undercat

OP, I was just wondering about the same thing recently as I'm a huge coffee drinker. Thank you for starting this thread! I saw that the premium espresso-based drinks are made with Lavazza and am glad to read that Lavazza is also supplying the drip coffee in the buffet and MDR now. I'm a dark roast fan, and if the drip coffee is decently potent I won't need a daily doppio espresso and would only buy an occasional one as a splurge. I'm quite fond of Lavazza's drip coffee.

I also agree with the suggestion to bring along some Starbucks Via. Vias punch up the weaker brews, and are handy if the "free" (as in "already paid for as part of my fare") stuff is vile.

I guess I like it strong.. Three, double espressos to start the cruise day. Then I head to the waffle station. ;)

Now that's my kind of morning, except I'd be headed to the omelet station!

Hello, first post on CC! I wish I'd seen this thread before the cruise.

We just returned from our first cruise on Divina last week, round-trip Miami to Nassau. I'd notified my bank in advance that I would be making charges in Florida and Nassau, not thinking that MSC's payment processing might not go through a US bank or through the Caribbean (in hindsight, d'oh! A European cruise line, European bank processing, it kinda makes sense). On disembarkation day we found out at the Reception Desk that the bank had declined the charges. We had them re-run the card, and it was declined again. We managed to use another card connected to a different bank that authorized fine.

Called the bank when they opened and found out that MSC had processed the $150 authorization through Ireland (if I recall correctly) at the PortMiami on embarkation day, and through France while on the ship on disembarkation day. I confirmed with the bank that the processing countries had triggered the block since I hadn't pre-notified my bank I'd be running transactions through those countries.

I really learned a lesson that day! Our next cruise will be on Celebrity, and I will contact the cruise line in advance to find out where they process charges through so that I can avoid this problem in the future.