Tony O Posted April 30, 2016 #126 Share Posted April 30, 2016 Applied two weeks ago and no response. Also sent my 3rd email asking for update with no response. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caribbean sailor Posted April 30, 2016 #127 Share Posted April 30, 2016 That would be my opinion. Royal over priced,that would also be our opinion.This is the first year sense 2004 we don't have a cruised booked.We are going to take a look at MSC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diesel1973 Posted April 30, 2016 #128 Share Posted April 30, 2016 We are Elite and Diamond class on X and RCCL. Would anyone know exactly what perks MSC matches or do I need to talk with them? Thinking of possibly trying MSC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LMaxwell Posted April 30, 2016 Author #129 Share Posted April 30, 2016 We are Elite and Diamond class on X and RCCL. Would anyone know exactly what perks MSC matches or do I need to talk with them? Thinking of possibly trying MSC. You would get the Black Card. https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/MSC-Voyagers-Club/Voyagers-Club.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caribbean sailor Posted April 30, 2016 #130 Share Posted April 30, 2016 That would be my opinion. Royal over priced,that would also be our opinion.This is the first year sense 2004 we don't have a cruised booked.We are going to take a look at MSC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diesel1973 Posted April 30, 2016 #131 Share Posted April 30, 2016 You would get the Black Card. https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/MSC-Voyagers-Club/Voyagers-Club.aspx Thank you for the info. There is no mention of daily cocktail party,free internet,free laundry,etc. like X and RCCL offer. They do offer perks but they don't exactly match perks as some have mentioned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted April 30, 2016 #132 Share Posted April 30, 2016 Thank you for the info. There is no mention of daily cocktail party,free internet,free laundry,etc. like X and RCCL offer. They do offer perks but they don't exactly match perks as some have mentioned. Correct, and there have been posts on the MSC forum saying that MSC reduced the perks when they started offering the status matching. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LMaxwell Posted April 30, 2016 Author #133 Share Posted April 30, 2016 Thank you for the info. There is no mention of daily cocktail party,free internet,free laundry,etc. like X and RCCL offer. They do offer perks but they don't exactly match perks as some have mentioned. It's a status match, not a perk for perk match. If I take my Diamond status over to X they give me reciprocity but it is not identical perks to Diamond on RCI; they just give me their equivalent level. MSC gives two specialty dinners and 5% off all cabin categories, RCI gives me nightly cocktail hours but no free dinners and only discounts off balcony and above. So each has it's different benefits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wieslaw Posted May 1, 2016 #134 Share Posted May 1, 2016 Hi LMaxwell, I am reading your comments or observations from your cruise on MSC with some interest ...... I/we started cruising in late 80s. mostly cruised on RCI (D+) or Celebrity (Elite) ....... and 'yes' we like what RCI used to be when it was RCCL. I do not dislike RCI and enjoy their cruises and have 2 booked for this year ...... but after reading some of your posts I have interest to perhaps try MSC. I am looking at the Meraviglia for July 2017 out from Barcelona. It would be a Med. cruise. There is also RCI's Freedom from Barcelona that I am very familiar with. Both cruises are priced about the same for 7night inside.... a little different itinerary. Freedom a lot older but still in good shape .... and I know what to expect there. Maraviglia a brand new ship (May 2017) and I have no idea what to expect there..... official language on board, food ( I do not eat much pasta), ethnicity of fellow guests. I would like the old style of cruising. Any suggestions ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maureencruiser Posted May 4, 2016 #135 Share Posted May 4, 2016 Correct, and there have been posts on the MSC forum saying that MSC reduced the perks when they started offering the status matching. Yes, the biggest perk they reduced was Black Card Members used to get 20% off their cruise, which is a HUGE perk. Now, with all us new Black Cards, the maximum discount is 5%. Still, ANY perk is a perk when you haven't even cruised on that line one time. For anyone interested, I'll be posting live from the MSC Divina May 7 cruise and I welcome any and all questions. Bob, I know you've been sniffing around the Divina, any questions or pictures you want me to take? You've helped me so many times, I welcome the chance to help you explore a new cruise line. :) http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2352075 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted May 4, 2016 #136 Share Posted May 4, 2016 (edited) Yes, the biggest perk they reduced was Black Card Members used to get 20% off their cruise, which is a HUGE perk. Now, with all us new Black Cards, the maximum discount is 5%. Still, ANY perk is a perk when you haven't even cruised on that line one time. For anyone interested, I'll be posting live from the MSC Divina May 7 cruise and I welcome any and all questions. Bob, I know you've been sniffing around the Divina, any questions or pictures you want me to take? You've helped me so many times, I welcome the chance to help you explore a new cruise line. :) http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2352075 Maureen, I cannot think of anything specific to ask now, but I intend to follow your live review and will likely be asking questions as they occur to me. Looking forward to this.:) Edited May 4, 2016 by clarea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
champagne123 Posted May 4, 2016 #137 Share Posted May 4, 2016 So excited. Finally (after MUCH research) booked my first MSC cruise on the Seaside. This ship is insane looking. Got a suite for a crazy price, automatically am Silver instead of starting at the bottom.....$300 OBC....AND.....10percent off for my husband working for the State. Geeezzzz. Two years away...but I can wait. Thank you posters for all of the info and reviews. :):):) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George C Posted May 4, 2016 #138 Share Posted May 4, 2016 Might cancel one of my RCCL 2017 cruise if I can get a deal on MSC, dislike some of the things happening on RCCL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LorraineP Posted May 4, 2016 #139 Share Posted May 4, 2016 So excited. Finally (after MUCH research) booked my first MSC cruise on the Seaside. This ship is insane looking. Got a suite for a crazy price, automatically am Silver instead of starting at the bottom.....$300 OBC....AND.....10percent off for my husband working for the State. Geeezzzz. Two years away...but I can wait. Thank you posters for all of the info and reviews. :):):) We're on Seaside 5/5/18, booked a Fantastica S2 suite with $300 OBC and a Black Card for extra perks for a great price. Only bad part is we have to fly to Miami, an added cost, but from what I read it should be a fantastic cruise. Can't wait. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
champagne123 Posted May 4, 2016 #140 Share Posted May 4, 2016 We're on Seaside 5/5/18, booked a Fantastica S2 suite with $300 OBC and a Black Card for extra perks for a great price. Only bad part is we have to fly to Miami, an added cost, but from what I read it should be a fantastic cruise. Can't wait. Congrats!!! Yes, I agree about flying...but that's okay. Have never been to Miami before and just may fly down 2 days early to see the sites. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
champagne123 Posted May 4, 2016 #141 Share Posted May 4, 2016 Might cancel one of my RCCL 2017 cruise if I can get a deal on MSC, dislike some of the things happening on RCCL I just cancelled my Harmony cruise to go on MSC. We have already been on the Oasis and Allure, so it is not a big deal to us. Pretty much the same ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LorraineP Posted May 4, 2016 #142 Share Posted May 4, 2016 Congrats!!! Yes, I agree about flying...but that's okay. Have never been to Miami before and just may fly down 2 days early to see the sites. :) Will be in Miami in September for our Escape cruise then drive to Fort Lauderdale for the Presidents Cruise 9/18. Seriously thinking of canceling our Anthem cruise 4/17/17. RCL seems to be taking away perks from Diamond Plus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoupleUK Posted May 5, 2016 #143 Share Posted May 5, 2016 Yes, the biggest perk they reduced was Black Card Members used to get 20% off their cruise, which is a HUGE perk. Now, with all us new Black Cards, the maximum discount is 5%. You get the 20% for early booking - we just booked Jan 2018 and got 20% off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LorraineP Posted May 5, 2016 #144 Share Posted May 5, 2016 You get the 20% for early booking - we just booked Jan 2018 and got 20% off. I only got 5% off. Should I call? I have a Black Card with the Loyalty Match Program. Is that only for UK cruisers? I am booked on the Seaside 5/5/18. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shukapaw Posted May 5, 2016 #145 Share Posted May 5, 2016 (edited) This Loyalty matching program is an outstanding idea. So many CruiseCritic threads include references to something like ".... I'd try another cruise line but I have invested too much time/energy/money with a particular brand to start anew" This promotion removes that hurdle. We applied and received their Black membership level. We have since booked for the Divina in summer of 2017 and back to back on the new ship, the Seaside, in 2018. All sailings included generous OBC amounts (under current promotions). The 5% loyalty discount is nice and the 10% Civil service discount (military, police, teachers, etc) is a real plus. (those two discounts are not combinable... one or the other). When you add all these things together with a TA who offers a discount, the deal is almost unbeatable. The only downside I've encountered is the web site. It's been a bit buggy and the way to navigate through to find the promotions is very maze-like. I've figured it out now and manage just fine but it could certainly be better. I also like the fact that they sell different "experience" levels for various cabins. You get to pick/choose the level you want and don't end up paying for services you won't use. Oh yeah, I wish they had more U.S-based itineraries... but maybe time will remedy that situation They also sell "coupon books" for drinks which let you purchase at a very reasonable per-drink price. The Voyager's Club's FAQ states: MSC Voyagers Club points and status do not expire as long as you have at least a minimum of one cruise completed in three years. If the last cruise disembarkation date is over 3 years ago (36 months) or no cruise has been taken in 3 years since the registration date, membership to the MSC Voyagers Club Program expires. So it looks like you need to sail with them at least every three years to maintain your status. Based on what I'm reading, that won't be an issue. ~Brian Edited May 5, 2016 by shukapaw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arizona Cruz Chic Posted May 5, 2016 #146 Share Posted May 5, 2016 https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/MSC-Voyagers-Club/Loyalty-Match-Program.aspx Royal Diamond and above have been getting MSC Black, their highest level. We submitted/applied our D+ C&A to their loyalty and haven't heard anything, does anyone know how long it takes to be accepted? *** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted May 5, 2016 #147 Share Posted May 5, 2016 (edited) We submitted/applied our D+ C&A to their loyalty and haven't heard anything, does anyone know how long it takes to be accepted? *** It took us less than 2 weeks. However, I read on the MSC forum that they had problems with the web form submissions, and many were lost. The poster on the MSC forum said they called and were able to do the status matching on the phone. I don't have the link to the thread, but it should be easy to find in the MSC forum here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=80 Edited May 5, 2016 by clarea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MICruising Posted May 6, 2016 #148 Share Posted May 6, 2016 Reading this has us interested enough to request match... Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berwyn Posted May 6, 2016 #149 Share Posted May 6, 2016 https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/MSC-Voyagers-Club/Loyalty-Match-Program.aspx Royal Diamond and above have been getting MSC Black, their highest level. Thank you for the link. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted May 6, 2016 #150 Share Posted May 6, 2016 Thank you for the link. You're welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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