MSC water issue resolved!

[chrtran]

Just got my "travel plans" pdf from my agent. It includes the embarkation tickets. At the end there was a section called "Special Services" and it includes "601 MINERAL WATER SN0927", which is "MINERAL WATER FOR AMERICAN/CANADEAN GUESTS ON EUROPEAN CRUISES - 1 bottle of mineral water still or sparkling 100cl per cabin per day - Consumption regulated by the use of vouchers (to be delivered to guests at the embarkation)"

 

I was willing to pay for water but MSC (or is it my agent? BUT she didn't even know about this when I questioned her before?) came through and did the right thing! I hope everyone else is getting this package too!

 

Very excited to go on this cruise on Magnifica so far! Anyone going on July 24th from Venice? Couldn't find any replies on my roll calls at all.

[MMDown Under]

This is a good decision.

 

However, I hope this is amended to include Australian guests, as well as Americans/Canadians.

 

On our last TA in 2008, I was told by our local MSC agent that we would get complimentary water vouchers on board. No-one seemed to know anything about the vouchers, however we had free water provided in our cabin and a jug of water on our table at meals.

 

I hope this is the case with our next TA in September.

[mahondi2389]

I'll look for your review when you return. I'm on the Magnifica on 21 August from Venice. Please let me know how you like it. I know it's gotten a lot of bad press in this CC so I hope you have a great time and be sure to pass it on. I'm very much looking forward to my cruise although like you, I've not received any responses to my MSC roll call. That's okay, my sister and I won't mind having the entire cruise to ourselves, although the casino tables might be a challenge. Bon voyage!!!!;)

[Capricruiser]

I don't see why Americans and Canadians are entitled to free water vouchers. Why do we Europeans (and Aussies) have to pay for ours?????

[drblue]

I don't see why Americans and Canadians are entitled to free water vouchers. Why do we Europeans (and Aussies) have to pay for ours?????

You are right, Capricruiser. It does not seem fair.

However, I have read over and over on the MSC forum that Europeans are used to paying for water, so they do not expect it to be provided. As an extension, they do not mind paying for it. On top of that, European-based cruisers have often dismissed American travellers as complaining about something rather trivial.

 

In the meantime, Americans apparently have complained vigourously to their MSC headquaters in Miami about such a simple service that most US-based cruiselines already provide for their clients. The MSC response seems like a very basic response to customer service. It is not really worth it for a company to have that many upset cruisers because they won't come back again, especially based on something as trivial as bottled water. Most European tourist venues sell water bottles for about 2 euros, but they pay significantly less for them. So, the cost of providing this service is relatively cheap. It seems that MSC figured out how to provide water to Americans/Canadians without making it obvious to every other passenger. It would be impossible to determine who is from North America while eating in the dining room. So, they are now providing bottle water IN the CABINS of cruisers with the targeted nationalities, which they know when they check in.

So, my suggestion is that ALL cruisers should call their respective MSC offices or travel agents and request the same service. Perhaps MSC will also cave in and provided fit or all their customers.

 

While you are at it, please ask for FREE COFFE to be provided at dinner as well; MSC seems to be the only cruiseline in the world to not offer such service.

 

We are booked on the Magnifica for an 11-day Eastern Mediterranean in January, and we are certinly looking forward to our MSC experience, even if it does not include complimentary beverages. The itinerary to Venice, Bari, Dubrovnik, Olympia, Cyprus, Ravenna, Rhodes, Alexandria, and Israel sounded very exciting for us.

 

Cheers

[chrtran]

mahondi2389, I'll report back when I return in early Aug (this cruise is part of our big European trip). I am sure it'll be fine. The cruise is totally booked. There can't be so many people who are wrong at the same time.

 

Yep, nag, nag, nag and eventually, the Italians will give in. I called the MSC office awhile back and the rep said very surely that water is free. This is a nice way to include water (OR maybe they already charged it in the price that we paid):D Who knows?

[MMDown Under]

"One thing worth mentioning is that on this cruise there was always plenty of water available at the table and tea and coffee was served after both lunch and dinner. This is something that is not available on all MSC cruises, as it seems to depend on where you are travelling from."

 

I was delighted to see this as part of a recent review on the April TA by Irene Russell.

[vagabond_b]

I don't see why Americans and Canadians are entitled to free water vouchers. Why do we Europeans (and Aussies) have to pay for ours?????

 

Understood, but MSC prices for European cruisers are less than they are for North Americans. When one pays more, is it not fair to get more? ;)

[AmoMondo]

Understood, but MSC prices for European cruisers are less than they are for North Americans. When one pays more, is it not fair to get more? ;)

 

I'd dispute that. I know of many British people who book through US TAs because the US prices are cheaper. I've often shared a table at dinner with North American passengers and they have freely discussed what they paid (witthout being prompted by me) and it was allways considerably cheaper than what I'd pay, e.g. $100 per day equivalent compared to £200 appx per day and they were solo passengers like me.

[dreaminofcruisin]

Interesting. It sounds like it still isn't exactly consistent. The Billing Summary I got from MSC doesn't have a package number, but it has a picture of a bottle of water and says "Mineral Water". Price 0.00.

 

Delivery Location: Dining Room

 

(So much for the cabin theory....)

 

It doesn't indicate how much or how often...and the date of "delivery" is the date the cruise sales.

 

I didn't order it or ask about it, it just came with my Billing Summary of which the only other thing listed is the cruise itself.

 

So, I don't know if that means I get water one day in the dining room, or each day? My TA is one of the well known ones on the Internet.

 

I am American.

[Capricruiser]

Vagabond, where do you get the idea that Europeans pay less than North Americans for MSC cruises? I've compared cruise prices (cruise alone - not inluding airfare) with American guests before and found they invariably paid less than me.

As regards bottled water, yes Drblue, we are used to buying it both in restaurants and in our homes, BUT for the €2 or so that the bottle on board costs me, in my local supermarket I can buy a full pack of six one and a half litre bottles for the same price: On board 1 litre for €2; in supermarket 9 litres for €2! That's our complaint, not that we don't get it free, but the exorbitant price we all are forced to pay for it!

[PC168]

We also got our cruise documents for both W. & E. med. cruises stating that we will receive 100cl water voucher per cabin per day. Thank you MSC.

 

On the other side, a friend of mine just came back from Costa for the E. Med. he said there are plenty of water in mdr. No issue at all.

[woodofpine]

To me, it appears that MSC is sensitive to the dry throated wails of American cruise passengers, they are trying to be flexible and accommodate while retaining their European product style and price-cost workup. Now, will the Americans recognize it as such and reciprocate flexibility or will they continue a yowling caterwaul. Knowing my countrymen, a geat many will continue the later course.;)

 

From a ease and efficiency standpoint, MSC seems to be doing what I received in March/April. They provided a packet of 'daily' water vouchers per passenger ('A bottle a day keeps Dr. Caterwaul away!' 7 vouchers for 7 days drink as many whenever). MDR staff took them; it seems they've simply notified the cabin stewards to accept them too. On my med cruise, the MDR staff were not trained to either offer or deliver tap water (some report otherwise on other ships)... IMHO - MSC's water charging 'policy' in the MDR is not a serious crime, it's simply more typical of upmarket restaurant charging in Europe.

 

OK Yanks - you/me get a bottle a day! HAPPY? Jeez - the poor Euros like Capri go, 'Why them and not us?' (Hey, its culture... ;) Maybe we should reconsider our indignation at a little line jostling eh?:D

[vagabond_b]

I'd dispute that. I know of many British people who book through US TAs because the US prices are cheaper. I've often shared a table at dinner with North American passengers and they have freely discussed what they paid (witthout being prompted by me) and it was allways considerably cheaper than what I'd pay, e.g. $100 per day equivalent compared to £200 appx per day and they were solo passengers like me.

 

Vagabond, where do you get the idea that Europeans pay less than North Americans for MSC cruises? I've compared cruise prices (cruise alone - not inluding airfare) with American guests before and found they invariably paid less than me.

As regards bottled water, yes Drblue, we are used to buying it both in restaurants and in our homes, BUT for the €2 or so that the bottle on board costs me, in my local supermarket I can buy a full pack of six one and a half litre bottles for the same price: On board 1 litre for €2; in supermarket 9 litres for €2! That's our complaint, not that we don't get it free, but the exorbitant price we all are forced to pay for it!

 

I've gotten that info from 4 different TAs on several cruises that I've priced out. I also priced out three different cruises on MSC and Costa through European based travel agents and the prices were cheaper than the TAs in the States. All that being said, I'm sure you know more about the pricing than I do since I have only cruised since 2006 and you have been cruising for some time. The only "X" factor may be that all the cruises that I priced were to South America. :confused:

[cruisecritic77]

Going on the Magnifica in august from Venice. Can anyone tell me which might be the best shore excursions to take in Bari, Katakolon, Izmir, Istanbul, Dubrovnik? So confusing.

Thank you,

[remi1au]

Apologies in advance, but I find this whole water thing quite amusing.

Firstly, I should point out that I rarely drink water. Pretty much the only beverages that pass my lips are coffee, coke zero, beer and wine. :o

If I did suddenly get a craving to drink water on an MSC ship (i.e. hung-over), and I didn’t want to cough up the 2 Euros , my cunning plan would be to take a glass or cup and fill it from the tap (faucet) in my cabin and sneakily drink it. :D

If I wanted to drink said water elsewhere on the ship i.e. in the dining room, I would take a discarded water bottle (possibly one that I had initially paid 2 Euros for complete with water) fill it with water from my cabin tap (faucet), carry it to where ever I want and drink sneakily. ;)

I’m guessing the MSC water police will never guess my clever deception. :cool:

[onthebalcony]

emi1au,

I agree! We are on the Dec. 8 cruise and we figured we would just reuse water bottles and bring to the dining room! There is always a way to get around an issue!!!

[Satincruz]

Apologies in advance, but I find this whole water thing quite amusing.

Firstly, I should point out that I rarely drink water. Pretty much the only beverages that pass my lips are coffee, coke zero, beer and wine. :o

If I did suddenly get a craving to drink water on an MSC ship (i.e. hung-over), and I didn’t want to cough up the 2 Euros , my cunning plan would be to take a glass or cup and fill it from the tap (faucet) in my cabin and sneakily drink it. :D

If I wanted to drink said water elsewhere on the ship i.e. in the dining room, I would take a discarded water bottle (possibly one that I had initially paid 2 Euros for complete with water) fill it with water from my cabin tap (faucet), carry it to where ever I want and drink sneakily. ;)

I’m guessing the MSC water police will never guess my clever deception. :cool:

 

 

What a HILARIOUS post :D

 

AND also a smart and practical plan :)

 

The most ironic thing is that the MSC Activities Team were always toting around the BIGGEST water bottle I'd ever seen!

[donnasperls]

Thank you. I have been reading the water issues as I was trying to budget for it. I usually drink about 2 to 4 litres a day. I have been waiting for someone to tell me that the water is safe to drink from the taps in your cabin. Can someone please confirm that this is in fact true?

[Atomica]

It's a good idea that will go a long way to win over many hesitant North American cruisers who are put off by the water-for-purchase thing.

 

It's an idea that may backfire badly because it excludes everyone else.

[remi1au]

Thank you. I have been reading the water issues as I was trying to budget for it. I usually drink about 2 to 4 litres a day. I have been waiting for someone to tell me that the water is safe to drink from the taps in your cabin. Can someone please confirm that this is in fact true?

 

I have seen several post in the past confirming that the tap water on MSC ships is safe to drink. :D

[Debbie-in-florida]

I drank tap water on the Poesia every day. No ill effects.

[Satincruz]

And they do provide drinking glasses for you in the cabin bathroom.

 

So maybe just pack along a few empty water bottles to refill from the sink, for carrying around the ship/out at ports.

[AmoMondo]

I'm sure that on the cruises that do provide jugs of iced water, that it is the ship's tap water anyway.

[donnasperls]

Thank you for everyone's reply. That answers that question. From the tap it is. I only have one comment now....what is everyone complaining about. There is free water on board, drink if from the tap. That is what I plan to do.