Bad service from MSC Cruises SA

We booked a cruise that was scheduled to depart on the 13th December. We booked 4 cabins. On the 31 October my nephew passed away. On the 1st November I called them to request cancellation. However they said they cannot cancel, if we cancel we forfeit all the money. Then we requested for a postponement. They approved the move en sent me the dates to choose from however they indicated we can only cruise in this cruise season which is between Nov and March. Since we were busy with the funeral arrangements I just picked a date without checking. Then later when they sent me the booking confirmations I realised that the date I picked is during the week and the days are more than what we have booked before and that there will be a balance that needs to be paid in. I then called them to indicate that since we just had a funeral we don't have extra funds to add to the cruise, and that we are travelling with school children it won't be viable to let the children miss school for 5 days. As well as request for them to refund the amount for the deceased. They also refused to refund saying we either loose the money or replace the deceased and pay the replacement fee of R700. Then with regard to changing the date they said we will have to pay in R500 per person for the change. We agreed as we have already paid a lot. Then they said they are escalating the matter to the supervisor. Today when I called they told me the supervisor did not authorise the move. Their service is indeed rotten and they capitalise on people's pain. I don't know if they are hoping for us to cancel and loose the money or what.