Intro:
I status matched at Oceans Casino in AC to Prime status which gave me a MSC cruise for up too 10 nights.
Booking Process:
Cruise:
I searched on MSC’s website finding several meditranian and North European cruises. My options were limited given that my free cruise offer expried at the end of June. I discovered that I would need to start sailing by June 30th but it was okay to finish my sailing past this date. I called in to MSC to book my cruise offer and the process was straight forward. I had to pay a $400 booking fee (would get back as onboard credit) and $29.30 for the Fatastica option.
Flights:
I ended up booking our flights with AA (American Airlines) miles on AA metal from PHX-PHL-CPH in Y (economy class) for 27k AA miles and $11.20 fees. Returning I booked also book via AA on AA and BA metal. I booked in J (busness class) from for 57k AA miles and $93.50 fees.
I had hoped to find a last minute SAS LH (Lufthansa) or even Swiss seat via Lifemiles. Looking back I wish that I had starting searching further in advance and belive I could have found much better flight options.
I also found atractive prices on Air France but the dates would not work but I will be on the look out for award space in the future. One of the best sweet spots I found was with Virgin Atlantic miles on AF metal from CPH-CDG-PHX for only 15k and $232.90 fees. With the regular 30% transfer bonuses we see from transferable currencys this could be only be booked for only 10.5k, even with higher fees.
Hotel:
I had a 2 day gap between the end of the cruise and my return flight. After searching my award hotel options Ianded on the Story Hotel Studio Malmo booked via Hyatt points. It was a catigory 1 hotel and was bookable for on 5k points per night. It was outside aways from Cophagen but found that it would not be difficutlt to get there via public transit.
Where it all fell apart:
While waiting to board my flight to CPH at the PHL airport my flight get repeatedly delayed. After 6+ hours I knew I had no chance of making my cruise in time. While waiting a was online researching other flight options to get me there in time but was not finding any under the short time line. I was wise to head to the desk and wait for an agent to return to avoid the mob of others. I was rebooked on a flight back to PHX and canceled the rest of my travel.
Lessons learned:
Book flights to get to the start of a cruise with plenty of extra time before the departure time. In the event of flight problems I would have been able to be rebooked by AA on an alternate route on AA or a partner airline. I could have also requested a refund for my original AA flight and booked a new flight on my own. In the case of getting to somewhere further like CPH I should have given myself 2 day extra. Plus the 2 days would have given me more time to explore a new country before the start of the cruise. Another stratagy to consider is booking backup refundable flights.
