Retired teacher discount

[Europeantraveler1]

Hello! I am a retired teacher. Our family had a cruise planned (a 50th anniversary celebration cruise for my husband and myself and our children; their spouses, and the grandchildren) on the “new” Grandiosa for this June.

Obviously, we cancelled the cruise but are planning for the exact same celebration in 2022.  
My question is......I thought I read somewhere (after we booked our last cruise) that as a retired teacher I could have qualified for a discount from MSC. Are there any of you who have heard of this? Thank you!

[dolphin1313]

1 hour ago, Europeantraveler1 said:

Hello! I am a retired teacher. Our family had a cruise planned (a 50th anniversary celebration cruise for my husband and myself and our children; their spouses, and the grandchildren) on the “new” Grandiosa for this June.

Obviously, we cancelled the cruise but are planning for the exact same celebration in 2022.  
My question is......I thought I read somewhere (after we booked our last cruise) that as a retired teacher I could have qualified for a discount from MSC. Are there any of you who have heard of this? Thank you!

I believe that retired civil servants still get the discount that active civil servant workers do.  I know that active civil servants receive the same discount as military personal do.

[Até]

I have used the Civil Service discount on MSC, on bookings it still shows as a "military" discount.  It gives you an additional 5% off ocean view and interior and 10% off balcony and above.  You need to set it up in advance of sailing date by sending in some proof of employment, get the discount applied before final payment date.

[capriccio]

MSC has changed the wording to concentrate on the military on their USA website since we booked a year ago but it looks like this - https://www.msccruisesusa.com/cruise-deals/military-discount-rates  - still applies in the small print: 

 

Up to a 10% discount can be applied to the prevailing market and/or promotional rates based on ship sailing date chosen. 10% off is applicable on select Balcony, Suites and YC1 staterooms; 5% discount is applicable on select Interior and Ocean View staterooms. Discount rates apply to all to active and retired U.S. and Canadian military, civil service and interline personnel and their spouses, dependent children, parents, and parents-in-law. Qualifying guests must present an I.D. badge from their respective organization at the time of booking.

 

My husband is retired US civil service so I provided a copy of his annual pension statement (amounts blacked out of course) from the US government. 

 

Here is how the old web page described the offer but the small print was the same:

 

Cruise Deals for Government Employees

 

BIG SAVINGS WITH MSC CRUISES

 

Let us say "THANK YOU" with up to 10% savings*.

 

Must Call to Book! Contact your preferred Travel Agent or call MSC Cruises at 1-877-665-4655.

 

Cruise deals for active and retired U.S. and Canadian government employees:

 

TEACHERS

MSC Cruises is proud to offer these special rates for teachers on select sailings.

 

CIVIL SERVANTS

MSC Cruises is proud to offer special rates on select sailings for civil servants including government employees, police officers, firefighters, Federal Express, DHL Worldwide Express and United Parcel Service (UPS) personnel.

 

YOUR SPECIAL OFFER

• 5% discount on Interior and Ocean View staterooms
• 10% off Balcony, Suite, and MSC Yacht Club (Deluxe Suites) staterooms 
• Book multiple staterooms with your discount
• Kids sail free on select sailings**
• Best value in cruising 

 

[Europeantraveler1]

Thank you! We are also a MSC GOLD status bearer so could both the teacher discount and the Gold discounts be applied or not?

[capriccio]

23 minutes ago, Europeantraveler1 said:

Thank you! We are also a MSC GOLD status bearer so could both the teacher discount and the Gold discounts be applied or not?

Our TA asked and was told only one discount can be applied.

[Até]

MSC does it in an unusual way.  They say discounts are not combinable yet my Civil service discount is 5%+5% on inside and ocean view and 5%+10% on balcony and above, which sure seems like they are combining the regular Voyagers Club 5% with an extra 5% or 10%.  But they say it's not, they say it's only the Civil Service discount.  I don't really care about the verbiage, it gets me an additional 5% or 10% over the regular Voyagers club discount.  My experience has been the civil service is not combinable with discounts like Voyagers Selection sailings, for that you must take the regular Voyagers Club 5% and then the additional Voyagers Selection discount.

[Europeantraveler1]

Thank you! 
If we book and we pay for all three Yacht Club rooms for our family members ( this cruise is our treat) I wonder how the discount would work?  Would it be applied to all three rooms we’d need and are paying for?  Understandably,, MSC would need to know what individuals would be staying in each room (age, name, etc..). 

[Até]

Somewhere I have read a report of that being allowed, I would call MSC directly with that question. 

[dexddd]

We have three YC booked.  Used my civil servant on all three. 10% max, no adder for status, same on prior sailings.

 

At end of day it was just simpler that way even though DD in room 2 civil servant and brother in room 3 Fed Ex.

[shipgeeks]

Just to add some general information on the topic:  The online TA we use asks us to do a profile which in our case includes over-55, past military,  cruiselines we have sailed with, etc.   Each time we browse potential cruises, it brings up the best deal for us, and indicates which discount has been applied.

I have been a university instructor for a number of years, but never thought to add "teacher" to my profile.  I did so, and several times recently that has been the discount noted.

I've been told that discounts are not combinable.