail the 23 nighter from the 06/01/21 but can see that has been removed from the booking engine. Obviously the ship has to sail to the US at some point so might the trip still go ahead at that particular time, just with a possible itinerary change?

When arriving on the 29/01/21, I was hoping to book another cruise from Miami for a week, as such my flight home from Miami I Isn't until the 06/20/21. But the arrival port being moved to Cape Canaveral wouldn't be a major issue. However its not due to sail from CC until march. Where is it likely to be during the whole of Feb?

So what will happen now with regards to its reposition to Florida which is due in Jan? Or is the ship currently in US waters and will be staying there? 

I have the 23 night Repo booked and have noticed that is no longer on sale. 

3 hours ago, 8420PR said:

Yes, the Fantasia is a great price, and I doubt it will decrease.  Also with the 'stress free booking' conditions I see no risk in booking.  

 

The 3 day Preziosa cruise on 30th August is now a voyagers selection cruise.  The cost for an inside room is £44.22 (including DSC) and with €50 onboard credit per person.   Would be a very good deal if the sailing actually happens.  I'm fairly sure it is one of MSC's pricing anomaly's that pop up every now and then, and not any kind of change to their pricing strategy.  

I also notices this last night. Although i couldn't see that there was 50 Euro onboard spend with it. Which essentially means they pay me to cruise.

But, in the event the sailing is cancelled, and sadly i expect that it would be, i wouldn't get the on board spend back as FCC alongside the cruise price would i?

43 minutes ago, JP82 said:

Yep! Well just checked, and i think the upcharge to Fantastica was another £20pp. But still an amazing price for Grandiosa and the drinks package. Never done the Med in November, but if the weathers not in our favour on a ship like Grandiosa and with the Drinks package, just stay onboard and enjoy it!

I've done November a couple of times. Still decent weather but not quite good enough to sunbathe on deck during sail. However very few used the outdoor hot tubs on my last sailing meaning I had one all to myself. Windy, but sun was out and water was warm. 

19 minutes ago, JP82 said:

Ahh yeah, I did notice it had gone. As we had friends who wanted to join us too, but I couldn't see it, so assumed it was gone. Didn't realise it was still there but at a higher price... Interesting!!

 

We have an internal for the four night, but we booked Fantastica when it had the premium drinks included. If we do go with the extra 3 night sailing, I will switch us to a balcony.

You paid £189 with premium drinks included? That's amazing if so

1 hour ago, JP82 said:

I also have a £189 4 night Grandiosa Med in November, and am looking at adding the following 3 night £179 itinerary to Lisbon, to turn it into a 7 night. Love these little deals that MSC throw out. Just need to get on one now!

It works perfect date wise. Into Barcelona on the Wednesday and train down to Valencia to board Fantasia on the Thursday. Sadly though at £389pp that just isn't justifiable for a 4 night cruise. Well done on the £189 price

53 minutes ago, JP82 said:

I also have a £189 4 night Grandiosa Med in November, and am looking at adding the following 3 night £179 itinerary to Lisbon, to turn it into a 7 night. Love these little deals that MSC throw out. Just need to get on one now!

I had looked at the 3 night but I think it was all ports we're calling at in January so opted against it. 

I don't however remember seeing the 4 night one. That also is a great price. I wonder if I could tie it into fantasia. I shall look now. 

Dangerous times ahead 😂

2 hours ago, JP82 said:

I have been seeing cruises like that out of main seasons quite often. It's always been one of the things that interests me in MSC, as it seems a good way of doing an affordable cruise with them at a time when the other other big lines have no ships in Europe, ignoring lines like P&O and Costa...

 

I've seen similar types of length and price (sometimes higher but still pointedly low) on Splendida,  and Preziosa also. Preziosa has a £349 7 night Northern Europe in, which although more expensive that the mentioned Fantasia is still an amazing price for 7 days. And Splendid has a £349 6 night from Southampton next April which I would still consider.

 

I would like to see more of these type of deals on Meraviglia or Seaside class though. Although that might not be good for my bank balance. 

Indeed my view too. But even the first of the class of these ships seem to have been holding prices. Fingers crossed that January out of Miami become the first price drops we see. Here's hoping

2 hours ago, JP82 said:

 

I'm strongly considering that Preziosa sailing, I had the exact same itinerary booked for April this year with a bunch of mates, but obviously that got cancelled. I just wonder if August 30th is still too much of a risk!?? So many question marks over things these days!

its what stopped me from booking the 3 night @ £69. August seems a little too close to chance. If however they begin sailing in July, and we still see those prices, or better, I will find it very difficult not to book. But as you say above. Not great on the bank balance lol

2 hours ago, 8420PR said:

I don't think we are seeing the start of discounting just yet - my guess is it will come when cruising restarts and MSC know what ships are sailing and what their bookings look like (potentially compared to the new capacity). 

 

I would say your Fantasia example is the normal price, for a shoulder season cruise with different start and end ports, where in previous years I've booked these types of sailings for GBP30 to GBP45 a night (without DSC being included though).  It's still a big bargain though, especially now DSC is included in the fare for UK customers.  I tend to look out for these types of sailings.

 

The current cheapest I can see is a 3 night cruise on Preziosa for GBP69 (GBP 23 per night including DSC) from Hamburg to Southampton on 30th August.  I'm very tempted to book, but will wait until I at least see Preziosa heading towards Europe.

Interestingly i'd seen the Preziosa cruise and was going to book that until i'd checked a little further afield and found Fantasia. Also i had more faith that a cruise in November would actually depart over the cruise in August.

I'm certainly very pleased with my Fantasia price, and hoping on a guarantee inside the upgrade fairy will pay a visit.

9 hours ago, shipgeeks said:

What date in January?

All the January dates I see are $360 or $389; you are correct, that does not include port fees and taxes.  And mine automatically comes up (on my TA's website) with my best discount, which on those sailings is a teacher discount.

Those are also inside prices, but I see $465, $557, and $908 for higher categories.

Good luck; we loved Seaside!

Yes i am very interested in doing seaside. 

We arrive into Miami on 29/01/21 so we have the option of the Seaside departing on the 30/01 or Meraviglia on 31/01

Seaside currently shows as £549 Port Fees & Gratuities all in

Meraviglia currently Shows as £499 Port Fees & Gratuities all in

My Partner prefers the Seaside itinerary and so we aim to go for that one. Although I've done that route before. But i chose the repo cruise so only fair he gets his choice too.

I'm hoping those prices come down as we get closer to sail date but even at those prices, they're probably better value than booking on a US site and paying the add ons.

If we don't get to do the second cruise then so be it. We'll have a tour around South Florida for a week until our return flight home on the 07/02/21. We are back in Florida end of May so we can easily add a Seaside cruise in there.

1 hour ago, shipgeeks said:

Here in the US, I see both Armonia and Seaside starting at under $300 for 7 nights.  I can't wait to book again!

For seaside that is amazing. I'm on a 23 night Divina repo cruise in Jan and i want to catch the seaside departing the following day. If i could get a $300 seaside cruise id be happy. But i'm assuming that's not including port taxes or gratuities? The Fantasia cruise includes both. all in for £239pp

Are we starting to see a few signs of some very low priced cruises? 

This is sailing 19/11/20.

Thanks for the advice guys. 

I decided to pay a little more, board 4 days early and book on the basis of an inside guarantee. Hoping the upgrade fairy looks down on me favourably again. 

Hi Guys

I'm booking the MSC Divina on a repo cruise for January next year. Which in your opinions would be the best cabin to choose our of these numbers

8197

11180

11274. this looks an odd shape compared to the others. Is this larger or smaller than the other 3?

13176

I know they are inside Bella rooms and that's fine. We will make use of the Upgrade system at a later date as current balcony prices are rocketing.

Thank you.

Stu