draver

I read a post dated in Nov. 2021 claiming that the policy may have changed to only allow either a $250 Veteran credit, or the $250 Stockholder credit on upcoming cruises.  I intend to call, but has anyone successfully had both applied for an upcoming cruise of 14 days or longer?    We have 3 cruises totaling 44 days, so $750 credits we would lose if this is true.  I suppose I could apply for the military and have my wife appply for the stockholder credits, but that might be chancy if they do intend to cut back on credits.

I did find that my status match was posted after a second email inquiry.  I suggest you keep pestering them until they get it done.

I have been having trouble also with MSC and their Status Match program.  Yesterday I called again and spoke to a rep for a while and was able to get an email address that would allow me to send in a screen capture and a photo of a sea pass from Celebrity with a request for a match.  I have Elite Plus on CCL, and now have two cruises booked with MSC, so the extra trouble should be worth it.  Here is the email address that I used.  I got a reply within an hour that it was received, so fingers crossed, maybe they'll actually get to work on it.  I included my name and booking number with the status images.

mscvoyagersclub@msccruisesusa.com

Good Luck,

I am booked on the Enchanted Princess sailing from Ft. Lauderdale on 4-3-21 to Rome for 21 days.

On 9-24 I received an email claiming my cruise was cancelled with no explanation.  I called in and support had no real info and did not even seem to be aware of the notice I got.  A few days before that, on 9-21 I got an email showing I was being comped for free internet and unlimited drink package for each of us in our cabin.  Today I checked my booking and my cabin number was changed to "Guaranteed" from my booked balcony a month or so back. 

I cannot find any info on the web of a formal announcement regarding this change, but would love to hear from any others who are on this sailing or know something about ***** is going on.

I’ve been on 5 different cruise lines and the only “Suggested” attire was suit or tux for men, dresses or similar level for ladies on formal nights.   I always take a tux, but that’s because I enjoy “Puttin’ On The Ritz”.

I'm not sure you understand the issue.  If I enroll in Voyager Club prior to Satus Match, I cannot get Status Match. 

I am being denied the perks that I should be eligible for on Status Match.  A review of the website seems to reflect a $50 per person ship credit, Free Room Service, 1 or 2 specialty dinners, priority boarding, tender and disembarkation among others.  I have these on the other cruise lines and MSC dangles that carrot, but then uses an unpublished loophole to take it back.  It leaves a bad taste in my mouth.  I now have had contact with 4 different personnel who are unable to find the web claim that I do not now qualify.  No one has been able to explain why the rule exists either.  Would you be happy about that?

Update to my Status Match issues:

I called again (9-14) and was told that there is a recent memo that the Voyager Club enrollment does NOT negate Status Match on MSC.  I submitted a request for the match to be applied  based on this information.  I'm inclined to cancel if they can't resolve this problem.  The new CS agent could not find the original rule but did find the new policy and said it would be noted in my account info.

To be continued...

I've booked my first MSC cruise (Meraviglia) for 14 days in Dec. and have a few questions for those with experience.

The prices for internet on the MSC For Me app show as $223 per person for two, "Browse" category devices for One Person (I find it odd that a distinction is made).  Is there any reason two people sharing a cabin cannot share this access? 

If anyone has used this and the next level of service "Browse & Stream" I would like to hear what the differences in speeds are generally.

SES is a company that is an internet provider for Royal Caribbean and Princess among others, and is the fastest WiFi I've seen at sea.  Does MSC have SES service on the Meraviglia or any ships in their fleet?  If not, does anyone know who the web provider on board might be? 

Is it possible to upgrade from Browse to Browse & Stream if the lower speeds of Browse are not adequate?

Edited to add:  Is it cheaper to book once on board your ship?  On some cruise lines waiting until the first full day can save 10-15% off of the prepaid rate.

2 hours ago, shipgeeks said:

draver,  As I understand it, Voyagers Club is what you will "belong" to once you have sailed with MSC and/or received your status match.  They are not really two separate things to apply for.

When we applied for status match, there was no confirmation at the time; some time later (couple of weeks, maybe) we received notification of our status.

Did you submit some sort of proof of your level with one of the other cruise lines?

Black and Diamond are the same thing.

I wouldn't be concerned.

Thanks for your comments, I appreciate your input.  I only became concerned when the agent today told me that the Voyager Club input disqualifies me from Status Match.  I did submit a photo of a Celebrity Sea Pass card which stated my Elite Plus status from 2018 with my first application.  I then sent in a screen grab of my account status from the Celebrity website in an email to the Club web address.

I can find several examples of the highest tier being Black in one instance and Diamond elsewhere.  Not particularly reassuring when they also say there are 5 levels and only depict 4. 

I'll post what feedback I get on Monday from my email, and call again on Tuesday if there has been no word.

I'm new to the MSC board, but a long time CruiseCritic member.  I have never sailed with MSC and a few days ago we booked a 14 day sailing for this coming December on the Meraviglea out of Miami.  Our sales agent told us to be sure and join the Voyager Club and also apply for the Status Match on the website.  The Status Match entry form is not easy to understand in some entries.  The block for "County" for instance is populated by your state when you enter the zip code. 

Anyway, once I felt like I had filled the form out, I submitted it, but nothing changed on the page.  No "Invalid Entry", flashing blank space, etc. you usually get from erroneous data in forms.  I could not tell if my application was complete, adequate, accurate, processed, etc. and there was no email followup from MSC.  After a few days I called and spoke with an agent.  I was told that because I had joined the Voyager Club first, I could not join and benefit from the Status Match offer.  I asked where I would find that rule, and she couldn't tell me.  I searched and found nothing.

I have been on about 50 or so cruises and have Elite Plus on Celebrity and Diamond and Diamond Plus on Princess and Royal Caribbean.  I mention this since I was expecting to be awarded "Black" on MSC.  Except one place on their site it's called Black, and another it's called Diamond. 

Anyone who can clarify my thinking on this, please respond before I cancel this cruise.

1 hour ago, JF - retired RRT said:

Easy Peasy...find the address to mail your DD214 to (Google is your friend) and it will be kept on file forever. Every time you book a cruise, the OBC will appear in your Credits in your Personalizer. Up to $250 depending on the length of the cruise.

As others noted, it's stackable, refundable and Princess is wonderful for recognizing our active, retired and just plain veterans.

I just uploaded a photo of my DD-214 and within an hour or so the credit ($250) appeared on my booking for a Sept. cruise.  I was told via email that it would also automatically be added to all future bookings, with the amount depending upon the length of cruise.  I have 3 cruises set so far, so I'm getting a total of $750 in the next year.  19, 14, and 16 days on the Regal & Crown ships.  Quite accommodating of them I think.

I'm booked on a 19 day Regal Princess cruise coming up.  The only option shown for advanced purchase has been the unlimited for $129 per device.  I'm trying to find out if it might be better to wait until I'm on the ship to buy either the 4 device bundle, or access for two single devices on board.  I am a Ruby level Princess passenger currently.

Has anyone recently compared the pricing for Medallion Net before and after boarding the ship?  Does Ruby status get a discount from either the single line or 4 line Net service purchased on the ship?

I recently went through this prior to my Sept. cruise from St. Petersburg.  We are planning to stay in a hotel for 4 nights before the cruise.  We need a Tourist Visa to even enter the country for any length stay and also to exit Russia.  Seems they have some pretty strict laws about who, how and when they allow visitors.  The process is a little involved, but not too big of a deal.  A few pages of background forms, passport photos, etc.  The biggest deal is with processing and mailing it runs about $300 and can take 4-5 weeks round trip.  You send your Passport and Visa forms to their embassy in Houston or D.C. then they send it back with the Visa.

I've never had my pocket picked in Rome, or been mugged in Nassau either.  Just lucky I guess.

2 hours ago, Cruiserkenn said:

Princess shore excursions in St. Petersburg were great, admittedly some years ago.  The tour guides were wonderful!  Especially wonderful sites were Peterhof Palace and also the Hermitage.  It was wonderful to not have to worry about tickets or communicating.  Take Princess tours or shore excursions.🙂⛴⚓️🌝🛳😊🚢🙂

I would do that except I'm arriving 4 days before my cruise begins.  I've booked a hotel in the center of town to do some sightseeing and shopping before the cruise.  I'm really looking forward to what will probably be my only visit to Russia.  I've read some interesting things about the attitudes there, but then I've never found the locals in France to be anything but hospitable for several visits.

2 hours ago, antsp said:

If you are travelling together, and together most of the time, just purchase one unlimited package, the other person can teather of you so you both have unlimited. You obviously need to be close to other  device to do this.  

If you have iPhones, you cannot tether from WiFi TO WiFi.  I understand some Android Samsung phones do have this capability though.

I'm going to St. Petersburg in Sept. and have been doing some research.  My understanding is that unless you are gong on a tour with an official guide, you are required to have a Russian Visa.  You may be asked for it at any time by officials and are subject to arrest without it.  The cost so far is running around $300 total and will take several weeks through the Russian Embassy to process.  I would check on this before getting off the ship and venturing out of the port area.

I'm sailing on the Regal 9-2-19 and have added 2 Unlimited packages to my booking at $129 each.  We're Ruby status and this is for a 19 day cruise, so I'm OK with the pricing.  I've heard that a 4 device Unlimited package for 15+ day cruises only costs $299 and I'd be interested in upgrading for $40 to that if possible.  I called in and was told that I "Should Be" able to upgrade once on board and just pay the difference on the ship.  I'm not sure if that's the way it will really work?  I'm concerned that I might not have that option available, which is no big deal, but I also wonder if I should just cancel the existing package and wait to see what the ship might offer?