We're not new-comers when it comes to cruise ship journeys. We just got back from a one-week, Barcelona-to-Barcelona adventure last Thursday and it hasn't even made it onto this listing yet.
Last week's cruise for Jay's birthday was our third time on an MSC cruise. Our first journey with them was a great deal we noticed during our winter in Argentina. We were able to see the port of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil because of an MSC ship.They are a fairly new name to American passengers because the name itself means Mediterranean Shipping Company. The name is common on cargo containers but the Italian company is getting into cruising at a impressive rate. As well as a few cruises in the Caribbean, they are starting in the US and Canada. In fact, I read they'll be accompanying us in this area for the Alaska cruise season in 2026, yet out of Seattle at first.
We have been frequent Holland America Line passengers for around 20 years and now carry a level four of a possible five stars in their loyalty program called, Mariners. When doing a little research, I discovered that the MSC Voyagers Club offers a 'Status Match' program. So, I filled in an online form this morning on their Canadian website. The info said it could take between ten days and a month for processing. However, I received a notice of acceptance for a bump up after only a few hours. Jay and I received Diamond Status which is the fifth of their six levels. When we board the MSC Euriba in Dubai with Jay's sisters in December, I'll expect a few perks, like priority boarding.