MSC Club downgrading all its members and removing many perks

[anniegb]

Mike, I'm totally with you on this one. Of all the changes made to the loyalty scheme, this has to be the most outrageous!!! I can understand the concept among Celebrity and RC as they're owned by the same company, but for MSC to reward members of other loyalty programmes, which will have an adverse impact on those of us loyal to MSC, beggars belief!!!!

 

I've considered avoiding the forum here for a while - I had to shut off yesterday. This latest bombshell is seriously affecting my ability to look forward to my next cruises - I've two in quick succession. I'm determined to enjoy them despite all of this but my positive view of MSC has been impacted and, while it's not life and death stuff, it has left a bad taste. Whatever about any hope that MSC would revisit some of the decisions, this is one that they won't be able to row back from!!

 

There are so many reasons why I cruise with MSC that have nothing to do with loyalty programmes or benefits. I need to concentrate on them for now. I'm a fan of MSC, not from loyalty to the brand, but because I love the onboard experience. The club benefits were a bonus but did become a factor in remaining loyal, which makes it difficult to feel anything other than disappointment with MSC's treatment.

 

I'd love to see other companies reciprocate with similar offers of loyalty benefits to MSC customers, just to give them a kick up the proverbial!!!

 

Please bear with me - I am struggling with this one.

 

The loss of the discount is irritating.

 

However if MSC choose to give 'new cruisers' from another brand additional perks, why is that detrimental to your on board experience?

 

What fabulous must have perks have I been missing?

 

Look at it another way, MSC receives lots of bookings from NCL cruisers - how many of them do you think will stay with MSC?

 

Annie

[Jenna1983]

Look at it this way as someone who's never sailed MSC and will be for the first time in September. I am Platinum on Carnival and I've wanted to try something else but I was always hesitant because of loyalty. I saw this great itinerary for September and remembered the people we met on the shuttle from the dock in Marseille. They said, "oh we would have been on Carnival with you but the price was so high at the time of booking, so we decided to do MSC Divina. We really like it."

 

MSC has certainly made me a fan and someone a lot more likely to cruise them in the future with a status match to my Carnival Platinum status. I definitely think if all cruise lines did this there would be A LOT of people trying different lines, which would benefit the lines. I've generally found the loyalty perks have never mattered to me but it's nice to know they want someone to feel "welcomed" and "appreciated." I do realize it goes the same for those people who have sailed a lot with MSC.

[maryann2]

Just came to the MSC board and surprised to see the downgrading of all their loyalty programme. What are they thinking???

 

I like MSC but honestly like all the cruise lines and have crept up the loyalty ladder on several.

Diamond on Carnival so I would guess Black on MSC.

Then Elite and Diamond on Celebrity and Royal so what would that make me LOL.

 

Seriously unless MSC make their solo prices more attractive I will look elsewhere.

[sidari]

My hat is in the ring with Mike and Bea on the issue of giving people from other cruise line like for like benefits unless the rest do the same for MSC, otherwise this is just another insult to those who have remained loyal to MSC for whatever reason.

[anniegb]

My hat is in the ring with Mike and Bea on the issue of giving people from other cruise line like for like benefits unless the rest do the same for MSC, otherwise this is just another insult to those who have remained loyal to MSC for whatever reason.

 

OK I see it differently and don't take it personally. As a solo cruiser, MSC have already done their worse. This is minor in comparison.

 

I just see this as a marketing promotion which can be removed once they have 'poached' a certain number of customers. My sister is a very loyal customer of a certain supermarket brand and I am occasional customer. Guess who receives the 20% discount coupons ? It is a simple marketing ploy.

 

Do I think this ploy will attract MSC loyal customers - no! Cruisers who switch are 'rate tarts' similar to those who move to MSC will switch away as soon as a better offer comes along.

 

There are more than a few disgruntled NCL customers who they could poach. However they offer very different types of cruising and I would not expect them to stay with MSC.

 

Annie

Edited July 21, 2015 by anniegb

[anniegb]

Just came to the MSC board and surprised to see the downgrading of all their loyalty programme. What are they thinking???

 

I like MSC but honestly like all the cruise lines and have crept up the loyalty ladder on several.

Diamond on Carnival so I would guess Black on MSC.

Then Elite and Diamond on Celebrity and Royal so what would that make me LOL.

 

Seriously unless MSC make their solo prices more attractive I will look elsewhere.

 

Spot on Maryann.

 

Annie

[Mikesa1721]

OK I see it differently and don't take it personally.

 

I just see this as a marketing promotion which can be removed once they have 'poached' a certain number of customers. My sister is a very loyal customer of a certain supermarket brand and I am occasional customer. Guess who receives the 20% discount coupons ? It is a simple marketing ploy.

 

Do I think this ploy will attract MSC loyal customers - no! Cruisers who switch are 'rate tarts' similar to those who move to MSC will switch away as soon as a better offer comes along.

 

There are more than a few disgruntled NCL customers who they could poach. However they offer very different types of cruising and I would not expect them to stay with MSC.

 

Annie

 

Now that the dust has settled a little,,I have to agree with you Annie! MSC is taking advantage of something that is lacking in the cruise industry which is reciprocating loyalty benefits across cruise line brands. While I'm still a bit frustrated by the new Loyalty Match program,as well as the new Voyagers Club program,,I have to realize that MSC is a business and like any business,they need to make money. So long as my cruise fare remains affordable and I can still purchase drinks and drink packages at great prices,,we'll be happy.

[anniegb]

Now that the dust has settled a little,,I have to agree with you Annie! MSC is taking advantage of something that is lacking in the cruise industry which is reciprocating loyalty benefits across cruise line brands. While I'm still a bit frustrated by the new Loyalty Match program,as well as the new Voyagers Club program,,I have to realize that MSC is a business and like any business,they need to make money. So long as my cruise fare remains affordable and I can still purchase drinks and drink packages at great prices,,we'll be happy.

 

Thanks Mike.

 

I would happily forgive MSC if MSC UK cruisers could avail themselves of the generous US cancellation policies and US pricing.

 

I just saw pigs flying past my window - I know it ain't going to happen.

 

Annie

[sidari]

Just looking at some of the so called offers in the 5+5% section of the voyages club section, the Orchestra on May 8th 2016 before discount, is offered cruise only starting at £699 for a Bella Inside.

 

The same cruise on 8th May 2016 price is £499 when you go through the normal find your cruise booking system !

[anniegb]

Just looking at some of the so called offers in the 5+5% section of the voyages club section, the Orchestra on May 8th 2016 before discount, is offered cruise only starting at £699 for a Bella Inside.

 

The same cruise on 8th May 2016 price is £499 when you go through the normal find your cruise booking system !

 

Good spot. Is that double occupancy??

 

I will let the dust settle before I even look at their pricing.

 

Annie

[sidari]

Hi Annie ... That was pp for double occupancy, just shows that their 5+5% deals are really no deal at all being some £200 more expensive before the discount! MSC clearly take their customers for Fools.

[sidari]

Ok ... Find your cruise for 8th May 2016 on Orchestra £499.Bella Inside pp.

 

Via the 5+5% voyages section £699 for the same date, when you follow it through and you get the prices it says club discount applied correctly and gives a price of £595.90 pp for the same Bella Inside ? How can it be more expensive to club members and how can the discount be more than 10% ?

[anniegb]

Ok ... Find your cruise for 8th May 2016 on Orchestra £499.Bella Inside pp.

 

Via the 5+5% voyages section £699 for the same date, when you follow it through and you get the prices it says club discount applied correctly and gives a price of £595.90 pp for the same Bella Inside ? How can it be more expensive to club members and how can the discount be more than 10% ?

 

Could it be the software again?? That number of £595.90 equates very closely to £699-10%-5%

 

We could play around with this all day and have fun.

 

I am travelling in December and I have just checked out the pricing for a 1 week cruise on the Musica (my 1st MSC ship) and the price for 1 week Aurea experience including flights is approx. £3300 solo.

 

Contrast that to a 16 day repo on Azamara w/o flights for USD3500 - 16 day cruise solo.

 

For a solo, Azamara is now cheaper than MSC - something not quite right there.

 

Annie

Edited July 22, 2015 by anniegb

[AmoMondo]

Could it be the software again?? That number of £595.90 equates very closely to £699-10%-5%

 

We could play around with this all day and have fun.

 

I am travelling in December and I have just checked out the pricing for a 1 week cruise on the Musica (my 1st MSC ship) and the price for 1 week Aurea experience including flights is approx. £3300 solo.

 

Contrast that to a 16 day repo on Azamara w/o flights for USD3500 - 16 day cruise solo.

 

For a solo, Azamara is now cheaper than MSC - something not quite right there.

 

Annie

 

Thanks for the tip Annie. I'd assumed (wrongly) that Azamara would be well outside my budget.

 

Solo supplements make the biggest difference overall to those of us who travel on our own.

 

Dave that could be their website playing up or it could be them copying Costa again. Just over a year ago, I got a price of almost £700 on a Cista Srabian cruise last minute when I was logged in as a Costa member at their second lvel then. Went back to check something and forgot to log in and it was just over £400. Called them as I assumed it was a mistake. It wasn't, it was a promotion that wasn't available with a Costa discount, so they quoted the next price band up. Pretty sneaky I thought. They really were prepapred to give better prices to new customers than existing customers. Don't think it matters who the line is, it pays to play around and check prices with and without supplements and with and without member discounts.

[Beamafar]

MSC is taking advantage of something that is lacking in the cruise industry which is reciprocating loyalty benefits across cruise line brands. While I'm still a bit frustrated by the new Loyalty Match program,as well as the new Voyagers Club program,,I have to realize that MSC is a business and like any business,they need to make money. So long as my cruise fare remains affordable and I can still purchase drinks and drink packages at great prices,,we'll be happy.

 

And that's the bottom line - MSC is still fantastic value!

 

It was a bit like how one would feel after receiving a physical slap in the face, out of the blue and from an unexpected source, Mike. There was a sting and a shock, initially, and caused a reaction!!! It diminishes but there'll be a little bad feeling relating to the incident. This new offering to loyal customers of other cruise lines came just as we were adjusting to the downgrading of the perks.

 

It wasn't MSCs passengers who were harping about being rewarded for loyalty - it was MSC!!!! We just got used to the rewards and took them for granted.

 

Will the changes affect my onboard experience? Unlikely - I love cruising and this won't change that. I'll probably even stay with MSC, but that has nothing to do with loyalty to the brand - it was never about loyalty - the perks were a bonus.

 

Spumante offered in place of champagne - I'd have little enough to worry about if that were a major deal.

 

Paying more for ironing service (if no discount offered) - that's a choice I make!

 

No more "Dinner with the captain (or an officer, more like)" - I wasn't going to attend again, anyway, though I am glad I got the opportunity to experience it once. The Black "party" sounds interesting - hopefully it won't be as dull as the "members only" ones, though there'll be less in attendance so one can hope it'll be a good night. And, you get a chocolate ship for attending! (OK, a little snarky, there, but just in fun, really :)) Hopefully, canny cruiser will let us know how it was for him/her.

 

I think the awarding of points seriously needs a revisit. As I'm at Black and there's no sign of a higher tier being introduced, yet, this isn't an issue for me. But the new system is just plain wrong and unfair and should be changed.

 

One minor concern I'd have is how some people onboard may react, for example, when queueing for tenders and finding out that there are those getting priority tendering as a result of being loyal customers of other companies. There are plenty of anecdotes relating to incidents where people thought some were skipping the queue when YC passengers were being escorted to the front by the butler!! In any case, I don't think the "perks" are attractive enough to woo cruisers away from their favourite lines, anyway! From the discussion on Celebrity's board, they're less than impressed!

[anniegb]

.....

 

I think the awarding of points seriously needs a revisit. As I'm at Black and there's no sign of a higher tier being introduced, yet, this isn't an issue for me. But the new system is just plain wrong and unfair and should be changed.

 

One minor concern I'd have is how some people onboard may react, for example, when queueing for tenders and finding out that there are those getting priority tendering as a result of being loyal customers of other companies. There are plenty of anecdotes relating to incidents where people thought some were skipping the queue when YC passengers were being escorted to the front by the butler!! In any case, I don't think the "perks" are attractive enough to woo cruisers away from their favourite lines, anyway! From the discussion on Celebrity's board, they're less than impressed!

 

I agree. I view it as a marketing ploy aimed primarily at the US market.

 

Look how they have spun it for the trade:

 

http://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/news-headlines/revamped-msc-loyalty-club-rewards-on-board-spend-shaves-at-least-5-off-future-cruises.html

 

Will the promo work as a ploy to lure cruisers from 'premium' brands - JMO - not a hope.

 

All these changes especially for solos has resulted in chasing us away to consider premium brands.

 

Annie

[anniegb]

Thanks for the tip Annie. I'd assumed (wrongly) that Azamara would be well outside my budget.

 

Solo supplements make the biggest difference overall to those of us who travel on our own.

 

Dave that could be their website playing up or it could be them copying Costa again. Just over a year ago, I got a price of almost £700 on a Cista Srabian cruise last minute when I was logged in as a Costa member at their second lvel then. Went back to check something and forgot to log in and it was just over £400. Called them as I assumed it was a mistake. It wasn't, it was a promotion that wasn't available with a Costa discount, so they quoted the next price band up. Pretty sneaky I thought. They really were prepapred to give better prices to new customers than existing customers. Don't think it matters who the line is, it pays to play around and check prices with and without supplements and with and without member discounts.

 

Hi Mairi

 

Azamara only charges solos 25% solo penalty on several cruises a year.

 

Annie

[The_Big_M]

Look at it this way as someone who's never sailed MSC and will be for the first time in September. I am Platinum on Carnival and I've wanted to try something else but I was always hesitant because of loyalty. I saw this great itinerary for September and remembered the people we met on the shuttle from the dock in Marseille. They said, "oh we would have been on Carnival with you but the price was so high at the time of booking, so we decided to do MSC Divina. We really like it."

 

MSC has certainly made me a fan and someone a lot more likely to cruise them in the future with a status match to my Carnival Platinum status. I definitely think if all cruise lines did this there would be A LOT of people trying different lines, which would benefit the lines. I've generally found the loyalty perks have never mattered to me but it's nice to know they want someone to feel "welcomed" and "appreciated." I do realize it goes the same for those people who have sailed a lot with MSC.

 

And then there'd be heaps more people crowding the lounges and priority queues, and enjoying the free drinks/laundry/internet/whatever, which wouldn't benefit the line OR passengers. You'd get lots of grumbles saying what's the point, if that's how they treat elite passengers and so on.

 

And then people would no longer display the loyalty that you even referred to with Carnival, which wouldn't benefit the lines at all. Build some status and then you're free as a bird.

 

If they ever went that way then they'd have to do like other loyalty program providers and expire membership in a short period. And even like a number, have to maintain that qualification e.g. 30 nights in the past year. I'm not sure how many would prefer that trade-off that they can go elsewhere but also have to sail their own program.

 

Very frequent cruisers may be happy, but for the majority of passengers it'd be a losing proposition.

[Beamafar]

I agree. I view it as a marketing ploy aimed primarily at the US market.

 

Look how they have spun it for the trade:

 

http://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/news-headlines/revamped-msc-loyalty-club-rewards-on-board-spend-shaves-at-least-5-off-future-cruises.html

 

Will the promo work as a ploy to lure cruisers from 'premium' brands - JMO - not a hope.

 

All these changes especially for solos has resulted in chasing us away to consider premium brands.

 

Annie

 

You have to wonder who, in their right mind, cooked up these changes? They've antagonised and caused resentment among those who enjoy their product - and, for what? It's hard to believe that they think they can spin this - it adds insult to injury!

 

I would have thought that they'd have a good idea by now that they have a different offering from other cruise lines and, instead of enhancing that experience, they're all over the place trying to appeal to everybody and, IMO, they're going to fail spectacularly.

[anniegb]

You have to wonder who, in their right mind, cooked up these changes? They've antagonised and caused resentment among those who enjoy their product - and, for what? It's hard to believe that they think they can spin this - it adds insult to injury!

 

I would have thought that they'd have a good idea by now that they have a different offering from other cruise lines and, instead of enhancing that experience, they're all over the place trying to appeal to everybody and, IMO, they're going to fail spectacularly.

 

Firstly I agree as a marketing ploy it won't work.

 

I sailed on the Divina TA from Miami and many 1st timers were very disappointed in the product. I would say it was my poorest MSC cruise.

 

However MSC are committed to these huge ships - how do they fill them?

 

Annie

[Beamafar]

Firstly I agree as a marketing ploy it won't work.

 

I sailed on the Divina TA from Miami and many 1st timers were very disappointed in the product. I would say it was my poorest MSC cruise.

 

However MSC are committed to these huge ships - how do they fill them?

 

Annie

 

The new ship, Meraviglia, for 2017 seems to be priced very reasonably and MSC may garner some new fans from those cruisers who want to try out the new ship - same goes for Seaside when it is launched, if it's priced right.

 

One of the biggest incentives for me, to date, has been their very competitive pricing and the drinks packages are by far the best value IMO. My first couple of cruises with them were in the Med and to the Canaries in Winter and I was driven by the price. I was doing a lot of land-based holidays at the time so a cheap cruise was very attractive as a winter break! In fact, the one I did last December was practically cheaper than staying at home!!

 

Sometimes I cruise for the itinerary and other times the ship is the destination. I'm becoming more itinerary-driven, now, and have booked a couple of repos for that reason. However, the 20% discount became a serious influencing factor so I'm not sure how the reduction to 5% will influence future bookings.

 

My TA hates dealing with MSC and encouraged me to try Celebrity - he thinks it would be a "good fit" for me. I've booked with X only because there's a port on the itinerary that I really want to visit which is a difficult destination to get to, otherwise. I'm looking forward to experiencing the difference between the two lines.

 

Will the new Voyagers Club perks attract new customers? I doubt it, somehow. Already, those from other loyalty programmes are comparing and contrasting the different benefits and finding MSCs offerings less than favourable.

[Mikesa1721]

It's quite easy to see what this new program is designed for. It's not designed to compete with other cruise line loyalty clubs, or any attempt to lure those passengers away from their current cruise line because of the loyalty benefits. It's designed to offer a passenger a few benefits to get them to try MSC for the first time.

 

Every cruise line has their own marketing gimmicks trying to attract new passengers,,MSC is trying something new which no one in the industry has ever done before so I really can't fault them for trying to attract new business. I know from reading some of the other message boards and Facebook pages that there are droves of people waiting to sign up when the program launches today so we may start to see an influx of "New To MSC" threads on this board in the coming weeks and months.

 

Bottom Line: I'm not going to worry about how or why someone is a Classic,Silver, Gold,or Black level member,,,it really has no effect on my cruise experience. I know what I'm getting when I book and I'm happy with that!!

Edited July 22, 2015 by Mikesa1721

[cruiseguyinorl]

Bottom Line: I'm not going to worry about how or why someone is a Classic,Silver, Gold,or Black level member,,,it really has no effect on my cruise experience. I know what I'm getting when I book and I'm happy with that!!

 

Well said!

 

Bret

[Norwegian Cruiser 73]

And the YC is still there for us Mike, at a great value for money and reasonable price compared to the luxury lines out there. :)

[Mikesa1721]

Well said!

 

Bret

 

Thanks so much Cruiseguy!!!!