Doug & Cindy Scrap Hunter

The one thing I wish they would change about MSC is ________.

The one thing I hope they never change is ________.

Ready? Go!

Looks like they match Carnival, Doug, so you should get something from those cruises you've done

I saw that and we're Gold with Carnival - almost platinum. Looks like my Wyndham Rewards doesn't do much even though we usually stay at the Wingate or Harrah's.

We are X Elite and Status Match gave us Black on MSC!

But perks are not as good as you might hope. But any blessing is a gift!

Since we're just starting out on X I guess it doesn't matter much. Cindy and I have been comparing the general ships X vs NCL vs MSC and we really like MSC. Some of the Celebrity folks say that I would be a better fit over here but we'll know more in October after we sail the Summit.

Anyone of you folks know what hotels MSC is status matching for?

Nope. This one comes up about every 3-6 months. This is how it normally goes. Folks will get bored shortly and it will go away.

 

So, tell me about your cruise experiences. Have you cruised MSC? What did you think? Why does the Yacht Club experience interest you? Why do new concepts and competition interest you? What is it about them that has your attention? Does Edge interest you or discourage you? I don't see any of this in your previous posts. How about an actual introduction? Post #1 is about sailing Vision? Are you? Did you? When? All I've seen on the Celebrity board are "why doesn't X do Y?" posts. If I'm missing something, post a link.

Nope - That is a different subject altogether. You can E-mail me or start a new thread where folks tell their cruise history and I'll add my own. What's the point of writing it here? Everyone else here is interested in MSC's loyalty program - not Uncle Doug's last few Cruises.

Our biggest complain and we know that food is very subjective. MSC food is not anywhere near Celebrity, RCI, NCL, Princess and/or HAL. Food in MDR normally warm never HOT when delivered to your table. Selection limited. Buffets are very sparse and limited. People say MSC has the best pizza. We think it is the worst since it is so thin and nothing on it.

We are going on Seaside in Nov 2018.

Does the food make us not want to cruise MSC? No, MSC is a different line and well worth the money. Ships are beautiful, entertainment very good.

Again, food is subjective and I am sure someone will say we don't know what we are talking about.

We are just letting you know our opinion of MSC's food.

How are the upcharge restaurants? If they are decent are there packages you can buy to bring the price down?

 

And back to the OP: It's time to post your next 50-100 posts on something actually related to your cruise experience or questions about your expected experience on Celebrity. The "why doesn't a cruise line I've never sailed on change to suit some notion I have" posts are old. Really old.

Wow!

Don't you see that everyone else is enjoying this thread and we're all learning from each other? I've posted plenty about my cruise experience and offered questions - just like here. MSC is sparking my interest especially this Yacht Club experience. I'm 100% for new concepts and competition = more choices and better bang per buck.

Like some folks have said the new Edge Class is already copying the tier systems of Haven and Yacht Club.

I've started a discussion about loyalty crossover with the Celebrity folks - as expected there's a mixed reaction to the MSC experience.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2663068

Cindy and I are trying the Celebrity Summit this Fall but are eyeballing MSC for a mix of upscale food and fun ship experience - hopefully the best of both worlds. Since MSC is expanding like crazy and Celebrity's winter Caribbean sailings are starting to dip cheaper than Carnival - maybe they should copy MSC features or incentives in the off season. I'm sure they are doing fine normally and that it is a nice higher end cruise line - just my 2 cents.

BTW MSC the ships look fancy and artistic with the fun I'm used to. Cindy is more of a foodie and will probably enjoy Celebrity but I doubt she would enjoy trying Royal Caribbean. Either way competition is great!

"Have real problems" - hardly. They are doing massive growth though... whereas Celebrity aren't. They're actually looking to double fleet size within some years.

 

That growth enables increased passenger numbers without contention.

 

Plus this offer has been operating for over a year, i.e soon after they launched in the US and is in place to enable larger numbers in new markets. If they hadn't run it their loyalty numbers would be very low as there have been very few Americans exposed to their product before they launched in the US.

 

So no, not a problem, just a sensible way to build numbers when there is way more than sufficient capacity for them.

 

Oh, and yeah... MSC also "have the ability to move ships if a particular area is weak!" Not that that has been an issue.

There you go. They wouldn't be doubling the fleet if this offer wasn't working. Imagine if Celebrity doubled their fleet - all the new places they would go? Even just one or two more ships. Those Caribbean sailings in the winter wouldn't stay dirt cheap because the families leaning on their loyalty points would have a new option. If Celebrity doesn't want them MSC will.

I'm a platinum member with Wyndham because of the credit card and any brand they buy - they get my loyalty. They scratch my back I scratch theirs.

Might also mention there is I guess you would call it a status match with MGM resorts.

 

There is also something to be said that being on a Celebrity ships is more like cruising than being on a floating 6 Flags or DisneyWorld.Some people like that..

The MGM crossover helps each company draw in the casino players. I love status match - Almost booked Atlantic City Tropicana pre-cruise because of their partnership with Carnival.

Maybe MSC is the best mix of being upscale and a theme park and so they're just trying to get more folks to try it.

MSC is NOT Celebrity! There benefits do not come close to Celebrity. They have real problems and have named a former Celebrity Hotel Director VP of Operations. They need to attract passengers and will do what is needed to survive in a competitive market.

Celebrity sales are strong throughout the year and they have the ability to move ships if a particular area is weak. I'd benefit greatly if Celebrity had a match with a strong line like Princess, but I would oppose a match since it would water down my current Celebrity benefits. Hotels are delighted to fill 90% of capacity. Celebrity fills at 104%. according to the last report I read.

I'll agree with the 2nd part because we've been eyeballing Princess and the atrium and pools look very upscale with lots of yummy food around the pool and desert counter. That music though - I prefer a little 70's and 80's rock.

Whose top tier benefits even come close to Celebrity?.They probably would need to reduce benefits for their most loyal passengers to provide equal benefits for others. That's one reason why they only wanted to match up to Elite for their sister lines.

By the way: Did you see the RCCL earnings report? They're getting higher prices and the ships are full. You only put items on sale when you need to and Celebrity doesn't need to.do that.

How is MSC doing? The more business the better you just build more ships for all the new crossover folks - or just offer it seasonally when sales are down. Hotels keep building more and units and give everyone top tier rewards through credit cards.

I love status matches. I've taken advantage for hotels, casinos, airlines, etc.

 

And yes ships are full, now but the Celebrity population is getting older. Attracting younger folks is key. People tend to stick with what is comfortable. With younger passengers getting status with say, Carnival or NCL it might make sense to try to entice them to try Celebrity

 

I know with me I am prone to go where my status is matched versus going where I get no perks .

 

Just my 2 cents.

Exactly!

If it weren't for Cindy - I would probably just stuck to Carnival and rolled my eyes to all the cutbacks and maintenance issues. :rolleyes: Like you said I was comfortable and didn't want to start all over again at the bottom of a new loyalty program.

Celebrity does a status match with Royal Caribbean and Azamara up to Elite. As West Lake Girl said no reason to do any others.

That's better than what Carnival Corp does because my status means nothing for Princess - We just looked. I can wish but I've only done one Royal Caribbean cruise.

I saw that MSC is now matching loyalty status with other cruise lines. Would this help Celebrity and Royal Caribbean? I'm 14 points away from Platinum on Carnival and could probably convince Cindy to do a back to back to get to the next tier. Some folks don't want to leave and venture out because of their perks but would if their loyalty was recognized. This would sweeten the pot and help fill up some of those winter cabins in the Caribbean. Some of us might even try something more upscale like Azamara.

Let me see if I've got this right... you found one sailing on one ship that was less expensive than 2 other ships sailing the same week. And you're making the leap that Celebrity cruises are cheaper than Carnival's? Is that really what you're saying? Or are you only commenting on this one particular sailing? I'd love to see this chart that you've based this on, if you're applying this across the board to all sailings.

 

Out of curiosity, how many times have you sailed on Carnival?

I'm saying that Celebrity is often cheaper in the winter in the Caribbean than the fun ships - and why don't more folks don't take advantage of the price and see if they like the more upscale experience. Those who already sail on Celebrity might not be able to answer this question. I put the chart below.

I've been on 9 Carnival cruises since 2006. I'm Gold with 61 points. Half tempted to do one last 14 nighter to make it to platinum in case anyone offers crossover status.

BTW - Someone called me a tuna but they sent me in the right direction looking up Alaska. Celebrity starts at $744 next August but Carnival starts at $939. I'm sure there are dates and ships that are different - just what I'm seeing.

We cruise a lot , but it’s been years since last celebrity cruise before recent one, when you board they give you a glass of champagne ( really sparkling wine) just a nice way to start a cruise, buffet was far superior to all of the other lines , we love rccl but there buffet is terrible.

I loved most things about rccl except the food. Johnny Rockets was good but I'm not about to pay $13 a head when I can eat on land for cheaper.

We did infinity sister ship summit earlier this year very nice ship, also have done brilliance , I would give celebrity the edge .

I've sailed Carnival for years and tried Oasis class once. I took Cindy on her first Cruise - The Carnival Vista - and she's looking for something more upscale. Good to hear especially for the money.

I’m eyeballing some winter prices for next year and other folks have commented on this too. Maybe not the basic price but when you deduct the free perks – X is often times the cheapest with the 5 night West Caribbean. I saw a chart where some of the 7 nights do too. Most folks like balconies so I’m looking at those prices.

Celebrity Infinity Dec 16 2019

$659 with $300 spending = $509

Brilliance of the Seas Dec 14 2019

$579 with $100 spending = $529

Carnival Valor Dec 16 2019

$609 with $0 spending = $609

No Norwegian 5 nighters - the 7 day starts at $1,200! Princess is about the same - and $699 for 3 days.

Why aren't more folks jumping on board and trying out Celebrity? I hear that it is more upscale so it seems like a good opportunity to try it out. Maybe some folks want more slides and a party atmosphere but the value is why Cindy and I are trying out the X this year and maybe next. I posted this on the Celebrity forum and the folks who hop around to different lines were helpful but some of the loyalist got offended.

How is the specialty restaurants on NCL and have you tried Haven? Do NCL folks get upset when you mention good sales are happening? Cindy and I might switch over after our Summit cruise this October.

Speaking of tuna, maybe the OP could get a real good deal on an Alaskan cruise in December.

Wow!

Why stop with tuna - when you can call me a tunahead? I don't know why folks are going after me when I don't set these prices. I have the unique situation having sailed Carnival for years to see what more folks might like to see and cross over - all you have to do is look at the prices. That's just one idea it is probably more complicated than that and more ways to compete without copying the fun ships - like others have said.

I'm going to move this topic over to a Caribbean thread where more folks hop around to different cruise lines.

Jagoffee and Warmwinds both make good points. Cindy has been Eyeballing a couple of the Equinox cruises and we can always cancel if the X doesn't turn out to be our thing - plus it is a Solstice ship.

Simple, :Supply and Demand as always...

So maybe Celebrity have too many ships in the Caribbean that time of year?

How about a rotating restaurant on the front of the ship like the top of the Seattle Space Needle. Everyone takes turns getting the front view.

> a $145 Tommy Bahama's shirt on a guy is pretty chic. And appropriate for chic night. <

 

How about a $100 shirt?

$90?

$24.95?

 

Ira

 

How about a $200 Speedo?

You don't want to see me in a speedo in the dining hall at any price! :halo:

Because it's a 5 day Western in mid Dec . A slow time, and a short cruise, and right before Christmas. 3 strikes. But hey, if the price is all that matters, then jump on it.

 

However, given your previous threads, yearning for the wonders of Carnival and RCI, and constantly asking why Celebrity doesn't have them, I doubt that your upcoming Celebrity cruise will leave you wanting another .

You might end up being right - but at least we're giving it a shot. Someone mentioned Haven with NCL. Looking more into them Cindy could have more upscale dining options and the fun ship features that we both enjoy.

Back to pricing - it could be that more kids are out of school and the families are leaning more on the fun ships.