MSC Divina 10/2 MyVegas - No way to pay to upgrade to YC :(

[rubyone333]

Hello all, 

 

Like some of you on these boards, I saved up my MyVegas points to use on a free cruise and I scored one for a 10/2 Orlando cruise. No issues getting the room at all and was pleasantly surprised to find that I got a balcony.  I asked at the time if I could pay to upgrade to a YC but was told no.  I thought about it and called back, because why wouldn't MSC take my money? The second casino rep told me the same thing and that there was no way to upgrade to any other cabin. 

 

I haven't traveled in a very long time and am taking my adult daughter, a nurse, on this cruise as a reward for all her hard work (and after she has gotten COVID twice at work so far) during the pandemic. I know that there is an upgrade program for those who purchase a cruise, so at first I thought there would also be a way for me to upgrade the room I purchased as a voucher with my MyVegas points.  Again, why wouldn't MSC want to get some $$ from me?

 

Anyway, it's a dumb policy, and I just wanted to share this in case anyone else ran into this issue.

[Georgia_Peaches]

1 hour ago, rubyone333 said:

Hello all, 

 

Like some of you on these boards, I saved up my MyVegas points to use on a free cruise and I scored one for a 10/2 Orlando cruise. No issues getting the room at all and was pleasantly surprised to find that I got a balcony.  I asked at the time if I could pay to upgrade to a YC but was told no.  I thought about it and called back, because why wouldn't MSC take my money? The second casino rep told me the same thing and that there was no way to upgrade to any other cabin. 

 

I haven't traveled in a very long time and am taking my adult daughter, a nurse, on this cruise as a reward for all her hard work (and after she has gotten COVID twice at work so far) during the pandemic. I know that there is an upgrade program for those who purchase a cruise, so at first I thought there would also be a way for me to upgrade the room I purchased as a voucher with my MyVegas points.  Again, why wouldn't MSC want to get some $$ from me?

 

Anyway, it's a dumb policy, and I just wanted to share this in case anyone else ran into this issue.

I have no experience with the MyVegas rewards but my knee jerk reaction would be to circumvent the casino rep and either consult a TA or an MSC cruise consultant. Agree that it shouldn’t be so hard to give them your money. Sometimes the 3rd time is the charm. If you do call, come equipped knowing the going price of your current category as well as the current price of the YC so that you can fluidly pay the difference. Good luck!

Edited August 24, 2022 by Georgia_Peaches

[mscdivina2016]

11 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

 If you do call, come equipped knowing the going price of your current category as well as the current price of the YC so that you can fluidly pay the difference. Good luck!

That is not really going to work out for OP.

 

They will value the current cabin at a discounted rate. Probably 30% off.

 

You need to keep in mind that the free cruise does not come with "any" perks.  

Yacht club comes with everything so if op has a free week cruise, to buy into YC will cost them probably $4000

 

Even not buying into YC just to get the perks could cost more than just purchasing the cruise outright.

 

[Paphillyguy]

I have not idea how a MyVegas reward works but I know when sailing on a casino certificate for a free cruise, you definitely can upgrade to the Yacht Club from the room given and it is no where near $4,000 total  

[Hlitner]

While we cannot fault the OP for trying to get more for less, that is not always going to get you far with cruise lines and other travel venues.  Third Party casino companies contract with various entities such as cruise lines in order to offer rewards to their customers.  But they contract at big discounts, and the cruise line is willing to enter into these deals because they can fill more berths.  But there is little incentive for the cruise line to offer amenities and upgrades/upsells.  They take the contract money, provide the cabin, and move on.  If there are unsold YC suites they will try to sell them at the usual high YC prices to other folks who are booking though normal means.  The reality is that the YC usually sells out so there is no incentive for the cruise line to cut a deal.  Even if the YC has empty space near the cruise date, MSC simply opens up those suites to their usual upsell/bidding process.

 

Hank

[Georgia_Peaches]

2 hours ago, Hlitner said:

While we cannot fault the OP for trying to get more for less, that is not always going to get you far with cruise lines and other travel venues.  Third Party casino companies contract with various entities such as cruise lines in order to offer rewards to their customers.  But they contract at big discounts, and the cruise line is willing to enter into these deals because they can fill more berths.  But there is little incentive for the cruise line to offer amenities and upgrades/upsells.  They take the contract money, provide the cabin, and move on.  If there are unsold YC suites they will try to sell them at the usual high YC prices to other folks who are booking though normal means.  The reality is that the YC usually sells out so there is no incentive for the cruise line to cut a deal.  Even if the YC has empty space near the cruise date, MSC simply opens up those suites to their usual upsell/bidding process.

 

Hank

Makes sense but I  guess I just don’t understand where the more for less thing comes in if op is willing to pay. Wouldn’t MSc come out ahead?

[Nunagoras]

1 hour ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Makes sense but I  guess I just don’t understand where the more for less thing comes in if op is willing to pay. Wouldn’t MSc come out ahead?

That depends largely on a case by case scenario, but my best bet would to be a no. First of it all: Usually YC are the first rooms to sell out. Any remaining ones, usually out of a possible give up will be sold at regular prices or go to any bid process. Unique opportunity: If the cabin in question happens to be an accessible one. Surely those are larger, but also usually less desirable from a common passenger point of view. So: You can contact MSC of course... Good luck!...

[Hlitner]

2 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Makes sense but I  guess I just don’t understand where the more for less thing comes in if op is willing to pay. Wouldn’t MSc come out ahead?

If the OP wants to pay the full normal price for an available YC Suite than there is no issue.  But the OP obviously is looking for a YC Suite at a substantial discount!  As long as MSC can sell their OP Suites at the normal higher prices there is no incentive for them (MSC) to even discuss a deal (i.e. reduced price via an upsell).  

 

The name of the game for cruise lines is called "Yield Management."  What this means, in practice, is obtaining the highest possible payment per passenger day for each cabin/suite.  The trend (used by many cruise lines) to upsell bidding is carefully designed to maximize the payments per passenger day.  Many upsell bidding deals actually end up costing the customer as much or even more than if they had simply booked the cabin at the price that was available when they did their initial booking.

 

Cruise line "upsells" have become something akin to the "Sale" sign in many stores.  If I try to sell a garment for $100 Retail, many folks ignore the item.  But if I put a $200 price sticker on that item and than offer it for the "SALE" at 50% OFF,  folks run to buy that item.  Upsell bids are not much different.

 

Hank

[Georgia_Peaches]

19 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

If the OP wants to pay the full normal price for an available YC Suite than there is no issue.  But the OP obviously is looking for a YC Suite at a substantial discount!  As long as MSC can sell their OP Suites at the normal higher prices there is no incentive for them (MSC) to even discuss a deal (i.e. reduced price via an upsell).  

 

The name of the game for cruise lines is called "Yield Management."  What this means, in practice, is obtaining the highest possible payment per passenger day for each cabin/suite.  The trend (used by many cruise lines) to upsell bidding is carefully designed to maximize the payments per passenger day.  Many upsell bidding deals actually end up costing the customer as much or even more than if they had simply booked the cabin at the price that was available when they did their initial booking.

 

Cruise line "upsells" have become something akin to the "Sale" sign in many stores.  If I try to sell a garment for $100 Retail, many folks ignore the item.  But if I put a $200 price sticker on that item and than offer it for the "SALE" at 50% OFF,  folks run to buy that item.  Upsell bids are not much different.

 

Hank

I am always amazed by what I learn on CC.  Thanks for taking the time to explain!

[LatinaInTexas]

Numerous people from my Vegas group had reported they had no luck upgrading with the reward. On the other hand with the 30% off cruise reward you are able to book YC. Maybe look into that for your next cruise.

[eagletwo]

We sailed on the Divina last year in the YC, 3 of us in a very nice balcony suite. We asked the concierge if there were any upgrades available. They took about four hours to respond and told us we could upgrade to the Royal suite for $600 per night. 4 day cruise, I don’t think so. 

[Morgsmom]

On 8/24/2022 at 9:58 AM, Paphillyguy said:

I have not idea how a MyVegas reward works but I know when sailing on a casino certificate for a free cruise, you definitely can upgrade to the Yacht Club from the room given and it is no where near $4,000 total  

An MSC Cruise Certificate is not the same as the MyVegas ones.  

[Paphillyguy]

21 minutes ago, Morgsmom said:

An MSC Cruise Certificate is not the same as the MyVegas ones.  

That's what I assumed because it is a third party and the more I thought about it MyVegas slots are not for real money.  So it does not let the casino know how you actually bet in a casino.