chrisgalwv

On 5/9/2020 at 2:46 PM, GatorMomInNC said:

I just called my TA again but I didn't ask her to call MSC again yet - I will wait until Monday or Tuesday.  She said they are seeing things take up to 3 mos.   It is very frustrating because I want to book a new cruise for next year - I am holding off on rebooking all of my flights and everything until I book the cruise.

 

To give you a DIFFERENT customer service experience, Southwest Airlines just called ME to find out if I still intend to travel over Memorial Day weekend since my flight was changed.  I told them that I as going to visit relatives who are self quarantining because they are in their 60s and I'm pretty sure they don't want us to come up there after a plane trip.  They refunded me the money I had paid for early bird; rebanked my points I had used on my son's flight; issued me a travel voucher for my flight (I had used a travel voucher that would have expired in September, they extended it for 2 years).  Also, they have extended my companion pass for another 6 mos.  

Because SWA is a stand up company, who knows what they're doing, who values and treats customers as they should, UNLIKE this train wreck of a cruise line. Refund promised in 30 days, then 60, then absolutely by May 20 (via email).

Today is the 81st day I've been off that boat and still NOTHING. 

On 5/11/2020 at 10:21 AM, rbtcpa said:

I agree completely and have had a very similar experience.

They charged me a cancellation fee of 90% I paid and got no refund or future credit even after the cruise was cancelled by them! - they keep changing the terminology - future cruise credit - cruise assurance program - what does it all mean? Very confusing.

Now they want me to fill out a cruise assurance form, which I have already done at least twice.

I am a senior citizen and would apreciate some advice as to what I should do.

Thanks for your time

At this point, your best bet is to contact your credit card company and fight it that way. I have lost all hope in ever getting the truth from anyone affiliated with this cruise line. I have been told 4 different times frames for refund, and none have been true. Now they say May 20. At midnight that night, my patience runs out. Have already spoken with a lawyer friend who is ready to proceed. Thank goodness I have the letter stating "full refund within 30 days". If I were you, I'd give up on speaking to anyone at MSC. They either don't know the answer, or they will make up one just to get you off the phone. Just go with your credit card company, file a complaint, and eventually they will refund your money. Then let them go after MSC for reimbursement. Sorry I can't be of more assistance.

On 4/26/2020 at 12:53 AM, Caledonia Boy said:

As far as this experience has been frustrating, I can't agree with your statements about being treated badly. We actually were treated very well by the staff. I have been on 21 cruises with Celebrity and Princess being my favourites. I have experienced a lot of really good and not so good when cruising. This wasn't the best we have been on but it was far from the worst. Our Waiter, Assistant Waiter and our Room Stewart were absolutely wonderful. They tried really hard and we tipped them above what they took off us daily because they earned it. It wasn't their fault that we couldn't get off the boat. 

 

I thought it was a beautiful ship. Truth be told, I would love to do the same cruise again if I could actually get off the boat. For the price point, it is very value appropriate. With a balcony room and a drink package, Princess and Celebrity are 50% - 100% more. Remember, you get what you pay for. You're shouldn't expect to get a $2,500 experience when you pay $500. 

 

My only complaint is that they aren't living up to what they said that they would do. We have a letter that says that we would get the "Cruise Only" portion back within 30 days and I am not getting a straight answer out of the land based people that I have dealt with. That is the disappointment.  

 

Take care and stay safe

Caledonia boy

Quote

I disagree a bit. I wasn't treated as well on this ship as on American cruise lines. That being said it was mostly mistreatment from other cruise passengers than the staff. I'm just not a fan of this cruise line. This was my second try, and I think I'll stick to the fun on Carnival or Royal Caribbean. I don't go on a cruise to pay an outrageous amount for people to treat me well. I go on a cruise for what I feel is a reasonable amount to have fun. Someone who paid $500 shouldn't be treated like a second class citizen just because someone else paid $5000. Just my opinion. I just want my money back so I can book another cruise to salvage this one that was RUINED. I'm beginning to wonder if that is ever going to happen 😞

Still nothing here. I also booked direct on the MSC/USA website. The last lady I was able to get through to on the telephone told me this particular cruise was being refunded at the "home" office in Italy and my account was being worked on. She said give it 60 days from debark which would be May 1st. That"s the day my patience runs out, I hire an Italian to translate and I start calling Italy. I don't even get responses to emails anymore, and the only thing I ever really got was the generic standard reply. The customer service (or lack of) of this company is the biggest downfall for them. . Both on land and at sea. I've said it before and I'll say it again. We were the FIRST cruise that had any problems, and we should have been the FIRST to be refunded. There is ZERO excuse for this. If I ever do get the refund, I'll pass it along, but I am not holding my breath at this point. MSC has been nothing but a letdown from day one, I don't expect this to be any different. I was an idiot to trust them a second time, never again.

I've seen all kinds of people refunded for cruises they didn't even go on. Most of that info is on the MSC Facebook groups. Join those.

STILL NO REFUND, and I am beyond annoyed. My boat sailed on 2/23, the very first "coronacruise". There are zero excuses why others have been refunded (for trips they didn't even go on) and I have yet to receive even a phone call, much less a refund.

Gross lack of customer service to say the least. I did find out my refund is being handled in Italy which is the DUMBEST thing Ive heard yet. They have until May 2nd, that's double the time they said it would be....then I'm done messing around.

They asked to have until May 1 to refund my money. For some reason a cruise I booked in WV is being refunded by an office in Italy. STUPID. I booked in the US, refund in the US. At 8am on May 2, I hire a lawyer and it will cost them WAY more than the $700 they owe me. This is ridiculous. Treated like ***** on the boat by all their rude ass employees and guests (I boarded in Miami, USA therefore I'm not the second class citizen they acted like I was) and treated even worse by the lack of customer service I have received since I stepped off that boat. Can"t even get an answer via email anymore, yet I'm having to make payments on a credit card that they cant seem to hit the refund button for. BEYOND ANNOYING. 

NEVER EVER EVER EVER AGAIN. EVER. IN THE HISTORY OF EVER will I give them another penny of my money. Should have known better to start with.

On 4/4/2020 at 8:00 PM, Nymich said:

You may want to ask on your roll call to hear what others are saying. That is what I am doing so we all know what is being said and done.  I asked the others to let us know and everyone seems to be willing to.

No posts there 😞

On 4/3/2020 at 8:43 PM, sfaaa said:

Current refund time for mass market cruise lines are 60-90 days. Not trying to make excuses for MSC but that's the situation everyone is facing right now.

We were told before we ever left the ship about 6743 times we would be fully refunded within 30 days. I'm not retying what I've already typed 100 times, but there is Z E R O reason for anyone to have been refunded before us. We were the very first cruise affected, yet people who didn't even board their ship have already been fully refunded? I call BS.

On 4/3/2020 at 3:21 PM, DCGuy64 said:

I'm sorry you haven't seen your refund yet. I can't tell from your post, but what specifically did MSC say in regards to how long your refund would take? I felt so bad for you guys on the Meraviglia when I saw this on the news about being denied port entry (unfairly, based on what I read-seems it was more fear-based than fact). My wife and I sailed that ship last December and loved it. I hope you get your money soon!

We were told full refund in 30 days. I understand that there might be a slight delay, what I don't understand is other people already getting refunds that didn't even board their ship. Theses people already have their money back, and didn't even incur any travel expenses.  We were the first affected, so why were we not the first refunded? As I said before, fool me once, shame on you....fool me twice, shame on me. NEVER AGAIN.

56 minutes ago, Shocked91 said:

We were on the Grandiosa March 12th.

Good luck to you! I'll update if I ever get mine. At this point, I think its pretty much hopeless. Mine should have been being worked on before I ever stepped foot off the ship 😞

For all waiting for MSC refunds..... I was on the first cruise affected by COVID-19, the Meraviglia that sailed from MIami on 2/23/2020. The original 'coronacruise" that was all over the news for being turned away from all ports except Cozumel where we sat and waited 16 hours for clearance.

I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED A REFUND. It's been a month and a week and still nothing. I have called 3 times and emailed more times than I can count, and get nothing but the runaround every time. I'm reading on here of people who have already been refunded for cruises they never even got to go on, yet here I am, one of the first and most affected and have gotten Z E R O money back or any help at all. Seriously considering getting legal representation at this point. 

Our first MSC cruise on the Divina was awful, and we swore we'd never go again. Cold food, terrible service, a rude room steward who never spoke to us, a much less took time to learn our names, a store employee who referred to us as cheap Americans. When MSC practically begged us for a second chance, we caved and booked this cruise, and this is the thanks we get. NEVER AGAIN. NEVER EVER IN THE HISTORY OF EVER WILL I STEP FOOT ON AN MSC SHIP AGAIN. E V E R.

Anyone else onboard having the same issue with these refunds? I'm looking for others who may want to join the fight. This is ridiculous.

36 minutes ago, Shocked91 said:

Still waiting for our refund.Could take up to 8 weeks.

 Are you saying you still havent received the refund from the Meraviglia, or just a refund in general?

We were told 30 days while we were still on board. I just don't understand why they have already refunded people who didn't even sail before those of us who actually incurred travel expenses! Its just beyond me??!!

For all waiting for MSC refunds..... I was on the first cruise affected by COVID-19, the Meraviglia that sailed on 2/23/2020. The original 'coronacruise" that was turned away from all ports except Cozumel where we sat and waited 16 hours for clearance.

I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED A REFUND. It's been a month and a week and still nothing. I have called 3 times and emailed more times than I can count, and get nothing but the runaround every time. I'm reading on here of people who have already been refunded for cruises they never even got to go on, yet here I am, one of the first and most affected and have gotten Z E R O money back or any help at all. Seriously considering getting legal representation at this point. 

Our first MSC cruise on the Divina was awful, and we swore we'd never go again. Cold food, terrible service, a rude room steward who never spoke to us, a much less took time to learn our names, a store employee who referred to us as cheap Americans. When MSC practically begged us for a second chance, we caved and booked this cruise, and this is the thanks we get. NEVER AGAIN. NEVER EVER IN THE HISTORY OF EVER WILL I STEP FOOT ON AN MSC SHIP AGAIN. E V E R.

Anyone else onboard having the same issue with these refunds? I'm looking for others who may want to join the fight. This is ridiculous.