If you are on the Status Match Merry Go Round™ – very specifically the 2024 version of the Atlantic City Status Match Merry Go Round™ – you probably care a lot about the MSC cruise that comes with Ocean Prime status.
In this article
Updated Cruise Offer
First of all, we’ve seen some whipsaws around this offer, from 10 days anywhere in the world excluding China, to Caribbean only, back to anywhere, and now anywhere but with costs/restrictions.
Timing of Booking Post-Match
The general rule of thumb is that you are allowed one cruise per calendar year and since the Ocean program year runs July 1 – June 30, you can book a cruise each half-year.
However, the official rule is that the benefit isn’t available until the 15th of the month following the month in which you match. If you match on Sept 1st, in theory you have to wait until October 15th for Ocean to have your name (and it could be a few more days after that since it’s manual). That wouldn’t give you much time for a 2024 sail which must commence in 2024.
Now we’ve learned that it may be possible to expedite this.
MilesTalk Facebook Group member Kate T. received this reply from Ocean directly when she pressed about wanting to book sooner than the 15th of the following month:
Would love to see more data points of this working, but it sure seems possible with just a drop of extra effort!
Thoughts?
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What is a blackout fee? Does that mean a $1200 fee just to take a non-US cruise?
Yes that’s the reply I got from the agent when I called them today to try to book mine. And it’s a $1400 blackout fee. You can read the fine print on this page:
https://www.theoceanac.com/sites/default/files/2024-12/12.3_Ocean_Rewards_Travel_Perks_Brochure_draft1.pdf
I am so bummed about this! Ruins all my plans for next summer! 😭 But in all honesty, this is how the game goes. Offers can always change at the discretion of the company providing benefits. It is what it is!
Does once per calendar year really work? If you did the match now you can do 2024 and 2025?
On September 9th Tried to book June, 2025 MSC cruise leaving from Rome with Ocean Prime status. Was told by MSC both on the phone and customer service email that all non-US sailings now have a $1,400 blackout fee. The customer service email rep said Oceans Casino is advertising the wrong info. Destroyed my vacation plans for 2025. Did not budget that fee and did not book the cruise. It was good while it lasted.
Same here – strange that they say info from ocean prime is wrong. If it is they need to sort out internally not impact us
I was told the $1400 international fee when I called 9/16.
I did not HUCA though since we have no clue which cruise we want to go on. Will try to figure that out and CA next week.
Following up on my last comment, I emailed Ocean Casino’s players club customer service and was told the following on Sept 18, 2024:
Thank you for contacting Ocean Casino Resort.
This is per the discretion of MSC Cruises. Due to high demand, they are now considering all sailings outside of the USA and Canada, as well as MSC World America on peak sailing status and will incur a peak sailing fee of $1,400.00. You may also select a non-peak sailing if desired, which will not incur this fee.
I had the same issue and tried HUCA 2x and still got hit with the $1400 fee each time. I asked MSC to send the language and here’s what they have in their system:
Complimentary Ocean View Bella stateroom. Any Sailing up to 10 nights, excluding China. Book and Sail by July 1, 2025. Black out fee of $1400 for MSC World America sailings and all non US sailings. Standard black out dates apply for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. Guest pays nonrefundable deposit of $400 to be returned as Casino Credit onboard. Apply using DTS Code CASPROMO. Upgrades at casino cost available. Agency ID USOBR001. PAX type OCEANCAS. DTS Remark: Oceans Casino Resort, [Meghan Dubyak] and Player # [30060798], Player Tier: Prime, complimentary Ocean View Bella.