Orange Blossom

On 4/10/2021 at 2:25 AM, Couple-Somerset said:

It's shocking how long its taking you to get refunds in the US / Canada - which is why I asked previously if the accounts were being dealt with in the US or another Country.

 

I can only share my experience in the UK based on 3 cancelled MSC cruises in 2020 - all of them were refunded in full within 3 weeks - OK, so the various cancellation invoices they sent didn't make any sense to me but the money refunded was in full.

 

Did any of you try the email addresses I gave a few posts ago? - I have no idea if they get through but unless people try we wont know (the "denied access to send email" reported by one person was more to do with their end I think and they didnt say if they then tried the other email)

 

 

I tried everything. If I came across an email, I tried it. It would either get an immediate reply saying undeliverable or I received nothing. I found the CEO on Twitter and sent numerous tweets to him. I also sent tweets to the MSC USA and Italy account. I asked for action on their Facebook and Instagram account.

I had a year of trying. After the first 60 days after I requested a refund (and I didn't receive anything), I started calling weekly for about five months. Then every other week. At the beginning I would be on hold for over six hours for my TA to say there was nothing I can do but the person they were speaking with expedited it. I heard that weekly and wasted hundreds of hours on the phone on hold. Thankfully the wait times ended mid-May where the hold times were 15-30 minutes. I tried calling directly to a MSC but I was always told I needed to work with my travel agent. Although MSC did tell me that I could do three-way calls with my TA on the line. And I started doing that about 100 days of waiting for a refund. It was a long journey to get refunded and seriously they took their sweet time. I was basically lied to by MSC numerous times saying that I would be getting a refund within 30 days. After the 30 days passed I would be told another 30 days and it's going to be expedited not to worry. Basically they lied to get me off the phone with them. I have to say about October they started saying they have no idea when I would receive a refund. But I was always told it's in the system. When it was finally approved to receive a refund, when I was told the exact amount for each cabin, it took 5 months. Originally when it was approved they said I would receive it within 20 days. When I called back they said I would receive a credit card refund... then a check... then it was credit card again. I'm not sure if I would have received the cabin refund sooner since if I purchased directly through MSC? I waited for the drink, show, dinner, wifi refund for several months and that was purchased directly from MSC. Overall they have a very broken system. MSC USA was the one speaking to us but it was the main Accounting Office in Europe that was holding everything up. 

What is sad, they're trying to make a presence here in the US. As of now they're on the East Coast. Regardless I will never purchase a cruise from them again.

On 4/2/2021 at 8:52 AM, dexddd said:

Wrote to TA yesterday.  They contacted MSC.  Guess what.  MSC has done nothing in the last month since they only issued the 100% FCC in error.

It took a full 90 days after they did the same to me. 

March 13, 2020 sail date.. Just received final refund today. 392 days after they left us on the dock in Marseille. Placed a full refund request a few days later. Glad to finally be paid. It has been a long journey.  

My advice.... Keep the pressure going. I called my TA  every two weeks and had them do a three way call with MSC. They never gave a damn nor did I get new information but I wanted to make sure I didn't fall through the cracks. 

On 2/12/2021 at 7:43 AM, notme2012 said:

MSC has always had a bad rep in the travel agent community, let alone CC. When I worked at American Express, we were to discourage booking them, because of bad experiences. Having lots of ships and private owners does not undo, how badly run the company is. The only reason that I booked MSC, is because MSC and Costa are the only cruise lines sailing in the Mediterranean, in March.  Family did not want to cruise with Costa, so we gave MSC a chance. BIG MISTAKE! We have the FCC, which I did not request, because we wanted our money back. It is just endless grief with MSC.

They did the same with one of my cabins in January. I requested another cash refund and they said it will take 120 days or more for a refund. There really is no guarantee time line. One of the 2 cabins took 11 months for a refund... so I wait. Better than FCC that will never be used. 

On 2/11/2021 at 2:57 AM, drsel said:

Thanks, so how much do they owe you now, after the refunds for the drinks Wi-Fi and dinner packages

They have reimbursed 1 cabin, all drink packages, shows, wifi and taxes. They still owe just over $3100 (cabin and upgrade fees).

On 1/31/2021 at 10:07 AM, drsel said:

hi Orange,

you are really lucky to get full refunds for the drinks, Wi-Fi, show and dinner packages.

This is great news and shows that MSC has the funds to pay back.

 

please guide me how to get the 125% FCCs for 4 cancelled MSc Cruises.

I would really like to have them for 4 cancelled MSC Cruises, since there is almost zero chance of getting 4 refunds.

Seriously stay on top of them. I call them a minimum of once a month. Often every 2 weeks. Its not as busy as it was before so it takes 20 minutes of my day.  Each time my TA gets the same story but it let's them know I'm waiting. 

On 2/6/2021 at 4:59 AM, dexddd said:

Refunds or FCC?  Versuco, did you actually apply for a refund and still waiting for refund?  We applied for the FCC which is from March cancel.

I requested a refund 3/18 and on 1/24 received a FCC for 1 of the cabins. My original sailing was 3/13. Maybe this will give you a time-line? 

Update - Feb 11th. I called MSC after they issued me a FCC instead of a refund. Spoke to TA who spoke with MSC. Was told refund will take 30 to 90 days. Good news.... So almost to the 1 year mark 1 of 2 cabins have been refunded. I was shocked. Refunded parents cabin in full.

Now here's the kicker, because this is MSC and there is always something. I spoke with my TA today to let them know the refund was posted on my credit card. I then asked about my cabin refund. So she called MSC to once again ask for it to be expedited (that's a joke by the way) and to see if it has been cleared and approved for a refund (they did say when I called regarding the unwanted FCC last month that once one cabin has already been approved for a refund the 2nd cabin should follow shortly after. So today, almost 11 months I was told my cabin was never canceled. Yes. I was shocked. I even have an email dating March 20th from MSC saying my refund request has been received and payment will follow in 30 days. When I asked if they would like me to email a copy of that message, they declined. They said it shows I never requested a cancelation for a refund. So after 11 months and 27 calls to MSC, they finally put my cabin on the list for a refund. So I should receive the refund within 90 days but was told it might take much longer since I just "filed the request today." This is inexcusable.  

Here is my update. Originally selling on March 13th 2020 from Marseille France. On March 13th we arrive at Port to be told cruise is cancelled. This is after numerous calls for them to cancel the sailing so we could get a full refund from our plane tickets. But they refused.... Until we are actually physically there waiting (California to Marseille). Once I was back in the States, I filed a claim on March 18th 2020. I received confirmation for a full refund on March 20th 2020 via email. I have called monthly for an update. I received our incidentals that was paid through the MSC site less than two months ago (drink, wifi, show, dinner packages).

I was told at the beginning of December that one of the two cabins was marked for refund and typically within 2 weeks we should receive something. Nothing. I called last week to my travel agent who said that MSC will not give me a date when payment will possibly happen.

Then yesterday I received an email from MSC declaring sorry for the delay here is your FCC. For one of the cabins. First off I never once said I wanted an FCC. I've always wanted a full refund. 

We are coming up to nearly one year since this whole ordeal started and rather than following through, they try to pull off the FCC on me. I will never use MSC again. This was going to be our first trip using this company.

So the email I received, said if I do not agree upon this within 30 days I need to notify my travel agent to start the process of a refund. So they basically reset the clocks. So if you're waiting for a refund, I highly suggest that you keep an eye on your email to verify they're not going to pull something like this on you. I have a feeling that if you don't meet the 30-day mark you will not have a choice for a cash refund but only an FCC. Needless to say I will be calling tomorrow. The drama continues.  

I pasted a copy of the email so you can search if you received one. The subject is Your Future Cruise Credit Is Here. 

On 11/26/2020 at 3:48 PM, notme2012 said:

My family was to sail on the Grandiosa on March 12. We actually fly to Barcelona and boarded the ship. Three hours after boarding, the Barcelona passengers were ordered to disembark. The orders came over the PA system. There was no letter or any other formal announcement. Spain was closing their ports at midnight. The Grandiosa could not return to Spain. We packed and left the ship. We had not one meal. 

 

From emails from MSC, we learned that we could apply for a FCC of 125% of the fare paid. Plus $200 on board credit. We applied for the FCC. We received an email that it was being processed. Then nothing for almost 9 months. Is anyone in this situation?

We were to board in Marseille on March 13. The 4 of us arrived and was told cruise was canceled. We traveled from California and I called days before up until we flew out to verify the cruise was still a go. Always told yes. United Airlines said we couldn't get a refund unless the cruise cancelled. So long story short, stranded in France! Requested full refund on March 18. Received our prepaid items (show, drinks, wifi) refund October 30th. Taxes was reimbursed in mid-Oct. The remaining and large amount is still MIA. The last 5 times I called through my TA, MSC was short, a bit rude and not helpful.  Same bull every time. Scheduled for full refund. No dates will be given for when it will happen. No apologies. The last call I was told by TA to just wait and it will be paid but there is no time limit for reimbursement. It can be a year or three! 

First time cruising with MSC and I will never do so again. I understand somethings are out of their control (covid) but reimbursements are not. I have heard people from April, May, June, July all receiving a refund. This is definitely not acceptable.  

6 hours ago, KeyzCruz said:

Finally received my full refund from MSC on this morning (October 21st). I cancelled in March for a April 25th sailing. 

Congrats. Still waiting - MSC cancelled sailing day of embarking (stranded us in Marseille, France) on March 13th. No reimbursement at all (222 days) but it is earmarked for a full reimbursement. I call often, hear the same story, and wait.

I purchased through TA and when I called MSC directly for status of full refund from Mid-March was told I have to work through TA and they can tell me nothing. I have tried this several times with the same response for the past 6 months...  but I'm tired of doing nothing. Although this time the MSC Rep said to ask TA for a 3-way call. As long as TA is on the phone, they can talk directly to you. Will try this Friday. 

Was supposed to sail March 13th from Marseille France, actually arrived at Port and was told Cruise was canceled. Stranded in France with three senior citizens. Made it back home after four days of solid traveling (to and from California), and filed a refund claim through Expedia mid-March. As of today, still have not received my 100% refund. So far I have received  $0. I call once a month and I get the same story. I was told that there was an error in the processing, that it didn't have the right information, that I needed to submit a new form, that I was supposed to get refunds in various amounts, then I was told last that I'm going to get refunded with a check. Each month I'm told it will be 30 days when I get my refund, two weeks, 60 days before I get my refund. My claim has been expedited 6 times. MSC have failed to refund two cabins, 4 expensive drink packages, and 8 shows. I'm calling tomorrow to talk about the black hole and to see if I can clear out my old claim and start over since people are actually getting refunds that were submitted back in April May June July and so forth. When we when we first arrived home, I wanted to file a credit card claim but was told if I did that it would complicate things much more than if I wait for the refund. I shouldn't have listened to Expedia. But I did. Now it's way too late to file a claim. I'm a very patient person because I have a great understanding of the circumstances but this is getting beyond ridiculous. This was my first trip with MSC and I will never cruise with them after this. 

1 hour ago, Homosassa said:

If your cruise information says hair straighteners/flat irons are forbidden, will be confiscated, and not returned, then go with the information that you were given.

 

That way, when the cruise line follows its posted rules, you will not be surprised if you decide to take a chance.

 

It doesn't matter what anyone else posts about their experiences or their opinions.

The main reason I am asking is whether to store a piece of luggage on shore during the duration on the trip with my flat iron and blow dryer (and my travel companions "forbidden" items also). It seems silly to waste 45 euros to store a piece of luggage on shore if the ship will return it to me after the cruise.

Will be on the Grandiosa in March and was just reading through the forbidden items... and all heated hair items are forbidden (including hair straighteners/ flat iron). So my question... if its confiscated from my luggage, will it be returned to me at the end of the trip? I'll be traveling through France and England for a few more weeks after the cruise and will need my blow dryer and flat iron. It does say things will not be returned but that seems harsh. 

Thanks

Thanks for the heads up. I was planning to purchase train tickets now but it might be better to purchase them the day of... for the chance of not getting there on time? 

I was in Paris with my dad last April and had a great time. He will be traveling with me again but will also have my mom and her best friend who have never been to Paris. So it should be an adventure. 

Thank you for the responses. Since I will be traveling with 3 seniors (all in their 70s) I try to keep the process smooth and steady. And yes, will be traveling to Paris. 

Will be traveling in March on the MSC Grandiosa and disembarking at Marseille.  It states we will be there at 8am. First time cruising the Mediterranean and not sure how long it will take to disembark. Not a member or ever cruised on MSC. So will not have priority. Can I make it to the train station by 11am for a 12pm train? Any advise will be welcomed. Thanks.