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Plus you're bidding on an unknown cabin location. A low bid might save you a couple hundred vs booking outright now. If you've watched the prices since the sailing was first listed usually you could have booked for much less than the lowest bid amounts. YC prices usually inflate a lot as sail date approaches. It's been this way since the bidding system started.

I used https://www.avenidas.pt/ . They offer both set and customizable tours and transfers which include private vans from 2hrs to 7 days. We had a very good English speaking driver/guide. Very good communication and reasonably priced.

Can someone link to where MSC has removed the thermal spa access from the Aurea experience. I still see it listed on the MSC websites.

You will easily be able to find both plastic and glass bottled water, the latter being a more prestigious brand. On European sailings tap water tends to disappear from the dining venues, that's why bottled water is included in the MDRs for US/CA/UK bookings. They are priced fairly reasonably for a cruise ship. They usually have a smaller and one liter size available, pretty sure the cabin mini bar is the same price as in bars/restaurants so it may be easiest to look through there to see what you might like. Just be aware MSC wants you to sign a mini bar resupply/quantity form, available from your cabin steward, that has the prices listed for each type. Divina tap water is comparable to any filtered product for purchase so I can't see any reason not to purchase a few, refill and let sit out overnight for the next day.

It's been a while since I had a MSC booking but I thought there was a place you could select it in the Web Check-in area?

If the TA begins in Europe bottled water at meals will be included for US/CA/UK bookings If the TA starts in the US, which I believe is the OP's case, no bottled water is included. Bottles can be purchased individually or through a drink package. Divina is not a good ship for specialty restaurants. Restaurant names and menus have changed a lot over the last several years. Butcher's Cut (formerly Eataly, then Eataly Marketplace, then Eataly Steakhouse) lacks the character of those on the newer ships but at least it keeps the same menu. Galaxy Kaito is the new name (formerly Galaxy Lounge - Asian fusion), I suppose they kept the "Galaxy" since it is quite a different venue than most of the Kaito Sushi restaurants on the newer ships. The venue has a nice view but I found the food, mainly the dining experience, at this particular venue not up to your typical local sushi restaurant standards. Perhaps because this ship does not have the accompanying Teppanyaki and Asian restaurants and kitchens/staff. On most sailings I've been on Galaxy Kaito is not very popular. I would not do their Dining Experience and stick to the à la cart choices at this venue. You may also see Ristorante Italia menus, it is sadly gone and now part of Butcher's Cut. Attached menu below was from when Divina first transitioned to Galaxy Sushi in late 2018 (not officially called Kaito at that point) and took on the sushi restaurant style. I believe this older menu is still fairly correct aside from pricing. They may now be using the new format "fleet standard" MSC Kaito Sushi Dining Experience and à la carte menu as seen in this link from Meraviglia: https://www.alannazingano.com/videos/where-to-eat-on-msc-meraviglia-jan-2023/#kaito= Galaxy Sushi.pdf

I was just addressing the OP's statement that the small balcony size was a deal-breaker which they seemed to hold against MSC as a whole. While their opinions about the food and entertainment seemed more okay to apply to MSC fleet wide.

Aft facing balconies on most ships will vary largely in size from deck to deck and even as you move outward from the ship’s centerline. Meraviglia deck 13 and 14 aft facing are much shallower than standard side facing. Decks 10 to 12 can be extraordinarily deep, especially towards the center. Cruisedeckplans.com can be valuable to see what you are thinking about booking.

Ship and itinerary would make a difference to me.

On US sailings everyone must leave the ship on "turnover" and minimally go through a quick immigration process, regardless of how they booked. This is different than the European sailings and it often causes delays when staff have to search for passengers that think they don't have to go through this process.

You can enter your Voyagers Club number on the first booking page where you can also select number of travelers and the rate you want - Lowest fare, Drinks & WiFi, etc....

The MSC US website is experiencing difficulty regarding excursions for OP's itinerary. I attached the ones MSC has listed for Colon: Colon Excursions.pdf

Follow the links to her blog.

I was in YC interior, a little over a month before sailing they offered me to bid on a YC deluxe. Minimum bid was about $300 total less than if I initially just booked my choice of cabin outright. MSC's asking prices for the cabins had actually increased significantly in the months before the bidding was offered. So if comparing the bid amounts to the new higher prices it looked like a better deal.

Again it's in MSC'S and Plusgrade's interest to get as many people bidding as possible, so I don't believe there's any secret exclusivity to the offers. As stated earlier if you own the booking you need to be allowing MSC to send out marketing emails in your profile - or at least haven't intentionally opted out. If you're booked through a travel agency then they own the booking and Plusgrade has stated only participating TA's bookings are eligible. I believe a third factor is the booking country, it appears Plusgrade may not make offers due to certain laws/regulations or other regional factors.

Yacht Club deposits are non-refundable. What you are being told is the One Free Cruise Change policy for Fantastica and above experiences. 1 free cruise change * The free cruise change is applicable either on the cruise dates or on the destination. Such change needs to be performed up to 1 month before departure, for a new cruise to sail within 3 months from the original departure. Any cruise change shall be requested through our contact center. Any change outside these parameters would be considered a cancellation and you'd lose your YC deposit.

Pretty much every bar on the ship has "coffee" making equipment. The drinks packages just don't work with the independent franchises you mention. In the US I've mainly seen Coke products, there are usually several other independents available also.

Any card, or even a piece of paper will work on older MSC ships up to the Fantasia class. Meraviglia and Seaside on up need the RFID card. Below hotel cards worked for me on Seaside but old cruise cards will work also.

I've seen this debated a lot and I think it's basically not true, or at least it's not a major factor in who would win a bid with all other factors being the same. One common theory is that once the cruise line has locked people into whatever price they booked, that profit has been locked in. After that it's more in the cruise line's, and PlusGrade's, interest to take whatever bid is the highest - regardless of what people have already paid. The biggest factor that can affect your chances becomes whether other people are bidding on your cabin type. Some propose the possibly if you booked with an all inclusive rate, i.e. drinks package, and are bidding on a YC cabin you might get a boost.

As I stated I couldn't remember the specific DND switch or not. I'm still pretty certain in addition to the DND light and make-up-room light there is specific light outside above the cabin door that lights up when a card is in the slot.

On Seaside the card in the slot will turn on a light outside indicating you are inside the cabin - Its been a while since I sailed Seaside so not positive if there is a separate specific DND switch. I've had several cabin stewards tell me they are told in the case of an occupied cabin light not to enter unless you answer that it is okay for them to come in after they knock. I've been told a non-answer can override the make up cabin light. A busy steward may need little more inventive to move along - I've personally not had that happen but I have been asked not to do it. Then again, I've had stewards offer me extra cards to keep in there. If you decide to leave a card in the slot it might be best to inform the steward about your intentions. Personally I don't find it necessary to leave the power on while I'm out and it just causes unnecessary confusion for the stewards. I don't like using my actual cruise card in the slot because I have accidentally left it in and locked myself out several times. So I use another card and just tuck it behind the reader when I leave. If I forget to remove it I can still get back inside.

Seaside cabin card slots will lower the A/C and cut certain power outlets/lighting if there is not an RFI card in the slot. I've actually successfully used cards from hotels that use RFI and old cruise cards from previous MSC sailings on the newer ships that use the same card technology. If you decide to leave a card in the slot while you're away be prepared for your cabin to not be serviced by your steward.

Sad to hear that, it was nice not to deal with the crowds at the buffet on the first day.

Panorama. Try going there for embarkation day lunch. I'd like to know if that is still an offered option.

It would be prudent to also read the T&C #21 that states Yacht Club and Aurea winning bids get all the benefits of their respective experiences. #17 and #18 only refer to not getting booking promos like OBC or All In promo and that if you already have the Easy Plus drinks package with your Bella booking it won't be refunded if you win a YC bid.