MsTabbyKats

Nobody said to assume a deposit is refundable....I always ask before I give money. What exactly is the TA being paid for if not to inform the client of the basics? Personally, I don't use TA's because it's easier for me to deal directly with the cruiseline. I've ended up "losing" more because the TA didn't do things in a timely manner. Anyway, in this case the TA is compensating the client....which is paramount to admitting he was lax in his duties.

Oh please.....going on a vacation is supposed to be fun and relaxing, not a research project. Most people don't have the time. The TA gets paid a commission for something. It's his job. FYI...I wasn't "making a mistake". I was trying to change cabins 10 months before final payment. Only MSC makes it complex. And I did get my refund within 2 weeks; booked the new cabin and had substantial (a relative term) savings!

So....do you mean any platinum goes over to the window and gets $25 slot play...free? Do they put it on your card?

I guess you've never done the "fall to Canada" thing. I've done it about 10 times and fit right in. I'm 73.

The point of using a TA is that the TA is supposed to do the work for you. Unfortunately many don't, which is why I don't use TAs.

Another benefit of living a few minutes to the pier by cab.....pre-cruise testing is a non-issue for us. I don't even think of packing until the test is done...and we wait for the test results on the spot. @KmomChicagoI always thanked the people in the NCL Haven for subsidizing my "relatively cheap" cruise.

@wemjamAnd don't forget, if you're platinum they do your laundry (at least I hope they still do your laundry).

For all the above reasons. DH and I travel light...on carry-on for each of us! What I can't understand is why people need "all that stuff" on a Carnival cruise. Does anyone really care if you wear the same t-shirt a couple of times...I don't think so!

For me....2 things would be a deal breaker 1. Mandatory masks (glasses fog, can't talk, can't understand people's muffled voices) 2. No casino! As to the cabin...I like a nice interior portion. We usually have balconies...but we really don't use them very much. (Do people really sit on their balcony enjoying their breakfast in the cold/rain/wind?) It also depends on the itinerary, the time of year and the cost differential. For Canadian cruises...for me it would be a waste of money (been there....done that). For winter out of NYC....not worth the 2 days of warmth. Warm weather to a warm place....sign me up for the balcony! I'm looking forward to the Deluxe OV (2 bathrooms) on the Magic to Canada in Sept. It's also $1000 less than the balcony cabin. One time we absolutely need a balcony...if friends are on the same cruise. DH thinks an int/ov makes us look either poor or cheap. It's neither; it's just not cost effective.

If the TA cannot straighten it out, I'd cancel and rebook (directly or with another TA). It just sounds like a simple thing to fix. The reservation wouldn't show the payment...as that "belongs to the TA". ETA...this is one of the many reasons I no longer use travel agents. It's just so much easier dealing directly. (I know...no OBC etc.)

I have no idea why, but I'd have it corrected asap.

Does the virus penetrate walls? How close was "the leaning guy" and was he talking to you? Do you exclusively take the stairs when nobody was coming in the opposite direction? Or share the elevators? With people who were talking? Chances of catching covid on an elevator are higher than from someone in the next cabin. Time for some personal responsibility here. MSC is a business...they did what was required.

While I understand your disappointment, you chose a "guarantee cabin" and you chose to cruise with an unvaccinated child....during a pandemic. It takes a few days to become symptomatic.....so "the guy leaning over the rail" probably wasn't "the guy" who transmitted the infection to you.

Since this is a thread "about value": Right now I can go downstairs and in 10 minutes & $20 be at the Manhattan cruise terminal Or....I can go downstairs and in 30 minutes and $50 be at the airport (not to mention airfare, cab to the ship..and stress of actually getting there on time) I understand what you're saying....and if I lived in any other part of New York, even NYC....going to other ports might be attractive. But, one of the reasons I deal with high rents, high crime (lol) and other "high costs" is for the convenience of living where I live.

Yes...there was that extra step where you had to show your approval (I think). On the other cruises we went thru the "show your boarding pass" step and next to check-in where you show your passport. On the Bermuda cruise there was that extra "show us the Bermuda papers" step.

I did 3 post pandemic NCL sailings from Manhattan. Two were to the Bahamas....no issues at all (even one where everyone had to get tested at the port). The third was to Bermuda....a long and messy check-in. I think it has more to with "destination of the cruise" than the terminal or cruiseline.

I know it's a stupid question....but what does it mean I can change? Cabins on my sailing, switch to another sailing, add someone....this statement is open to interpretation!

I ask here only because I don't have confidence in the MSC reps! If I book a cruise with the "Free Drinks and Wifi" promo: The tips per drink are included with the daily service fee (unlike NCL where there's an additional charge for "free drinks" per day) The wifi would allow me and my husband to each have 24/7 wifi on our phones....... This is how I interpret it....this is what the rep confirmed....but, I'm looking for a catch....lol.

So, I am a native speaker of English....but I think there may be a communications problem. I want to book a cruise for April 2023. I asked the first rep...."until when is the deposit refundable?". She said I have 89 days after booking the cruise.....so I could get my depost back until June 2022 for April 2023. I repeated this many times...and she said that's their policy. Called back: Rep #2 said something like 90 days before sailing....so April 2023 cruise would be refundable until some point in Jan. Sounds better. Then I ask the price of the cruise........I get about $2000 on the website. She tells me $2500 because it's more expensive when they book it. And yes, she had my membership number. Could someone please clarify the "deposit issue" and the high cost to book thru on of their agents?