MSC Voyagers Club: Status Match from Hotel Loyalty Programs & Others

A bit unusual but why not: MSC Cruises is offering a status match for their Voyagers Club. This is an easy way to get Gold or Diamond status. And the latter in particular offers exciting advantages.

Since there is probably a lack of cruise loyalty programs, an existing status with a hotel bonus program is also accepted. Unfortunately, there are only Chinese airlines among the eligible frequent flyer programs.

Execution

To participate in the status match, you must register with the Voyagers Club via the landing page and prove your status at one of the following bonus programs:

Scans or photos of the membership card, or screenshots of the respective member websites, serve as proof. It is only important that the name and status are clearly recognizable. The match is usually processed quickly (max. 2 working days).

Not every company seems to operate a bonus program, so it is not entirely clear which status one should prove. That’s why we collect confirmed matches:

Confirmed

• Hilton Honors Gold → Gold
• Hilton Honors Diamond → Diamond
• Royal Caribbean Diamond → Diamond/Gold
• Accor Le Club Platinum → Diamond
• Costa Cruise Club Silver → Gold
• Norwegian Cruise Line Latitudes Rewards Gold → Silver
• Best Western Rewards Platinum → Silver
• Best Western Rewards Diamond → Silver/Gold
• Marriott Bonvoy Gold → Silver
• Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador → Gold
• GHA Discovery Platinum → Gold
• GHA Discovery Platinum → Diamond
• GHA Discovery Titanium → Diamond
• IHG One Rewards Diamond → Gold
• Holland America Line 4-Star → Diamond
• Ponant Grand Admiral → Diamond

If you used the status match yourself, please leave a comment about your success/failure!

Chances of Success

There are 5 status levels in total. Matches are made to Classic, Silver, Gold and Diamond. You get the welcome status when you register. Classic status is granted after your first cruise with MSC. You will be credited with the necessary points in the status match, which means you will get to further levels faster. All in all, MSC is very generous when it comes to assigning status levels and very often awards gold or diamond status.

Benefits

The list of benefits is long, but many of the benefits advertised are worth very little. As a Diamond member, however, I almost always get a cabin upgrade, sometimes to a suite.

From my point of view, the following advantages are particularly valuable:

With Classic:

• 5% booking discount (applies almost always, also through travel agencies and with offers)
• Welcome cocktail (sparkling wine or a mixture of juices, bridge crew briefly introduce themselves)

With Gold:

• Tender boat priority (you disembark earlier, preferred return only works sometimes)

With Diamond:

• Late check-out (you can stay in the cabin for 2 hours after docking)
• Priority disembarkation (if you are in a hurry)
• Priority embarkation (saves a lot of time and stress)
• 1 Dinner in the speciality restaurant (without drinks)
• (unofficially) higher chance of a cabin upgrade

Also nice:

With Gold:

• One-time one-hour spa access (sauna, warm pool)
• Free photo (only from the Voyager Club “celebration”, mediocre quality, but nice memory)
• Free birthday cake

With Diamond:

• Free rental bathrobe (as a gesture of goodwill or included anyways for suites)
• Sparkling wine & macarons or chocolate-covered fruits (quality rather low)
• Free dance lesson
• Diamond Party (complimentary drinks and appetizers, captain says hello once)
• Sweet Chocolate Surprise (formerly Chocolate Ship, currently just a small bar)

The rest are bait offers for overpriced additional services or shops. I never received the gifts (luggage tag, lapel pin, etc.). The additional 5% booking discount for early bird offers is very low compared to the offer prices. The €50 onboard credit is also insignificant in the total bill. But if you like to book early, you can save something.

An overview of all benefits is also available here on MSC’s website:

The status is then valid for at least three years and only expires if you have not taken a cruise within three years. There is no regular point expiry like with Costa or AIDA.

Cover Picture: © MSC Cruises