JPMoore

Not only MSC but all cruise line can do it. Its not that often but happens. Main reason - you are party of 2 booked cabin for 4 people or you booked handicap cabin .

I'd thought both of those as a possibility, but nope! On paper it's a like for like move, but in reality it isn't.

Hi all,

I mentioned this as a side note in a previous thread of mine on status matching, but wondered if anyone had experience of MSC changing their given cabin number after booking?

I booked through Iglu in early February to cruise on MSC Divina's 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary on 04/11/2017. We were originally allocated a midships Deck 12 Inside Fantastica (12081...?), a location we asked for as previous experience of sickness warned me against a forward or aft cabin! This cabin showed on our MSC website booking information for nearly two months, until it was suddenly changed to an Inside Fantastica cabin on Deck 11... the furthest possible forward just behind the suites!

Having spoken to my TA, he thought this was quite strange and contacted MSC, who were only able to tell him that we had been moved for 'operational reasons', and advised to call back in a week or so. I did, and now all Inside cabins are sold out across all categories and so it seems that at this time a stateroom change isn't possible. Again, TA thought this was very strange as from his experience Inside's tend to be the last to sell, especially on a Caribbean itinerary. He suggested a possible large group booking.

Presently, we're in a bit of a limbo state where the TA has simply said to try contacting again in a few weeks time to see if anything has changed, but until then, I wondered if this seemed strange to anyone else? Whilst I know that MSC (as so most cruise lines) reserve the right to change the cabin number, the fact that this was done so suddenly without notification or communication seems a bit odd.

Update: after emailing MSC directly, I'm pleased to say that I've been matched to MSC Silver, with all associated benefits. The 5% discount has been applied to our invoice and is being sent to Iglu.

So far so good! No update regarding the mysterious cabin change...

I didn't realize there was a discount until months after booking, and was still able to receive it. Your TA should be able to arrange that for you.

Thanks! I've spoken to our TA and he advised emailing MSC's status people directly first - apparently they tend to prefer not having to go through the TA as middleman so a higher chance of success. We'll see...

Regarding the room change it's all a bit of a mystery. TA was told that we had been moved for 'operational reasons' but this could not be elaborated on any further. Adding to this mystery, all interior and outside cabins are now 'sold out' (which he believes to be extremely unlikely), so thinks that MSC may be reorganising/restructuring the cabins - and so our change may be temporary. Advised to check in a week or so - so again, watch this space!

Many thanks both. I'll get in touch with the TA to see what they can do, and also to query this room change - which definitely seems like a horizontal (even downward) change!

Hi all,

I apologise for adding to the countless threads regarding MSC's Status Match programme, but I just had a query regarding 'applying' it after you've already booked the cruise.

Partner and I have booked for our first MSC cruise (through Iglu, who were fantastic) on MSC Divina in November, and I have just realised that I am a Gold member of Cunard's World Club. What benefit is there to me contacting MSC about matching my Cunard status?

Also: in addition, I've just noticed that our cabin seems to have been changed from a midships Inside Fantastica cabin on Deck 12 to a forward Inside Fantastica cabin on Deck 11. Is this normal? We requested the original cabin as we preferred to be midships! The cruise has been booked since early February, and has only just changed on my MSC booking details page.