cruiseguyinorl

29 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

Is Seashore construction on schedule? I'm thinking of skipping 2021 and jumping right to 2022 cruises. 

Still on schedule to be in the US as planned. Can't speak as to sailings prior.

Bret

18 hours ago, Nymich said:

I had heard from a source that Seaside was leaving Miami and I posted here two weeks ago and got two responses saying not true.

Seaside will start Port Canaveral November 1st and stay through March 21st when the Divina will take her place starting with the March 28th sailing. They did just confirm that Divina is still scheduled for her drydock in November.

Bret

7 minutes ago, kidless said:

When does Seaside start in Port Canaveral? I thought they said Divina would be there originally so is this temporary?  

Seaside will start Port Canaveral November 1st and stay through March 21st when the Divina will take her place starting with the March 28th sailing. They did just confirm that Divina is still scheduled for her drydock in November.

Bret

This was posted for TA's a bit ago:

Due to the global pandemic, MSC Cruises has redeployed several of its ships in the Caribbean for the fall and winter 2020/2021 season, resulting in changes to some of our originally planned itineraries. We sincerely apologize to you and your clients for any disruption to their vacation plans. In all instances in which a sailing was impacted, we have worked hard to offer new attractive deployment options. All guests impacted will be moved to another ship serving the same or similar itinerary, while maintaining the price of their original booking as well as offered the following additional perk:

• All guests who have booked an inside or oceanview stateroom will receive a stateroom upgrade
• All guests booked in a balcony stateroom, a suite or a MSC Yacht Club stateroom will receive a shipboard credit of $100 per stateroom for cruises six nights or less (based on double occupancy, $50 for single occupancy). For cruises of seven nights or longer, guests will receive $200 per stateroom (based on double occupancy, $100 for single occupancy)

Below is a high level overview of the changes. We will be providing more specific details on each sailing impacted and the new sailing by Wednesday, July 1.

• MSC Seaside & MSC Armonia sailings from Miami departing AUG 1-SEP 15 have been canceled
• MSC Seaside: Guests booked on MSC Seaside 7nt departures from Miami Saturday departures from Miami will move to MSC Meraviglia 7-night, Saturday departures from Miami
• MSC Meraviglia: Guests booked on MSC Meraviglia 7-night Sunday departures from Miami will move to MSC Meraviglia 7-night, Saturday departures from Miami
• MSC Armonia: Guests booked on MSC Armonia 4-night departures from Tampa will move to MSC Seaside 4-night departures from Port Canaveral
• MSC Armonia: Guests booked on MSC Armonia 5-night departures from Tampa will move to MSC Seaside 7-night departures from Port Canaveral
• MSC Armonia:Guests booked on MSC Armonia 7-night departures from Tampa will move to MSC Seaside 7-night departures from Port Canaveral
• MSC Divina: Guests booked on MSC Divina 3-night departures from Miami will move to MSC Armonia 3-night from Miami
• MSC Divina: Guests booked on MSC Divina 7-night departures from Miami will move to MSC Meraviglia 7-night departures from Miami
• MSC Divina: Guests booked on MSC Divina 11-night departures from Miami will move to MSC Meraviglia 14-night (back to back sailings) from Miami

I'm guessing this is only until March when she goes to Europe and Divina comes up to Port Canaveral. Will update if I find out more.

Bret

3 hours ago, Bossa Nova said:

If you use an agent that does group tours or otherwise a lot of business with MSC, then they have special MSC points of contact and leverage. Such an agent will also have inside information that will be to your advantage. I have never used a web/"big box" TA so I have no idea if any fit this description. I wish you well!

I agree with you 100%. 😉

6 hours ago, Fogfog said:

The TA who had previously booked our B2B in YC has suggested that instead of going through her/them--that we booked directly with MSC because "if" they cancel--she believes it will be easier to deal directly with MSC

Absolutely do not give that TA the new booking. But absolutely use a different agent not direct. MSC can be most difficult to deal with, but that is why you have a TA. To take care of the headaches for you. That agent IMHO is making a bad example of TA's. Our job is to make sure you have the vacation of a lifetime, no matter how much or how little work we have to do to get it accomplished.

Bret

On 6/5/2020 at 11:20 AM, Até said:

I guess you're going to have to change your web page again, what a mess.

Funny you mention that as that was the first thing I thought of. 🤣

Bret

23 minutes ago, MrMike45 said:

Wait...I just booked (2 days ago) Divina in Sept 2021 leaving out NY. 

Don't feel bad. They were about to have me sign a contract for 220 cabins. lol.

Bret

8 minutes ago, Até said:

I can't wait to see the port fees for that.

Could be why they just came to me this week and said port fees were nearly doubling for one of my groups. Of course they neglected to mention the itinerary change until today.

Bret

19 minutes ago, ready2cruzagain said:

Hate to see it is 3, 4 and 7 day cruises, I love the longer ones and just where do you go for 3 days out of PC?

I'm betting they will emphasize Ocean Cay on these. On a recent conference call, the SVP said they will eventually be coming out with overnights at Ocean Cay. Not sure if she meant for the Divina or the Armonia that is already being pulled from Tampa back to Miami summer of 2021.

Bret

MSC is officially canceling all sailings through July 31st. Announcement coming at any time.

Bret

Yep, that's it. Simply Med by MSC. They actually infuse it in the AC systems on the ships as well though it is very subtle. Only place I know to get it is onboard in the shops. Though occasionally have gotten one through an MSC employee in the FLL office.

Bret

43 minutes ago, slei15 said:

Nothing specific about a requested refund. I am also a TA and receive emails from them regularly about the updated cancellations, options, choices for clients, etc.

Think you might have overlooked the email to TA's dated April 29th that advised of the extension of canceled cruises till July 10th. The part of the sentence in that letter that has everyone up in arms I put in italics.

Refunds will be issued the later of either 60 days after the original sail date or 60 days from the date the online form [requesting a refund] is completed.

I previously confirmed with them that if you request a refund today for a July 9th sailing for example, the refund would not be generated until 60 days from July 9 or September 9 to be exact. I can understand why folks would be upset about them keeping money for up to 4 months basically. 

Just trying to help out @aprilF with her question.

Bret

On 5/2/2020 at 7:46 PM, Até said:

Have you been informed by MSC in any way regarding the new Booking terms for USA stating YC deposits are not refundable and the new definition of a 'refund" being MSC will issue a FCC?  I can get nothing from them regarding this.

Got some answers back today from upper management regarding their T&C's.

First, regarding refunds:

If MSC cancels a sailing, by law (in the US) we have to offer a refund or FCC. Our Cruise Assurance Program, which allows you to cancel your sailing up until 48 hours prior to the cruise, only offers the FCC if the sailing takes place.

Next regarding the YC deposits:

Yacht Club T & C are being reviewed as there is conflicting info. I will tell you that currently the deposits are refundable up until final payment.

The YC refundability says two different things. One area says non-refundable deposits and on their cancellation charts it shows non-refundable within 120 days. But as you see from the response, they are currently not following either. Sorry this doesn't address non-US but that is the only office I deal with directly. Also, I am waiting clarification on sailings cancelled by the consumer that don't fall under the Cruise Assurance Program.

Hope this helps.

Bret

1 hour ago, sidari said:

Bret ... Did you get any indication that those employees would be back at work in 30 days ? I have read elsewhere that having been quoted!

@sidari The folks I mainly deal with on a day to day basis were told on their conference call Friday "indefinitely".

Bret

16 hours ago, Até said:

Have you been informed by MSC in any way regarding the new Booking terms for USA stating YC deposits are not refundable and the new definition of a 'refund" being MSC will issue a FCC?  I can get nothing from them regarding this.

No, communication is not MSC's forte. The mention of non-refundable YC deposits actually came up nearly two years ago in a focus group with their VP of Global Sales. That option and one of a much higher deposit for YC were mentioned. I don't think the group came to a consensus on which was preferred but it was agreed that too many agencies/individuals were grabbing the YC cabins in "hopes" of selling/using them only to be dumped back into inventory at final payment time. So it doesn't surprise me if that part is true.

As for the refund vs the FCC, I haven't heard anything of that one. Due to the extensive furloughs Friday, I don't know how quickly I will be able to get an answer, but will certainly try. I do see both items you mention in their Terms and Conditions 2020 document though.

Bret

3 hours ago, cruisingator2 said:

I doubt that MSC USA has a large accounting department. Maybe they should look at moving some of their customer service reps over temporarily to help process refunds and FCC’s. Refunds will come but I think it may take longer than we were originally told.

A very small one in fact with a only a handful of people. At least for MSC Cruises USA, that is. And considering the entire Group Department at MSC Cruises USA was just furloughed indefinitely yesterday (and who knows what other departments),  I can only imagine things getting worse before they get better.

But all that being said, yes, I am still a fan of their product and am willing (maybe foolishly) to put up with the frustrations of dealing with shore side. Especially during these times, I certainly am cutting people slack. In speaking with folks from MSC the past couple of days, they too are in disagreement with the refund timelines, but obviously they have to follow guidelines from Geneva since no matter where the office, they are under the MSC Cruises umbrella. I feel bad for my fellow CC members that don't even have the opportunity for a refund in places outside the US. I guess only time will tell.

Bret

11 hours ago, WorldTraveler151208 said:

I have a booking for a cruise in the Caribbean in the first half of June, should I forget about it already?

Expect an announcement on Monday extending their no-sail dates. Don't know exactly till when but I believe sometime in July.

Bret

I was able to confirm that the drink packages I posted are in fact the new drink packages that will be implemented in the future. Due to the current situation, no starting date has been announced. Apparently the sailing I just happened to find them on was a test sailing for IT purposes. Also, no firm price has been decided.

Bret

43 minutes ago, Até said:

What are the prices per day you see?

The Easy Plus was $220 and the Premium Extra $310. So $22 per day for the EPP and $31 per day for the PEP since it is a 10 night cruise. Details are below. This is for the Meraviglia on Oct 2nd by the way.

Bret

Just looked at some client's bookings for October in Canada/New England. Now there are only two drink packages to choose. EASY PLUS (drinks up to $9) or PREMIUM EXTRA (drinks up to $13) plus the kids package. I will say they are significantly less expensive. Anyone else run into these yet? My MSC rep knows nothing of them so I am digging deeper.

Bret

2 hours ago, WH_Cruise said:

no refunds in the event of being denied boarding.

Someone just searched for wording in their policies. That statement is true for being denied boarding for not having the proper proof of citizenship and/or ID. Not true for the current situation.

Bret

You must have been on the "Holistic Cruise". The whole main dining was vegan with separate chefs and menu. I guess if you're into that kind of thing it would have been okay. MSC has advised that for privacy reasons, they are not allowed to disclose what groups are onboard. But with you having Fantastica, they could have at least let you know your dining preference was not available. Communication has never been one of their strong points.

Bret

@puglady12  You'll be fine. Have many clients that only use Birth Certificate and government photo ID for this kind of cruise. This is from CBP:

https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-74?language=en_US

Bret

Azipods tend to have much more mechanical difficulties than traditional propulsion. I imagine the cruise lines might take this into consideration as well.

Bret

Your TA is incorrect. Pre-paid gratuities have nothing to do with per drink gratuities. And sidari is correct. If you have the Easy drink package, there are no gratuities anyway. Only very old drink packages charged a per drink gratuity but not for the drink itself.

Bret