What to do??? (Final Payment question)

[MrMike45]

We are currently booked on a cruise to Canada/New England in October 2020, leaving from NY.   MSC has only cancelled cruises thru July so far, but I am 100% sure that our cruise is going to be cancelled.  MSC only runs a handful of cruises out of NY every year.  And with us (I live in NYC) being the epi-center of the pandemic...even if cruises in general start running in 2020, there is less than 0% chance that cruises will be running from NY with thousands of people gathering in the confined terminals.  

 

Our final payment is due 7/4/20.  This cruise was booked thru the Casino, with a 30% discount from my previous play/points.  I emailed our rep, and he said that unless MSC cancels this cruise, final payment is expected to be made.  If we don't make final payment, we would not only lose our deposit, but also the 30% discount.  If they wind up then cancelling this cruise, we would get it all back, including the 30% discount voucher.  But obviously that would then entail the long refund wait and everything that comes with it.  

 

So my question is, come July, if this cruise isn't cancelled...should I pay $3500 for something I know will be cancelled and credited back to me, probably months later?  Seems silly no?  AND if it does not get cancelled and does sail...I'm not sure we would want to go, so would then lose $3500 instead of just the deposit.  Which is the ultimate negative outcome.  

Edited April 30, 2020 by MrMike45

[TomC21]

FI recently cancelled my November cruise on the Seaside out of Miami. Another hot spot of the country. So I think you’ve answered your own questions. Me personally, taking a cruise out of New York isn't going to happen anytime soon, if at all this year.

just my opinion

Tom

Edited April 30, 2020 by TomC21

[Até]

Well, if you're 100% sure I would say cancel.  Why will you lose the deposit if you cancel before final payment, and how much was it?  Something to do with a casino booking?  I would think they are looking for people to book so would be more flexible regarding the 30% voucher, perhaps if you asked to switch sailings to next year they would accommodate.

[MrMike45]

4 minutes ago, Até said:

Well, if you're 100% sure I would say cancel.  Why will you lose the deposit if you cancel before final payment, and how much was it?  Something to do with a casino booking?  I would think they are looking for people to book so would be more flexible regarding the 30% voucher, perhaps if you asked to switch sailings to next year they would accommodate.

Yes something about the Casino booking that the deposit is non refundable. It was only $100 per person so $300 total which isn’t a big loss. Guess there are different rules for those bookings? 

[Até]

$300 is $300, I wouldn't want to just give it to them.  One point you didn't mention is what would you do if MSC goes forward with the cruise after you have paid in full.  Would you go?  If they won't move your booking now then I'd wait until July and make the decision then.

[GrannyGear]

I would wait till July before I did anything.

 

We live in Nova Scotia, which is beautiful in the fall. That being said, we are in lock down in Halifax for at least 3 more weeks. I can't imagine they will let a cruise boat dock here this season unless there is a significant medical break thru.

[lovemycruisetoo]

We have a repo booked (NYC/MIA) on Meraviglia October 22 and will decide around July 17-18 before final payment is due whether we cancel or not. 
 

We live in NYC and don’t feel it happening 😞. 

[MrMike45]

4 hours ago, Até said:

$300 is $300, I wouldn't want to just give it to them.  One point you didn't mention is what would you do if MSC goes forward with the cruise after you have paid in full.  Would you go?  If they won't move your booking now then I'd wait until July and make the decision then.

Agreed, I don’t want to give away $300.

 

 My wife has asthma. Nothing super serious but nonetheless is considered high risk given what Covid19 attacks. And our son will be 3 at the time of the cruise. Kids don’t seem to be at risk that much, but they are dirty germ sponges who could very easily get this and pass it on. 
 

So if you ask me today, living in NYC, no we wouldn’t go given what we’re going thru here. Maybe things change dramatically and October we would be ok going on a cruise but I doubt it. 

[MrMike45]

I guess I knew the answer already but was posting more for opinions and insight, which I greatly appreciate and have come to rely on from the people on these boards. 
 

As others said, I think I am in the same boat (no pun intended). Will wait until July and hope MSC cancels the cruise so we get the 30% discount voucher back. Not sneezing at the $300 by any means, but 30% off is a much bigger nugget and what I am hoping to avoid losing. 
 

We’re still scrounging for toilet paper, leaving our houses sparingly with masks, and literally have no clue when we will be allowed to go back to work and regular life. Things are much different here in NY than in other countries and even many other states in the US. So I can’t see us feeling comfortable about being on a cruise in October unless something dramatically changes. And therefore can’t see me paying $3500 in July hoping they cancel, when I could lose that if they don’t and we don’t go. 
 

In the grand scheme of what’s going on in the world, this is so miniscule. I even feel a little guilty posting that I am concerned about losing a discount for a cruise. But figured I would get you guys’ take, so I do appreciate it greatly. 
 

stay safe everyone, especially when “normal” life resumes. 

[MsTabbyKats]

As a fellow city dweller, I had the 10/12 cruise booked and I canceled it back in mid March.  In the unlikely event that it did sail, there's no way I'd be on it.  I'd rather lose the $300 than $3500.

 

BTW...I'm starting to see toilet paper on the shelves again.  My supermarket even had pasta today!

(I didn't get my refund yet so I put in a credit card dispute.)

[dexddd]

The way they are slow playing current refunds, I'd minimize risk.

 

MKing who also lives in NYC and has good insight opted out of Fall cruise for road trip.

[tymike]

Hi all.  Hoping everyone is staying safe and healthy.

I just wanted to share my experience cancelling an October cruise out of NYC that was partially comped by a land based casino before final payment.

 

I spoke with a rep from the casino department at MSC to cancel.  I got an immediate and full refund to my credit card for prepaid things such as laundry, a cabana etc.  I have proof of cancellation and the rep. told me that I would be refunded in full to my credit card for the entire cost of the cruise.  I was paid in full.

 

And possibly most importantly, the rep. said that my certificate for the discount was being extended through December, 2020 at least.  He advised to call in every so often as the company appears to want to be very flexible about continuing to extend the comp certificates.  It seems like this is very different than what the OP is being told.

 

The details of my certificate and cruise are:  I was comped a balcony for 7 nights.  I upgraded to YC for a 12 night (I think) cruise from NYC to Miami.  We only had to pay the differential between a balcony and YC for 7 nights and full YC fare for the rest of the nights.  It was an amazing bargain and I was very sad to cancel.

 

But I'm very happy with the information from the rep that the comp certificate is extended and may be again.  He said that MSC is trying to be flexible with casino passengers so I would think perhaps another call to a casino rep couldn't hurt.

 

Hope this helps!

Stay safe and well!

[tymike]

Oh!  One more thing I was told.  My refund for the cruise itself should show up between 30 and 60 days.  Days...not business days.  He was very clear about that.  I'm keeping an eye on my credit card!  Fingers crossed.

[Robinsoncruiseso]

On 4/30/2020 at 6:40 PM, MsTabbyKats said:

As a fellow city dweller, I had the 10/12 cruise booked and I canceled it back in mid March.  In the unlikely event that it did sail, there's no way I'd be on it.  I'd rather lose the $300 than $3500.

 

BTW...I'm starting to see toilet paper on the shelves again.  My supermarket even had pasta today!

(I didn't get my refund yet so I put in a credit card dispute.)

Be careful with credit card disputes.  The offer of a refund or future cruise credit is often accepted as good faith by the credit card issuer and you may lose the dispute.  Worse is you could end up on the "no sail" list of the cruise line.  Use credit card disputes only when you know there is a breach of contract without possibility of resolution.

 

[MsTabbyKats]

2 hours ago, Robinsoncruiseso said:

Be careful with credit card disputes.  The offer of a refund or future cruise credit is often accepted as good faith by the credit card issuer and you may lose the dispute.  Worse is you could end up on the "no sail" list of the cruise line.  Use credit card disputes only when you know there is a breach of contract without possibility of resolution.

 

I was told I'd get a refund within a certain number of business days.  That number passed.  I have it in writing.

[Johan Bear]

In the uk msc are saying any sailing up to end of sept can be moved to next year. We are in a similar position where we have to pay our balance in July for a cruise in November which leaves from Venice and as the Italians do not know the meaning of the word queue therefore no social distancing we will cancel and lose our deposit!

it is going to be impossible to social distance on a ship, four people to a lift !!!!!!
Just as an aside people say it is like flu-forget that both myself and my wife have had it, myself a very light dose of it, my wife is now in her sixth week from when she developed it, an has very little strength but is getting there. My advise would be  to lose your deposit but keep your health!!!

[Rhea98]

On 4/30/2020 at 8:06 PM, GrannyGear said:

I would wait till July before I did anything.

 

We live in Nova Scotia, which is beautiful in the fall. That being said, we are in lock down in Halifax for at least 3 more weeks. I can't imagine they will let a cruise boat dock here this season unless there is a significant medical break thru.

I have that cruise and the one following (and we were SO looking forward to both). I'm just under 100% sure they will be cancelled; however, I don't see any problem waiting until July to cancel--we will cancel, though.

[Rossco01]

On 5/3/2020 at 12:21 PM, Johan Bear said:

In the uk msc are saying any sailing up to end of sept can be moved to next year. We are in a similar position where we have to pay our balance in July for a cruise in November which leaves from Venice and as the Italians do not know the meaning of the word queue therefore no social distancing we will cancel and lose our deposit!

it is going to be impossible to social distance on a ship, four people to a lift !!!!!!
Just as an aside people say it is like flu-forget that both myself and my wife have had it, myself a very light dose of it, my wife is now in her sixth week from when she developed it, an has very little strength but is getting there. My advise would be  to lose your deposit but keep your health!!!

 

Hi Johan, where did you get the Sept date from for UK? when I look on the uk website it currently says only cruises due to depart up until 30th June can reschedule (as part of their flexible cruise programme). We are scheduled for Norwegian cruise beginning of August so will have final payment to make in the next couple of weeks. MSC seem to be making the call on whether a cruise will go ahead about a week before final payment due looking at previous notices. I think we will probably look to move to next year if possible ( I think you can do that regardless of FCC for £100).

[Johan Bear]

Hi I got the info on planet cruise website. Drop me your email address to Pekitto2@gmail.com and I will try to forward you the relevant page if you can’t find it.

If you go on planet cruise website at the top of the page it says latest on covid 19 

click on that which will open another page, then find flexible cancellation policies for all the different cruise lines go down to MSC and it’s there. It was the end of June then it changed.

[Welshdoc]

For some reason, MSC updated their UK FCC page to 30th Sept around a week ago, but after a few days (?24-48h) reverted back to 30th June. 

I guess if we move our Aug 2020 cruise to 2021 before final payment is due then we don't have to worry about paying the final balance this year with all this uncertainty. 

[Rossco01]

Welshdoc that was the logic we were using. We increase our potential loss by another £100 but delay the need for final payment so can wait and see. Ironically we are currently on Meraviglia which we've sailed on before (not necessarily our first choice, shes a great ship but we wanted to try a different line....unfortunately RCL decided to move the Indie after we'd booked) but moving to next year would put us on Virtuosa (assuming it's not delayed indefinitely or they don't change the schedule).

 

I'll check out the planet cruise website Johan