Voyagers Club: the definitive guide to MSC Cruises' loyalty program
Cruises have restarted only in the Mediterranean, and the only companies operating are Italian. The cruise world, especially [...]
Cruises have restarted only in the Mediterranean, and the only companies operating are Italian.
In this article:
The cruise world, especially the U.S. giants, are looking to the Italian experiment to find a recipe for restarting, and at the moment the Italian one seems to be working.
MSC was born out of the ashes of the Lauro fleet, but it was from the early 2000s that the company began to compete with large global groups.
The best bonuses
Today it boasts one of the most modern fleets in the world and operates on all continents with its 17 ships (+ three under construction).
Voyagers club, the levels
Each cruise line has its own regulations and its own way of accumulating points. Unlike airlines, points are collected only on board and not through partners.
There are 4 levels: classic, silver, gold and diamond. And as is natural, the higher you go, the greater the benefits.
Classic (1/2199 points)
It is the entry level. It is accessed after the first cruise, benefits from the second onwards include discounts and a welcome cocktail
Silver (2200/4299 points)
In addition to the privileges of the classic level, it provides an on-board credit worth €50, a fruit basket and a gift upon reaching the level.
Gold (4300/9999 points)
Added to the benefits already acquired are birthday cake, an hour of treatments in the ship's spa, a complimentary photo, as well as privileged disembarkation when the ship serves lances at the end of the cruise.
Diamond (over 10 thousand points)
This is the elite level, the absolute highest and the one with the most privileges: priority embarkation and disembarkation, late check out on the end day of the cruise, gourmet dinners, exclusive invitations and much more.
How to collect points
Points are collected based on class of service, length of cruise and spending on board, the more you spend the more points you earn.
Basic points are awarded to all people occupying the same cabin, while points earned through spending on board, including credits purchased before departure, will be awarded only to the MSC Voyagers Club cardholder who settles the bill at the end of the cruise.
Here is how the extra points are accumulated:
Services purchased before the cruise: 100 points for every €150/$ spent before departure on MSC packages and services included in the cruise booked.
Board expenses: 100 points for every €150/$ spent on board, excluding casino.
Bonus points: 100 bonus points will be awarded at the end of the cruise to members who update or confirm their contact information (e-mail, phone, cell phone, address) within 72 hours of the departure date. Contact information can be updated via the MSC Voyagers Club online personal area or during Web Check-in. Bonus points are available as of July 28, 2017.
With a week-long cruise on the gold formula, a couple of excursions, some spending on board in the spa or restaurants, and you easily access the silver level.
How long do the points and status last
The first thing you need to learn is that in order not to let your points expire or lose your status you need to take at least one cruise every 36 months, so by doing so the count will continue to rise and you will progress in status growth.
MSC's Status Match
The company offers a promotion, unique in the industry, for new customers and beyond. This is the status match, which is useful for accelerating access to elite clubs just as it is for airlines or hotel chains. The mode is very simple.
Thanks to this dedicated page on the MSC website, you can apply for the elite category based on the level held. The interesting thing is that it is equalized with the level held on the loyalty programs of other cruise lines as well as hotels such as Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton or airlines. Basically all you have to do is have an elite level and MSC will recognize an equivalent status.