DoubleSix

Just now, SirWolf said:

 

The Day at Sea was in the original itinerary.

• Thursday - 04/27/2022 - Kotor, Montenegro

• Friday - 04/28/2022 - At Sea

• Saturday - 04/29/2022 - Trieste, Italy

 

They added one day in Bari, Italy.

Oh my bad 🤣

2 minutes ago, SirWolf said:

The “Itinerary Change Notice” from yesterday (09-14-2022) included information how to reschedule or cancel the cruise.

Quote: “ Alternatively, if you prefer to cancel your reservation and request a refund in the amount paid to MSC, please call your Travel Advisor. “

Thanks! Last time it took them 2 whole weeks to and me calling every other day to get an official email with my cancelation options, but I think that is because I'm a Canadian Customer (but hopefully, will not be for long). I book cruises when I want a stress-free vacation. This cruise gives me nothing but anxiety. I'm 99.9% sure I will just cancel at this point.

I don't know why they added in the extra day at sea from Bari to Trieste. If they could have made it from Kotor to Trieste overnight, there is no reason they could not have made it from Bari to Trieste overnight.  It is like they want to do the most just to antagonize their customers. 

Last time they sent an email telling people about their cancellation options (full refund of deposit). Has anyone received an email this time? 

I'm fed up with MSC and want to cancel the entire cruise but I don't want to lose my deposit.  

When I asked them how many more changes they would make, they said they don't anticipate any more but cannot guarantee there won't be more. They said this two months ago when they made the last change. 

Anyone have any travel insurance company recommendations that covers Cruise ship port changes for "operational reasons"?  Specifically, I'm looking for insurance that will cover me for the cost of flight changes if the cruise line changes port of embarkation or disembarkation, or if they keep the same ports but change the dates of embarkation/disembarkation.

So far the only one I have found is Travel Guard. If I buy their Trip Cancellation / Trip Interruption package, I can add on a Cruise Tour / Operator option for an extra $10. Just wondering if there are any other options out there.

Background: I booked a cruise for April 2023 with MSC. The cruise was originally supposed to leave Jeddah on April 15th, but they moved the date of embarkation to April 12th. Fortunately, I did not already book my flight, but it made me think about buying travel insurance for when I do eventually book the flight, as I'm not confident they won't change it again 😄

3 hours ago, KINGBOBOFTHENORTH said:

I think only the last of the Red Sea cruises gets the 3 extra nights. The other cruises appear to be just shifted to 3 days earlier but still 7-nights. Perhaps the prior Saturday departure and return dates are no longer viable for Jeddah port. Is Saturday a holy day in Saudi Arabia?

I believe Fridays are considered the holiest day of the week in Islamic culture. 

13 hours ago, KINGBOBOFTHENORTH said:

Received an email from MSC today as well.

Was originally a 7-nt cruise departing from Jeddah on Saturday April 1st and now leaving 3 days earlier on Wednesday, March 29th but still 7-nts. As with others, Al Wajh, Saudi Arabia has been replaced with Sokhna, Egypt for Cairo. Since this means Cairo excursions, I'm good with this change!

Do you mind posting the contents of the email (obviously removing any PII)? I still haven't gotten any email and when I phoned, they just said soon.

3 hours ago, mscdivina2016 said:

I wonder what is going on?

Why the 3 extra nights on multiple sailings I just realized after reading your dates.

 This now appears to effect 4 sailings at a minimum.

I just checked their Canadian site again and saw even more changes in regards to the cruises that are available within the Red Sea. Now, as I write this post, the only cruises that I'm seeing that go through the Suez Canal on their website all start in UAE.  

I have no idea the cruise @mscdivina2016 and I booked was cancelled / reshuffled. I still have not received any communication from MSC.  

I understand that they may need to make changes, it's just a bit frustrating they don't wait until they have all their ducks in order before they start making all these changes. Also how hard would it be for them to send me an email?!

Okay something really weird is going on at MSC. I tried to search for the second cruise they booked me on [Saudi Arabia & Red Sea14 Nights (from Sokhna Port to Trieste leaving April 15)] and it no longer shows up on their website at all (at least no on the Canadian website). 

I guess I will just have to be patient, as it looks like they are more changes to come in the next few days / weeks. 

Thanks @mscdivina2016. I will try to patiently wait. I didn't book through a TA so I'm dealing with their shenanigans myself.

I'm thinking I may just get on at Sokhna Port as that's what most of my party wants to do. Just hope that if I make that change they will still give me the category of suite that I purchased (as currently it shows as sold out online). 

Originally I booked an MSC cruise from Jeddah to Trieste leaving April 15, 2023.  A few days ago I tried to log into my account and kept getting an error page once logged in. Finally today, it presented me with my info but now instead of my cruise leaving on April 15, 2023, it is leaving on April 12, 2023. 

This "cruise" that MSC has now booked me in is not even on their website. It seems as though they have booked me on two connecting cruises:

1. Saudi Arabia & Red Sea7 Nights - I would be picking up the cruise half way through on Day 5 (in Jeddah)
2. Saudi Arabia & Red Sea14 Nights (from Sokhna Port to Trieste) - I would be staying on this cruise for the entire 14 days. 

I didn't book my flight yet, so my biggest irritation is that I'm no longer guaranteed the room that I wanted (room 9009 - corner 2 room suite). 

Of course, MSC did not email me nor any of the other 7 people I'm going on this trip with about the changes. After calling, the rep said that we will be receiving an email with our options, but I'm not holding my breath. For anyone else who has gone through something like this with MSC, what options were you given? For example, if I don't want to do the cruise they have me presently booked in, will I get my non-refundable deposit back or can I just automatically transfer it to the cruise that I want to take?

Edit: And how likely is it that they will change this itinerary again!?

3 hours ago, oilsand said:

Having recently returned from a MSC cruise starting in  Dubai ,was refused boarding to the ship even with all the TUGO coverage ( as outlined by MSC )

You can't make a statement like this and not provide us with details! 😩 Please let us know MSC's reason for denying you boarding? 

I haven't purchased insurance yet, as my cruise is not until next year. However, Manulife's website says that now that the travel advisory has been lifted all of their interruption/cancellation packages will cover you if you test positive for COVID 19 if you are fully vaccinated. However, their actual policy wording doesn't specify COVID.  See here - https://www.manulife.ca/page/covid-19-statement.html.   So I wonder if MSC will accept this summary page as confirmation. 

4 hours ago, AlbertaCruisers said:

 

Can you let me know where these screen shots are from, these are really helpful.

 

Edit - I see now, these may be from a webinar.  

 

Does anyone know if this information is anywhere on Manulife's website?

You can find the information on their website here: https://www.manulife.ca/page/covid-19-statement.html

13 hours ago, mackfam said:

I phoned Manulife about their Covid insurance but was told it doesn’t cover cancellation  so I ended up buying the policy from Tugo. 
 

if you’re not cruising until April 2023 I would hold off buying anything for now. Who knows what the requirements will be by next year and you may well be able to go with a different policy.

Yeah, I think you're right about holding off on buying insurance right now (as I can't even purchase my flights this far in advance).  

My biggest gripe of MSC requiring us to have a policy that specifies COVID makes me feel like MSC is getting kickbacks from TuGo. So I would rather give my money to Manulife especially since when reading TuGo's exclusion clauses in the All Inclusive Holiday Package, it notes one of the exclusions as  "Cancellation or interruption caused by or related to any of the following:

a)    Coronavirus disease (COVID-19);
b)    Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2);
c)    Any mutation or variation of SARS-CoV-2.
This exclusion does not apply if you must cancel or interrupt your trip as a result of a medical condition caused by or related to any of the above."

Also, I'm surprised the agent on the phone didn't tell you that their regular All Inclusive Trip Package includes trip cancellation for certain COVID-related issues because  Manulife's website says " COVID-19 is still considered a known event in relation to Travel Advisory status changes, and a Trip Cancellation or Trip Interruption Insurance claim will not be paid if an individual cancels or interrupts their trip for a reason related to COVID-19, except for one of the three events mentioned below.

Your sickness (accompanied by a medical certificate) due to contracting COVID-19 that prevents you from travelling as planned.
A positive COVID-19 test result (accompanied by a medical certificate) within 72 hours before your departure from home which prevents you from travelling as planned.
Your job loss as a result of the pandemic impact at your place of employment."

So both policies seem to only cover you trip cancellation/interruption coverage if you (or your travelling companion) actually test positive for COVID, and at this point that is the only COVID-related reason I could foresee me not going on my cruise next year. 

I recently booked a cruise on MSC for April 2023.   MSC requires us to buy COVID-19 specific insurance "covering any related risks, including cancellation, repatriation, quarantine, medical assistance and expenses, and hospitalization."  For anyone who has gone an MSC cruise, which insurance did you go with, and did you have any issues trying to board (since MSC will deny boarding without the proper insurance)? 

I recently booked a cruise on MSC for April 2023.  As you may know, MSC requires us to buy COVID-19 specific insurance "covering any related risks, including cancellation, repatriation, quarantine, medical assistance and expenses, and hospitalization."  Has anyone chosen Manulife's Covid 19 insurance instead of MSC recommended TuGo insurance? If you chose Manulife, did you have any problems during embarkation?