GadgetRick

Just making sure I understand.......this is a family vacation set up by yourself or a family member..... Were you aware of the dress code prior to booking? There are cruiselines, (NCL) that do allows shorts in the MDR in the evening. All but 2 of their restaurants allow shorts.

 

Seems to me wanting the cruise line to change their policy to accomodate that request would be the equivalent of being able to ask them to go to the Western Caribbean instead of the Eastern, because it is what you prefer. You'd probably get the same answer from them.

 

When I sail NCL, and I do, I expect to see shorts and find it acceptable. But when I sail other lines where shorts are verbotten, I applaud when I see someone turned away from the MDR for being underdressed.

 

Just my 2 cents. However, I am thinking of going to McD's tonight and asking them to put a table cloth on the table and a candle and perhaps a flower arrangement, because that is what I like and am use to. (Removing tongue from cheek.)

Ugh, are you just TRYING to argue? I never said--and reiterated, btw--I expect them to change the dress code. I was wondering when the Internet trolls would show up to this discussion.

I agree! There is a suggested dress code for a reason. I wouldn't wear shorts to dinner in my mother's dining room, much less in any nice restaurant and I think the same is expected in the MDR. There is the buffet for those who prefer to dress more casually on gala nights. But I think the guidelines should be respected.

Nobody is saying we're going to ignore the guidelines. We're saying, in an environment like this, the guidelines (for any cruise line I've been on) is a bit much. Living in a hot climate, getting dressed up with long pants, jacket, etc. is uncomfortable and, honestly, kinda gross (because it's so hot/humid many of us tend to sweat). This is why, in warmer climates like here in FL and in the Caribbean, dress codes take the heat into consideration.

I'm fortunate to own a business and I rarely wear long pants here in FL. Obviously, I'll have to wear long pants if I intend on dining in the MDR but it would be nice if I didn't have to as I think it's a bit much. I also don't tend to go on vacation and want to actually get dressed up. Some people like it--and that's cool for them as well--but I've just never cared to on vacation.

Sure, there's an alternative--the buffet--but, someone may want to enjoy a sit-down meal with their family rather than at the buffet.

This business of dressing up like this is a leftover from like the 50s/60s. Cruiselines have been stuck in those decades for many things forever. Honestly, it's one reason I don't tend to select a cruise as my vacation. Each cruise we've done has been someone else's idea. This cruise is a family vacation of sorts. Wasn't my choice. But, just trying to make the best of it and was just asking about the dress code. I understand your point of view.

I have to wear business attire every day at work. I understand cruise lines having dress codes but at the end of the day I value comfort on vacation more than anything. so long as folks are presentable I have a low bar for attire.

 

that said, set the bar too low and folks will go barefoot on airlines. and clip their nails. ruins the experience for others.

 

I love the discount cruise lines too, where things are more relaxed. I say play by the rules of the vendor you select.

 

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Obviously, we don't have a choice but to play by their rules... ;)

Hopefully, you will, too! I can understand your fears, though, with the problems you're having.

 

Personally speaking, I've never encountered anything similar. But we can't book online in Ireland so I've either booked direct or thru' a TA. I can say that I've done 16 cruises on MSC ships with 4 more booked. I think that illustrates how much I enjoy sailing MSC. That's not to say that I haven't had problems. However, just look at the forums for other cruiselines and you'll find people have issues there, too.

 

I hope you get sorted soon so that you can look forward to your trip with peace of mind.

Thanks. It seems, once you're on the ship, things seem much better. So I'm hopeful. :)

Just don't want to be put in a bad mood right when I get there, kinda kills the excitement of going on vacation (holiday for the Europeans).

I think you've misunderstood GR's response. He said "I will, for sure" to evandbob's "I hope the OP posts how his check in at the port went". He just meant that he, too, likes to hear how things turn out so he intends to come back and let us know how he gets on.

Exactly. I will keep everyone posted (pun intended) on how it all goes. Just want to enjoy the trip.:)

I hope the OP posts how his check in at the port went after he returns. Always nice to hear the followup.

 

I started to use the web site tonight to book a Seaside cruise and the site kept getting hung up. I did receive 2 emails asking if I would want to continue the booking, but I'll phone tomorrow and see how that process goes.

I will for sure. I'm with you, I like to hear how things work out in the end (or don't).

Regarding the website problems getting so much attention, Ronald Reagan used to say that with all this manure, there must be a pony here somewhere! Meaning I can't wait to see what MSC comes up with as a replacement. But for what it's worth I was able to purchase options on MSCUSA (WiFi, laundry package) and check in online last year with minor hiccups. Regarding travel agents, I don't think 2017 makes them obsolete. Look, I'm an early adopter who's owned every model iPhone since the debut opening weekend in 2007, and I've never set foot in a branch of the bank I've used since 2004. But my travel agent got me things I never knew existed and arranged deals that I didn't have the leverage to get myself. For example he got us into an over the top hotel suite on a high floor in Miami where I got to watch Divina arrive in the early light the morning of our embarkation. I found out it's the most sought after suite in the hotel, and he already reserved it for us next year. Onboard our agent got us suites not available to the public and arranged for us to share the same butler. Elon Musk is warning us about the future robot uprising but I can't see how travel agents will ever be replaced.

Not sure if you're trying to say MSC doesn't have problems with their system because you experienced no problems or not.

As far as travel agents go, I didn't say they can't be helpful, my point is, they are not needed in this day and age. Sure, a good TA may have some relationships and may be able to get you a few of the things you received, however, But, you are talking about an exception, not the rule with your TA. Not all of them can (or will) go to the extent yours did to make you happy. That's great. But, they are not needed in order to book travel and have a smooth trip (no pun intended) today.

And, again, those of us who have experienced the problems we're talking about would STILL have the problems we've had since these problems are on the MSC side and is their technology problems. As I've said, the TA may be able to hide some of these problems from the public (not a bad thing for us) but they wouldn't make these problems go away.

I'm not here trying to convince you--or anyone else--NOT to use a TA, I just have no need for one.

sorry,but I don't even get what problem you have? what you want to do? Just print your documents you must have them or cal land ask them to mail it to you.

Apparently, you didn't read my posts. Maybe you should clear your cookies?

Now you sound like you work for MSC. I can tell you wholeheartedly that one day I pull up the booking and it is completely fine and then the next day it's gone. If you aren't having issues, great - very glad to hear that. But many are and MSC needs to figure it out. Nothing to do with my cookies.

Exactly.

This sounds like the person I spoke with from the PR department who argued with me to tell me nobody is having problems and everyone is making stuff up.

Clear your cookies...smh...

I'm crossing my fingers we don't have issues at the port. Everyone seems to say, once onboard, it's a good experience. So I'm hoping.

We got Silver status but I'm already getting a military discount--one of the good/easy things they offer--and that's more than the 5% discount for Silver. I guess I get a drink and some fruit or something in addition.

The lack of customer service and the issues they have had with their technology is a culture issue in the company. They must build the correct culture from the top down and they don't seem to have that happening. It's sad, especially since they're trying to break into the NA market. They seem to be modeling themselves after how Comcast does business. That's not a good thing.

Anyway, I'll keep my fingers crossed...

So, I received a call from someone after my email to a higher-up guy the previous day. Guy was nice enough. Wasn't very happy with how he basically tried to say people aren't having problems after I explained about the people I've come into contact online who've said they've had the same exact problems.

Anyway, he gave me his cell phone number in case I have any issues when we go to check in. Not much more I can ask for at this point. I'm just hoping I don't have any issues and, if I do have issues, just hoping this is actually his cell number. ;)

Thanks to Capitalbarry, getting some movement. They have finally sent me my matching status for Voyagers Club (got Silver--better than nothing). Still working on the other issues.

It's a shame you have to jump through hoops to get them to do their jobs over there. I'd really like to get excited about this cruise. It's sort of a birthday gift for me as well as a family cruise.

The advice I have had from others on here who have gone through the experience and the MSC agents is to run everything off and take it with you.

 

The other thing I have decided to do is to not pre pay anything. I will take cash in the from of my credit union debit card and use that. I will not allow them close to my regular accounts.

I print everything every time but, from what I'm experiencing--and have read about--it doesn't seem as though it will matter much. It's like the Keystone cops over there...

I have had the same problems plus. I has started another thread about a month ago asking for help. I had to get through three agents just to get what I wanted. When I had problems I asked to speak to a supervisor and they keep saying that a supervisor will return my call and never does. They also changed my confirmed rear facing cabin and then changed it. They said I had done it on line myself. When I contacted another agent he said it was impossible for me to change it on line. He did find another rear facing cabin for me and I check it almost daily to make sure it has not been changed again. The next two and a half months will be miserable until I get on the ship.

Ugh. I really just have this sinking feeling of what I'm going to experience once I get to Miami...

More fun from the knuckleheads running the show at MSC...

Tried to call them this morning to speak with Customer Service and try to sort things out. What a joke. Have to call their normal number, wait on hold to get someone so you can ask for Customer Service (you get a booking agent first). Then, have to wait on hold for Customer Service. How about giving us the option to go there DIRECTLY??

I get lady 1 on the phone, explaining the problems I'm having and my concerns. She tells me--like everyone else has over the past 6+ months--everything is fine on their end. I tried to explain the problems I was having, etc. She puts me on hold and....I get disconnected. Ugh...

Call back, wait on hold, get the booking agent. The guy tries to tell me Customer Service doesn't deal with you unless you've sailed. I (politely as possible) explain to him I was just on the phone with them and was disconnected. He still wants to argue with me. I (not as politely this time) ask him to please put me through to Customer Service. So he finally does.

Wait on hold. Get told everything is fine, blah blah blah. I ask to speak with a supervisor. I get put on hold, she comes back and says she's transferring me to her supervisor...and I get VM. Of course, I left a VM but have heard nothing from them. That was almost 6 hours ago.

Honestly, I have no idea what they've got going on. I really want to get excited about this trip but I just know (in my heart), I'm going to get to Miami and there will be problems and I'll be standing there in the port trying to argue with them. I've already wasted HOURS of my time trying to sort things out. I'm totally frustrated at this point...

If I weren't 2 weeks out, I'd insist on a full refund and book with another cruise line who seems to actually care (at least a little) about their passengers. But, it's too close and we have family coming in from out of town for this.

Don't bother with online check in - never done it and never spent more then 5 minutes on the check in counter.

 

As with all other cruise lines, you can enroll kids to the kids club once you board.

 

The website sucks but the good news is there is is absolutly nothing that is mandatory to be done via the website.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

 

 

 

 

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I understand all of this, my concern is--and it's backed by others' experiences--if they can't get the most basic of things like this down, what happens when I show up? It seems many others have experienced problems upon checkin. The last thing I want to do is go on a vacation with a sour taste but I've already got that thanks to their (lack of) technology prowess.

If they want to make inroads here in the US, they need to get their act together.

Hi Rick,

 

Oh yes MSC has GREAT problems, but great ships.. I had more than a few HUGE problems with them, but always got resolved. However usually with great pressure. I have personal contact info on many people form MSC from top to down to reservation. If you want the right people to talk to contact me..

Thanks. I'd love to have the contact info on the people there. Trying to figure out how to PM you here.

Hi Rick,

 

Believe me, I did not mean to be impertinent and I am not a travel agent...but I have to say that I have never been without my TA. My TA and I have been through thirty years of cruising and crossings...with the same TA.

 

He has straightened out things for me while I have been out on the pier and when I have been out in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean...and now he is communicating with MSC when others are lost at sea, so to say. I am sure you will resolve most of your issues in time and I hope you will have an enjoyable cruise...but there are other ways to explore that might save you a lot of time and aggravation. Sometimes it is simply the matter of one phone call to the right place at the right time to the right person and that can only be done by someone who has already been there.

Sometimes, yes, however, as evidenced by the number of people who have complained about the same things--and by what the people on the phone at MSC have told me--a TA isn't going to do anything to fix this. This is an MSC issue, not a lack of TA issue.

A TA might help mask some of the issues but not all of them. And, at the end of the day, there are still issues. It's totally unacceptable for these things to continue to happen. I understand, things happen from time to time, but this seems to be a trend with them.

At the end of the day, I'm having a horrible experience with MSC so far. If I weren't 2 weeks out, I'd be canceling and changing to another line. It's ridiculous for these problems to persist with a company who has openly said they are trying to gain US market share.

Well said. A professional travel agent would be the ones making the phone calls for their clients. Dealing with the Online Check-In issues and e-Docs. Plus even doing the Status Match. Good agents know how to get things done by going to the right people.

 

Still will never understand why people put themselves through hell when agents services are free plus give you a better deal. And if your agent doesn't do all the above for you if you ask, you need to find a new agent. As an agent, I do this on a nearly regular basis so I know the frustration. But that is my job...to make it the best vacation experience possible for the client.

 

Enough of my rant for today. ;p

 

Bret

No offense but, most of us don't need an agent. It's 2017, not 1985 and the Internet is a wonderful place. As much as I travel--as many cruises as I've been on--I've never had this experience (and have never used a travel agent). Also, a travel agent wouldn't be able to help the issues for the people at check-in. I just know (in my heart), no matter what, I'll have issues when I get to the port.

A travel agent won't solve the problems MSC is having, it may hide some of them from the public but it won't fix them. If MSC wants to succeed here, they need to get this worked out.

 

Now if we can just get them to correct our Loyalty Match Status...ugh...I have sent it several times online and by email and it still shows us as Welcome status members. I'll be calling again tomorrow.

Yeah, this is another thing I'm still trying to get sorted out.

Had a similar problem, for some reason they did not have my son's birthday and that stalled everything. Finally called them and they manually entered the missing data and I was able to access the e-ticket but we were already travelling and could not upload a photo etc. We showed up without the e-ticket and after some back and forth they manually entered everything and we boarded.

Exactly what I'm afraid of. They couldn't even complete everything on the phone.

Am I going to need photos of our sons (14 and 11)? Never had to do this before--they didn't mention it on the phone.

I'm dreading showing up.

For a company who is trying to get bigger here, they sure seem to be dropping the ball...

So we booked a cruise with MSC months ago--like 6+. Originally, we were cruising in December for a pre-Christmas cruise with the family, unfortunately, plans changed and we moved it up to August (leaving in 2 weeks). I mention this because we've been trying to access our booking on their website for months and have been unable to. They keep telling us it's a problem with their website and they'll fix it and to check back. I'm now on hold with them about this (again) after doing this about once a month since then.

They can't seem to get their act together on the IT side. It's ridiculous to be quite honest. But, ok, I should be able to check in on the phone--annoying but, well, it's a solution. But no, can't do that either. They are having issues on their end even trying to check ME in.

Was able to (sort of) check in one of our cabins but, when I try to print the tickets and register our son for their kids club, it tells me all info hasn't been filled in (when I filled in EVERYTHING they asked for). When I click on that error, it just takes me back to the summary page with no info on what I need to put in.

Honestly, if I weren't 2 weeks out, I'd cancel and go with someone else. I'd go into more detail but it's so frustrating. I've wasted hours of my time over the past 6ish months trying to deal with this. I really believe I'm going to show up in the port in Miami and they are going to have some problem and I'll spend a long time trying to straighten it out.

For a company who is trying to make a splash here in the US, the first impression I have of them is about as bad as it can get. Each of the people on the phone I've talked about have also told me they have been dealing with these kinds of problems for months and they keep asking for it to be fixed. I get the impression this is a MAJOR issue with them. I really don't understand.

So, instead of being excited to go away, I'm dreading showing up in the port just KNOWING there will be a problem. Not to mention, I'm not even able to get checked in yet! I'm in total disbelief of how bad they are.

You'll be alright. Been on the ship twice and formal for me is khakis and a polo. A few nights we chose the buffet because it is easier to have an actual spacious, quiet sea view and quite good food, relaxed, no dressing up. You would be surprised. The ship has a resort casual feel to it. Don't sweat it.

Thanks a bunch!

Short answer is yes, yes, and yes lol. They have this big deal about shorts at dinner, even though they allow jeans. As far as the formal night, khakis and a button down should be ok. Other people will be there reliving the prom from 1965 but they'll let you eat still. Honestly, unless someone in your party just loves the idea, I would just skip the formal night and go to the buffet. It's less crowded and still good food. Finally, I dreaded the formal nights too. So did my wife. So I can relate. Enjoy the cruise though, it's fun

Thanks. I've always thought that was funny on other cruise lines--ok to wear jeans but shorts, no. Cruises are stuck in the 1950s as far as this dress code and their shows (for the most part although they've been getting a little better at times). That's why I hate sea days on a cruise. But, I power through and have a good time either way. :)

I agree with you and feel the same way living in Miami. My girlfriend loves dressing up so she didn't mind. As for me, I don't dress up much so I made the effort of wearing pants and collard shirts/button downs. The dress was pretty lax in the MDR. If you consider it just don't wear shorts an you'll be good. I would suggest in 100% over the buffet any day. The food and service is worth the effort for me.

Thanks. Honestly, I'm looking at the menu and, well, I'm a bit of a picky eater so it won't kill me not to eat there every night. Plus, it's a long dinner. :)