Upcharges on cruises....thoughts

[Beamafar]

IMO...This comes down to experience and realistic expectations (which can be alleviated by reading about the ship and offerings through brochures, online, etc)

 

Some people on here talk about "doing the research" before booking, etc etc. When I booked our upcoming cruise, Black Card members got a complimentary meal for 2 per member. We now won't be granted that benefit. So, should I not have had the "realistic expectations" that DH and I would receive a voucher each at the time of booking (as we are both Black Card members)? Or should I have guessed that MSC was going to reduce this benefit prior to cruising?

[lcpagejr]

Some people on here talk about "doing the research" before booking, etc etc. When I booked our upcoming cruise, Black Card members got a complimentary meal for 2 per member. We now won't be granted that benefit. So, should I not have had the "realistic expectations" that DH and I would receive a voucher each at the time of booking (as we are both Black Card members)? Or should I have guessed that MSC was going to reduce this benefit prior to cruising?

 

Beamafar...No disagreements there. That's the problem in today's world. Everything changes so quickly!! Not just cruising but everything. I can't tell you how many times I've read post on other boards where people are surprised a certain loyalty level no longer has amenities they used to enjoy!!

[mom2tcdx2]

For those not getting the vouchers honored, was your money refunded? I really don't see how you could have paid for those vouchers and they not be honored? Otherwise I would throw a fit. Or were these vouchers offered as part of the booking they are now claiming are not offered? I would assume those would have been grandfathered in if they are in your original booking details.

 

Same as they changed the due date for final payment, when going back to my original booking my final payment date was different and then changed. They changed it back to the original due date when I called and asked about it being changed. They said old bookings were grandfathered in. Seems like a communication error somewhere along the line.

[Beamafar]

Beamafar...No disagreements there. That's the problem in today's world. Everything changes so quickly!! Not just cruising but everything. I can't tell you how many times I've read post on other boards where people are surprised a certain loyalty level no longer has amenities they used to enjoy!!

 

I guess the high level of negativity on the forum these days is taking it's toll on me LOL. I seem to be getting bogged down in stuff that I really should be shrugging off. A lot of it has to do with our recent experience on Orchestra when I disembarked never wanting to do another MSC cruise again. Hopefully our upcoming Splendida one will restore a bit of balance in perspective for me.

[lcpagejr]

Some people on here talk about "doing the research" before booking, etc etc. When I booked our upcoming cruise, Black Card members got a complimentary meal for 2 per member. We now won't be granted that benefit. So, should I not have had the "realistic expectations" that DH and I would receive a voucher each at the time of booking (as we are both Black Card members)? Or should I have guessed that MSC was going to reduce this benefit prior to cruising?

 

I gave additional thought to your statement above. Were you saying the benefit has been reduced from pp to per cabin?? Or you no longer get the perk?? Reason I say this is that I noticed Ernie (ERoller) had a picture of a complimentary dinner for 2 card in his pictures....??

[Beamafar]

I gave additional thought to your statement above. Were you saying the benefit has been reduced from pp to per cabin?? Or you no longer get the perk?? Reason I say this is that I noticed Ernie (ERoller) had a picture of a complimentary dinner for 2 card in his pictures....??

 

I meant per cabin - I thought I'd made it clear when I mentioned that we're both Black Card members. However, it was worded clumsily.

 

Up until Nov last, if there were 2 Black Card members in the cabin, they each got a complimentary meal for 2. That has now been reduced to 1 complimentary meal for 2 per cabin, regardless of whether either 1 or both occupants are Black.

 

It's a bit of bug-bear for me as I feel the more points DH and I accrue in Voyagers' Club, the less benefits we're receiving. It's way past time that a new, higher, tier be introduced for those of us who have a very high number of points over and above what's required to reach Black. Anyway, this has all been beaten to death on the Black Card threads.

[lcpagejr]

I meant per cabin - I thought I'd made it clear when I mentioned that we're both Black Card members. However, it was worded clumsily.

 

Up until Nov last, if there were 2 Black Card members in the cabin, they each got a complimentary meal for 2. That has now been reduced to 1 complimentary meal for 2 per cabin, regardless of whether either 1 or both occupants are Black.

 

It's a bit of bug-bear for me as I feel the more points DH and I accrue in Voyagers' Club, the less benefits we're receiving. It's way past time that a new, higher, tier be introduced for those of us who have a very high number of points over and above what's required to reach Black. Anyway, this has all been beaten to death on the Black Card threads.

 

I definitely feel your frustration.... I assume you and your husband still receive your gifts....so why not the dinner for 2 (each). MSC is probably thinking I am giving away 4 meals instead of 2 (meaning you and your husband should just get a free specialty dining card each)..... Is $50/60 really going to break them when you've showed your loyalty to them by your large amount of past cruises??

[Beamafar]

We each get a gift, alright - we get 8 tote bags a year! I'm considering setting up my own stall on our next cruise selling them!

[BermudaBound2014]

I guess the high level of negativity on the forum these days is taking it's toll on me LOL. I seem to be getting bogged down in stuff that I really should be shrugging off. A lot of it has to do with our recent experience on Orchestra when I disembarked never wanting to do another MSC cruise again. Hopefully our upcoming Splendida one will restore a bit of balance in perspective for me.

 

 

You and me both! Here’s to unbogging and shrugging :).

 

I read that over 2,000 People on seaside last week were black card. That explains the watered down benefits. I mean, how much priority tendering can one get when 50% of the ship has the same priority? I do feel that MSc should somehow honor those that received black card the old fashioned way. The status matching marketing tool has worked to get first timers onboard, its time they show some sense of appreciation to their long time customers.

 

 

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[lcpagejr]

You and me both! Here’s to unbogging and shrugging :).

 

I read that over 2,000 People on seaside last week were black card. That explains the watered down benefits. I mean, how much priority tendering can one get when 50% of the ship has the same priority? I do feel that MSc should somehow honor those that received black card the old fashioned way. The status matching marketing tool has worked to get first timers onboard, its time they show some sense of appreciation to their long time customers.

 

 

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That's unbelievable!!!!!! Geez...glad I am in YC ...May need to use the Butler at Grand Cayman LOL

[BermudaBound2014]

That's unbelievable!!!!!! Geez...glad I am in YC ...May need to use the Butler at Grand Cayman LOL

 

 

I highly recommend exactly that! We used a butler escort at debarkation in Miami. The ship arrived several hours late and it was disorganized chaos with people pushing and shoving trying to make flights (not trying to

be negative, MSc simply isn’t great at organizing and communication especially in this situation). Butler took us right to the front of the line and we made our flight with no problems. Lots of people on our roll call without the butler escort missed flights that day. In that case, our butler was worth his weight in gold.

 

I’m assuming you have visited grand cayman before so you understand how great the water activities are. You want to savor every moment :). Do you know of seaside is using Caymen boats to debark or are they relying on seaside lifeboats? That will make a big difference too- the caymen boats hold hundreds each trip.

 

 

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[TravelinGert]

We were on Seaside from Feb 10-17th.

 

I actually felt less nickle and dimed on Seaside than any of our previous cruises. However I attribute at least some of that to how extensive their pre-purchase options are.

 

We received the classic drinks all inclusive as a booking bonus and upgraded to Deluxe due to the Venchi options it brought. I enjoyed at least two options from Venchi every day and felt I got good value for my $56 upgrade since it would have cost me over $85 if purchased a la carte.

 

If we had paid for the Deluxe plan out of pocket I thought it would have been very close to a draw. When I started writing down everything it turns out it was actually a pretty good deal for us even at full price even though we don't actually drink that much alcohol due to all the other things included. We would have spent right at $800 for everything covered by the drink plan had we bought it a la carte after the gratuities were tacked on.

 

To be fair, we would never have consumed $800 worth if we had not had the drink plan. Instead of relishing the ritual of going down to Venchi for an espresso with praline trio right after breakfast daily I'd probably have had one during the cruise. I'd probably have had gelato once or twice. We would still have had the same amounts of bottled waters from the mini bar, but would never have used the sodas, juices, chocolate-covered peanuts, and mini liquor bottles for enjoyment on our balcony. I probably would have consumed the same amounts of wine but chosen cheaper options I was familiar with. I definitely would have never tried several of the cocktails I tried, and if I had ordered that Sazerac I ordered due to being curious about absinthe I would have forced myself to choke it down despite how hideous I found it. Not that I am saying there was anything wrong with it. Having never tried it, that's probably just how they taste. I just didn't like it. Over all feeling free to sample and enjoy was well worth the expense to me.

[gilligan and mary ann]

All inclusive all the way, I hate the nickel and dimeing. I don’t mind paying more so I do not have to take out my ship card to buy a bottle of water.

 

 

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[little britain]

Some people on here talk about "doing the research" before booking, etc etc. When I booked our upcoming cruise, Black Card members got a complimentary meal for 2 per member. We now won't be granted that benefit. So, should I not have had the "realistic expectations" that DH and I would receive a voucher each at the time of booking (as we are both Black Card members)? Or should I have guessed that MSC was going to reduce this benefit prior to cruising?

 

 

 

If it wasn’t for these boards I would never have known that this benefit has been cut (in half) . I would have been furious if I had got on board and only found out then.

 

 

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[Beamafar]

If it wasn’t for these boards I would never have known that this benefit has been cut (in half) . I would have been furious if I had got on board and only found out then.

 

It's the reason I keep a close eye here. It's the only way to stay up-to-date with the constant changes.

 

I normally don't pay too much notice of the vouchers in the envelopes that arrive in the cabin because the benefits are already stored on the cruisecard so I couldn't even say if we used to get 2 vouchers for the complimentary meals due to both of us being Black Card holders. We usually just go to whichever Speciality Restaurant is onboard for each of the 2 nights (we never book in advance, there's never any need on a Med cruise).

 

Fortunately, we had decided to forego a second night on our last cruise in December, so we didn't experience the embarrassment of being turned away. Unbeknownst to us, the cutback had been implemented by then. Same as you, I read it here but it was while we were onboard. I spoke to the Cruise Consultant and he confirmed that it was now 1 meal for 2 per cabin. As I've posted before, he did offer us a second voucher which we (graciously) declined as we'd decided not to go for another evening to the SR.