Did you know that MSC Cruises (MSC) offers status matching to their loyalty programs?! One of my favorite travel hacks is status matching oneself to high elite status levels and this one was especially sweet since my MSC cruises were comped! Here’s where you’ll find the rundown on how I got the comped cruises (with info on status matches in general, my casino status matching experience and how I parlayed those statuses into a jackpot of my comped cruises).

MSC CRUISES STATUS MATCHING

Did you know that MSC offers status matching to its loyalty program that matches elite status not only from other cruise lines but also from hotels and tour operators? This is pretty rare in the cruise industry so take advantage if you can.

THE DEETS/HELPFUL HINTS

• The above link will bring you to MSC’s status match page with FAQs
• MSC will consider status from cruise line competitors, hotel chains and some airlines (BUT not US airlines) which is very rare in the cruise line industry
• The FAQs state that they match as closely as possible to your current level of benes AND didn’t link to this MSC status conversion table so ymmv
• The status match is once per LIFETIME so make sure that you put the best status out there
• Unlike other cruise lines with lifetime status, if you don’t sail with MSC for 5 years (changed October 2024 from 3 years!), you will lose your status
• Prior to the revamp of their loyalty program, you were able to match to Diamond which was then their highest status level (*you are only able to status match up to Diamond not Blue Diamond which is their highest tier now)
• While the benefits do not compare to other line’s top tiers (since it’s so easy to get), it’s a free + easy way to upgrade your travels which you know I’m a fan of!

MY MATCH EXPERIENCE

DIAMOND STATUS PERKS + MY EXPERIENCE ONBOARD MSC POESIA

• Diamond Perks (prior to October 2024) pictured top middle photo
• The only benefit that wasn’t honored was the 10% discount for WiFi 
• I dropped the ball on the priority embarkment ~ I guess I could have used the priority line once in the cruise terminal (see my MSC Poesia review)
• I never had to inquire about the perks (but ymmv as I was seeing in numerous FB groups, this isn’t uniform)
  • Thermal Spa Hour + Specialty dining showed up in my account once I was onboard. It was easy to book them and were correctly discounted (free!)
  • The Spumante, macarons, and chocolate arrived on day 3 of the cruise. I had heard that MSC used to give out chocolate ships so it was a slight disappointment to get chocolate bars. But the macs were tasty as was the Spumante which we took to dinner to share with our dinner table mates on our last night. No corkage fee and our waiters were gracious in offering the table more complimentary sparkling wine after that bottle was finished. 
• Truthfully the thermal spa + specialty dining were not great but good to have found out with them being gratis ~ on other ships, these may have proven to be of higher value 
• The cruise I was on was completely sold out so no opportunity for an upgrade *which would have been a nice bonus but I only cared about the itinerary and date not the ship or cabin

Wanna find more info about my MSC Poesia cruise? Read this for my full review on the comped cruise and this for the full trip report for the cruise – and here’s what I wish I knew about MSC before booking and sailing on my comped cruise.

REVAMPED MSC LOYALTY PROGRAM – DIAMOND STATUS BENEFITS