hummer2407

I have to say that I cant complain about the customer service. Our Divina experience was mixed, but most of that was because of the disruption by Hurricane Andrew. MSC did acknowledge the problems and try to fix them. They even gave my mother a free cruise because her friend/room partner could not make the trip do to airline issues. They didnt even have trip insurance and MSC wasnt required to do anything for them. So not only did my mom get to take the cruise and have a room by herself, she didnt have to pay a single supplement and she was given a free cruise later. That was above and beyond. There were issues on our cruise, but because of their treatment of my mother I am giving them another shot.

I have no foreign transaction fees for my credit card so I suppose it will just be the exchange rate that the cadr company applies. This is normally a good rate when I have used the card in the past. I expect to get Euros and not Dollars. Although I was asked at the casino cage on the Divina if I wanted my money in Euros or Dollars.

i am booked. I see no option to buy.

Is there an unlimited entertainment card on the Splendida for the 4D, Bowling, Simulator? My kids racked up quite a tab on the Divina. I have seen where there is such a card, not sure if available on the Splendida though. If so, where and when do you get this card?

We are leaving Genoa on March 19 on the Splendida. Does anyone know what the exchange rate is on the boat or in the casino? If I goto the casino and sit down at a machine and put my card in the machine and use my room charge to put 200 Euro on my machine then cash it out and take the slip to the casino cage and get Euros for the $200 what will the exchange rate be? I am assuming that the rate will be whatever my credit card exchange rate will be when I settle up at the end of the cruise. Is this the way it works? With my credit card by running the money through the money and "playing" it I get triple miles because it is charged to the room and the room charge is a travel charge. What is the best way to get cash while on the cruise? I wont need alot, just for tips and snacks on shore.

We were on the Divina in October. They have a very limited selection of Lego sets. My two boys each bought the Lego Divina set and it kept them busy for hours. This was because the Lego ship was missing half of the directions. They also bought the 3D puzzle of the ship. This was a little more challenging but nothing my 9 and 11 year old couldnt handle. Both were pretty neat and we have the puzzle at home on display. The puzzle wouldnt be something that you could assemble and take home without damaging though. I felt that there were very few toys in the toy store, mostly candy. Bring a few items from home and buy them the Lego Divina and or 3D puzzle. Just check to make sure the instruction sheet is included.

Ill explain what I know in the March 20 roll call. Id hate to Hijack a 4 month old thread.

I am getting on the ship on the 19th in Genoa. I am an english speaker. I know of at least 12-15 english speakers that will be on the boat so we should be ok. We were just on the Divina and my friend got upgraded to the YC. They did not give him any of the benefits of the YC, just the room. I hope you get it all.

I am hoping that the weather is good for us, at least sunshine.

What do they mean by "take away ice cream" is included in the Allegrissimo package? I am sailing the Splendida. I was recently on the Divina and dont remember an ice cream shop. Is this the Gelato? Also what are the beer selections included on the Splendida?

I am driving to the port in Genoa for our cruise in March. I am looking for the best parking option available to me. ParkVia has 4 options all for $70.

Park Torre Sud Genoa Port

Autosiloport Genoa Cruise Parking

Lanterna Parking

PARCHEGGIO GENOVA SERVICE SRL

Does anyone have any suggestions or experience with any of these?

Thanks in advance

Terry

I am driving to the port in Genoa for our cruise in March. I am looking for the best parking option available to me. ParkVia has 4 options all for $70.

Park Torre Sud Genoa Port

Autosiloport Genoa Cruise Parking

Lanterna Parking

PARCHEGGIO GENOVA SERVICE SRL

Does anyone have any suggestions or experience with any of these?

Thanks in advance

Terry

I have been looking into getting the Allegrissimo drink package for my upcoming cruise on the Splendida. It is my understanding that if you purchase your package before the cruise (I am in the US) you dont have to pay the VAT tax which is around 20%. But if you wait to buy the package, or if you buy individual drinks onboard the ship you get charged the tax. I am not one bit familiar with the tax, and read on one post that different items are taxed different amounts. I am trying to figure out how much I would pay per drink if I bought them individually and on the ship.

What would the cost of a soda be tax included on the ship? Are the prices listed on the menus tax inclusive? How much would a beer be? How much for a cocktail?

EXAMPLE: a CocoLoco has a menu price of $7 euro, at todays exchange rate that is approximately $7.50USD. If I buy that CocoLoco on the ship with a 20%VAT tax that would be $8.40EUR which is approximtely $9.00USD. On the divina they charge a service charge as well. Do they charge a service charge on top of the VAT? How much in USD will the total cost of this menu priced $7 CocoLoco actually cost me?

Am I way off on figuring this? Please explain this to me if I am wrong, which I hope I am.

As I re-read this post it reminds me of an adult algebra equation that my Jr High teacher warned me about. I was told that someday I would use algebra......

This list shows a charge for ice tea. I know the beverage machines in the buffet on the Divina had ice tea as a selection with water and juices. Is ice tea not included on the Splendida? Is this a free selection in the MDR?

Here is my email address hummer2407@yahoo.com

I guess you cant private message somebody. I think I changed my account to show my email at the bottom of my messages.

LOL

I have no idea how to send a private message, or if you can.....

I was hoping you knew.

I sent a friend request Kazzblanca I have a few questions you might be able to help with

My flight ow gets in at 1:50. I think that is probably too late to plan on getting on the boat there. I think I will have to drive to Genoa and get on the boat there. Not ideal, but it works.

I am trying to get a flight changed so I can get on the boat in Marseille on March 18. What time does everyone have to be checked in? What would the latest arrival time at the airport be to make the boat? I really dont want to have to drive to Genoa to start the cruise.

My family is also on that cruise, but getting on the ship a day earlier. We have an 11 year old boy and a 10 year old boy. We cruised on the Divina in October and the kids loved hanging out in the kids club. On that ship the kids dining was the early dining and then they went to the shows after. The boys really like meeting the kids from all over the world. I was a little scared there wouldnt be many English speakers in the kids club on this cruise. Im glad to see there will be at least a few. We are doing early dining because 9PM is really late for us. We normally eat around 5.

Looking forward to the cruise and meeting people from all over.

I was on the Divina Oct 8 cruise and we ate in the Sports Bar and we were not charged. Is this the case on the Splendida as well? The wings were really good.

So I called MSC today and was told that the dining room serves coffee, tea, juice, tap water, and sodas for free at meals. I thought this was odd, you never get soda for free. I asked 3 different times if they were sure about the sodas. I was told that this was indeed the case. I was also told that we got free tap water not bottled water. I just want to know for sure because this will be the deciding factor on whether or not I get the family drink packages. This will be the difference between no package or about $800 for the family.

I was hoping to catch the flight into MRS at 1030AM but we didnt. I am really hoping that they have a schedule change that allows me to change flights for free because I really dont want to drive to Genoa unless I have to.

I also booked this cruise intending on getting on the ship in Marseille until our flights were changed and we wouldnt get into MRS until 2:00PM. That is cutting it real close so I went ahead and changed the cruise to leave from Genoa. We are renting a van for the 6 of us and driving to Genoa. Not ideal, but we will make it work.

I have tons of questions about this cruise. I just got off of the DIvina 3 weeks ago and loved it. It sounds like they have different rules, packages, shows on this ship. I am hoping there are kids in the kids club that speak english or it might be a long cruise for my kids.

Do you know what time you have to be on board in Marseille? Do you know if tap water is free in the main dining room?

Just to clear this up in my crazy mind. If I eat i the main dining room and I havent purchased any type of drink package, will I have the option of a free beverage of any type? Tap water, ice tea, juice, coffee? I just came off of the Divina. I am assuming that the buffet beverage area on the Splendida is the same, free water, juice, tea, coffee.

I dont need any type of fizzy water or special $18 bottle of Swiss Alps Glacier Water, I just want to be able to wash my food down with something wet. Is this possible in the MDR without paying?

I am looking forward to our cruise on this ship in March and have a few questions.

Is it a problem only being an english speaker? I was on the Divina in October and enjoyed all of the other languages, but I think I might feel intimidated on this ship.

The weather will still be a little cool for swimming. Are all of the pools and water slide open or just the indoor pool?