ButterAvenue

Used to take days and several phone calls but this month, I got them within minutes of doing the web check-in online.

MSC served lunch on port days in the MDR on every ship I've sailed. Divina seems to be the exception.

Divina did that too. It seems to have changed only very recently.

Many of the Cruise lines do not serve LUNCH in the MDR on Port Days. However, they do serve Breakfast in the MDR.

Maybe other cruise lines work that way but until recently, Divina served lunch in the MDR on all days.

I've had lunch on the Divina in the MDR on both port and sea days in 2014 (Villa Rossa was the designated lunch MDR) and 2016 (Black Crab was the designated lunch MDR). It's a shame they changed that service but sort of makes sense now that the Sports Bar has free food for all.

According to wetwash's recent Divina planners lunch is only served in Black Crab on sea days. Black crab does serve breakfast from 7am to 9am on port days.

Thanks. I checked that daily planner post and yes looks like lunch is no longer in the MDR on port days but breakfast is and Sports Bar remains open throughout the day. Looks like it changed recently. But thank goodness Yacht Club MDR remains unaffected.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the main dining room throughout the duration of the cruise. It's a great way to avoid the crowds at the buffet. But the dinner, as stated in other threads, go at a very leisurely place and can take up to 2 hours.

-The buffet has an Ethnic Corner which is only one station in the back of the buffet (right beside the Kids Corner). So another reason to go to the very back of the buffet area besides going to the back to find seating and an uncrowded beverage station. I don't know what cuisine is served each day but each day is dedicated for a particular cuisine. Embarkation day (Saturday) seems Indian food.

-If you don't want the regular food that is served in MDR but prefer a certain cuisine, eg. Indian or Chinese, you can make arrangements to have this special meal delivered to your table every night (for free). Just have to speak to the Maitre D' at the beginning of the cruise to arrange it. One of the people in my group had the Indian food every night. The portions were quite generous and delicious! The only catch is you don't know what's on the menu until they bring it. You can still order off the regular menu too.

-I haven't tried out the showers in the Spa area yet but I've heard they are better than the ones in the room.

-It's cheaper to buy drink vouchers before the cruise as you don't pay the 15% taxes/tips. Some have issues with this though as they think it's taking away from the bartenders tips.

-Spa treatments are heavily discounted on port days. It's great having a massage after coming back from a shore excursion.

-The Villa Rossa is in a location of Deck 6 that is difficult to get to. It helps knowing how to get to this restaurant ahead of time if that is what you are assigned as MDR. I stayed in 13205 so the elevators near it took us directly to the front of the restaurant.

So, we're leaving on Saturday and I'm looking at the Internet packages. However, it's a bit confusing. I'm looking at the Streamer Cruise Plus package for $80 but can't figure out whether this is $80 for the whole cruise or per day or whatever. Or, is it just up to 1.8GB of data?

Thanks.

I got this package last year. Basically, you get 24 hours of use where you can use up to 1.8GB. So every time I log in, the counter kept track of my minutes and how much data I was using. The package ends when either the time limit or data reaches the maximum. I hope it makes sense.

I got this package so I could stream my tv shows but the connection wasn't great and the audio/videos always lagged. The internet was very slow or the connection would drop in my room. I was able to use it properly only in the buffet but again the audio/video didn't work properly. It wasn't worth spending more on the internet just to get audio/video so in future I'd go for a cheaper package.

Deciding between Deck 13 and Deck 9. Enjoy walking up to pool, etc. so thinking we'd prefer Deck 13.

However, from the photos it appears that the overhang would shade Deck 13 cabins which we wouldn't like...Is that correct?

I've stayed in 13205 on the Divina. Didn't have any issues. It wasn't noisy either considering the buffet was right above.

If MSC upgrades your cabin without charge then you only receive the 'Experience' you booked. However, it seems in this instance, the upgrade was paid for (at a very attractive price by the sounds of it) so the benefits would be included.

That's true. For example if a Bella interior room was upgraded to a Fantastica balcony room for free, then the rooms gets upgraded to the balcony but not the Experience. However, if upgraded to a Yacht Club room, whether free or the $350/person (including child) charge, the Experience is Yacht Club too. I think it has to do with Yacht Club being secluded and there really isn't anything stopping someone in the Yacht Club area from using the pool or eating in Top Sail Lounge.

I'd be very disappointed if I found out the 2 year old in my group had to pay $350 extra (when it's a Kids Sail Free cruise) just for a slightly bigger bathroom.

Port side is my favorite! I think you will love being right next to the Top Sail Lounge. There's a little used entrance right next to your cabin. It will be like having a large living room... with a bar! Seriously, if you enjoy spending time on your balcony it will be super convenient for appetizers and wine that you may not want to bother with asking the butler to provide.

Are you talking about room 15013?

We are traveling on 8/5 and ours shows the same thing but I was assured that it is the whole experience. I printed the email offer I rec'd just in case there is a problem. (Although I am sure it will be ok.)

I plan to print all the documents too. Thank you for the reassurance. :)

Dear Upsell Fairy, if you are listening please, please call me with a similar offer.

;p

Can you send me an email to desert.essence@gmail.com? I don't know how to private message you.

Don't worry. All is good.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Awesome, thank you. I paid for the upgrade so didn't want all that $ to be just for a slightly bigger YC1 room. :)

We are cruising next month on the Divina. We have a balcony fantastica , and MSC is offering us and upgrade to yacht club for $700 more. Is it worth it?

Thanks, Max

I received an upgrade to the MSC Yacht Club for $350/person and I paid on the spot to do the upgrade. I received my booking confirmation email and while my room says "MSC Yacht Club - Deluxe Suite, the Experience still says "Fantastica". I was wondering if your documents also said the same or if both the room and experience said Yacht Club.

I called MSC to verify if I will indeed have the Yacht Club experience and they assured me I will get all the perks that comes with a Yacht Club upgrade but just wanted to check with someone like you who's taken advantage of the upgrade option before.

Your feedback is appreciated. Thank you.

I agree. I really debated on getting another massage, but didn't feel like spending the money. I can be conservative at times so that's a good tip. Thank you. College kid = college money haha. This cruise has been my longest and most expensive vacation to date. I brought a grand for spending money and didn't spend it all. It felt good to come back with $400 to throw in the savings.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nice!! You will look back on the cruise with fond memories and probably realize it was money well spent. Maybe MSC should hire you to write trip reviews because there are a lot of positive feedback about your writing style and reviews.

I got massages for half price last year on port days. You might want to see if they still have that deal. 1 massage on the Divina in a week is just not enough. :)

Thank you for the reviews and the pictures. I've been on the Divina a few times so it's exciting to read your review and I feel like I'm back on it (will be sailing on it again in Aug).

Like your writing style as well and I enjoy the humour. Looking forward to more posts.

For me it's also not showing my Voyagers Club status but instead asking if I want to register as a member. The website is strange.

I never finish my booking on line with MSC. Their web site is horrible. I look for what I want, and call them to finish. Haven't had a problem yet with 2 bookings.

I don't book online either and have called MSC each time to make my booking. But when I went online and logged in to the website to review my booking and look for packages to add, I noticed it said "No Booking" just like OP had mentioned. PVCs have also mentioned their system is slow this week so it looks like there has been some issues.

Thanks for the warning and the advice. I came across the 'no booking' too when I logged into their website this week and I had two cabins booked as well. But when I called MSC, my booking and deposit are accounted for. Will keep an eye on it.

Hi folks,

I've sailed on the Divina a couple of times and last year on my cruise, the staff told me about the option of having other cuisines delivered to the MDR during dinner service. We decided to try their Indian food. My mom loved it and stuck to that option throughout the duration of our cruise while I and others ordered from the regular menu. She got a special delivery of Indian food each night.

I am thinking of doing the Yacht Club this year and wondering if any of you were able to get a different cuisine delivered to Le Muse like that instead of ordering from the regular menu.

Thank you.