SirWolf

What is this thread about ? Luggage restrictions of airlines ..or.. advertisement of luggage brands ..or.. bragging about your “expensive” luggage I am flying almost 40 years all over the world.. with 6+ international flights every year. Never was my carry-on luggage subject to inspection. Never been measured.. never been weighted. Why refer to a third-party website for information when airlines posting current restrictions ? Have a good flight and enjoy your cruise.

Carry-On Baggage United Airlines ~ 56 x 35 x 22 centimeter Lufthansa ~ 55 x 40 x 23 centimeter (sources: Websites of United and Lufthansa) 55 centimeter are 21.6535 inches (21 21/32”) .. You will be just fine ..

They never told me about limited number of spots for Healthcare Worker Discount on any sailing. The cruise is far out (December 2023) with plenty vacancies. The advertisement states ” HEALTHCARE HEROES OFFER Terms & Conditions: Up to 10% OFF ALL Cruises (except World Cruises) 5% for Inside and Oceanview categories, 10% for Balcony, Suite, and Yacht Club categories. Subject to availability. See Terms & Conditions for details. “ No explanation of “availability” in Terms & Conditions.

The MSC representative never questioned our credentials (we both work in a Clinical Laboratory). We got Healthcare Worker Discounts applied to all of our sailings in 2021 and 2022 without a problem. The reason for denying the Healthcare Worker Discount is (quote MSC eMail) : ” Please note that the health care discount is not on this sailing. AS per terms and conditions the health care is Subject to availability. I apologize for the inconvenience. “ I feel misled by MSC advertising of Healthcare Worker Discount and sequence of booking & processing of Healthcare Worker Discount request. MSC makes the guest commit to a booking with non-refundable Yacht Club deposit and denies Healthcare Worker Discount based on a reason which was not disclosed during online booking process. No disclaimer that this sailing doesn’t qualify for Healthcare Worker Discount. I asked two times where it’s stated that the discount doesn’t apply to this sailing but the MSC representative ignored my questions. She also ignored my request to escalate the issue to management. Very disappointing..

You are right, that is exactly the point. I asked in two eMails where it’s disclosed that a sailing is not eligible for Healthcare Worker Discount but the MSC representative didn’t answered. The rep has no phone number in her eMail signature. I am pretty sure that MSC has a few questionable clauses in their terms & conditions.. not complying with US consumer laws on federal and state level. Like I said it’s not about the money. I don’t want OBC out of courtesy.. I want what MSC advertises. They are not even providing a legit reason for denying my request.. just that the Healthcare Worker Discount is not available for this sailing.. no proof or disclosure anywhere on MSC USA website. We have never sailed on Seascape but on Seaview and Seashore. We like these ships but prefer Meraviglia and Meraviglia-Plus Class ships (sailed on Meraviglia and Grandiosa).

I am not sure.. to be honest. I paid the deposit and MSC confirmed the booking. I will either lose my YC deposit or don’t get the Healthcare Worker Discount. I received another eMail from the MSC rep who denied my request. She is now telling that me that the decision was made by management.. whatever management means.. She didn’t answered my question where it says on MSC USA website or in booking process that this sailing doesn’t qualifies for the Healthcare Worker Discount. She is typing like a bot.. quoting standard phrases typically used in customer service. MSC USA “lost” $6,498 due to the poor decision not granting the Healthcare Worker Discount.. I was looking into a holiday cruise on Seascape (Miami, 7-Nights, Caribbean) in Yacht Club ..but I will skip MSC this time.. and just booked a holiday cruise with VV (Rockstar category, Miami, 6-Nights, Caribbean). I guess it’s time to browse and try other cruise lines.. looking forward to this new experience..

It says on MSC USA website that the request for Healthcare Worker Discount with supporting documents must be emailed >after booking< to MSChealthcarehero@MSCcruisesUSA.com . They decide about the discount after the fact that the guest already made the booking and paid the deposit. The “freeze the price” option is genius ! .. but I doubt MSC will implement this on their US website .. I still don’t understand why the Healthcare Worker Discount is not available on certain cruises.. that’s the first time I hear about it. We own a Clinical Laboratory and offer 10% discount to First Responders (police, firefighter, etc), healthcare workers, teachers and students. The discount applied to all lab tests.. not only to a few selected tests. The fact that we offer the discount is related to the profession or student status.. and not related to the service/test we are performing. MSC is rewarding Healthcare Workers sailing in certain destinations and not in other regions.

I can’t answer.. came across the charter cruise.. it’s advertised on a lifestyle website.

Based on your profile you are located in the UK. I am dealing with MSC USA in Fort Lauderdale.. do I need to say more ? LOL What is “freeze the price” ? .. never heard about. The request for Healthcare Worker Discount need to be submitted via eMail for review and approval. MSC representatives in customer service can not make a decision and apply the discount. We had no problems with 3 requests for Healthcare Worker Discount in the past.. everything went smooth on those sailings. I am upset because the clause “Subject to availability” gives MSC basically the right to deny any request without giving a reason. There is no disclaimer of any restrictionists during the booking process.

You are right.. you just summed it up in two words..

Carnival Pride (chartered cruise) 14-Nights Caribbean in February 2023.

Based on my recent experience with MSC customer service .. please pay attention to “Subject to availability” in terms & conditions of Healthcare Worker Discount. I called MSC to inquire the price for a booking with Healthcare Worker Discount. The MSC representative told me the price and advised me to make the booking online since I wasn’t sure which cabin/location I wanted in Yacht Club. I made the booking online and submitted the documents for Healthcare Worker Discount as required. The response came within 24 hours. They declined the Healthcare Worker Discount based on the clause “Subject to availability”. They said that Healthcare Worker Discount is not on this sailing and apologized that the other MSC representative told me different. This is misleading advertising and failure in disclosing which cruise/date/itinerary qualifies for Healthcare Worker Discount. How should a guest know when it’s not disclosed during the booking process ? The deposit for Yacht Club booking is non-refundable, so cancellation is not an option. ”Subject to availability” gives MSC the right to deny any kind of discount they advertise in BOLD letters .. only to get bookings .. and not grant the discount as promised. I am kind of disappointed.. but with a smile on my face. Bottom line is that companies with this business attitude will lose their client/guest/passenger base sooner or later. First: The number of Yacht Club passengers is important for MSC because of the “Exclusivity” status they try to keep up. Like everywhere in business .. MSC needs to get more passengers into the Yacht Club if established passengers decide to leave MSC. Second: Explora Journeys is a new company of MSC Cruises.. catering to passengers who want to sail with a luxury brand. MSC Yacht Club passengers would be the first group to target as future Explora guests. Passengers not satisfied with Yacht Club will probably not book $$$$ Explora sailings. That said.. my recommendation to MSC is to put more effort into customer satisfaction.. Finally.. it’s not about the few hundred dollars Healthcare Worker Discount.. it’s about business ethic and treating guests respectful. At the end it’s the guest who makes the decision where he/she spends the money.

** OFF-topic ** I am not surprised.. MSC is known for mastering Inconsistency.. it’s their speciality.. 😂 I have learned not to assume to get the same service and/or cruising experience on every ship. We usually book Yacht Club and noticed an up-and-down in service on almost every ship during the last 5 years.. most changes were not for the good.. We still sail with MSC .. but lowered our expectations.. • Prices of Yacht Club are going up • Perks are reduced • Service is going down MSC needs to pay attention and listen to passengers .. every product needs some new ideas and improvements .. promising in brochure and not delivering onboard won’t work for a long time. While sailing in Yacht Club I noticed lack of training of waiters and butlers. Work performance starts with motivation by middle management. Some restaurant managers and head butlers didn’t motivate and train their teams adequately. (.. just My 2 cents ..) ** End OFF-topic**

We had tissue box in the holder under the sink and spare box in the cabinet .. on MSC Grandiosa , Med Cruise , in October 2022 from Barcelona.

Excursions are in multiple languages. Sometimes “English only” tours and sometimes two languages on one tour. We have been on “English only” , English/French and English/Spanish tours on Med cruises sailing from Barcelona and Genoa.

Online offers (Spa treatments, excursions, etc) are up to 20% discounted and savings of 15% service charge .. compared to booking onboard.

They solicit positive feedbacks on occasion, it happened a few times to us. • Meraviglia: YC butler • Seashore: Butcher’s Cut waiter • Seashore: YC concierge called last evening, told us about the review and asked for good feedback.

Cabins on deck 15 are perfectly fine.. 15016 is in a good location. 16002 is the first cabin next to Top Sail Lounge. Cabins 16001, 16002, 18001 & 18002 are usually the last to book due to close location to Top Sail Lounge or YC Restaurant. YC decks 15,16,18 and 19 are connected by elevator and stairs.. convenient to reach everything.

MSC Seaside, MSC Seaview and MSC Seashore have bowling lanes for adults.. why not MSC Seascape, which is the same class as MSC Seashore ?

What’s the “extra great deal” ? It looks like an old advertisement.. new ships Seascape and World Europe are not mentioned in the list of ships with Yacht Club.

No restrictions on Med cruise in October 2022 .. visiting Spain, France and Italy. Covid restrictions in Spain: Wearing face mask in public transportation mandatory (bus, subway).

Cancellation conditions are listed in Standard Booking Terms and Conditions on MSC USA website.. Paragraph 13 / Page 11

The beds in YC never felt small to us.. They are European size and somewhere between US Queen and US King size beds.

Maybe they merged the remaining cabins from Dec 18th into the 15-Night itinerary ? 7-Night Dec 11: Yacht Club $5,726 incl tax 15-Night Dec 11: Yacht Club $14,536 incl tax 15-Night itinerary has premium of over $3,000 for 1 additional night and Holiday. or.. it’s just a glitch on the website.

MSC USA website is up and running again. 2 itineraries listed for Seascape embarking on December 11th 2022 : 7-Night (Sun -to- Sun) Dec 11-18 15-Night (Sun -to- Mon) Dec 11-26 No 8-Night itinerary from Dec 18-26 listed.