chobo2

Hi

I booked a guaranteed inside suite for about $944 USD for 2 People Total plus hotel fee. I have now been offered to bid for an upgrade and am a bit confused by it. If I say bid on something higher (like a balcony) and bid $1000 will I now be paying $1944 USD or does my inside suite purchase get refunded?

I would think I would be paying the total of both, but when looking at the bidding values, I'm just not seeing much value if this is the case. I just checked for me to book a Deluxe Balcony on my ship with choice of room would be around $1945 total for 2 people.

The lowest bid I can do for deluxe balcony is $965 total for 2 people. If I add my original cost plus this bid cost what is rated of "poor" chance of getting I would pay total $1909 so $35 less but to get an "excellent" shot of getting it I would need to do $1,125 total which would end up $124 more than I would have paid.

Only thing that might seem like a deal is they have a MSC Yacht Clue Interior Suite with a "Strong" bid of about $2,000 so plus my $944 is would be about $3,000 to book the "suite" would be $4,700. 

Though I am not sure if they are even the same thing as the picture of going through the booking looks like it is a balcony and large room. The one that I would bid for looks like my guaranteed inside suite from the pictures yet costs $2,000 more.

Am I missing something?

Hi

I booked a cruise with MSC but forgot to mention that it will be our honeymoon / 5-year wedding anniversary (yes, thanks to covid this is possible.....we never got a honeymoon).

Anyway, do they do anything if you ask? I know on Holland they gave us a little cake and did some stuff in our cabin when we went and said it was a speical occasion.

Just trying to see if it is worth calling back in specially for this. I may have to call back and do final payment as I cannot get into my online account as it never sends me the code to my email. Been about 5 hours so far.

10 hours ago, Tierun said:

Answers to your questions are in blue. Please if you book use the status of what ever cruise line or hotel chain that you have the highest status with for MSC’s status match program. It’ll get you a discount of a minimum 5%.

So Nassau is an actual town in the Bahamas that you would go look around and do stuff in?

I am still confused by Fantastica as it states

1 free cruise change**
Opportunity to choose the cabin and its location
Breakfast in cabin (free delivery)
Specialty restaurants package,
exclusive pre cruise offer available up to 2 days prior to embarkation

So what does that mean then with the Specialty restaurants package?

Yes I seen some places as an option not to book with drink package but I still would like the wifi, that is what is nice about NCL and most other you can pick and choose what you want and don't want.

So on their private beach is there any drinks you can get if you don't have the drink package without paying?

What is the cost of a drink usually $10USD? 

Also what do you mean they are a bit "peculiar company to work with".

I only have basic status on all other cruise lines as I only gone on 2 cruises total

Hi

I am looking at MSC cruises but hearing mixed things about it. I been on Holland America and NCL and loved both of them. 

I am looking at a cruise that would be on the "MSC MERAVIGLIA" and I got some questions of what is included and not included.

I see it has things like bowling allies, some rope walk and think a water slide. Is that all extra costs?

When going through the booking you can upgrade to some "Fantastica" package what includes "Specialty restaurants package exclusive pre cruise offer.".  Yet it does not tell me what it means. Is it like NCL where you get a couple times to go into the Specialty restaurants free of charge?

Two ports of call is Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve Bahamas and Nassue Bahamas.

I am not sure if these are like private beaches for the cruise line but how does it work? Is food there included or do you have to go back to the ship or pay? If you got the drinks package do you get drinks included? If you don't have the drinks package are there some basic drinks like juice and water?

I trying to figure out how that all works.

On the drinks package, I seen some offers that include it, yet it doubles the price of the cruise. I know on NCL I could deselect that but it won't let me on MSC. Is that no possible?

Finally I am not sure if this is a thing or if it is on all cruise lines but I remember I could book on NCL website and then move my booking to say Costco travel later and get their bonuses and the bonuses from NCL. Can that be still done?

As others are saying, I got an email saying my refund has been processed after 70 days. I of course won't consider it closed until I see it back on my CC.

1 hour ago, walinton85 said:

Full refund received to my credit card on Friday from NCL. Delighted and relieved. 

When did you request for your refund?

2 minutes ago, CarolinaMamma said:

There is another thread on here with a spreadsheet tracking refunds.  So far, it looks like the only refunds of paid-in-full, NCL-cancelled cruises are for Pride of America sailings. 
 

For some reason, people who requested refunds on deposits before final payment are getting refunds more quickly. 

Can you link to it, I am not seeing it.

39 minutes ago, podgeandrodge said:

 

 

Probably comes down to personal circumstances.  I went for the refund, but mainly because my wife didn't want to take the risk of NCL getting out of this alive (ironically her view could ultimately lead to that!).  If you plan on cruising again and expect NCL to get through this (and they seem to have secured sufficient funding to do so), then the FCC is probably fair.  While I understand the "it's my money, they shouldn't hold onto it", I suppose there is a bit of "if I let them hold onto it, at least they will be around for future cruises!".  

 

I did hear reasons like "$x is too much money for us not to get refunded, we have bills to pay etc" which made me wonder how these funds were needed - if they had gone on the original cruise those monies would be gone (and more including spending).

Yeah they probably would have spent more but they also probably would have been coming back to a job and even paid through vacation pay. Many people found themselves without a job and guess no emergency fund (which is on them...) and those thousands tied up could be put to good use.

Both me and my wife lost our jobs but had some money set aside and with cutting back were able to pay all our bills. I still requested a refund and rather have it sooner rather than later once the money is in my hands there is no more risk (no matter how small or large).

We also took the refund because none of the stuff they offered blew us away. We looked at the same trip we were to do and money wise it was actually more expensive but if you added all the perks in then it sort of broke even though most of the perks we don't care for (like open bar).

I rather wait till next year and evaluate our options maybe it will be a cruse maybe it will be something totally different what ever gets us the most bang for our buck.

On a side note anyone who requested a refund in April get it yet?

12 minutes ago, adamnoone said:

I just got off the phone with Citi, I opened a dispute. They agreed I have waited long enough for a refund (requested refund as soon as for was available 3-23) and posted a conditional credit. Who know whether Ill win it or not, but figured with todays headlines I wanted to get a dispute on the books just in case.

hmm Citi seems to be alot more accommodating then Capital One, I guess I can try phoning in and hope the phone support is better, I have not waited as long as you though so it may not be long enough.

8 minutes ago, chris1 said:

If anyone here has any money with Norwegian- like a future cruise, credits, etc that can be refunded, do it NOW.  You can always book again but if they file C11 good luck getting anything.  The difference between today and tomorrow on potentially getting a refund matters.  

Not sure if really matters if they go bankrupt, I requested it as soon as I could but they gave a time frame what gets me into mid July which who knows maybe way to late.

2 minutes ago, Dave0311 said:

Customers who have deposits with NCL are an example of unsecured creditors. A secured creditor has collateral (like a cruise ship) to back up their money that is being held by NCL. If NCL goes into bankruptcy, secured creditors are first in line to get paid back as much as possible. An unsecured creditor does not have any collateral and thus only has a chance to get their money back in bankruptcy after the secured creditors collect their collateral. Shareholders generally are the last to get repaid, if at all.

Yeah, this is what I am thinking if they go bankrupt my money is pretty much lost, that is why I was trying to do a charge back but the online support was not having it, even I mentioned they stated they may go bankrupt in a few months but the supports stance was "they have offered you a solution by eventually refunding you so there is nothing you can do"

6 minutes ago, jbcallender said:

Can you say "Unsecured Creditor"?

I am not sure what you mean?

Has anyone gotten a refund back who requested it? I requested it the first day I could April 16th.

I chatted online with a Capital one Rep and they said since they are going to issue a refund, I cannot do a charge back even if they said it will take 90 days to get the money back. Also the purchase well over the 119 days. 

So I guess I am screwed if they go bankrupt.

I am thinking of getting a cash refund. Do me and my wife have to send in a refund request in separately? 

1 minute ago, YVRBassElectric said:

I am in the second batch of cancellations, so can't access the form until 13th. I am leaning to FCC, hubby to refund

Right, this does not necessarily have to be a cabin decision one person can get cash and the other FCC.

2 minutes ago, ColeThornton said:

 

 

I guess but to me it's just people saying "to hell with it, I don't care at this point".    No biggie though.  I'm just having a boring quarantine day with no sports and no beer.   🙂

Lol,  yeah, I can add  "I Don't Care" lol

though I don't see any edit button.

Just now, YVRBassElectric said:

We haven't decided - we can't until April 13. 

Will probably take refund & travel inside Canada for the year or so after all Public Health Emergency orders are lifted

Yeah got till the 13th, but I think most people will have made up their mind long before there, Like unless some super deal is released (ie getting 2 cruises for the price of 1) then it is cash for me.

I am burning through all my vacation right now to keep my status as "employed" so I won't have a vacation anymore this year. 

6 minutes ago, ColeThornton said:

You should add "no preference" to the poll.

I can add that but won't that almost just default you adding FCC?

Hey

I know almost every second post is about getting refunds but I would like to see it in a poll.  I personally leaning towards taking the Cash refund as I looked at my same cruise that would happen in 2021 and basically at the current prices posted, it roughly comes out to the same price as what I paid for my cruise. 

I personally rather just wait to see what all the cruise lines have to offer once this is all over and then decide where we are going to cruise. 

3 hours ago, seaman11 said:

today i got Future cruise credit, however it seems i only got half, (they may split it between passengers?)  how do i access the other half? and the bonus says i cant use it for taxs and port fees?  very confusing.  smh 

I got it as well and yeah it seems split up for me as well. I also tried to run through a book but did not see the 20% off. I am still thinking it is a wash at these current prices so I probably will request a refund.

I however now am not clear if I have to request it twice(once for me and once for my wife)?

Still don't see anything in my account. 

10 minutes ago, adam_s_allen said:

 

If you don't see it here it just hasn't shown up yet. My sailing that was cancelled was among the first batch of cancelled cruises and I think it did take around 10 days to show up.

If I booked through a Travel Agent I still will see it here right? I guess I have to wait though they did say April 1st.

I can't see it in my NCL account either, from my understanding FCC should be in our accounts today.

I even tried to book a cruise and it did not say anything about applying FCC or the 20% discount.

2 hours ago, cruisinmeme said:

 

 

After 25 cruises i think i am done.  We sailed march 8th and it was our worse one to date.  Fearing what was unfolding as i checked the news daily. Worrying we would possibly be denied getting off the ship. So many on our cruise had spent time in New Orleans before the trip.

what sorta hit me was while in Roatán we watched from our balcony as an ambulance picked up one of our passengers. I thought to myself i never want to be in a hospital in any of the places we go. Call me stupid for thinking or worrying about this but i am not interested in that at all. Then we hear about  security guard with a face mask on outside a cabin. I saw with my own eyes crew in O’Sheehan’s and Moderno cough in their hand and continue on. We walked out of Moderno for this reason.

maybe i will rethink cruising but i think i will just be happy to do trips in the good ole USA from here on out.

Well 25 cruises is a lot maybe time to do something different. To be fair though I think anytime around that time was not a great time to travel.  My wife was coming back from Asia around that time and had to transit through South Korea (10 hour layover), she was freaked out as at that time South Korea was spiking in cases and she was worried she would catch it and maybe they would not let her back into the country (ie close the borders).

Sadly what you describe is pretty much common place. Don't think the restaurants you go to at home have staff that practice great hand washing techniques or practice general good health.

Heck your not even safe in grocery stores, I seen so many times little kids going to bulk bins taking out candy putting it in their mouths and putting it back while the parents watch, heck even when this virus starting up in my city I saw a mother give an apple in the grocery store, the little kid puts it to their mouth and then the mother puts it back.........

I worked in companies were some of the higher ups came to our office, and I happen to be in the bathroom at the same time and they go in and pee and walk out without washing there hands and go shake 10 peoples hands as they are walking into a meeting.

1 minute ago, pentiumvi said:

 

Curious as well. I assume the 20% discount is on the base cruise fare.

 

But what about the FCC, can it only be applied to the cruise fare as well? Or can it be used to cover taxes, gratuities, service charges and whatnot?

Yeah, guess maybe on the 1st will see how much we get from the FFC. Right now I am treating both only on the cruise fair. I looked at 2021 April Hawaiian cruse and it's current price and then compared it to my current(now cancelled) April Hawaiian curse and it is pretty much a wash. 

The 2021 cruise is about $2000 CAD more than my current one, but if you count the free airfare which I did not get (though I going to now have a flight credit to use up.), $100 OBC they throw in, the 25% FFC and the 20% off and I am basically looking at a wash.

I probably will go for the full refund, at least gives us an option to decide what kind of vacation we do next year. I would have no problem going on a cruise again and I think NCL will be around next year so it is not that I am scared of them going bankrupt. 

Here I am committing to go to Hawaii next year but maybe next year cruses in the Caribbean will be cheaper or maybe we will want to go somewhere else. Plus since we are basically getting it at what we paid for now, I bet we can get a similar deal in the future.

With this FCC and 20% discount is that on only the non tax portion?

Just now, YVRBassElectric said:

Similar situation:

I live in Vancouver, supposed to sail from LA to Vancouver on April 19. Our border is closed, the ports are closed, our airlines have stopped flying internationally, there is no way the cruise is going ahead! I will wait until April 16 and then cancel under "peace of mind". We do have a September cruise booked and I hope to transfer FCC to that cruise - fingers crossed that one goes ahead

Exactly, got lots of time, I am sure you already made peace that you are not going on that cruise (as I have with mine) and no point stressing over it now and no point even thinking about your September one, the situation can change 100 times between now and then might as well also wait till the last minute to go(either you will go or you won't, but it is out of your hands now).

The only thing I am a little bit worried about is my Air Canada flight, I know they will allow me to cancel my flight that is not a issue but more with the flight credit that they seem to be only offering.

First I read it was good till end of this year, now I see since I booked before March 2020, it will be good till march 2021. Of course like most people I am not crazy about getting a credit (I rather they give the choice you can have a cash refund, or a credit with extra perks) but what is really getting me is these expiry dates.

They really should be making these expiry dates like 5 years or something, it can be hard to get a vacation request going for some people and when you got to plan multiple credits it will be even harder.