D+ and the MSC Black Status?

[SAmome]

I'm a fairly new D+ and was happy to read about Black Status matching but don't really know anything about MSC but thought "someday" could be cool.

 

I noticed a thread about matching an 3 years and expiring offer.  Is this something sort of grandfathered in if match before the rules change?  

 

What would be the thriftiest way to try MSC and use the "Black" benefits and get a 3 year extension?

[LMaxwell]

You retain your status match for up to 3 years if not used.  If you use it within 3 years, that "re-ups" it.  I have heard reports that fewer and fewer are being matched to Black even at highest levels of other company loyalty programs.   The 3 year rule is not new though.  

 

Got status match to black in december 2015.  Cruised 2016, 2017, 2018.  My Black Status is good until 2021; if I sail again before 2021 the 3 year clock starts at the next sailing.  

[SAmome]

 Is there a different match for Diamond vs D+?  It's not obvious from the msc match program section of website.

 

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/MSC-Voyagers-Club/Loyalty-Match-Program.aspx

 

So, are the most useful "Black only" perks the priority boarding and the visit to a specialty restaurant and the 50obc?

 

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/MSC-Voyagers-Club/Voyagers-Club.aspx

 

[Clarea]

5 minutes ago, SAmome said:

 Is there a different match for Diamond vs D+?  It's not obvious from the msc match program section of website.

 

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/MSC-Voyagers-Club/Loyalty-Match-Program.aspx

 

So, are the most useful "Black only" perks the priority boarding and the visit to a specialty restaurant and the 50obc?

 

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/MSC-Voyagers-Club/Voyagers-Club.aspx

 

 

Diamond and above in RC gets Black in MSC.

[SAmome]

I did search a bit and understand the specialty dining perk is one per cabin now but assume they aren't really enforcing that you can't bring your cabin mate if they are also matched, right?  

 

We wouldn't want to consider it a perk if one pax has to pay for the specialty dining just b/c both pax matched to black.

 

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Assets/VOYAGERS_CLUB_Terms_conditions_USA_Edits12042018 .pdf

 

4.3 MSC Voyagers Club PRIVILEGES

Complimentary Specialty restaurant "Tasting Menu" dinner (no beverages) [Black], per stateroom. Members are entitled to enjoy a tasting menu dinner for 2 at a specialty restaurant once during the cruise (beverages excluded). Members may extend their invitation to one occupant of the same stateroom only once and only if the stateroom occupant is not a Black member. Privilege and speciality restaurants may not be available on all ship classes. Privilege is not available if the members decide to eat dinner at self-service buffet. Members under 18 must be accompanied in order to enjoy the privilege.Members are not allowed to bring any outside beverages into the restaurant.

[LMaxwell]

They don't care who you bring to dinner; they are simply redeeming the free specialty dinner for the cabin number.  We did get two dinners in the past (one dinner for 2 per member) but that is correct, it is now just one per room.  

 

You also get 5% off your cruise fare, fruit bowl, prosecco and strawberries, robes and slippers, priority tendering (at Grand Cayman they walk you right to getting on the tender, skip entire line), free Spa thermal passes for each member (not for entire trip), they have a Captains party/black party/welcome back, all with PLENTY of booze flowing at no charge.  Black members get free photos (certain selection), a couple of giant chocolate ships, each member gets a gift (we've gotten hats, backpacks, that sort of stuff).  There may be a few minor ones I am leaving off.  

 

Royal has never comped us a specialty dinner.  Royals Balcony discount is more than MSC 5% off (on certain cruises can be as high as 20% for black members though), but MSC gives you the discount on ALL rooms.  

 

I've noticed zero difference between bella and fantastica.  now that many sailings include wifi and drinks I don't see a reason for Aurea either.  Wellness was DOA.  Have never sailed YC.  

[jules815]

I'm Diamond with RC and status matched to Black at MSC.  We did this after we booked our first cruise with them (we sail on Seaside 1/12), and when I called about a booking question, they adjusted our fare with the 5% discount, which was a nice surprise.  I've read over on the MSC board that recently people are only being given Gold status with D or D+ status with RC, but then others have reported they received Black, so who knows?  I do know that we're demoted if we don't continue to sail with them.  🙂  We'll be in the Yacht Club, and a lot of those perks are the same as Black card perks, with maybe some extras.  Between the 2, we're all "perked up."  Looking forward to this trip.  I'm sick of the cold weather. 🙂

 

[George C]

We had our travel agent call and get us our black status, we recently became diamond plus and look forward to our yacht club cruise in November. Perks seem better than rccl but I am sure we will miss rccl entertainment.

[hancogran]

31 minutes ago, jules815 said:

I'm Diamond with RC and status matched to Black at MSC.  We did this after we booked our first cruise with them (we sail on Seaside 1/12), and when I called about a booking question, they adjusted our fare with the 5% discount, which was a nice surprise.  I've read over on the MSC board that recently people are only being given Gold status with D or D+ status with RC, but then others have reported they received Black, so who knows?  I do know that we're demoted if we don't continue to sail with them.  🙂  We'll be in the Yacht Club, and a lot of those perks are the same as Black card perks, with maybe some extras.  Between the 2, we're all "perked up."  Looking forward to this trip.  I'm sick of the cold weather. 🙂

 

We are diamond on RC and just got our status match email last week from MSC.. .we are Gold on that line.  I think they've changed it recently and are no longer matching Black with Diamond and Diamond +.  

[gagirl7143]

Doing one with Black match in Feb so I will report back to the benefits. 

[Thorben-Hendrik]

Interesting! 👍

[Saab4444]

They changed it and only the highest status Pinacle is now matched with their highest status Black, Diamond Plus is indeed Gold now. The three years until expiring if you don’t cruise still apply, thereafter youget a new club number. We did the status match 2.5 years after our MSC cruise with respective club number and the nice Black was gone  unused and forever after 6 months....

[little britain]

On 12/30/2018 at 2:04 PM, Host Clarea said:

 

Diamond and above in RC gets Black in MSC.

They changed it in October unfortunately.  D+ now “only” gets you gold status. 

 

For those thinking about MSC I wrote a lengthy comparison

 https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/topic/2461671-diamond-plus-tries-turning-black-on-msc/

 

I have also just booked on the Maiden cruise on their new Bellissima... I’ll report back! 

Edited January 4, 2019 by little britain

[L454S]

Have done 2 black card sailings with MSC now and while there are some nice perks, it's not as good as RCI D+. 

 

However, if RCI chips away at the C&A perks(like they have), then loyalty starts to erode. Like the 2 MSC sailings we have spent our money on and enjoyed both. We only have our wallets to speak with.

Edited January 4, 2019 by L454S

[frank808]

I matched as a D+ to their black level and sailed 2 weeks this past July on Seaside.  Loved the Yacht Club lounge, restaurant,  private pool deck with bar, lukewarm tubs, loungers always available and the great service.  Access to the spa for one day is included and it was the best spa I have been to at sea.  With YC you get accesss every day.  A lot of the black perks are duplicated by sailing in YC.

 

Pricing was very good as we could sail 2 weeks for less than the price of a CL2 for one week.  Also drink package is included with YC.  As a black member we got a specialty dinner for each week of the cruise.  You get to choose from the tasting menu or can get 50% off any wntree on the regular menu.  The butchers cut steakhouse was never crowded both times and did not look crowded when ever we passed by.  Also a chocolate ship and bottle of sparkling wine.  The meet n mingle was the best i have ever been to of all our cruises.  Senior officers at black party, meet n mingle and YC party.  Also the officers seem to truly want your opinion about what could be improved.  With black you also get priority embarkation and disembarkation.  Don't really remember those perks as we did not use it as YC there was butlers to escort you on embarkation, ports of call and disembarkation.  One thing I like is we did not have to go to another lifeboat drill on the second week.

 

If you have any questions post away.  It was so good that we booked 4 more cruises onboard.

Edited January 4, 2019 by frank808

[Clarea]

4 hours ago, little britain said:

They changed it in October unfortunately.  D+ now “only” gets you gold status. 

 

For those thinking about MSC I wrote a lengthy comparison

 https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/topic/2461671-diamond-plus-tries-turning-black-on-msc/

 

I have also just booked on the Maiden cruise on their new Bellissima... I’ll report back! 

 

Thanks for the updated info.

[Beachin2]

An update to confirm the status match changes RC to MSC.  We are D+ with RC at close to 500 points.  Have booked the 14 night MSC Seaside for 10/19 in the Yacht Club (cancelled the RC Adventure B2B).

 

Had applied to MSC for the status match about 9 months ago, but they apparently discontinued processing the match requests without a confirmed booking number.  Had I known, I would have booked a phantom cruise back then with a refundable deposit to obtain the match.

 

We were just matched to MSC Gold at 4,300 MSC points (not sure how that was calculated).  Based on what I've read, there are not many "perks" missing from Black level when you cruise in the YC anyway.

 

Also, while their loyalty program gives a 5% discount, their military discount is 10% which was very nice indeed and was immediately applied after sending them a copy of my ID card.  Not sure if that applies to every sailing or just selected ones.

 

[frank808]

58 minutes ago, Beachin2 said:

An update to confirm the status match changes RC to MSC.  We are D+ with RC at close to 500 points.  Have booked the 14 night MSC Seaside for 10/19 in the Yacht Club (cancelled the RC Adventure B2B).

 

Had applied to MSC for the status match about 9 months ago, but they apparently discontinued processing the match requests without a confirmed booking number.  Had I known, I would have booked a phantom cruise back then with a refundable deposit to obtain the match.

 

We were just matched to MSC Gold at 4,300 MSC points (not sure how that was calculated).  Based on what I've read, there are not many "perks" missing from Black level when you cruise in the YC anyway.

 

Also, while their loyalty program gives a 5% discount, their military discount is 10% which was very nice indeed and was immediately applied after sending them a copy of my ID card.  Not sure if that applies to every sailing or just selected ones.

 

You will not miss many perks from not being black.  Largest is no dinner in specialty restaurant but yc restaurant is very good.  Better than Coastal Kitchen on ships that have them.  No extra bottle of bubbly (but you do get one for being in YC), no chocolate ship, free picture and will miss the black card party.  But you will be able to goto the meet n mingle and YC party.  Do go to these as they are well done and the senior officers show up.  All the other black card stuff you will get being YC passenger.