Griff4AU

4 hours ago, Nunagoras said:

............ Either way: I have Explora (from MSC) on my radar for the Alaska on the next years to come (even though price consciousness is calling me the most on an HAL sailing. I wouldn't do mainstream on Alaska for obvious reasons)...

 

.... I believe the 3k guests segment (X/Princess) segment to be what could draw me on most of the time. 

Cutting and pasting here....    'Anyone know what CPA (in the US) really stands for?   Cut, Paste & Assemble.😉

For your Alaska comment...  I might offer that Alaska is the "one place" where I have encouraged folks to "maybe not do" your comfort-cruise-line and go with the folks who do Alaska best (for me, 3 come to mind)... And absolutely not everyone does Alaska the same...  And unless it's changed in the last 3 years (although what hasn't?), HAL is (and always has been) one of the 3 go-to Alaska cruise lines...  (and it's the only place you do not want a mega-ship). Not everyone does Alaska the same... (yes, I know I repeated that). 'Just one guys opinion.

Agree 100% on the 3k-ish ships. That's also my comfort level and I think Princess and X get it - although Princess is going larger with their new Sun Princess (4300 guests). 

 

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3 hours ago, KKB said:

What a great thread.

This is a really good thread. Good dialogue, folks gently disagreeing without the name-calling. Wow, let's not mess it up.

I think @KKB assessment is pretty good - and I agree with DCL. I was shocked when my daughters (early teens at the time) said after their first Disney cruise, "Dad, we want to go back to Princess." I was shocked, but happy to save the money since cruises were Dad / Daughters Spring Break tradition.  

I think @Hlitner nailed it when stating (and I am paraphrasing) that MSC is 2 lines, Yacht Club and everything else.   I was about to pull the trigger on a Med cruise on Princess (my personal preferred line) when I realize I can go Yacht Club on a newer MSC ship for less than a Mini on Princess. So I am pausing until I try my first YC experience in a few weeks. 

@alyssamma Thanks for the kind words - I suspect we're similar travelers although I don't think my better (and prettier) half is ready for X. I am not ready for HAL. I prefer NCL over Carnival, but it's a personal preference. 

I do think the various cruise lines do attract a different customer base IN GENERAL. There's been some threads (not sure if here on CC) and web-sites that say "if you're going to do TV / Retreat / Haven, why not do Seabourn?" My thought is that the "Elite Lines" offer exceptional service, but I don't see the "fun factor" which I still need. But dang, my one experience with them was pretty amazing.

Y'all are within 20 days of your sailings. Have you completed all the information and the Web checkin?  Emergency contacts... phone numbers... addresses for all pax?  

I received the emails with a PDF document attached that was 19 pages (for 2 Pax - for more than 2 in a cabin will change the amount of pages). Page 3 was the Embarkation form. Page 4 was the health questionnaire. The luggage tags were later. One tidy PDF document.

1 hour ago, Greysandy said:

I know, I wish I had booked first thing. I had promised a friend I would go to Texas with her to see the eclipse so I was going back and forth on whether to book.  She is dead set on Texas so I still need to tell her I’m going on the cruise instead. 

Honestly... I think taking the ship is a better call.

I live near Dallas. I don't have to budge to be right in the center of the path. But in 20 years... I likely wouldn't remember the eclipse much. Heck, I barely remember the last eclipse I actively sought out. And I think this cruise's itinerary is a bit of a "yawn-er".

However this is an opportunity to "see the eclipse differently" on a brand new ship (the Discovery is a 2022 ship). Therefore there's a chance to make this eclipse (likely my last) memorable.

1 hour ago, Chris19821 said:

By the way, is there a star rating for cruise ships? Does that even excist? You mention the lowly 3.5* Preziosa, where do I find the official star rating system? Not the stars that we as customers can give, only interested in an official star rating system.

I don't think so. As you can tell from my post count, I don't spend a lot of time here on CC. I am guessing that when folks are referring to stars, they are referring to the rating given by one of the big (massive) cruise TA's. Can't mention names.. but begins with a V and owned by a guy named Fox. So I think that's where folks refer to the star ratings. I just don't know.

I've had some customers rave about the Preziosa - almost (playful) cult-like the Princess folks (me included) have a love affair with the Caribbean Princess (I think I have 4 sailings on her). So I am going to be on my first 3.5* ship - and we're going to have a great time.

My simple belief is that if you treat everyone well and with respect, and talk TO people and not AT them, you are almost guaranteed great service anywhere and at any time. And I have never had cr@ppy service on a cruise. 

5 hours ago, Chris19821 said:

 

And I also disagree (don't blame me for that 🙂 ) with the Norwegian, X, MSC, HAL thing. To me, nowadays each cruiseline is about on the same level. True, decades ago there were differences but today each cruiseline has great ships (true, with their own identity) but honestly, don't all the cabins kind of look the same today? Service I experienced on all cruiselines was about the same really... no big differences at all. Food on X was slightly better. And yes, on X they filled our ice bucket each night without asking. But does that really mean they're different from all the other cruiselines? Not to me.

I'm old enough that we can agree to disagree and still not fight and and still have a pint. Nowadays it seems like any disagreements are fighting words. Ah, "progress."

I think @Nunagoras says it well...  Sail enough US based itineraries and I don't think you'll disagree with my above statement. The Pax that a Carnival and NCL attract IN GENERAL is a extremely different that HAL and X. So even if the ship was the same, the fellow pax (overall) are different). 

I haven't done enough Euro / Med sailings to venture a guess, but I would guess that Princess (since we haven't named them yet) has a different vibe with their US sailings vs their non US sailings. I'll be on a MSC Brazil sailing in a few weeks and I am hoping for a more S American / Euro vibe.

Let's be honest, if the folks who think Carnival / NCL offer the same product that a X offers, then Celebrity would absolutely be out of business because no one would be willing to pay the price difference. Marketing gimmicks only take you so far. I am FAR FROM the most experienced cruiser on here, but I've been on nearly every line and I own a cruise-only TA (that I have ZERO operational involvement with so I hope I am not breaking the CC rules) - I think I am pretty knowledgeable and open minded. I have never heard an experienced (and knowledgeable - there is a difference) cruiser say all the US lines are similar to each other with their US sailings.

To @Chris19821 original point, I'll be on new MSC ship in June - so I guess I'll know more then. But from what those who have been on the new MSC ships have told me, the new MSC ships compete with all the mainstream newer ships - and are stunning. It's the service levels and "vibe" that are different. As an N American, if I was worried about MSC, I wouldn't be on the "lowly" 3.5* Preziosa in a few weeks (admittedly doing YC). 

4 hours ago, cruiseguyinorl said:

MSC does not have a true "Boarding Pass" even though it says so at the end of your online check-in. If you received something called your e-ticket and the second or third page is something called an Embarkation Form, that is what you need.

Bret

+1

This

4 hours ago, alyssamma said:

Wow...liking the American vibe isn't something you hear often from Europeans 😀

 

No kidding. I'm born and raised US (I don't say American as there's N America and S American - not just us US folks) and prefer the Euro vibe when sailing - it's simply a lot more fun. 

@Chris19821 - Then again, not a lot of folks put Norwegian, X and Holland in the same sentence as they are all VERY different lines and for the most part (painting with a very wide brush here) attract different demographics with their ships (although X is a little closer to HAL). Which of those 3 lines would you consider your "sweet spot"? 

16 minutes ago, Newleno said:

Thanks, I guess I dont have an account, Im afraid if I open an account it just will be one big cluster and my current voyagers number will never be transferred correctly.  I am Gold due to match, you dont get much for gold  except for priority tender.  I just took a cruise and wanted to check if I got any points.  

Please don't overthink this nor make it harder than it is. 

I just matched to Gold, created an account and booked my first cruise (and received the discount). 

It's pretty difficult to check your points if you can't log in to check your points. 

I am new to MSC and thus new to the YC. We're on the Preziosa on the 27th and have wondered the same considering the exceptional service I am sure we will receive. I am using what's in this thread as my basis:

6 minutes ago, Shelly97060 said:

Don’t let a few over the top folks run you off.  I think this cruise is going to be really fun!

Shelly is absolutely correct. Chances are you'll never meet any of these folks. So just ignore the insanity that's going on with some of the people. I'm just ignoring the Roll Call - and if something good happens with the itinerary, I am sure it will be posted in 20 places. 

While Mazatlán is a great place to be for the eclipse (center of the path), the rest of the cruise is a bit of a "yawn" for me, so I may be one of the many who dump my cabin if we don't put out to sea on the magic day.

13 hours ago, john1970 said:

I just checked the official Princess website and it is showing interior, balcony and mini suite so if you want you can still book or change to a better grade. 

This... 

What is happening is that everyone reserved a cabin at once... and had a few days to post their deposit. If they didn't pay, the reservations dropped. Plus people are just deciding to cancel their bookings. As of Thursday night there was Interior and Mini's available - but the minis were WL only. If you really want to get on this sailing, check back in the morning (every morning). Things will open up. Or put yourself on a WL.

As for the Roll Call, it's insane (Page 30 and going strong). Folks threatening to cancel their reservations if Princess doesn't do this and that:

- free eclipse viewing glasses is mandatory....

- If I don't get a Port side cabin (likely the direction the eclipse is coming from)....

- If the itinerary doesn't change to put the ship out to sea to chase the weather and the eclipse....

Geeze, that group is wound up (although I get the last point). If the ship is docked, then seeing the eclipse from the ship is really no different than seeing it on land as the path will touch on much of the US.  There's just a cruise before and after. 

I'm pretty sure Princess has more pressing (and time sensitive) things on their plate with the the "jump-started back to cruising" industry (like staffing!) than worry about a bunch of needy cruisers on a sailing that is 16 months away. 
 

I am actually a little concerned that all the folks calling / emailing  Princess about demands for this this sailing is simply going to piss them off at one point.

Be patient... I am pretty confident that cabins will open up.

On 11/25/2022 at 8:40 PM, rool said:

Just to say to keep an eye on things.

We have a new wave in progress here now and there were 56 thousand new cases yesterday.

We flew home from Sao Paulo today and masks are compulsory airside at airports and on the aircraft.

Just adding on to what @roolshared as I was in Rio this past weekend. Land in Rio (or SP) and you're given a mask when exiting the plane. In the city itself, I noticed an uptick in mask usage but certainly not everywhere. Malls?  Maybe 20% wearing them.  The outdoor watch party for the men's football match?  LMAO! ('pretty darn entertaining for this gringo).

I'll be able to update this in a few weeks as we're 19 days away from sailing, but the Preziosa is full - so I hope it's properly staffed. 
 

14 hours ago, Steeler Nation At Sea said:

 

It's all so very mysterious and I have read many threads and haven't seen incentives mentioned except for in one and I don't think it had to do with NYE deadlines at all.   If you have a minute and a  recommendation, kindly email, please.

Kim, I am not going to do that. I have TA privileges (not my day-job) and I am going to respect the CC wishes as we are all playing in their sandbox. 

My advice is to speak (like people used to do) with a TA and he/she will likely enlighten you if they are at all familiar with MSC. 

 

This is the MSC forum, so I will focus my comment on MSC as an example...

I am saying that if ANY TA isn't encouraging you to book your MSC 2023 sailing before YE 2022, then I personally believe you are using the wrong TA. Just one guy's opinion.

What I am saying is that if you ask your TA "why should I book the MSC Seascape on 12/30 instead of waiting until next year?" and they can't (won't) answer that, then I believe you have the wrong TA. Again, one guy's opinion... but based on fact.

A good and real independent TA can (and probably will) will save you money 9 times out of 10.

2 hours ago, FLCruiser97 said:

I'm also wondering why TA names are not allowed. You can find hotels and tour and transfer companies on here so why not TA's.

Because CC is a TA. I am guessing online (or nearly so) only.

We're in their sandbox and need to play by (and respect) their rules. However that "incentive" to book MSC prior to year-end that I have been hinting at is going to be lost (to you, not to them) on the online TAs.

 

9 minutes ago, Hearthosesteeldrumsplayin said:

As Stockjock alluded to:  I have had more than one TA indicate that MSC is beyond frustrating to deal with....

Some TA's insist on talking to live people at the cruise lines. Yes, often the TA can find a group to "join in on" offering a better price. Larger TA groups make groups available to all their agents online so there isn't the need to call the cruise line. It's personal preference... but flat out wrong (and a little naïve) to think all the cruise line TA's are experts as they simply aren't.

Many independent TA's simply use the online portal that nearly every cruise line has that is just for registered TA's. I happen to think MSC's TA portal is MUCH better than the Princess / Carnival portal (they use the same TA portal). The RCL/X portal is great.

I strongly suspect that Stockjock had a lazy TA who very likely lied to him... That's  certainly not MSC's fault. I'll be on my very first MSC cruise in a few weeks and I am trying MSC only because of what I have been alluding to. 

1 hour ago, phissy said:

Found this online, FYI

Travel Agent commissions - Cruise Lines
    Q:
What is your base commission percentage?
Is there a maximum commision percentage you pay? 
 

Not entirely accurate. But certainly close enough for internet work. Then again, everything on the internet is true.

Those rates also do not include promotions that certain lines offer at certain times. Like what I have alluded to more than once on an MSC booking before the end of the year. 

1 hour ago, Steeler Nation At Sea said:

 

Curious why the emphasis on 2023 and not after?

Read some threads in the MSC forums. Always use an independent TA - they always can offer more than the Box and in-house TA's. However there's some extra TA incentives going on right now. 

7 minutes ago, Stockjock said:

The cruise is late 2023.  Booked about 2-3 weeks ago directly, but apparently it can still be moved to her if I wanted to.  But not worth the bother for $100 OBC, imo.

No, and honestly 100obc is a bit of an insult with the promotion MSC is offering to TA's through the end of the year. 

Let me edit my post:

Her "relationship" comment was Cr@p. Commissions are commissions... in your line of work, you get that. Each cruise line has a set commission and nearly every agency has the same per cruise line (or very close).

My guess is she has no relationship with MSC as she doesn't know the current promotion.

And with any TA, YOU have already done the work and booked it. You should get a huge OBC (10%++ of the cruise fare - excl taxes) 

Good advice above.

Use a TA if your sailing is before 31 Dec 2023 and you book before the end of this year. Really... use an independent TA.  (always.. .but extra so if it's a 2023 sailing). 

5 minutes ago, Stockjock said:

I told her that I've dealt with MSC extensively and the $100 OBC wasn't worth shortening her life by a couple of years due to the frustration of dealing with them.

When is the sailing?  The spiffs I've been alluding to (on a few of the threads we've ben on) are only for '22 and '23 sailings booked through the end of this year.  

If you're in that range, either he/she isn't aware of them or maybe his/her firm isn't sharing the bonus. It is almost impossible for a TA who is booking a cruise (inside the MSC agent portal) not to see what I have been referring to.

You might need a new TA, at least for MSC cruises. Some TA's just don't like MSC - although their (MSC) commission structure is in line with the other cruise lines. 

13 minutes ago, Av8tor said:

Must have missed your other thread... Is MSC reducing the commissions paid to TAs at the end of this year??

No there fellow Aviator... Not reducing...   MSC has a Bonus going on right now. That "may"
 be why folks are seeing very generous OBC's, 

Folks, I alluded to this on another thread but I'll offer up a little more here.

Those "super" OBC's you're seeing from your TA's on MSC... they will "return back to normal" for bookings made after 12/31/22. If you're thinking about a 2023 MSC cruise, I would 'really' suggest you book it before 12/31/2022.