We are two NCL Platinum members, tempted to try MSC by their status match program, in which we were enrolled as 'Black'. Until this trip, we have only ever cruised on Norwegian, so we were very much expecting a very different experience to what we're used to. We were expecting here to be some positive differences, and some negative ones.

Booking and communication.

Once we had our status matched and were eligible for the 5% discount, we booked effortlessly online. The various packages and cabin types were unusual and confusing to us, but we worked it out in the end. I wrote to the status match people to ask them if this short sailing was still eligible for the Black card benefits (complimentary dining, wine and fruit in cabin, bathrobe and slippers, late cabin check out, chocolate ship, etc) , and they explained that since this is a *two* night sailing that they do apply - but that on *three*-nighters the benefits do not. On the second day, since we hadn't received the benefits, I went to reception to enquire how they would be delivered. They told me contradictory information, and I had to show the email from the status match people to 'prove' that I was eligible for the benefits, after which they were supplied. This was the first of many contradictions and miscommunications/organisational shortcomings. Read more