MSC - Explora Pricing

[Stockjock]

As you may know, MSC has a new ultra-premium division called Explora, replete with ultra-premium pricing.  Do you think it will work?

Personally, I don't.  I base this upon their high prices, MSC's generally poor reputation for customer service, and the existing, far more experienced ultra-premium lines that offer more of a known quantity.

Your thoughts?

Edited October 12, 2021 by Stockjock

[alyssamma]

LOL, yeah...I agree 100% with you...but we will see. MSC is certainly more well known in Europe, but I'm pretty sure the customer service issues are still crap.

 

They will need a dedicated team for this.

[Two Wheels Only]

16 minutes ago, alyssamma said:

They will need a dedicated team for this.

 

I believe that is what they will have. 

 

"In March, the brand tapped several veterans of upscale cruise brands for its leadership team, including chief sales officer Chris Austin, who was most recently a sales executive with Seabourn; destination experience advisor John Stoll, who was vice president of land programs for 17 years at Crystal; and commercial and strategic advisor Thatcher Brown, most recently president of Dream Cruises and managing director of Crystal Cruises Asia."

 

So it seems like they are going to have people who should know what they are doing and understand the potential client. 

 

These look like "brochure" prices. Real world prices are almost always lower. 

[alyssamma]

53 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

I believe that is what they will have. 

 

"In March, the brand tapped several veterans of upscale cruise brands for its leadership team, including chief sales officer Chris Austin, who was most recently a sales executive with Seabourn; destination experience advisor John Stoll, who was vice president of land programs for 17 years at Crystal; and commercial and strategic advisor Thatcher Brown, most recently president of Dream Cruises and managing director of Crystal Cruises Asia."

 

So it seems like they are going to have people who should know what they are doing and understand the potential client. 

 

These look like "brochure" prices. Real world prices are almost always lower. 

Agree about the rack rates.

 

We will see about the customer service. I just don't believe they can pull it off...

[Stockjock]

Reputation is everything.

 

Edited October 13, 2021 by Stockjock

[neptuno]

To MSC's credit, they did offer an exceptional product when entering the US market twelve years ago:  an outstanding shipboard experience at a remarkably low price.  Perhaps they will enter the upscale market with pricing that will attract even the most critical.  However, I totally agree they will have to improve their landside customer service.

[alyssamma]

46 minutes ago, neptuno said:

To MSC's credit, they did offer an exceptional product when entering the US market twelve years ago:  an outstanding shipboard experience at a remarkably low price.  Perhaps they will enter the upscale market with pricing that will attract even the most critical.  However, I totally agree they will have to improve their landside customer service.

I think that is it. Most (all) of us agree that the *product* is great. I would even say for the price point it can't be beat.

 

But the aggravation of dealing the CS is just...ugh. Right now I compare MSC to RCCL, Carnival, etc. so when I am still waiting to get credit for a cruise I took 2 mo ago, fine. I don't like it, but fine. 

 

Now, if this was being compared to Oceania, Viking, Seabourne, etc...then forget it. Completely unacceptable.

 

[Stockjock]

2 hours ago, alyssamma said:

I think that is it. Most (all) of us agree that the *product* is great. I would even say for the price point it can't be beat.

 

But the aggravation of dealing the CS is just...ugh. Right now I compare MSC to RCCL, Carnival, etc. so when I am still waiting to get credit for a cruise I took 2 mo ago, fine. I don't like it, but fine. 

 

Now, if this was being compared to Oceania, Viking, Seabourne, etc...then forget it. Completely unacceptable.

 

The funny thing is that it really wouldn't take too much to improve the situation dramatically.

After all, how hard is it to call, e-mail or send a letter to let a customer know that their short Barcelona cruise is now a 20-night cruise leaving out of Brazil on an entirely different date?  And yes, that did happen to me with no notification ever.  Just one of countless examples of poor customer service.

Edited October 13, 2021 by Stockjock

[hamrag]

5 hours ago, Stockjock said:

The funny thing is that it really wouldn't take too much to improve the situation dramatically.

After all, how hard is it to call, e-mail or send a letter to let a customer know that their short Barcelona cruise is now a 20-night cruise leaving out of Brazil on an entirely different date?  And yes, that did happen to me with no notification ever.  Just one of countless examples of poor customer service.

Yep, us regulars know your agenda by now...you really ought to stay off the vino!

Edited October 13, 2021 by hamrag

[kelleherdl]

3 hours ago, hamrag said:

Yep, us regulars know your agenda by now...you really ought to stay off the vino!

Graham

 

you ruined my evening.  I had blocked him, but you quoting him defeated that strategy.  😀😀😀😀😀

[Stockjock]

1 hour ago, kelleherdl said:

Graham

 

you ruined my evening.  I had blocked him, but you quoting him defeated that strategy.  😀😀😀😀😀

Well, I suppose you are now blocked as well.

Sorry if the truth offends you..

Edited October 14, 2021 by Stockjock

[Nunagoras]

That will depends really on where they'll to sell their tickets.

 

So apparently MSC will to admit kids on Explora... That's pretty much a no go on other mid to full luxury cruise lines...

 

Viking sells only to the following markets: US, UK, Australia.

 

Happaq-Lloyd sells primarily to the German market.

 

The likes of Seaburn, Silversea, Oceania, Regent sell globally but seem to encourage the English speaking world.

 

Ponant is primarily a French product.

 

That said: Unless the continental European mid to full luxury is content enough with kids aboard, and lots of triplets/fourthlets aboard... OK.

 

Explora ships are built from the very same Viking's Finicantieri prototype. Viking is double occupancy only, no kids, 930 passengers per ship. Explora is mostly a 4 pax per stateroom, so in theory some 1500 pax per sailing... At more than Viking prices!... Good luck MSC. For now I'm out!... Who know that can be?... Again: Depends on where they sell the tickets. It might to work with the new affluent clientele on the Eastern European countries... Maybe!...

[Gourmet Gal]

The prices seem quite reasonable but my only experience with MSC is being docked beside their loud rave party boats in Europe.  The Explora ship size would seem to compare to Crystal or Regent but as I tend to cruise  during the school year I don’t know how disruptive it is to have kids on a  pseudo luxury cruise.  Does not  the pricing filter out families to a certain extent?  On paper this endeavor looks promising but I don’t want to be the guinea pig.  

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

On 10/12/2021 at 7:36 PM, Stockjock said:

As you may know, MSC has a new ultra-premium division called Explora, replete with ultra-premium pricing.  Do you think it will work?

Personally, I don't.  I base this upon their high prices, MSC's generally poor reputation for customer service, and the existing, far more experienced ultra-premium lines that offer more of a known quantity.

Your thoughts?

 

 

I had pre-reserved Journey #16 since Celebrity kept cancelling my Iceland/Greenland cruises.  I was pleasantly surprised to receive an invoice which stated that my single supplement had been reduced to less than $1,000.  So my cost for this cruise per day in a suite is far less than I was going to pay on Celebrity.  I have cruised MSC in their Yacht Club twice and found it to be an excellent experience, in many ways better than the Celebrity Retreat experience.

 

I get that MSC has a poor reputation for customer service.  For that reason, I employ a travel agent who books a lot of cruises with MSC and let him deal with them.  He says that there will be a separate division to deal with IT and customer service.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

On 10/14/2021 at 6:57 PM, Nunagoras said:

 

Explora ships are built from the very same Viking's Finicantieri prototype. Viking is double occupancy only, no kids, 930 passengers per ship. Explora is mostly a 4 pax per stateroom, so in theory some 1500 pax per sailing... At more than Viking prices!... Good luck MSC. For now I'm out!... Who know that can be?... Again: Depends on where they sell the tickets. It might to work with the new affluent clientele on the Eastern European countries... Maybe!...

 

Not sure where you get your information that Explora is mostly a 4 pax/stateroom ship.  The deck plans I've seen indicate a max of 3 for most cabins.

[Nunagoras]

2 hours ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

 

Not sure where you get your information that Explora is mostly a 4 pax/stateroom ship.  The deck plans I've seen indicate a max of 3 for most cabins.

Unless MSC has changed their mind on that in the mean time, the information is rightly on the above published charts on this thread, arguably from an Explora catalogue! Their website remains with no information at all. Surely they won't admit a 3rd or 4th adult in a room, at least... (Or will they?...) But now, every other room with 2 kids inside? That would to be 1860 guests on a prototype made for 930 on another line!... And that at Seabourn/Silversea/Regent pricing which is another world of less than 800 guests per ship?... Good luck MSC!...

 

Ah, by reading your above my post answer to Stockjock, it seems that they've far reduced your solo supplement for a reasonable less than $1000!... That puts the things in a far more realistic perspective and makes Explora to catch somewhat the Viking market level or even below that, if the inclusions are at least similar!... But even again... They'll need to pedal quite hard to come across that Vikiing level!... Unique advantage: Viking doesn't sell to the continental European market... Explora will!... Maybe the continental Europeans have a lower standards than their English speaking world peers... I seriously doubt... Who knows?...

 

Have a nice day!...

[kelleherdl]

1 hour ago, Nunagoras said:

Unless MSC has changed their mind on that in the mean time, the information is rightly on the above published charts on this thread, arguably from an Explora catalogue! Their website remains with no information at all. Surely they won't admit a 3rd or 4th adult in a room, at least... (Or will they?...) But now, every other room with 2 kids inside? That would to be 1860 guests on a prototype made for 930 on another line!... And that at Seabourn/Silversea/Regent pricing which is another world of less than 800 guests per ship?... Good luck MSC!...

 

Ah, by reading your above my post answer to Stockjock, it seems that they've far reduced your solo supplement for a reasonable less than $1000!... That puts the things in a far more realistic perspective and makes Explora to catch somewhat the Viking market level or even below that, if the inclusions are at least similar!... But even again... They'll need to pedal quite hard to come across that Vikiing level!... Unique advantage: Viking doesn't sell to the continental European market... Explora will!... Maybe the continental Europeans have a lower standards than their English speaking world peers... I seriously doubt... Who knows?...

 

Have a nice day!...

Your speculation on passenger capacity is decidedly incorrect.  The overwhelming majority of suites on Explora 1 are Ocean Terrace balcony (OT 1-4).  Very few of these even have a single sofa bed.  Most of the sofa beds, either single or double, are in the larger suites, either Penthouse or Owner’s level.  I have seen the deck plan.

 

Dennis

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

2 hours ago, kelleherdl said:

Your speculation on passenger capacity is decidedly incorrect.  The overwhelming majority of suites on Explora 1 are Ocean Terrace balcony (OT 1-4).  Very few of these even have a single sofa bed.  Most of the sofa beds, either single or double, are in the larger suites, either Penthouse or Owner’s level.  I have seen the deck plan.

 

Dennis

 

I've seen the deck plans too.  Also, there is no way they could pack 1860 guests on a ship with a maximum capacity of 860.  Maximum capacity is just that.  The largest number of pax a ship can sail with.

[Nunagoras]

Ok!... Many thanks @kelleherdland @Happy Cruiser 6143!... If you have seen the deck plans I believe that will be the case!... And if maximum capacity is really 860 those ships will likely to be a marvel to on considering that the Viking ones from the same prototype seem to be a marvel to be on at 930!...

 

Hope they publish those deck plans for all of us to officially appreciate ASAP!...

 

Have a nice day!...

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

The deck plans have been published on that site we are not able to mention here.  

[kelleherdl]

1 hour ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

The deck plans have been published on that site we are not able to mention here.  

….  And I’m sure any travel agent active in booking MSC cruises is also credentialed by Explora Journeys and will gladly supply them.

[perakcruiser]

On 10/15/2021 at 6:57 AM, Nunagoras said:

So apparently MSC will to admit kids on Explora... That's pretty much a no go on other mid to full luxury cruise lines...

Luxury or not, a Italian cruise line cannot forbid bambini. This is absolute NO GO. People in Europe will forgive MSC many bad things but if they become bambini unfriendly their representatives will be spitted in the face when they leave the office 😄

[Nunagoras]

20 hours ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

The deck plans have been published on that site we are not able to mention here.  

Yeah! Many thanks, I'll have a look soon!...

[Nunagoras]

9 hours ago, perakcruiser said:

Luxury or not, a Italian cruise line cannot forbid bambini. This is absolute NO GO. People in Europe will forgive MSC many bad things but if they become bambini unfriendly their representatives will be spitted in the face when they leave the office 😄

This is a good point... To an extent... Several adult only resorts opening in Algarve, southern Portugal, near where I live. Surely they're mainly for the UK market... But... Kid free activities are starting to become such a trend within the most affluent classes here, to say the least. Either way: They leave the kiddos at home or they'll have a completely separate venue for the kiddos to stay while the adults have their own thing! Yeah, the Europeans are more kid friendly than their English speaking peers... But things are changing, especially on that more than affluent class for which Explora targets its product!...

 

Have a nice day!...

[kidless]

Well we booked already and I’m not alone!