Sunshine2U Posted August 11, 2016 #1 Share Posted August 11, 2016 How good is the MSC Customer Service/Booking team these days? I'm ready to book and now deciding where to book. I usually look for the best deal and then go that route. So if everything else was equal, how easy is MSC to work with these days? We'll be booking a balcony and as inexpensive inside cabin as we can get. I'm not seeing an Inside Guaranteed come up anywhere. Do they exist on every cruise? We're looking at the Seaside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmoMondo Posted August 11, 2016 #2 Share Posted August 11, 2016 I always book direct with MSC now, either by phone or online. It's extremely easy to do so and I prefer not to use third parties unless I must. I'm talking about the UK office though. You may be in a different location. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Beamafar Posted August 11, 2016 #3 Share Posted August 11, 2016 Booking direct with MSC is pretty straightforward - the reps will have the information you need to hand, especially cabin availability, whereas a TA will be back and forth with any questions you have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deliver42 Posted August 11, 2016 #4 Share Posted August 11, 2016 I've booked direct twice. By calling instead of on line, you can get a better choice of cabins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riclop Posted August 12, 2016 #5 Share Posted August 12, 2016 How good is the MSC Customer Service/Booking team these days? I'm ready to book and now deciding where to book. I usually look for the best deal and then go that route. So if everything else was equal, how easy is MSC to work with these days? We'll be booking a balcony and as inexpensive inside cabin as we can get. I'm not seeing an Inside Guaranteed come up anywhere. Do they exist on every cruise? We're looking at the Seaside. You can get better prices with a TA. USA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strikerSBG Posted August 12, 2016 #6 Share Posted August 12, 2016 When you book via a TA you can get additional discounts as well as OBC. MSC directly does not offer this... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine2U Posted August 12, 2016 Author #7 Share Posted August 12, 2016 I've read that MSC does not allow TA's to discount. Also, I haven't found an online TA who is offering any discount or OBC that is not available direct from MSC. I've done online price comparisons. And I called one large cruise discount company. All have the same offer available from MSC. Yet I always hear that TA's have better deals. How do you go about finding a better deal? I'm glad to report when I called MSC my call was answered promptly and the agent was able to field my questions. So that was good news to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strikerSBG Posted August 12, 2016 #8 Share Posted August 12, 2016 Where are you from? I see these offers (mostly additional OBC) on the big german online TAs... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine2U Posted August 13, 2016 Author #9 Share Posted August 13, 2016 I'm in the US. (having some trouble posting so I hope I don't come back tomorrow and see my response posted 5 times!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freeholdfriends Posted August 13, 2016 #10 Share Posted August 13, 2016 We are in US and just booked our first MSC cruise directly. The fellow we are dealing with was excellent. He got us a great cabin and when I status matched he prompltly sent us the new discounted price. SO far, so good.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strikerSBG Posted August 13, 2016 #11 Share Posted August 13, 2016 Everything fine with your post... ;) Maybe things are managed differently by MSC in the US than in Europe... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riclop Posted August 13, 2016 #12 Share Posted August 13, 2016 I've read that MSC does not allow TA's to discount. Also, I haven't found an online TA who is offering any discount or OBC that is not available direct from MSC. I've done online price comparisons. And I called one large cruise discount company. All have the same offer available from MSC. Yet I always hear that TA's have better deals. How do you go about finding a better deal? I'm glad to report when I called MSC my call was answered promptly and the agent was able to field my questions. So that was good news to me. You are not looking at the right ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Reds4life Posted March 11, 2017 #13 Share Posted March 11, 2017 I tried to go through the automobile club in the US and a discount cruise site and neither had any different deal than directly on MSC. However, we have had numerous issues with the customer service department concerning policies and promises that are either misleading or incorrect. We were told conflicting information concerning status match discount and the kids reduced/free promotions. We got a great deal, but you never like to be told you're going to get a better deal and then not receive it. The customer service department never returns emails/voice mails until several days or even weeks later. Some of the agents are misinformed about policies and they messed up our requested dining times. So, all in all, you probably get the same rate directly, but heaven forbid if you ever need anything once you book. Thank goodness for Cruise Critic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chinita415 Posted March 11, 2017 #14 Share Posted March 11, 2017 I booked via an online agent because they offered a modest OBC for our recent Western Med cruise on the Splendida. Once I was registered on the MSC website, I was able to call MSC directly when I needed to change some things and order a 18 drinks coupons. The US customer service reps are located in Florida so no language or culture barriers. The only issue was the time difference from the west coast for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vea52 Posted March 11, 2017 #15 Share Posted March 11, 2017 Hi, I booked through vacations to go and am very happy with the price. The agent has been very helpful and I have now booked our 3rd MSC cruise through her Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teachmath1 Posted March 11, 2017 #16 Share Posted March 11, 2017 If you look around there is an online travel agent that offers discounted rates on MSC and NCL cruises. I booked a cruise for about 10% less than I could directly through MSC. The only bad part with this TA is that if you cancel your booking they charge you a $100 fee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deliver42 Posted March 11, 2017 #17 Share Posted March 11, 2017 I've used their representatives twice for booking, and have been extremely happy . I now have a direct line for my PCC. Another reason to call is that you don't get your Voyager Club discount online. You have to call for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerryincork Posted March 11, 2017 #18 Share Posted March 11, 2017 I book both ways. The last two times I've booked with a TA (but only if they are the same price as booking direct) just if there is an issue with my booking I don't have to deal with them to get it sorted Sent from my SM-N910F using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mafig Posted March 11, 2017 #19 Share Posted March 11, 2017 On Divina I booked with a TA and got a discounted rate and paid insurance or $300 OBC. I fully expect the same, or better, with Seaside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich60 Posted March 12, 2017 #20 Share Posted March 12, 2017 I cruise solo. After contacting a number of TAs they found nothing available for a single traveler. I then called MSC directly. The MSC agent found a single inside cabin with a 40 percent single supplement and a 5 percent military discount. He suggested I do a status match and call him back. Called back and he was able to get me an additional 10 percent discount because it is a 21 day Voyager Select Cruise. With the exceptional service I was able to accomplish my booking in one day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oceangrace Posted March 13, 2017 #21 Share Posted March 13, 2017 I got a$280 OBC through a travel agent with everything else being even with msc. This was for the seaside. Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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