The Batman

Thank you for your comments. I understood LadyLurkalots issue was she has not been told yet that her cruise has been cancelled and she is unable, as I was initially, to get anything in writing from either MSC or her Travel Agents. Travel Agents will only act upon instruction from the cruise company. As expected, MSC have managed this all wrong and are now struggling to cope with the problem they themselves have created. My comments to LadyLurkalot is to not try phoning anymore but use email which is future evidence of doing what she can to establish in the first instance if her cruise is actually going ahead. If not, seek her options, again in writing, so she can make an informed balanced decision. Not knowing is her concern if I have read her properly. Keep the correspondence calm and polite is paramount. Don’t let your frustration show. We all know MSC has done this for profit. Absolutely no doubt. That is good business sense. We would prolly do also if we were them. Sadly, it is the way they have done it and let fare paying passengers down that they should be extremely ashamed of. No integrity at all. I know some will choose an alternative cruise or cruise credit options. That is their prerogative, but me, I am taking the full refund (when it eventually arrives!) and have already booked an alternative with a cruise company who puts long term customer satisfaction before greed and a sporting event. Good luck Ladylurkalot, persistence pays.

please be aware of https://simpleflying.com/dubai-doha-world-cup-flights/ The Dubai-Doha Route Will Have Up To 48 Daily Flights During The World Cup Due to Doha hotel room availability, Dubai is going to be used significantly as a hub for additional hotel rooms and the airport and city are going to have football fans stopping over.

Dear LadyLurkalot (love the handle!) I am in the UK. I too had exactly the same responses from MSC and my TA. They are now suffering the consequences of their actions and unable to cope with the backlash. Only by sheer persistence with PlanetCruise, IGLU (PlanetCruise parent company) HQ Customer Services and MSC did I eventually get a written response. Telephone calls to MSC and PC don't work. Email and repeat emails, you have a permanent written record to take to ABTA and ATOL at a later date should you need to. I copied/pasted into this forum the key points as I knew MSC are been very liberal with telling everyone the truth they have put profit/greed before their paying customers. Try their email address customerservices@msccruises.co.uk and mscdirect@msccruises.co.uk. Put you email as "URGENT". I am reading the ships do not have the land based hotel restrictions on alcohol, so suspect the guests using the ships will be the ones who know they can drink to their hearts content. Also MSC wont restrict alcohol sales as this is all based on their profit. A powderkeg for drunken football fans from rival countries. The writing is on the wall!!! You can see the news reports already. The room costs are clearly shown on the internet so they are cashing in on the overnight stay, and revenue from alcohol will be a massive cash cow for them also. Hope to see you on any other reputable Cruise Companies ships who look after customers much better than MSC seem to have on this occasion. Good luck.