thecruisers6

Hi Mark ............. it was even better! :D

 

 

 

The food we had onboard was better than on any other cruise we've done in Yacht Club. It was really hard to resist ordering seconds - though we succumbed on more occasions than we should have! I don't have the ability to eat a lot at one sitting, but, boy, did I do my best! ;p

Oh Bea I hope ‘Brian’ hasn’t made things worse for you?

We’ve lost a couple of fence panels but are close to the sea in Portsmouth but the new flood defences held firm.

Just re-read this as a guide for Bellissima teething problems.

No time for a review of Divina yet but hopefully this week. Just remembered this lamb! We used our black card speciality dining for Galaxy and both had this Lamb. Jane says thanks for the tip [emoji3]

Also had the best ever dish of our lives, the lobster pasta to start.

Hope they put a Galaxy on Bellissima!

Could only get a cabin in YC on deck 14 although Jane says the stairs will do us good [emoji33]my knees wish I’d preferred playing snooker instead of rugby a few decades ago.

Just looking up Roberto’a on google and the Taormina trip [emoji12]

Bay of Biscay was rather rock n roll. I’ll compare to Tasman sea in January, yay!

 

 

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Was on NCL Jade between Iceland and Scotland with 24 foot waves.

Picked up 2 over 70’s off the floor. Now I know why the cabin stewards tuck the sheets in so tight [emoji33]

Got back and cancelled next summers cruise across....... the bay of Biscay!!

Mark .............. just a quick note to say thank you for your post. I've managed to get some wifi this evening and saw what you'd written by email from CC.

 

 

 

You may not know, but we had a hurricane hit yesterday. We've been without power for the last 28 hours so no water, no phone signal for some time and no internet. The power is down on our phones, ipad and laptop so I'm sorry to cut this off abruptly. Fortunately we didn't sustain any damage.

Oh Bea I’m glad you’re safe and damage free. Good luck for getting the services back quickly

From a totally unscientific survey of 2 couples in the Yacht Club on Divina we spoke to from the US, they preferred MSC than Haven as a whole package. Food they found a lot better with Lobster gelato and pizza from what I remember. Especially though the quality of the drinks and wine.

Bea is right though at night go and explore the ships entertainment we found lots of high quality musicians popping up everywhere.

On NCL ‘achy breaky heart’ and ‘sweet Caroline’ are 2 songs I didn’t need to learn all the words to [emoji33]

(Personal choice I know)

I guess it’s going in with the knowledge from here that there will be a wait between starter and main course because that’s the ultimate luxury in Europe. Taking ages talking over dinner rather than shovelling it down and rushing off. It’s MSC’s biggest headache to please both camps as a couple from the US said “we wasted 30 minuets between started and main course” to us that is heaven but the rest of the year we’re rushing around lol.

I think (especially my fellow Brits) are not good at research and unaware that you should try more than one starter, have seconds if the main is unbelievable and try different desserts. If you smile and say thank you on the way out just see the smile back. Job satisfaction is written across their faces.

On day 5 I think it was, our waiter didn’t seem to be writing the order down and was smiling. I pulled the pad from him and he just knew what we were going to order. We had a round of applause for eating like Italians! Just a fantastic moment. Twice we made faces about the other one of us getting a better dessert and within seconds another appears for us. You have to let yourself go with it!

Haha speech over lol

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That is always good to hear, we are booked on the Yacht Club on both ships, we got spoiled in the Haven on NCL and now my wife won't take anything less lol.

Haha exactly the same as us. I think another big difference is the family versus corporation.

As the captain told us the owner designs the ships and his wife the interiors. When we were in one of the ports we were taking to some people and they were looking at Harmony of the seas, Divina and the big NCL ship side by side. Divina was by far the most stylish and eye catching.

That would be great! especially since she is a new ship. We are also booked next year on the Preziosa in May as well. Looking forward in trying a new cruise line, always been with NCL

You will love it. We started on Splendida and the went on NCL Jade then Divina. To be honest both MSC won hands down. The ships, food, entertainment, staff and especially drinks. All a hundred times better than NCL.

Didn’t even know what the NCL captain looked like!

Just wondering what is your sail date for Bellissima for 2019?

Hi. We are embarking in Marseille on April 6 for 2 weeks. I think you are in May I seem to remember?

Will be able to do a live report for you for any questions etc. 537 days to go...... lol.

Thank you so much. :)

 

 

 

We're flying out tomorrow evening so hopefully will get down to the port and board the ship early on Friday.

Dear Bea,

I hope you had a wonderful cruise if you’re back already!

Just to say a huge thank you from us for all your help and advice before we set sail.

We had the most wonderful experience in the Divina Yacht Club.

Everything was as amazing as you said it would be.

The stand out moment was our butler checking we had packed our suncream, literally checking our beach bag and slipping ice cold bottles of water in it. Think it was the sight of my white legs🤦*♂️ They really do care about you.

We spent a lot of time talking with the staff who were so lovely to us. Had great pleasure in buying the guy who helped us out at the life boat drill a drink at the beach in Grand Cayman.

The captain was amazing, we spent half an hour talking to him with our new friends we met from the roll call.

Just upgraded ourselves for Yacht Club on Bellissima [emoji3] and cancelled our RC cruise!

It really was that good

Thanks again Bea

Mark & Jane

(Even better than the lamb [emoji12])

KLM plans to resume limited service with an A330 October 29th.

 

 

 

gary

That’s great news Gary,

I’ve just seen the D webcam and it looks like Ziggy is carrying sensitive monitoring equipment to a cabin?

Mark

We also have booked on Bellissima May 19,2019 with the Y/C Deluxe for family of 3 costing the same price as yours so I'm wondering why we are paying the same. Our first sail with MSC will be on Preziosa May 2018, again with Y/C Deluxe.

I think children are free at the moment.

Currently in the yacht club on Divina and it is the most amazing experience.

We're getting in the mood ha ha ha

Hope you both have a wonderful time, Mark. Happy Birthday wishes to Jane! :*

 

 

 

We're boarding Magnifica on Monday. It's seems there are quite a few on the forum who'll be on MSC ships next week.

Thanks Bea hope you have a wonderful time. I think its the same itinerary as we've booked for Bellissima. After watching Jane McDonald we cannot wait.

Let us know if you find any must see places to visit. Are you doing a 'live from' this time?

Half of me wishes we were joining you,

We've got everything crossed for another hurricane lurking. Hope all the wonderful people over there are safe over the next week it's heart breaking.

Just asked Jane what we should do if it gets too close.

Answer..... I don't mind if Divina hides in Miami all week as long as the little cafe is open on deck 6 [emoji3]

Thanks Bea. I will let them know about the birthday I pre-purchased a cake online. £9 is cheaper than a children's cake at our local pub!

We love chatting to the staff when they have the time think it's the fostering in us. Especially when someone has been rude. We talked a lot to the food and drinks director last month she loved our little ones we look after. She came over after 4 passengers were shouting they had been waiting for 20 minutes for a drink we had great pleasure telling the truth. The young waitress loved her job and could not do enough for us. Missing her family and then get shouted at by people who think it's still ok to treat people like the titanic days.

Oh shouldn't have mentioned that ship so close to Saturday!

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Hi Mark.

 

 

 

Thanks for the offer but I don't think I know any of the crew in YC on Divina - all the guys I know were on Meraviglia! :p

 

 

 

I wouldn't go by what my DH wears, TBH, though I'll share that he always wears trousers & shirt (sometimes short-sleeved) in the evenings onboard no matter where we are. We like to dress smart for dinner and "going out for the evening" to the various entertainment venues. Don't get too caught up in what to wear - whatever you're comfortable in. It's your vacation, enjoy it. I think they're not too keen on shorts in the restaurant at dinner, though I've seen them being worn in the YC restaurant on occasion. It's a long trek back to your cabin if you do wear them and you're then refused entry, though! :eek:

 

 

 

I hope both you and Jane have a fabulous time on your cruise. Go easy on the crew!!! :*

Many thanks Bea. Have just done a little dance when I saw the magical words short-sleeves [emoji27]

Have got some extra dollars for the crew they must have been hit hard last week with a lack of tips and bookings probably down now as a result of Irma. I know people that have pulled out of the current cruise. Hope they haven't let any go.

Will certainly be using this forum to highlight the good bits.

After my NCL adventure I'm certainly more in love with MSC.

Can't wait to see Jane's face waking up on her birthday approaching the Bahamas

Dear Bea,

Off to Divina YC for next Saturday if you want me to say hello to anyone?

Just a quick question for advice please...

Temperatures look like about 90F what would your husband wear to dinner?

Thanks Bea

Mark

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Dear Bea,

Off to Divina YC for next Saturday if you want me to say hello to anyone?

Just a quick question for advice please...

Temperatures look like about 90F what would your husband wear to dinner?

Thanks Bea

Mark

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Our view leaving Iceland from the spinnaker lounge.

View from the botanical gardens.

How about this for a view out of your rear window [emoji3]

A turf house