merryjewelhound

What I wondered why the option to join at the next port was not offered.

I have wondered that myself why we weren't offered the option to join at the next port.

When the MSC Armonia canceled our cruise Thursday we purchased a train ticked at the station for about 5 Euro to Rome Termini and then purchased tickets on the Leonardo Express to the airport for 14 Euro. We had sailed The Princess Sun the end of March and took the shuttle from the terminal to the train station for 6 Euro and they did take credit cards. The bus was easy to use and just ran back and forth.

We made it safely home last night. My refund has already been posted. I am sorry I will never get to try MSC but could never trust them again. I did purchase MSC cruise insurance and we started a claim the day of the cancellation. I will keep you updated. I don't know what MSC could have done differently. BUT some show of caring (other than the cruise credit as I would need to have my head examined before I would use). I hope others that were stranded are able enjoy the rest of the journey. Plus now I have a dramatic cruise tale. I was telling the flight attendant and he couldn't believe..... Xinran good luck.

Well, I don't have much more to add to this topic. So I hope everyone has smooth sailing.

Thank you for your thoughts MsTabbyKats.

They did mention that cruise but nothing about it being free. I had concerns about paying for a hotel room for 3 days and it seemed to be from another city. The problems we have run into and hopefully insurance may cover???? is that we were too late to cancel our hotel in Venice and have been charged for 1 night of it. We were in the port so we paid taxi, transportation to get there, the hotel and then the next day back to Rome. Each fee is not much but I have now exceeded the price of the $500 4 day experimental cruise to see if I liked MSC. I just wasn't confident in MSC to help me.

Shipgeeks, I was super excited to try them. I mean I stayed 5 days in Rome to take a 4 day cruise (about $500 for 2). I will never know. I am not slamming them to be mean, They really did leave me with less than 24 hour notice of cancellation and no phone number or any help.

I could understand the failure to detect fake documents. It was that MSC didn't even give us a phone number to call when they cancelled the cruise. Princess has always been great in helping.

We decided to head back home as we had reservations for in 4 days (Monday April 8) in Venice and didn't know where to stay till then as we would not be on the cruise. We are just so grateful to have been able to sail on the Sun. We LOVED it and look forward to sailing that class again. Maybe next year when they bring the new ship out we will try again for Venice.

Thanks Cable, We spent 5 days in Rome touring waiting for the next ship and our happy with our decision to leave something for next time and head back home. Easter in Rome was lovely.

Sorry yes! 2024. I saw that article yesterday. I feel bad for the company...but I am still at the Dock with no ship to board and no way to spend the next 4 day nor get to Venice. I guess there will always be something that comes up as we have seen in the last few year. At least I can rave about the SUN.

Well just woke up in Civitavecchia as we had planned to board MSC Armonia today. A few of my thoughts about MSC and you can imagine I don't think highly of them. 1. A text was sent out that the cruise was cancelled at 1430 April 3, 2023 so less than 24 hours before boarding. 2. There was NO phone number or contact person "contact your MSC office" that was hard using an American cell phone and no idea how to find the number. Eventually the travel insurance agent was able to transfer us to them. 3. I fulfilled my obligations' to them. I traveled in a day early, The extremely kind agent could only repeat what corporate told them. Not their fault and we would get 50% free cruise credit.` I checked airfare and it was over $1000 to fly home from Rome to IAD. No mention of how to get to next port where our travel arrangements were in place or where to stay. NO OFFER OF ASSIST by MSC. I have taken city buses that cared more. We are Princess Elite and Sailed the Sun and it was fantastic! We were offered a move over by Princess but declined due to the MSC cruise ( I would have loved to have taken that) We spent extra days in Rome waiting for MSC Armonia 4 day cruise to get us to Venice. Princess is a total pro compared to what MSC has been

Well just woke up in Civitavecchia as we had planned to board today. A few of my thoughts about MSC and you can imagine I don't think highly of them. 1. The text was sent out that the cruise was cancelled at 1430 so less than 24 hours before boarding. 2. There was NO phone number or contact person "contact your MSC office" that was hard using an American cell phone and no idea how to find the number. Eventually the travel insurance agent was able to transfer us to them. 3. I fulfilled my obligations' to them. I traveled in a day early, The extremely kind agent could only repeat what corporate told them. Not their fault and we would get 50% free cruise credit.`` I checked airfare and it was over $1000 to fly home from Rome to IAD. No mention of how to get to next port where our travel arrangements were in place or where to stay. NO OFFER OF ASSIST by MSC. I have taken city buses that cared more.

I completely understand and we are getting the same thing. This was our first (I don't see us trying this again) MSC cruise. What surprised me is that they are a European cruise line and I would think they would be familiar with documents needed. I am Elite with Princess and I am pretty sure they are much stricter regarding documentation for boarding.

We had another 2 weeks after the cruise ended so trying to fill in the 4 day gap and getting to Venice for our hotel was just not for doable. So we are heading back to the states.

They offered 50% the price we paid for the cruise (obviously they are refunding the cruise fare) as a FCC. There is also cruises that are leaving on the 7th they offered.

We are on the phone now with agent The ship is stuck with immigration in Barcelona. The compensation is pitiful.

We are in Civitacecchia due to get on the cruise tomorrow and I just got a text that the cruise is cancelled.

Something another passenger observed is there are no ice machines. I don't use it so this is just a fyi.

We are up at 0500 for a shore excursion at 0730. Hubby went to Eatery and got coffee and it was tepid. Then went to International Cafe and got brewed it was free till 0600(?). Nothing I write is fact only what we observed.

Yes, there is all of the above (not sure if juice is only breakfast or all day) at Eatery that are in containers. I asked a waiter today and he said that I could help myself. Also the waiter will bring the above to your table as on other cruises. Also available at breakfast in the dining room and at dinner (lunch on sea days) as on other ships.

In Santorini, the Sun must use the port's tenders. They were not allowed to use the ships "lifeboats". We got a late start due to it being the first time the Sun was in port and there were delays with the city not Princesses fault. It took a several hours for everyone to get off the ship once the tenders started running. I mention this as a couple had rented a car and ended up using the stairs to get up to it.

I don't know how often the Sun will stop at Santorini, but the lines are crazy long for the Gondola (the lift) and the donkey rides. There are 2 smaller ships here also. Violinist is practicing right now and on 10 in the hallway near the elevators I could faintly hear him. But this would be very subjective.

The only drink that I have seen available is coffee right before buffet opens. Other drinks are in pitchers poured by staff during serving hours. I think they open at 0600. I asked several servers about drinks at night and only got vague answers about using International cafe.