MrMike45

Wait...I just booked (2 days ago) Divina in Sept 2021 leaving out NY.  Mind you that was after our Oct 2020 Meraviglia cruise from NY to Canada was cancelled.  Did I just book another cancelled cruise?  

Booked the other day when I cancelled our Oct 2020 cruise. 126pp here as well. But thank you @Até for pointing it out 

I actually booked the Divina Bermuda/Boston/Maine cruise. We love Boston (have a young son and their aquarium is the best we have ever seen) and Bermuda is our favorite island. So when I saw the unique itinerary of going north to come back south, was sold. 
 

Now let’s just hope there is a vaccine by then and no re-outbreak next year 

22 minutes ago, Até said:

Most of these Meraviglia cruises are still outside of final payment for many people so they can cancel according to their country's rules, I believe that is what you did.  Even by June 19th there will be people outside of final payment with deposits only.  Since MSC has now officially cancelled Meraviglia September 5th up to November 3rd they are offering the extra 25% FCC on whatever people have paid for anyone that wants to make another booking.  Without getting into the overall refund inequities between regions, that makes it a little more fair for those with non-refundable deposits.

 

I'm surprised they didn't try to make something work, they still had possibilities without Canada ports, and the repo to Miami had no problem.  Maybe a change from Canadian to Bermuda sailing was too big to try to push on customers, perhaps because not enough of those people booked would have the option to cancel.  Under the old Terms that wouldn't be a problem since a major itinerary change was just cause for a customer cancellation and refund, now it's not.  I still see Meraviglia's August Northern European sailings.  I could see her make the TA to Europe empty but think they must be planning something for her return to the US.  I'm watching for some last minute itineraries to pop up before her return to Miami.

Most of the Canadian/NE sailings are also 10-11 days.  Bermuda is typically a 7 day cruise with 3 days in Bermuda.  Bermuda isn't that big...spending 4-5 days there would be overkill.  Would have needed another port or 2.  Considering it was like 4 cruises, probably easier to just cancel and put the Meraviglia elsewhere.  

3 hours ago, Até said:

Interesting that for US all fares and deposits will automatically go to a FCC and you cannot request a refund until June 19th (further instructions to come).

 

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/cruise-itinerary-changes-and-cancellations

That must be for just cruises cancelled by MSC. When I spoke with my casino rep the day Canada announced they were accepting cruise ships, a few days before MSC’s official announcement, I was about to get a credit back as opposed to FCC. 

That looks like a nice room. But the cruise I’m looking at is an odd itinerary. Head north to Boston and Maine, and then head south to Bermuda for 3 days. So not only shorts...but funky Bermuda shorts!!!

Ok thanks everyone, sounds like they’re definitely worth getting 

Now that the 2020 cruise season is officially shot for us living (and sailing) out of NY, we’re looking towards 2021 season. 
 

Looking at the Divina. They have a YC deluxe suite and a YC Grand Deluxe suite. But I can’t tell the difference other than a few hundred dollars per person. 
 

The Deluxe suite description is fairly informative. Room is approx 300-340 sq feet with a 64 sq ft balcony. Floor layout plan is there as well as a virtual 360 tour. 
 

The Grand Deluxe suite is like $250 more pp. The description is useless and it says “coming summer 2020” which obviously didn’t happen. The room and balcony size listed is in square meters not feet. But doing a conversion it actually works out to the room being significantly smaller. There is no 360 tour. And the floor layout is the same as the normal deluxe suite. 
 

So what am I missing? What’s makes these rooms worth $250 more per person? Any of the super informative MSC regulars know? Or since these were new this summer it’s a mystery?

Just an FYI...

just got off the phone with my casino rep. While the cruise we were booked on is not officially cancelled yet, for all intents and purposes, it is “canceled” due to Canada’s ruling today on cruise ports. 
 

He said that accounting is too back logged to transfer deposits from one cruise to another, so instead our deposit is being refunded to us (within 60 days). However he was more than happy to transfer our 30% casino voucher/discount to our Sept 2021 cruise given the situation. 

Quite honestly, a very painless experience that took a grand total of 15 mins including all hold time. Really simple and excellent customer service. 

36 minutes ago, ziggyuk said:

 

No smoking across Europe did no see mass cassino closures, life goes on and people adapt.

It really is time the US caught up and banned smoking in all internal public spaces.

again my post was not meant for the 800th smoking debate. It was more an economical comment. 
 

whether you agree or disagree about smoking in casinos. Whether or not you have casinos by you that ban or allow smoking. Not the point. 
 

 In March when these casinos closed....a large % of their clientele were smoking gamblers. For the last 2 months they have generated $0 income. For them to now reopen and tell that large population of people who were visiting their casinos and generating revenue for them...Sorry were open but you’re not welcome....is not a good financial decision. 
 

it might be a wise health decision. And it might be a mandated CDC decision. But financially, if you’re trying to recoup money you’ve lost you want to welcome as many people as possible with open arms. 

2 hours ago, fastpitchdad said:

 

That is what they said when they started banning smoking in bars. I lived in the first city ever to do it and the bars screamed bloody murder and claimed they would all be out of business within months. Guess what? They ended up making more money because people who were avoiding the smoke started going out and the smokers realized they didn't really need to smoke inside. 

those bars weren’t closed and making $0 money for the last 2+ months though. That’s the point I was making. These casinos need revenue...badly. Disallowing smoking lessens their potential clientele and ability to get back on their feet. 
 

I am not trying to turn this into a smoking debate. Just pointing out. If I owned a casino and I’m trying to keep my business afloat I wouldn’t want to tell a large portion of my patrons sorry, you can’t come. 

Banning smoking would also severely cut into profits for an industry that has lost a ton of money over the past 2 months. 
 

Gambling (slots in particular) + drinking + smoking all go hand in hand at a casino 

whether you’re a smoker or not, arguing that point is silly if you’ve ever been in a casino 

Not sure there is a definitive date. Canada though has been very strict with their borders so I would assume not until things calm down dramatically 

The entire cruise season out of NY (atleast for MSC) seems canceled. All cruises removed from the website 

4 hours ago, Mike C said:

I noticed that our October 22, 2020 repositioning cruise to Miami from NYC was missing.  I spent two hours on the phone with MSC trying to switch my FCC and Casino Discount to a 2021 sailing.

 

The agent told me that she sees the Meraviglia sailing from Martinique on October 23, 2020.

 

Mike

Were you able to switch in the end?

We are currently booked on an Oct 2020 cruise from NY to Canada and NE.  Hopeful that it will be cancelled prior to final payment due early July.  

Just checked the website, looking at new bookings, and this cruise, as well as all cruises FROM NY for 2020 have been removed.  However when I then log in and check my account, the cruise still lists as active.  

Do you think this means MSC is in the midst of cancelling these cruises?  Or just not taking new bookings since maybe they believe it will be cancelled?  I can't see it being sold out given the current situation, especially in NY.  

As a NY City resident, I am willing to bet money that there will be no cruises in 2020.  

NY State and NYC are 2 different worlds at this point.  NYS is planning to start reopening this week.  NYC is going to have a 4 stage opening process with 2-3 weeks in between each stage to see if the numbers hold or go up as more people are around each other.  Stage 1 should start early/mid June.  So by time you're at stage 4, Summer is over.

And given that most medical experts are predicting another wave come Fall, after the world goes back to somewhat normalcy, but before there is a vaccine or "herd immunity"...there goes Fall and Winter.  

My guess is Spring 2021, unless a vaccine somehow is available beforehand.

Hopefully I'm wrong.  Not because I really care or am interested on jumping on a cruise ship right now, as we still wear masks anytime we leave the house and scrounge for things like toilet paper and lysol wipes.  But if there are cruise ships running weekly from NY, maybe the rest of NY is also running and we can get back living our lives.  

I guess I knew the answer already but was posting more for opinions and insight, which I greatly appreciate and have come to rely on from the people on these boards. 
 

As others said, I think I am in the same boat (no pun intended). Will wait until July and hope MSC cancels the cruise so we get the 30% discount voucher back. Not sneezing at the $300 by any means, but 30% off is a much bigger nugget and what I am hoping to avoid losing. 
 

We’re still scrounging for toilet paper, leaving our houses sparingly with masks, and literally have no clue when we will be allowed to go back to work and regular life. Things are much different here in NY than in other countries and even many other states in the US. So I can’t see us feeling comfortable about being on a cruise in October unless something dramatically changes. And therefore can’t see me paying $3500 in July hoping they cancel, when I could lose that if they don’t and we don’t go. 
 

In the grand scheme of what’s going on in the world, this is so miniscule. I even feel a little guilty posting that I am concerned about losing a discount for a cruise. But figured I would get you guys’ take, so I do appreciate it greatly. 
 

stay safe everyone, especially when “normal” life resumes. 

4 hours ago, Até said:

$300 is $300, I wouldn't want to just give it to them.  One point you didn't mention is what would you do if MSC goes forward with the cruise after you have paid in full.  Would you go?  If they won't move your booking now then I'd wait until July and make the decision then.

Agreed, I don’t want to give away $300.

 My wife has asthma. Nothing super serious but nonetheless is considered high risk given what Covid19 attacks. And our son will be 3 at the time of the cruise. Kids don’t seem to be at risk that much, but they are dirty germ sponges who could very easily get this and pass it on. 
 

So if you ask me today, living in NYC, no we wouldn’t go given what we’re going thru here. Maybe things change dramatically and October we would be ok going on a cruise but I doubt it. 

4 minutes ago, Até said:

Well, if you're 100% sure I would say cancel.  Why will you lose the deposit if you cancel before final payment, and how much was it?  Something to do with a casino booking?  I would think they are looking for people to book so would be more flexible regarding the 30% voucher, perhaps if you asked to switch sailings to next year they would accommodate.

Yes something about the Casino booking that the deposit is non refundable. It was only $100 per person so $300 total which isn’t a big loss. Guess there are different rules for those bookings? 

We are currently booked on a cruise to Canada/New England in October 2020, leaving from NY.   MSC has only cancelled cruises thru July so far, but I am 100% sure that our cruise is going to be cancelled.  MSC only runs a handful of cruises out of NY every year.  And with us (I live in NYC) being the epi-center of the pandemic...even if cruises in general start running in 2020, there is less than 0% chance that cruises will be running from NY with thousands of people gathering in the confined terminals.  

Our final payment is due 7/4/20.  This cruise was booked thru the Casino, with a 30% discount from my previous play/points.  I emailed our rep, and he said that unless MSC cancels this cruise, final payment is expected to be made.  If we don't make final payment, we would not only lose our deposit, but also the 30% discount.  If they wind up then cancelling this cruise, we would get it all back, including the 30% discount voucher.  But obviously that would then entail the long refund wait and everything that comes with it.  

So my question is, come July, if this cruise isn't cancelled...should I pay $3500 for something I know will be cancelled and credited back to me, probably months later?  Seems silly no?  AND if it does not get cancelled and does sail...I'm not sure we would want to go, so would then lose $3500 instead of just the deposit.  Which is the ultimate negative outcome.  

or just take your money back and wait to re-book...

Good for them...and good for them offering 100% full cash refund or 125% FCC.  Smart move IMO.  

30 day increments of shut down?  Same as the 30 day travel ban from Europe?  

Wonder if that will be part of Trump's announcement today?  30 day ban on all cruise ships.  Would tie in with @JamieLogical saying 4/12 you can book.  

Every cruise (from every departure port) leaving in March...mock booking...all rooms "sold out"