MsTabbyKats

Nobody said to assume a deposit is refundable....I always ask before I give money. What exactly is the TA being paid for if not to inform the client of the basics? Personally, I don't use TA's because it's easier for me to deal directly with the cruiseline. I've ended up "losing" more because the TA didn't do things in a timely manner. Anyway, in this case the TA is compensating the client....which is paramount to admitting he was lax in his duties.

Oh please.....going on a vacation is supposed to be fun and relaxing, not a research project. Most people don't have the time. The TA gets paid a commission for something. It's his job. FYI...I wasn't "making a mistake". I was trying to change cabins 10 months before final payment. Only MSC makes it complex. And I did get my refund within 2 weeks; booked the new cabin and had substantial (a relative term) savings!

So....do you mean any platinum goes over to the window and gets $25 slot play...free? Do they put it on your card?

I guess you've never done the "fall to Canada" thing. I've done it about 10 times and fit right in. I'm 73.

The point of using a TA is that the TA is supposed to do the work for you. Unfortunately many don't, which is why I don't use TAs.

Another benefit of living a few minutes to the pier by cab.....pre-cruise testing is a non-issue for us. I don't even think of packing until the test is done...and we wait for the test results on the spot. @KmomChicagoI always thanked the people in the NCL Haven for subsidizing my "relatively cheap" cruise.

@wemjamAnd don't forget, if you're platinum they do your laundry (at least I hope they still do your laundry).

For all the above reasons. DH and I travel light...on carry-on for each of us! What I can't understand is why people need "all that stuff" on a Carnival cruise. Does anyone really care if you wear the same t-shirt a couple of times...I don't think so!

For me....2 things would be a deal breaker 1. Mandatory masks (glasses fog, can't talk, can't understand people's muffled voices) 2. No casino! As to the cabin...I like a nice interior portion. We usually have balconies...but we really don't use them very much. (Do people really sit on their balcony enjoying their breakfast in the cold/rain/wind?) It also depends on the itinerary, the time of year and the cost differential. For Canadian cruises...for me it would be a waste of money (been there....done that). For winter out of NYC....not worth the 2 days of warmth. Warm weather to a warm place....sign me up for the balcony! I'm looking forward to the Deluxe OV (2 bathrooms) on the Magic to Canada in Sept. It's also $1000 less than the balcony cabin. One time we absolutely need a balcony...if friends are on the same cruise. DH thinks an int/ov makes us look either poor or cheap. It's neither; it's just not cost effective.

If the TA cannot straighten it out, I'd cancel and rebook (directly or with another TA). It just sounds like a simple thing to fix. The reservation wouldn't show the payment...as that "belongs to the TA". ETA...this is one of the many reasons I no longer use travel agents. It's just so much easier dealing directly. (I know...no OBC etc.)

I have no idea why, but I'd have it corrected asap.

Does the virus penetrate walls? How close was "the leaning guy" and was he talking to you? Do you exclusively take the stairs when nobody was coming in the opposite direction? Or share the elevators? With people who were talking? Chances of catching covid on an elevator are higher than from someone in the next cabin. Time for some personal responsibility here. MSC is a business...they did what was required.

While I understand your disappointment, you chose a "guarantee cabin" and you chose to cruise with an unvaccinated child....during a pandemic. It takes a few days to become symptomatic.....so "the guy leaning over the rail" probably wasn't "the guy" who transmitted the infection to you.

Since this is a thread "about value": Right now I can go downstairs and in 10 minutes & $20 be at the Manhattan cruise terminal Or....I can go downstairs and in 30 minutes and $50 be at the airport (not to mention airfare, cab to the ship..and stress of actually getting there on time) I understand what you're saying....and if I lived in any other part of New York, even NYC....going to other ports might be attractive. But, one of the reasons I deal with high rents, high crime (lol) and other "high costs" is for the convenience of living where I live.

Yes...there was that extra step where you had to show your approval (I think). On the other cruises we went thru the "show your boarding pass" step and next to check-in where you show your passport. On the Bermuda cruise there was that extra "show us the Bermuda papers" step.

I did 3 post pandemic NCL sailings from Manhattan. Two were to the Bahamas....no issues at all (even one where everyone had to get tested at the port). The third was to Bermuda....a long and messy check-in. I think it has more to with "destination of the cruise" than the terminal or cruiseline.

Never mind...found my answer!

@blueskadoo I booked the same cruise 3 times (MSC rules forced me too). On the first one I didn't get the $50/pp OBC. I booked over a year in advance. The second time...it showed up. The third time....it wasn't there on the initial booking confirmation...then they sent me another confirmation, and it was there. The reason it wasn't on the first booking is that you need to book between 9-12 months in advance. Not sooner...not later. So check when the one not showing the credit was booked and if it was in "the window".

This thread also reminds me of one from a long long time ago...when I didn't know "thread etiquette". A woman was talking about the Haven on NCL and how she felt like royalty. I quickly pointed out that she was treated as such because she paid to be treated as such.

Love this thread....so revealing: My story is about diners. I love diners. I have 2 friends that won't go to diners for dinner...they don't like "the atmosphere". I'm talking about nice modern clean diners......... So I went to dinner with one of these friends a few days ago to a place she picked. And she went on and on about "she only goes to diners for breakfast/lunch" and not for diner. I quickly pointed out "the atmosphere" of where we were: a bunch of loud people at the bar and an elderly woman literally falling asleep at the next table. And I asked her...point blank....what was so good about this atmosphere? And of course she said "I don't know. I just like it better". May I point out...I paid double price for my chicken meal than I did at "my diner" a few days before...and both the quality and portion size were a lot less.

Funny....because many TAs won't deal with MSC. Customer service is awful. The website isn't much better. Once was enough for me in the MDR. So....why do I cruise with MSC? I love the Swarovski crystal staircase, I love the entertainment, I love the international crowd and I love the pizza. They're worth it for the "hours of phone frustration". To me, it's like going to Italy but skipping the flight!

@StolidCruiserTo be honest, I'm a type B personality who eats almost exclusively in the buffet, and on MSC I eat almost exclusively pizza in the buffet. So, I don't relate to this MDR thing. But, as a paying customer I'd like to be treated with respect, and if I give a good reason for a "one time favor" I'd appreciate it if it was honored. I doubt every chair in the MDR was occupied.

This is the specific hypothetical case: I want to book a cabin. I snore. My husband kicks. It would cost the same to get two cabins instead of both being in one. If we get the two cabins, and I test positive, what happens? I will not be allowed to board...I'll get a FCC/Refund. My husband can board and sail if he tests negative. We didn't go into "how many days...blah blah blah". It was strictly hypothetical because we wouldn't go without each other.... If the rep said that we'd both get a refund/fcc....I would have booked 2 cabins. The bottom line is, I guess you are pointing out, that the rules aren't clear....which is why I asked. I could have been given the wrong info.

Maybe I wasn't clear. A few months ago I was planning on booking 2 cabins....one for me and one for DH. NCL told me that if one of us tests positive.....that person would get a refund or FCC. The other one would NOT get any kind of refund or credit...because we would have had separate cabins.

OMG....this is supposed to be a vacation for a week, not a week in jail, where you need to follow the rules or not eat. You pay their salaries. They need to learn customer service. Although "the customer isn't always right"....it's a lot easier to keep repeat business than look for new business. Flexibility...make "that customer" feel special. As far as the "upsells"....I'd smile and say "no thanks" and walk away. Annoying but laughable!