What is an MSC status match?

If cruise discounts, priority boarding, welcome parties and free gifts sound appealing, pay attention. There’s only one travel agency in the entire industry that will match your status with other travel brands (and not just cruise lines), giving you access to a variety of perks.

MSC Cruises‘ Status matching can take you from none (if you’ve never been on this route before) to the highest level in a snap if you’ve reached the higher levels of other loyalty programs . In my case, I went from the lowest level to the second highest level simply by asking MSC to match my status with another shipping line. That gives me some nice extras, including a free one-hour pass to the thermal baths whenever I take a rope boat ride.

Want to learn how to up your game and get valuable extras on your next MSC cruise? Here, I’ll answer your questions about why you should suit your status and what you’ll enjoy if you do.

What programs will MSC consider incorporating?

To compare status, MSC Cruises will look at loyalty status from more than 70 brands, including major competitors (Festival cruise lineRoyal Caribbean, Holland America Linefamous yachts, Princess yacht, Norwegian Cruise Line And Disney Cruise Line), as well as hotel chains like Hyatt, Hilton and Marriott, and other brands like Expedia, Air China and even Cirque du Soleil.

Note that MSC does not currently match the status of any major U.S. airlines, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines.

How do I register for the MSC status match?

It’s simple. Fill in the information MSC Cruises status matching pageand the cruise line will let you know whether you are approved or not.

Once I completed this process, I submitted my status as a Diamond level member to Royal Caribbean’s Crown and Anchor Program – the highest status I have. Within a week, I received a response from MSC informing me that I had earned Voyageurs Club Gold status.

However, for one of my colleagues, it was not so easy. He submitted the form citing Hyatt’s status as a Globalist under Hyatt World Programbut he did not receive a response for several weeks. In fact, he only received an answer after contacting the phone to ask if a decision had been made or not. Ultimately, he was awarded Diamond status – the highest level in the MSC program.

What status level will I receive?

If you hold elite status with multiple brands, you’ll want to request a combination with any status that will move to the highest level with MSC Cruises’ program. For example: I am Gold with Hilton Title and Gold Elite with Marriott Bonvoythanks American Express Platinum® Card (registration required), but neither was as valuable as my Royal Caribbean Diamond status.

Determining how another brand’s specific status correlates with MSC’s program is not always straightforward because each line scores loyalty status differently. MSC tends to rate some states lower than their peers in its program.

For example, Royal Caribbean’s Diamond status is just equal to MSC’s Gold status. However, that’s possible because Royal Caribbean has six classes while MSC only has four. I have found this chart helpful in determining which program would be the right fit for me to reach my highest position with MSC.

What are some perks?

There are four tiers in MSC’s Voyager Club program: Classic, Silver, Gold and Diamond.

Even at the lowest rates achieved after just one cruise, passengers receive discounts on cruises and purchases at onboard shops, a dedicated e-newsletter, invitations to dinners, and more. onboard “welcome back” cocktail parties and more. As you reach higher levels, you’ll be rewarded with additional features like hot spa passes and priority bidding, boarding and disembarkation.

For more details, check out The Points Guy’s full article on MSC Voyager Club loyalty program.

What is remarkable?

Overall, MSC’s fitness status is a great deal, but there are a few things to keep in mind. While you can easily earn status, especially when there’s a match, the line’s loyalty program is one of the weakest in the industry. (When you get to the top, don’t expect a free ride like some other lines offer.)

Additionally, most travel agency loyalty programs award lifetime status. That means you don’t have to revalidate every year like you do with hotel and airline programs. However, your MSC Cruising Club status goes up in smoke if you don’t take at least one cruise every 36 months. If that happens, your account will be closed and you will have to start over.

You can also only request one match per person. That means if MSC Cruises awards you a match and you achieve higher status with another program in the future, you will not be able to submit an additional request to have the status level reassessed by MSC your. It also means that if you don’t travel within three years and your loyalty status expires, you can’t request another match, even after you create a new account.

Is status matching common in itineraries?

Status matches are not common in the yachting world. Actually, there is only one other line – Virgin trip — would be consistent with other travel states. There are only three cruise lines – Royal Caribbean International, Famous yachts And Silversea Cruise — offer reciprocity, and that’s just because they’re sister brands.

Otherwise, you must earn status in each individual loyalty program. (But gamblers, take note: Some cruise lines let you Earn free rides and other perks with your land-based casino loyalty status.)

Bottom line

If you think it will never be possible to achieve status with a cruise line, it’s a great idea to leverage your other status achievements to achieve that status faster with MSC Cruises .

Or, if you’re a traveler who’s never tried a cruise, comparing statuses is a great way to make sure you have access to some extra perks that will enhance your first trip. Friend.

Planning a trip? Start with these stories: