CruiseLand

6 hours ago, Mark_T said:

Glad it isn't an issue for you, but we all need to remember it is the end of the cruise that counts, not the start or the booking date, unless you book a world cruise.

 

"MSC Voyagers Club Membership is subject to a minimum of one cruise every three
years. If the last cruise disembarkation date is over 3 years (36 months) or no cruise
has been completed in 3 years after the enrolment date, membership to the
MSC Voyagers Club programme will expire.
For example: if the last disembarkation date is 30.01.2015 and no cruises are completed
by 30.01.2018, the membership will expire.
If the registration date is 30.01.2015 and no cruises are completed by 30.01.2018, the
membership will expire."

I did contact them to extend also so it is good to go. Thank you for your concern about my status.

17 hours ago, carlmm said:

Two weeks ago, yes, we got all you mentioned.

Well, not Champagne but something sparkling, macarons, free meal, a gift and a nice party with talkative officers. Priority emarkation and debarkation, too.

Thank you for the info. 

8 hours ago, coscab said:

We sailed Meravegia in Nov. 2022, got everything but gift, do you remember what it was?

 

It was a bag which I don't really care about. Not sure why I asked about that LOL It was late last night when I posted. 

10 hours ago, Morgsmom said:

Since you indicate that you haven't cruised in a while, have you confirmed that you still have Diamond Status?  It was extended due to the pandemic, but....

Yes, I did get the confirmation to extend. However, my status will not expire until September, even without an extension it should still be active since I book the cruise before it expires. Thank you for asking though.

Didn't cruise with MSC for a while. Booked my 3 days cruise From Port Canaveral for this September. I am Diamond Status. Do we still get 1 free taste menu, Champaign +sweet treat, Party and some gift? or do they get rid of all those perks? Who went on recently please help.

RCI did not answer any complain on Facebook anymore. They ignore it. They think this will go away in a few days. 

I would prefer my original perks for my Boardwalk Balcony because I will use the Soda packages and JR meals for 4. I see why people that book Central park Balcony want to get OBC instead because the valued of the perks were less. We paid more for Boardwalk Balcony for the perks over the Central park Balcony. At that time of booking, Central park Balcony is $100 pp cheaper than Boardwalk Balcony.

6 minutes ago, crusinpeg said:

Cannot find anything about this on Facebook. I am probably looking in the wrong place. Where on Facebook can I go to voice my complaint?

Under the picture of Coco Cay on RCI Facebook, you will see "write a post" that is where you can post and it will pop up on visitor post on the right hand side under the bar that said "book now and message". HTH

59 minutes ago, Oxo said:

I have been CRUISING MSC since 2006. We are Black Card.  We cruised MSC 3 times in 1 year booked at the same time. On thre first cruise we got 2 meals free. On the next cruise 1. We were told they changed the perks. You are satisfied with 1 meal. I would rather have my 2. Different strokes for different folks. Loosing battle.

Like they say in Jamaica, poo poo happens.  LOL

Of course I like 2 meals, however it is free so one is ok. It is totally different situation than what royal Caribbean did, The perks MSC gave is free to the members not something we pay for it. We paid for the room that suppose to come with the perks. 

8 minutes ago, Oxo said:

Do we honestly believe that RCI is the only cruise line that is cutting back on perks? 

We cruise Celebrity,  MSC,  NCL, Princess and RCI. They are all cutting back. 

Does that make it right? NO!

Should you stop cruising that line? 

That is your choice. 

In the past 2 years we have seen cut backs on all lines. They all know what they can do to cut back and what we will do. They know we can do nothing to stop the cut backs.

Examples:

Celebrity free in cabin movies. 

MSC Black card free Specialty Restaurant meal from 1/BC member to 1/cabin.

NCL charging for a Shrimp Cocktail when it was free with dining pkg.

I'm sure there are more examples. 

However,  we still cruise and you will,  too.

Happy Cruising! 

You are correct most cruise cut back. However, at that time of booking stated that this perks include with the room. I am talking about written on the page that we book the cruise. I just want what I paid and promised at the time I booked.

I just started to sail MSC also and I think they are ok except how they handle when the hurricane come but it was acceptable. I actually ok with only one meal they give per room for black card. 

1 hour ago, tinkertwo said:

What response did you get?  I'm wondering if your wording was the same as my original response.

This was the response (word by word).

Me: OK I have 2 booking with RCI one with Symphony which will be in 24 days and Oasis of the Seas in August 2020. Just find down that my Oasis room perk will be removed. Why? I booked when it was included and that is one of the reason we book this room Boardwalk Balcony for the Soda package. I need your explanations. 

RCI: I'm very sorry for any disappointment this has caused,  We're always re-evaluating our offerings and after reviewing feedback from our guests, we’ve made the decision to discontinue this program. Many guests weren’t even using the features, as they have other items they selected that overlapped with the few benefits. Since you booked this stateroom on Oasis before we made this announcement today, we'll be issuing you a $50.00 onboard credit as a gesture of goodwill. -Yami

Me: The soda package for 2 people is around $140 and not even include other perks we supposed to receive burgers meal for 4 at JR and rock climbing wall session. This is false advertisement. Wow $50 not even enough to pay for one Soda package.

RCI: I understand where you're coming from. Please know it wasn't our intention to make you feel this way.

Me: This room cost more than window view so I I were know that will not include perks I will just book Ocean view stateroom.

RCI: You can definitely change your stateroom. Please keep in mind, it'll be at the prevailing rate.

Me:  Funny when I booked the price of every staterooms was cheaper. If RCI can give me the price shown the date I booked then I will change. Why don't stop giving the perk today the announcement come out. At the time of booking, RCI offered the room with perks.

RCI: Unfortunately, we won't be honoring any previous rates. I'm really sorry about that.

2 minutes ago, tinkertwo said:

I sent a PM through their FB page and let them know how I felt.  The response I got back was less than stellar.  They used my name but everything else about the response was canned, it was obvious they just pasted on what they were telling everyone.  There was nothing personal about it and it was clear they didn't bother to read what I had written.  I thanked them for replying but said that it was plain they hadn't taken the time to read my message and I felt unimportant to RCL, that their response was a sad try.  They responded to this with an apology and an offer for an extra $50, which I excepted.  

If anyone does go through FB messaging I would be interested to see what your response is, wondering if it will be the same as mine.  

you get better response than me. I got nothing from them just $50 that they original offer.

31 minutes ago, Illbcruzn4life said:

I have just written also. I did not even receive the email about this. If I hadn't read it on here I wouldn't even have known.

 

Is their a link to a facebook page for RCI where I could also add my displeasure? I'm not good at facebook and when I went there I found a page about RCI but it was mostly things RCI posted and not pax.

 

TIA

Under the picture of Coco Cay on RCI Facebook, you will see "write a post" that is where you can post and it will pop up on visitor post on the right hand side under the bar that said "book now and message". HTH

10 hours ago, exm said:

An update for those (including myself) who were on the 8/24 Seaside sailing (that got stuck in Miami). Just received this email which I greatly appreciate from MSC:

 

"We hope you enjoyed your time aboard MSC Seaside! Due to Hurricane Dorian and the direction we received from the U.S. Coast Guard and other relevant authorities, we unfortunately had to miss our stop in Nassau and return to PortMiami a day early. While this was due to circumstances beyond our control and decisions were made based on the safety and security of our guests and crew, we do apologize for the last minute change.

We hope that you choose to sail with MSC Cruises again and are pleased to offer you a 25% discount – good for any ship in our fleet, on any sail date, and any category of stateroom, with no expiration date. When you’re ready to book your future cruise, please call 877-665-4655 and make sure to reference your booking number from your MSC Seaside cruise departing August 24, 2019. The 25% credit discount will then be applied to your new reservation. "

Please don't think good or bad. I just want your opinion since you were on the same sailing with me. Will you sail with MSC again? 

1 hour ago, Mattnvick said:

 

So you wanted it only in English and if you didnt speak English then to hell with you, you dont deserve to know and my kids need to sleep???

 

Is that what you are saying??? Cause it sure sounds like it. 

 

Wow. Unbelievable

 

Any sympathy i may have had just disappeared right there. With that attitude you probably shouldn't have even been on MSC -  an Italian cruise line - and it looks like you  didn't do your homework as any one who did knows the announcements are given in multiple languages. 

 

 

 

 

It was not about multiple languages. I was about repeat the same info from 8:30 pm to 11:30 pm. It said the same thing " We need you to sign the paper and leave the ship." over and over and over on the loop really loud all Thursday night inside and outside cabin. There is no new info given. 

1 hour ago, Mattnvick said:

 

Just curious do you consider Norwegian cheap (as in dollars)?

 

Having sailed with them i certainly do not. They were telling pax at 11pm on Saturday night when POM was already closed to come to the port next day at 9am to board their ship for a cruise.

 

Is that any better?

 

As i said every time each cruise line seems to handle it differently sometimes better sometimes worse.

 

There is no consistency with any major cruise line out there.

 

Thats a bigger issue in my mind than anything else.  You could pay a lot more money and be treated the same or worse. You could pay less and be treated better. Or it could all be the complete opposite.

 

Thats why im loyal to no one. 

 

 

I loyal to no one either. I only went with RCI and MSC so I don't know about NCL. I only saw from other cruiser post about their experience on The NCL Sky. I am Diamond to be Diamond plus with RCI. Do I like RCI yes very much. However, It is expensive to sail with RCI when add Disneyland trip with it. So I chose MSC for this trip because it was cheap. I sailed with MSC before on Bellissima for my Euro trip and it was great so I think why not MSC Seaside. I even took my In laws along with me 70+ years old. From strat until Thursday night we had no problem at all even though less food choice and music but we was ok with it because we love the port s of call and food in MDR. However, when situation like this happened MSC Seaside not handle it right as I described on my posts.

Tell the true, I do not know about this Alert codes info before and don't know where to look for. Thanks goodness for posting about this.

The facts is the fact and cannot be change. 

Whiskey alert was sent to the ship on Wednesday. Why don't let any passenger know? not all of us pay for expensive Internet. Most people on the ship don't even know there is a hurricane out there.

X-Ray alert sent on Thursday about 48 hours of possible port closing which means after 12 pm on Saturday. MSC Seaside docked at the port of Miami around 7 am on Friday and make any possible to kick all passengers out even though MSC Seaside knew that Ship can stayed in port until Saturday which was the day we all supposed to disembark. Even let people out on Saturday their is a time for the ship get out of the port. MSC should give the real information to customers. MSC Seaside did not tell the true and knew from beginning that the ship can stay at port until Saturday afternoon. Why MSC Seaside do that? Because MSC Seaside can get the new set of customers on the ship on Saturday without loosing the profit. MSC Seaside knew because of the storm and labor days weekend there were shortest of staffs so it was easier if many guests on the 8/24 already left the ship. That was I see and it is my opinion.

Whoever thinking of book the new cruise with MSC please think twice before you book it. It is cheap cruise but you definitely get for what you pay for or get less for what you pay for. It was not worth it for us.

Funny is the people are talking negative about the people complaining about MSC Seaside were not on this sailing but keep Blah Blah Blah .... talking negative about people that on that sailing complaining. After all this site is Cruise Critic, the place that cruisers can give their experiences and reviews of the cruises they took. It is not a cheer leading place. I guess it is fun to just come here to criticizing someone else that report their experience and think that you are better than someone else.

1 hour ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

While i'm sure this is just an innocent mistake, the above information is incorrect. Firstly, the port did enact condition XRay conditions on Thursday and extended them on Friday. Second, MSC changed their plans long before condition YANKEE was given. (thankfully).  

 

Here is, what I believe to be, the accurate timeline:

 

On Wednesday, August 28 Condition Whiskey was enacted. 

 

On Thursday, August 29th the POM did enact condition X-Ray. Note: This did not mean the port was closing. See below.

 

On Friday, August 30th, the POM extended condition X-Ray. See below

 

On Saturday, August 31st, the POM issued condition YANKEE. 

"MIAMI — Effective 12 p.m. Saturday, the Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP) set port condition Yankee for the Port of Fort Pierce, Port of Miami, Port Everglades and Port of Palm Beach due to the expectation of sustained gale force winds of generated by Hurricane Dorian that may arrive within 24 hours.

At Port Heavy Weather Condition Yankee, all vessels greater than 500 gross tons (GT) must depart the port unless the COTP has approved a request to remain in port.  Terminals and facilities must cease all cargo operations and secure handling equipment within the next 12 hours. Bulk liquid terminals must ensure all transfer hoses and loading arms are drained, flanged and secured."

 

Note: As of today, Sunday September 1st, the port is closed. 

 

Here are some references to support above; plus a great link to better understand what conditions mean if interested:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for this accurate information. So now I knew for sure that MSC Seaside Captain knew about the Whiskey alert on Wednesday but not let us know to prepare for this storm and the port is not close on Friday like they was given info to us. 

5 hours ago, Mattnvick said:

 

 

I can catergorically say had i been on the ship and MSC had given me 100 refund and private jet home i would be doing a happy dance.

 

However i am a realist and know that wouldnt happen.  

 

Having said that i can also categorically tell you had i  been on this sailing ,  had 6 days having fun but then  realised  that millions of people are about to get slammed by a major cat 4 hurricane and could lose everything, I would have happily slept on the airport floor if it meant i could get on a flight out of what is going to become a diaster zone and get home safely. 

 

 

Of course I feel bad about everyone will be effecting by this storm. Both in US my own country and other people on the islands. You was having fun and making fun of people on the Seaside that is not right. You are not on the ship so do you really know what happen? Why other cruise company can handle this better? I don't have an answer but I think the person like me and other 2000+ people would like to know. I don't care about refund just miss inform that we got is not acceptable. We do not purchase Internet so we do not know anything about storm until Thursday at 8:30 pm when the first time Captain decided to let everyone know that you need to get out of the ship. I am sure he knew about it before Thursday at 8:30 pm. They keep repeated the same information from 8:30 to 11:30 around the ship and inside the cabin really loud in 7 languages. The repeated info was to make sure you sign the paper to get out of the ship and they need it by midnight. The paper work delivered to us at 11:45 pm so we have 15 minutes to make decision and packing. We have 2 elderly 70+ years old and a young child to care for. For that shot period of time to get ready is a nightmare. If you looked at the paper from MSC you will see what they said. Basically we (MSC) knew you might cannot find any hotel, car rental or flight back home because of the holiday weekend and the storm but we (MSC) will dump you out anyway. It is not our(MSC) problem after you leave our(MSC) ship. it is your own problem to find whatever you need for your safety. MSC did not let people know or use their Internet until 11:30 pm after people said they need to book the hotel, change the flight or rent the car. Did this behavior acceptable for some company that said we are (their customers) one of their family members?

Funny was people that cheer leading for MSC were not on this sailing and just keep saying people that was on the ship complaining about it. 

18 minutes ago, Mattnvick said:

That's probably the most bang on thing  ive read on the thread. 

Only way that wouldnt be true is if MSC had said  "we are going to give everyone who sailed for 6 days 100% of your cruise fare back and a bathtub of booze we have left over and fly you all home on a personal jet." Even then i guarantee some one would say but what about the  unused fun pass money will i be credited for that as well. 😉

 

 

 

You can say that since you was not on the ship.

2 minutes ago, Mattnvick said:

Difference between a privately owned company and a company that has to answer to share holders.

 

No one forces you to sail with MSC you pay your money (usually many dollars cheaper) and you make your choice. Sometimes it works out well and sometimes it doesnt unfortunately. 

 

Next time you can cross them off your list and sail with a line that you prefer. Happy cruising. 

You are correct no one forced us to book MSC and definitely will be our last. We got scam for sure. 

3 minutes ago, exm said:

Ssm I assume you weren’t on the ship? Easy to write this criticizing us as passengers, instead of how MSC communicated on board. I got more information from here then from the Captain

Thank you. Well said here. Who were not on the ship should not criticizing but of cause they do. We were on the ship and we are not newbies on cruising. MSC does not handling this in the proper way. Please compare to Norwegian Sky that dock next to it. They do not kick people out like MSC Seaside. NCL Sky got the same info as MSC Seaside. MSC chose to do something benefit themself instead of their customers.