If cruise reductions, precedence embarkation, welcome events and free presents sound engaging, listen. There’s just one cruise line in your complete trade that can match your standing with different journey manufacturers (and never simply cruise traces), permitting you to entry a wide range of perks.
MSC Cruises‘ standing match can take you from no standing (should you’ve by no means sailed with the road earlier than) to the best degree in a snap should you’ve reached the higher echelons of different loyalty applications. In my case, I went from the bottom tier to the second-highest simply by asking MSC to match my standing with one other cruise line. That earned me some good added advantages, together with a free one-hour go to the thermal suite any time I sail with the road.
Wish to learn to elevate your standing and snag invaluable extras in your subsequent MSC cruise? Right here, I am going to reply your questions on why you need to match your standing and what you may be entitled to should you do.
Which applications will MSC contemplate for matching?
For a standing match, MSC Cruises will have a look at loyalty standing from greater than 70 manufacturers, together with its huge opponents (Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Holland America Line, Movie star Cruises, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line), in addition to resort chains like Hyatt, Hilton and Marriott, and different manufacturers like Expedia, Air China and even Cirque du Soleil.
Be aware that MSC doesn’t at present match standing for any of the key U.S. airways, together with American Airways, Delta Air Traces and United Airways.
How do I apply for an MSC standing match?
It is easy. Fill out the knowledge on MSC Cruises’ standing match web page, and the cruise line will let you already know should you’ve been authorized.
After I went via the method, I submitted my standing as a Diamond-level member with Royal Caribbean’s Crown and Anchor program — the best standing I’ve. Inside every week, I heard again from MSC, telling me that I had earned Voyagers Membership Gold standing.
Nevertheless, for one among my coworkers, it wasn’t really easy. He submitted the shape citing his Hyatt Globalist standing beneath the World of Hyatt program, however he did not hear again for just a few weeks. Even then, he solely acquired a solution after contacting the road to ask whether or not a choice had been made. Ultimately, he was awarded Diamond standing — the best in MSC’s program.
Which standing degree will I get?
If you happen to maintain elite standing with a number of manufacturers, you may need to request a match with whichever standing will translate to the best degree with MSC Cruises’ program. For instance, I am Gold with Hilton Honors and Gold Elite with Marriott Bonvoy, because of The Platinum Card® from American Specific (enrollment required), however neither would have translated as extremely as my Royal Caribbean Diamond standing.
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Figuring out how a specific standing at one other model correlates with MSC’s program is just not at all times simple, as every line calculates factors towards loyalty standing in a different way. MSC tends to worth some statuses as decrease than the identical degree inside its personal program.
For instance, Royal Caribbean’s Diamond standing is simply equal to MSC’s Gold. Nevertheless, that’s probably as a result of Royal Caribbean has six tiers whereas MSC solely has 4. I discovered this chart helpful in figuring out which program’s match would get me the best standing with MSC.
What are among the perks?
There are 4 tiers within the MSC Voyagers Membership program: Basic, Silver, Gold and Diamond.
Even on the lowest degree, which is achieved after only one voyage, passengers obtain reductions on cruises and purchases within the onboard retailers, a devoted e-newsletter, invites to onboard “welcome again” cocktail events and extra. Whenever you attain increased tiers, you may be rewarded with extras like thermal spa passes and precedence tendering, embarkation and disembarkation.
For extra particulars, try The Factors Man’s full article on the MSC Voyagers Membership loyalty program.
What is the catch?
Total, MSC’s standing match is a superb providing, however there are some caveats to recollect. Though you’ll be able to earn standing simply, particularly with the match, the road’s loyalty program is without doubt one of the weakest within the trade. (Whenever you attain the highest, do not count on a free cruise like another traces provide.)
Moreover, most cruise traces’ loyalty applications award standing for all times. Meaning you do not have to requalify every year, as you do with resort and airline applications. Nevertheless, MSC’s Voyagers Membership standing goes up in smoke should you fail to take no less than one cruise each 36 months. If that occurs, your account might be closed, and you will have to begin from the underside.
You can even solely request one match per individual. Meaning if MSC Cruises awards you a match and also you obtain increased standing with one other program sooner or later, you will not be capable of submit further requests to have MSC reevaluate your standing degree. It additionally signifies that should you do not take a cruise inside three years and your loyalty standing expires, you’ll be able to’t request one other match, even after you create a brand new account.
Are standing matches widespread in cruising?
Standing matches aren’t widespread within the cruise world. In truth, just one different line — Virgin Voyages — will match different journey statuses. Solely three cruise traces — Royal Caribbean Worldwide, Movie star Cruises and Silversea Cruises — provide reciprocal standing with each other, and that is solely as a result of they’re sister manufacturers.
In any other case, you need to earn standing in every loyalty program individually. (However, gamblers, take notice: Some cruise traces do let you earn free sailings and different perks together with your land-based on line casino loyalty standing.)
Backside line
If you happen to thought it might by no means be potential to earn standing with a cruise line, it is an important concept to leverage your different standing achievements to get your self there extra rapidly with MSC Cruises.
Or, should you’re a traveler who has by no means tried cruising, a standing match is an effective way to make sure you have entry to a couple additional perks that can assist improve your first crusing.
Planning a cruise? Begin with these tales:
