MISLEADING AND ********* MARKETING - BUY 1 GET 1 ****

I have been cruising with MSC for 15 years and a Gold Voyager Club member

One is always told to book early to get their best rates ie Early Booking rates. I booked for my whole family in January this year to January next year.

Then last month, May 2022, I see them advertising Buy 1 Get 1 specials for the exact same cruise in January 2023.

A peak season cruise... 10 months in advance!!!!

I can understand them doing this close to the actual cruise. But practically a year in advance? What happened to Early Booking rates being the best??

So I immediately contacted MSC. The answer I received was that the special was only for new bookings...

I didn't accept that and kept emailing.

Eventually I received a call from Kaycee Oliver, Cape Town branch manager. I explained my unhappiness and she was lovely. She said she understood how I felt and promised to see what she could do.

I also told her that while the Buy 1 Get 1 special was a slight discount it certainly wasn't buy 1 get 1 free as the price of the single ticket practically doubled... She laughed and said "oh so you figured that out, did you?" laugh laugh

They also advertised that the special ended on 27 May 2022 and every time I sent a follow up email I received an email urging me to book my cruise urgently as the special ended on 27th... Yet that same day Kfm was advertising the same special until 10 June 2022!!

Long story short I received an email yesterday saying that they were not going to do anything about it. Being a loyal passenger for 15 years meant nothing!!!

I asked for advice on a legal group and they advised that, although not *******, it was definitely ********* behavior and advised that I could lodge a complaint with the Competition Commission. Which it seems that I will have to do... Perhaps I'll also bring it to Carte Blanche's attention.