Dad service by MSC cruise

Myself and wifeI recently embarked on an MSC krone cruise with my sister in law and brother in law from 2-5 February 2024, and I felt compelled to bring to the attention of people who are considering going on a MSC cruise in South Africa our concerns we encountered regarding the payment system for the drinking packages on board.

During our cruise, we purchased two beverage packages for each family, totaling 36 vouchers. To avoid any inconvenience, we sought guidance from bartenders and waiters in formal restaurants and different lounges about which drinks were covered by the vouchers. To our surprise, despite having vouchers, our MSC cards were consistently swiped during drink orders.

On the last night, I experienced a particularly troubling incident. I ordered two ****tails (Tequila Sunrise and Margarita) and confirmed with the bartender that two voucher would cover the cost of both ****tails. However, upon disembarking, I was informed that I owed MSC an amount of money, preventing me from leaving the boat until it was paid. Despite requesting proof of the charges, none was provided, and I was forced to pay the amount of R233.00 with my credit card.

Upon subsequent inquiry with MSC, I was informed that the bartenders lacked authorization to determine which drinks were payable by the drinking voucher, and the Margarita was not covered. This inconsistency, especially considering the similarity with the Tequila Sunrise, is concerning. Furthermore, the unauthorized charging to my MSC card without consent is unacceptable and raises questions about transparency and potential theft/*****. MSC is now refusing to refund me.

I believe it is crucial for MSC to address and rectify these issues to ensure a more transparent and fair payment system for the drinking packages.