MSC Loyalty Match Submission Ignored

[EBRANGER]

I have been trying to obtain a MSC Loyalty Match for almost 2 months now.  I have done everything that has been requested by the web site (filling out the web form multiple times) and by emails from the MSC Loyalty Club, but they still have not given my wife and myself membership numbers.  I have sent numerous emails to two different MSC agents with all the relative information requested, including a .jpg and .pdf of my Princess membership number and level. I called MSC for the third time again today (attitude was horrible and not empathetic at all) and they told me to just keep emailing MSC Loyalty Program. At this point I have given up and will no longer pursue booking a cruise with MSC.  If this how they treat their guests before a cruise, I hate to think about during and after a cruise. I have heard so many negative things about MSC, but wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt, but it looks like all the negative reviews are correct.  Is anyone else having the same problem as myself? Thanks so much for the help!

[mom says]

Your thread belongs on the MSC forum. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/49-msc-cruises/

[crazyank]

16 hours ago, EBRANGER said:

I have been trying to obtain a MSC Loyalty Match for almost 2 months now.  I have done everything that has been requested by the web site (filling out the web form multiple times) and by emails from the MSC Loyalty Club, but they still have not given my wife and myself membership numbers.  I have sent numerous emails to two different MSC agents with all the relative information requested, including a .jpg and .pdf of my Princess membership number and level. I called MSC for the third time again today (attitude was horrible and not empathetic at all) and they told me to just keep emailing MSC Loyalty Program. At this point I have given up and will no longer pursue booking a cruise with MSC.  If this how they treat their guests before a cruise, I hate to think about during and after a cruise. I have heard so many negative things about MSC, but wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt, but it looks like all the negative reviews are correct.  Is anyone else having the same problem as myself? Thanks so much for the help!

Welcome to dealing with MSC. this kind of stuff is just one of the reasons we will never cruise with them again

[Reina del Mar]

Just a random thought..although have never travelled or thought to travel with MSC, maybe you have to book the cruise before they’ll sort out loyalty status ????

 

I don’t blame you not booking with them if they can’t even reply to emails!

[Hlitner]

Dealing with MSC Customer Service in the USA is often a horrible experience.  There are still some major cruise agencies that do not do business with MSC because of the frustrations.  My favorite cruise agent/agency does deal with MSC but they have admitted to me that it can be difficult when they must deal with a human (apparently the computerized system is OK).  When we first dealt with the status match issue I had also sent several e-mails and made a couple of calls.  I finally got to one of the two (that is what I was told) folks that handle all the status match stuff and she was very helpful.   While on the phone she was able to find the status match requests from both DW and myself and got it done!

 

But we are also big fans of MSC's Yacht Club and have found it worth the hassles encountered with the pre-cruise stuff.  Once aboard our MSC cruises all has been quite fine (at least in the YC).   But we recently cancelled our only MSC booking (14 days on the Meraviglia) because we were concerned about MSC's silence on some COVID-related issues.  Ironically we then booked a Seabourn cruise (out of Barbados) for similar dates and that particular booking has, so far, been the most difficult and troubled booking we have ever made.   If I had to do it over again I would have kept the MSC booking :(.

 

Hank

[evandbob]

Sorry and surprised the OP is having difficulties with status match. We had none.

 

We did ours separately on line and we each received the appropriate match notification in a relatively sort time, maybe  a week or two, months before our sailaway on the Seaside.  

 

Reading this made us glad our process did not involve their GS.

[rkacruiser]

On 7/12/2021 at 11:50 AM, EBRANGER said:

I have been trying to obtain a MSC Loyalty Match for almost 2 months now.

 

Have you booked a  MSC cruise?  If not, that may be the reason for such a poor experience.  I booked my MSC cruise, then had my travel agent request the loyalty match which she was able to do quite promptly.  The discount in the cruise fare (earned as a result of this loyalty match) was then applied to my final payment.  

 

If you have a travel agent, allow that person to experience the frustration in trying to help you rather than you experiencing it yourself.  

 

On 7/13/2021 at 8:39 AM, Hlitner said:

But we are also big fans of MSC's Yacht Club and have found it worth the hassles encountered with the pre-cruise stuff.  Once aboard our MSC cruises all has been quite fine (at least in the YC).   

 

I concur with Hlitner.  My MSC cruise will remain a special one in my memory.  

[taglovestocruise]

On 7/13/2021 at 12:59 AM, crazyank said:

Welcome to dealing with MSC. this kind of stuff is just one of the reasons we will never cruise with them again

Menefreghismo.. Got to love the Italian attitude. 

[George C]

I normally book my own cruises but had a travel agent so they could fight with MSc . I do love there ten percent discount for veterans.

[Itchy&Scratchy]

On 7/12/2021 at 11:50 AM, EBRANGER said:

 Is anyone else having the same problem as myself?

 

yes, of course. 

check the last pages of the thread.

[marielco]

I think you have to book a cruise first then apply for the status match.  If you think about it no cruise line gives loyalty status until someone has cruised with them.  So at least a booking may be needed to get a loyalty match on MSC.  

[CaroleC]

27 minutes ago, marielco said:

I think you have to book a cruise first then apply for the status match.  If you think about it no cruise line gives loyalty status until someone has cruised with them.  So at least a booking may be needed to get a loyalty match on MSC.  

Nope, did both of ours before booking. Mine came through in a couple of days, DH’s took about a week. We then booked a couple of weeks later.

[Native Floridian 26]

I am also getting nowhere with my Princess Match.  It's been 6 weeks.   Noone said we shouldn't apply for Voyager prior to submitting match form so one rep told me that's a problem.  One they should be able to deal with I would think.  I have submitted the form probably 5 times and emailed them the info 4 times.  when I call CS, they say give it time, that it's taking6-8 weeks.  The work is done in Italy and on a very limited basis as they're still dealing with Covid.

 

Since we're matching Princess also, I wonder if that's a relationship.  You wouldn't think because everything they need is on the screenshot you send them.

[wallyj]

21 minutes ago, CaroleC said:

Nope, did both of ours before booking. Mine came through in a couple of days, DH’s took about a week. We then booked a couple of weeks later.

I also was able to get a status match / voyager # before I made a MSC booking last year. That department can only be contacted via EMAIL. I had issues trying to submit the online form. I think I had problems with it accepting ‘city’, but found out you input your zip code then click lookup and then it will populate the city name for you.

 

@EBRANGER, your post says you have emailed and talked to MSC agents, my understanding is they can NOT help you with the Status match. It is handled exclusively by this one department and can only be contacted via email. My experience was that department replied quickly(within a few days) when I wrote I was having difficulty completing the form and wanted verification they received all the required info. I thought I could just supply all the info required and attach picture of a Princess cruise card. They replied, I need to submit info via their form. Is it possible you have submitted the form, but it is not complete, as I had issues with the city name? Did you complete the form using the ‘lookup’ button?

[Toofarfromthesea]

This is another good reason to book with a TA so they handle this kind of kerfuffle.

[grandgeezer]

On 7/13/2021 at 2:23 AM, Reina del Mar said:

Just a random thought..although have never travelled or thought to travel with MSC, maybe you have to book the cruise before they’ll sort out loyalty status ????

 

I don’t blame you not booking with them if they can’t even reply to emails!

We got our loyalty match from MSC months before we booked our first cruise with them. We got the conformation in about two weeks.

This was about two years ago.

[rkacruiser]

2 hours ago, Toofarfromthesea said:

This is another good reason to book with a TA so they handle this kind of kerfuffle.

 

7 hours ago, George C said:

but had a travel agent so they could fight with MSc . 

 

I remain mystified as to why some want to endure the stress and potential aggravation that can arise when "bumps" in the road occur when booking travel by their choice to not use a travel agent.  

[dexddd]

Status match has been hit or miss over the years.  When we did ours, I think it was ignored then I reapplied, DW got it fairly quickly mine was delayed weeks.  There have been reports of within a couple days.

[EllieinNJ]

I was waiting for six weeks.  I even got a reference # in an email then nothing.  I finally booked a sailing because the price increased by $50pp  Joined the Voyagers Club.  Still nothing.  Would also like to apply for the heath workers discount but afraid that also will be ignored.

[tinkr2]

For those who were successful, are the perks still applicable for 4 day cruises? I sent paperwork the day I booked but paid in full bc it was required. so no discount. My cruise is August 2nd. Was hoping a month was enough time.

[Kent Island Ken]

I’m also on the August 2nd cruise and have heard nothing on my status match application. Spoke to customer service on another issue and they cut me off when I asked to speak to a supervisor. Unless the actual cruise really blows me away I suspect this may well be our first and last cruise with them.

[uktog]

The UK office seems to be doing very well on this score.  Two requests submitted yesterday processed within the hour.  A very good first impression of MSC here!

[NightWoman]

I agree with uktog, we booked our first cruise this year with MSC and only found out about the status match on this forum after booking, so I applied to status match myself and my husband and received confirmation within 30 minutes.

All our dealing with MSC have been through our TA apart from the status match.

 

Edited July 21, 2021 by NightWoman

[Native Floridian 26]

5 hours ago, uktog said:

The UK office seems to be doing very well on this score.  Two requests submitted yesterday processed within the hour.  A very good first impression of MSC here!

Do you mind giving me the link to the UK site for Loyalty Match?  Thanks!

[uktog]

https://www.msccruises.co.uk/manage-booking/msc-voyagers-club/status-match

 

Mind I am not sure it will work outside the UK as you will default to msccruises.com just as I cannot look at the .com site here 🙂