Hi,
We started our cruise from Istanbul on 23 Oct.2023 on MSC Splendida. Immediately after we got on the vessel we found out that the Egypt and Jordan ports were cancelled even before we embarked and we were not informed earlier. If we were informed we could have avoided the whole unnecessary nightmare. First of all, we are fruquent travellers and have a lot of cruise experiences and we never had a such a bad experience before.
We have booked a B2 Fantastica cabin (choice of cabin and additional benefits) but we were offered the worst Bella Cabin (8089). The cabin was facing 4 meters long wall and a life boat. As stated in the company's web page the Bella cabins are located at 8th and 9th floors and Fantastica cabins are on 10th, 11th and 12th floors. We immediately contacted the reception and informed that all fantasctica cabins are full. Meanwhile I have to state the receptionist Miss Claudia was very rude and unbelievably vulgar. She insulted us in a very rude way. As a worldwide company MSC should not employ such inexperienced and rude personel as a receptionist. Although promissed our cabin was never changed.
We unfortunately had one more experience with her when we informed her that we wish to stop our voyage at Rhodos port. Although the management informed us that we will be fully refunded, she insisted that we should sign the general vaiwer stating that we will not claim any amount. When we refused to sign this document she refused to return our passports. When we asked her to call her manager she rudely refused to do so. Finally after a long husstle one other receptionist accepted our claim. Although we informed the reception that we were going to stop our cruise in Rhodos a few days before we reached Rhodos port, we had to wait for 3 hours for our passports. Due to this delay we missed our return connection and we had to stay in a hotel for one night.
We regret to inform you that we are claiming all expenditures and losses that we suffer due to the cancellation
1. Cruise price,
2. Tipping amount (paid in advance) € 744.- ,
3. All amounts we paid during our voyage (cabin 8089),
4. Flight price from home (Bodrum - Istanbul) to embark the vessel in Istanbul
€ 75.-,
5. Capetown - Istanbul flight amount € 800 which was unrefundable,
6. Cape town accomodation fee € 400 which was unrefundable,
7. Ferry ticket from Rhodes to our home Bodrum € 100 and
8. Hotel expense returning home € 60,
Immediately we informed MSC Istanbul Office but we received no reply and not even an apology.
Looking forward to your immediate response for this misseary MSC had caused us and refund of loss. Otherwise we will have no alternative but to apply to court for the above mentional losses and all additional compensations.
Best regards,
Nesteren Onur and Sitare Onur (attorney-at law)