Cruisenation/MSC Virtuosa (Overbooked & Cancelled)

bignred05

Hi,

I'm looking for some advice please.

we recently booked a mini UK cruise via Cruisenation on the MSC Virtuosa (Liverpool > Liverpool)

to cut to the chase, 7 days before the cruise was scheduled to leave on the 24.June.2021, we received a phone call from Cruisenation.
Informing us our cruise boking was cancelled due to overbooking.
apparently and originally MSC were only allowed to have 1000 on a ship that can hold 6000 (Government restrictions)
unbeknown to us (and many others) this cruise and others were overbooked on the assumption the government would lift covid restrictions in June (this never happened obviously) and as such it was only going to allow the first 1000 who booked now (nothing wrong with that)

we were offered either a full refund or to book another cruise (not possible due to price increase and lack of options etc) as such requested a full refund.

13 days after the phone call & we have not had any communication at all from Cruisenation, 6 days after the original cancelation phone call I did email them asking for something in writing and I was advised once they receive the cancelation notice from MSC they will forward this on.

looking for advice please on my options and quickest way to get my money back.

reading social media it would appear a number of cruise options were cancelled due to overbooking and the fact Operators expected the government to lift the covid restrictions

the money paid was on a Credit card, so I suppose a Charge back is an option.

Caz3121

It sounds like they are awaiting info from MSC to be able to pass that on.
The MSC website said on 16th June - "In addition to a variety of rebooking options, guests will be offered the option of a refund. More details will be available shortly on msccruises.co.uk and through the MSC Cruises’ contact centre or its travel agent partners" .....but, as yet, no further update
https://www.msccruises.co.uk/news/limited-to-1000-guests

bignred05

Caz3121 said:

It sounds like they are awaiting info from MSC to be able to pass that on.
The MSC website said on 16th June - "In addition to a variety of rebooking options, guests will be offered the option of a refund. More details will be available shortly on msccruises.co.uk and through the MSC Cruises’ contact centre or its travel agent partners" .....but, as yet, no further update
https://www.msccruises.co.uk/news/limited-to-1000-guests

May well be that, but to have not a single word emailed since the original cancelation call

is nothing short of Pea Poor Service.

the actual cruise was for 24/6 > 29/6

Thanks for the link/reply

Neil49

I would try to be a little patient and see what MSC come up with. As a last resort I'm sure you will get a full refund but you may get more.

My brother in law had a Princess cruise cancelled some time ago. This was rescheduled and cancelled again. They have now given him a full refund and a free cruise as compensation.

bignred05

Just to update the thread, yesterday my refund was credited to my bank account in full.

nothing else.