MSC honors HAL status?

[DaveOKC]

I read somewhere that MSC will honor the status level of other cruise lines. Has anyone tried this with HAL Mariner levels and if so, what was the conversion (i.e. 4 Star to ? on MSC)?

[CineGraphic]

Simple answer yes. The details are on MSC’s website

 

 

Sent from my iPhone while I probably should be working.

[sail7seas]

Why do they recognize days sailed on another cruise line? Why would they do that?

[Langoustine]

To encourage high-status cruisers on other lines to try MSC without having to start over again at the bottom. It's a smart move.

[bUU]

It isn't uncommon for a new entrant into a market to undersell competitors. This is a version of that. MSC is just starting to build their NA business.

 

The details are on their website, and there are details that may make their offer seem more expected to you.

 

This message may have been drafted using voice recognition. Please forgive any typos.

Edited May 27, 2018 by bUU

[sail7seas]

MSC has been around a while

 

I have seen t heir ships in Port Everglades

Edited May 27, 2018 by sail7seas

[Hlitner]

MSC will give 4 or 5 Star Mariners (HAL) Black Card match.

 

Hank

[CineGraphic]

MSC has huge plans for the US market, with many new ships in the works. I’m sure the folks at Carnival Corp are watching closely.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone while I probably should be working.

[VennDiagram]

MSC will give 4 or 5 Star Mariners (HAL) Black Card match.

 

Hank

 

Thank you :)

[DaveOKC]

MSC will give 4 or 5 Star Mariners (HAL) Black Card match.

 

Hank

 

 

THANKS Hank!! That is exactly what I wanted to know!! My friends are thinking of a cruise on MSC next year sometime, so I might just join them.

[sail7seas]

To encourage high-status cruisers on other lines to try MSC without having to start over again at the bottom. It's a smart move.

 

 

 

IMO, it remains to be seen how smart the move

[sail7seas]

THANKS Hank!! That is exactly what I wanted to know!! My friends are thinking of a cruise on MSC next year sometime, so I might just join them.

 

 

Has any one here, sailed them recently? I re call Brian (bepsf) sailed them ago and was displeased.

I have not seen any posts from him in a long time.

[DaveOKC]

Has any one here, sailed them recently? I re call Brian (bepsf) sailed them ago and was displeased.

I have not seen any posts from him in a long time.

 

The limited research I have done so far indicates that their Yacht Club class of cabins is a very good experience for the price. Not sure of the regular class though.

[SilvertoGold]

A smart marketing idea on MSC's part.

 

However, and there is always a "however": no complimentary laundry, 50% off wine packages/specialty restaurant meals/Explorations Cafe.

 

Only one complimentary Pinnacle-equivalent dinner, but a Welcome Back cocktail, Spumante and chocolate dipped strawberries, chocolate ship and a dance class are the main extras over HAL offerings, from what I can see, for us.

 

Certainly a plus for those at certain HAL levels for trying MSC.

[sppunk]

MSC is trying to build is niche, it’s a smart move.

 

That said HAL and MSC are about as opposite lines as you can get. MSC is a unique beast, in good and bad ways.

[sail7seas]

I should compare the cost for solo in Yacht Club class vs. what I pay as solo in Neptune Suite. :) And waht is p;rovided in each.

[SilvertoGold]

Has any one here, sailed them recently? I re call Brian (bepsf) sailed them ago and was displeased.

I have not seen any posts from him in a long time.

 

 

We talked to one very experienced cruiser on our last cruise and he disliked MSC. He took two cruises "to give them a chance". His verdict was: cabins too small, food "terrible", ship crowded, too many kids, all music too loud. He's more of a HAL cruiser, I guess.

[sail7seas]

Sounds, good, yah, but who am I kidding? I'm not running to MSC. :D

[Sir PMP]

To encourage high-status cruisers on other lines to try MSC without having to start over again at the bottom. It's a smart move.

 

Yes, if you like 3 to 4 thousand passengers....

[sail7seas]

We talked to one very experienced cruiser on our last cruise and he disliked MSC. He took two cruises "to give them a chance". His verdict was: cabins too small, food "terrible", ship crowded, too many kids, all music too loud. He's more of a HAL cruiser, I guess.

 

Thank you, very helpful post.

 

Small cabins, ugh, LOUD music, groan, crowded ship,,,,,,,,, Nope, not fro me. :D

[Hlitner]

A smart marketing idea on MSC's part.

 

However, and there is always a "however": no complimentary laundry, 50% off wine packages/specialty restaurant meals/Explorations Cafe.

 

Only one complimentary Pinnacle-equivalent dinner, but a Welcome Back cocktail, Spumante and chocolate dipped strawberries, chocolate ship and a dance class are the main extras over HAL offerings, from what I can see, for us.

 

Certainly a plus for those at certain HAL levels for trying MSC.

 

You need to consider that each cruise line has their own package of benefits. For example, when we take a longer Princess cruise DW and I each receive 500 complementary internet minutes while on HAL we only get a small discount on their overpriced internet packages. On MSC, getting the Black Card (or a lesser card) match got us an immediate 5% discount. Since we had booked a longer cruiser in the Yacht Club that 5% amounted to over $500 (which would pay for a lot of laundry). And in the Yacht Club we do not need HAL's 50% off wine packages (mediocre wines at best) as in the Yacht Club we get a very comprehensive package with unlimited drinks and wine.

 

You might also consider that to get that internet discount on HAL we had to cruise more than 500 nights with the line :). On Princess, we get hundreds of free minutes per cruise with far less days needed to qualify. And if we go on RCI or Celebrity we would get 2 hours of free cocktail hour every night whereas on HAL we get no free cocktails. My point is that each line is different but MSC's current match program is quite unique.

 

We are in the upper echelon of frequent cruiser benefits on quite a few cruise lines and HAL's program would probably rank third (in our estimation) in terms of benefits. The big negative with HAL's program is the lack of free Internet minutes. Consider that on our most recent Princess cruise DW and I got 1000 combined Internet minutes which is worth hundreds of dollars on HAL. And yes, Princess also gives us free unlimited laundry and also some free dry cleaning.

 

Hank

[jkrislc]

I sailed with MSC on the Miraviglia and status matched to Black, their highest level. Keep in mind, though, that they will only stayss match you once and that you must sail every three years to maintain your status.

 

Generally, we enjoyed the experience and the MDR . The buffet became redundant day after day and other choices for food were extremely limited. And although we were booked on this ship for July to Norway, but switched to the Koningsdam. We just didn't think the variety of food and entertainment would satisfy is over a 14 night cruise. We also found the crew helpful, but customer service lacking.

[SilvertoGold]

You need to consider that each cruise line has their own package of benefits. For example, when we take a longer Princess cruise DW and I each receive 500 complementary internet minutes while on HAL we only get a small discount on their overpriced internet packages. On MSC, getting the Black Card (or a lesser card) match got us an immediate 5% discount. Since we had booked a longer cruiser in the Yacht Club that 5% amounted to over $500 (which would pay for a lot of laundry). And in the Yacht Club we do not need HAL's 50% off wine packages (mediocre wines at best) as in the Yacht Club we get a very comprehensive package with unlimited drinks and wine.

 

You might also consider that to get that internet discount on HAL we had to cruise more than 500 nights with the line :). On Princess, we get hundreds of free minutes per cruise with far less days needed to qualify. And if we go on RCI or Celebrity we would get 2 hours of free cocktail hour every night whereas on HAL we get no free cocktails. My point is that each line is different but MSC's current match program is quite unique.

 

We are in the upper echelon of frequent cruiser benefits on quite a few cruise lines and HAL's program would probably rank third (in our estimation) in terms of benefits. The big negative with HAL's program is the lack of free Internet minutes. Consider that on our most recent Princess cruise DW and I got 1000 combined Internet minutes which is worth hundreds of dollars on HAL. And yes, Princess also gives us free unlimited laundry and also some free dry cleaning.

 

Hank

 

Thank you for the long discourse, Hank. The 5% discount is, of course, significant.

 

I was writing from my own perspective, my own circumstance and view, as you are as well.

[Homosassa]

I have sailed the MSC Divina twice. We did not do status match as we wanted to try the new line as someone walking onto the ship without special privileges. Would we be treated as second class citizens and relegated to long lines at Guest Services and tender ports as rude exalted high status guests jump the lines and push us aside because it was their privilege (i.e.; Carnival) ?

 

We booked Bella, the no frills category of MSC's booking categories. We loved the first cruise. Yes, the ship was large, but the entertainment was top notch. There was constant activities offered by the cruise staff throughout the day (Trivia, other games), even on port days. The buffet area was amazing in its variety if one wasn't afraid to eat outside their limited home food niche. The main dining room was geared to leisurely dinners enjoying the company of one's table mates. We loved the international composition of the passengers and crew.

 

We returned for a second cruise a year later and found that MSC had listened to the complaints of the American entry line cruise lines passengers and had "Americanized" the experience. The MDR was now geared to the gobble and go crowd. There were more tweaks that brought the overall experience in line with the expectations of the Carnival, NCL and Royal Caribbean crowd.

 

We spoke often to an officer who had started to seek us out with questions each day. We met him because he was making the rounds in the buffet at lunch asking the passengers about their cruise and if there were any comments. We had been on the ship for several days at that point and had noticed the difference between our first cruise and the one we were then on. After talking about the changes, he asked our cruise history (how long, what lines) and when he found out that we had a long history of cruising with various lines, he started seeking us out each day with questions that came up during the daily meetings ship management had about the cruise.

 

In any case, he did admit MSC had changed things to please the complaints they were hearing from many of the US passengers. However, things were in flux and could be changed again.

 

He admitted that MSC was not targeting passengers from HAL, Princess and Celebrity as it was felt that those cruisers were happy with their overall cruise experience and were not looking for a change.

 

He did tell us if we wanted the "true" MSC experience, we should cruise with them in Europe or on ships that cruise from other Caribbean ports (not Miami).

 

My daughter and her husband who had cruise with us on MSC the first time, did cruise with MSC in Europe and loved it. For comparison, she enjoys HAL, enjoyed Royal Caribbean before they changed their targeted market and cruise experience (before the early 2000s), dislikes Carnival and NCL, and is looking forward to our first Viking Oceans cruise.

 

So, I can not tell you what the current state of MSC cruises are when cruising out of Miami. I am not interested enough to personally find out based on our last Miami based cruise.

[frankc98376]

I spoke to people on our last cruise that had sailed in MSC Yacht Club. They had very positive feedbsck.

 

There was a separate entrance at the terminal for Yacht Club. They were met at the curb by a Butler. Their luggage was taken away and the Butler escorted them into the terminal and checked them in.

 

Butler then escorted them onto the ship and to their stateroom. They said their luggage arrived about two minutes later.

 

They said that Butlers were available to escort them to restaurants or shows and make sure they were happy with seating.

 

There were two Crow's Nest type areas forward on two decks. One was Yacht Club Lounge- the other Yacht Club restaurant.

 

Overall they were very impressed with food and service (at least in Yacht Club) and said the high level of service continued through disembarkation.