cruiseguyinorl

We're in 11197 and 11201. 148 sq ft with 32 sq ft more in balcony.

Small and cozy. Seems like a good location. Inquiring into a B2 cabin upgrade, but depends on cost and available locations.

Tony we are getting off topic for this thread, but just FYI...

Your Cabins - Cabin Interior 148.0 sq ft (24.2 sq ft bathroom + 123.8 sq ft living space). Balcony is 34.0 sq ft. It should have a chair instead of a sofa and a shower only. (Also less closet space than a B2.)

If you upgraded to a B2 in the same general area, it would be 191.8 sq ft (24.2 sq ft bathroom + 167.6 sq ft living space). Balcony is 42.0 sq ft. It should also have a sofa and a shower only.

Hope this helps.

Bret

Hi Bret,

Are you still answering a lot of requests for cabin specs?

I know that ours is a smaller B1 cabin. At least we have a balcony.

Tony

Tony,

I can. Pete has kind of taken over as I'm not on here regularly. Do you have a cabin did you need to know about?

Bret

Check out this travel blogger's review of the Divina. The most information I have ever seen. It will address everything you could ever want to know. From everyone I have asked, the basic menus have not changed much at all. They do cater to a more European / Italian crowd. A pleasant change from the regular food on other north american cruise lines. Italian food, pizzas, pastas, delicious pastries. I'm in.

Looking forward to our cruise on MSC Divina on Sept 10, 2016.

 

http://www.cruisewithgambee.com/msc-divina-review/

Having just come off the Divina in December, I can tell you the menus are all still very similar to what is posted on this link.

Bret

Though it's not a catamaran, I had a great time and saw turtles on my snorkeling excursion with http://www.lazyislandcharters.com. Nice boat and friendly knowledgeable captain.

Bret

On a 7-nt, the typical ones are Flower Power (think tie-dye), White Party and Italian Night (green, white and red). Not sure which ones Andre will use for the 4-nt.

Bret

The Online Check-In form that you print at the end is different than the e-Docs. You should have received your e-Docs which include the luggage tags to print via email. If not, you need to contact whomever you booked your cruise and have them sent.

That being said, you really don't need the e-Docs as you can show the Online Check-In form to security and the folks at the ticket counter where they keep it. However, they do contain some good information and also your luggage tags.

Bret

I have used Lazy Island Charters which docks at Saga Haven Marina and is only about a 10 minute ride from Havensight. Captain Jason was a friendly outgoing type and was concerned with safety as well fun. He showed us some great spots and overall was one of our better charters. His boat is a bit different in that it is a cruiser instead of a center console so there is shaded seating if needed.

Hope this helps.

Bret

They have a very inexpensive pre-paid package that includes house wines. I just wonder if they are decent wines.

The "House Wine Dinner Package" was mostly La Terre on the Dec 5th sailing.

Bret

And how did you find Lazy Island? Where do they leave from?

They were a referral from a friend of mine. They keep their boat at the Saga Haven Marina which is not far from Havensight and can easily be reached with public transportation. It may be possible for them to pick you up from your ship or hotel even but I'm not sure. Their website is http://www.lazyislandcharters.com

Bret

I recently did a day charter with Lazy Island Charters. Captain Jason was more than happy to take us anywhere we wanted. We opted to snorkel in some of the coves of St. John but hope to go back to hit the BVI's next year. They provide all the snorkel gear and are some of the friendliest folks we have encountered there. They are a newer tour operator in St. Thomas but I can highly recommend them from my experience.

Captain Jason is ex-military and offers a military discount if that matters to anyone.

Bret

Thanks very much. Sea days are on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. On other lines that would mean the gala nights would be Monday and Thursday, or would that be wrong?

For sure on Thursday, which will also be lobster night. With the lobster, they also serve a crawfish (they spell it crayfish) salad and call it a seafood duo. You can do as I did and simply tell your server double lobster. That way they don't bring you two dishes.

As for the first one, it was on Sunday for us to the Eastern Caribbean even though Monday was a sea day too. Loved the escargot. Our sailing didn't have the prime rib as Cam had mentioned though.

Bret

Deck plans can be accessed from here:

http://www.msccruisesgetforms.com/CMS/PDFFiles/DeckPlans-New/MSCSeaside/MSCSeaside-DeckPlans.pdf

Though I understand it does not work for everyone.

Bret

Thanks, Pete. :D I checked in once in a while but you had it well handled. ;)

Hi - Can anyone (Pete, Bret?) tell me if these two cabins have room dividers/partitions like the other Aurea Suites w. balcony on decks 9 & 10?

Here is a YouTube video of 11009:

11010 should be the same.

Bret

Most cruise lines do provide wheelchairs onboard for embarkation and disembarkation as well as temporary use in case of an at sea medical emergency, but not for the passengers continual use while on the cruise. So if your mom needs help boarding, contact the cruise line's special assistance desk prior to your embarkation date, and they will have a wheelchair and assistance at checkin to push your mom up the gangway and on to the ship and on to her cabin to transfer to her rental waiting for her there.

The Divina only has 25 wheelchairs available for use. On the first sailing Nov 11, they had 350 requests for wheelchair embarkation assistance which obviously turned into longer than an hour wait for many guests. Clearly you should put in the request, but be prepared to be patient.

Bret

The speciality dining package is assigned to your room key. (Code 780 printed on it.) So the only way I know is for your parents to use your room keys for payment. As for the other menu, you are stuck with the menu of the day but it can vary depending on the day you eat there. I can tell you that their menus are very seafood oriented though. Hope this helps.

Bret

1fathiker's review became suspicious to me with "the two gangplanks, which were simultaneously used for embarkation". CBP does not allow embarkation until the ship has reached a zero count. In other words, all passengers accounted for and off the ship. Which by the way, is one of the main reasons for delayed embarkation - guests think they can stay onboard all day.

Bret

I just got off the ship on Saturday and yes they do offer a couple of post-cruise excursions that end in FLL as long as you have a late flight. And as for rental car, you are correct that there is no drop-off at the pier.

Bret

Officially e-cigarettes are only permitted in the designated smoking areas on the Divina. That being said, I have seen them being used in other areas and no one was told to stop.

Bret

Any idea about itineraries?

 

Would they be similar to Divina or a bit more variety than the repetitive Eastern/Western routes?

Yurita,

According to a presentation I attended last week, the Seaside will take over the Divina's itineraries of east/west Caribbean. The Divina will then do a bit more exotic ones.

However, as most things with MSC, that remains to be seen. ;)

Bret

I have had extreme difficulty trying to track this info down.

Finally got it.

There are only 2 dates for the Divina for 2016.....3/5 & 4/9

I'm happy for you that it happened to be your date but am confused. Wasn't your TA able to help? Being a TA myself, I knew where to find the answer in about 20 seconds. Definitely not trying to criticize anyone, but that's one of the reasons folks use TA's...to know where to get the deals.

Anyway, congrats!

Bret

legion3 this is an easy one for me being a TA. The Government Taxes and Fees in your example is $104.01 which everyone pays. The other $150 per person on the two adults is the NCF's or Non-Commissionable Fare (which MSC does not charge kids unlike other lines). These "NCF's" are what used to be called Port Charges until lawsuits were filed and the courts made them change their name.

As the name sounds, if you book through a TA, no commission is paid to them on the $150. As someone else mentioned, when prices are advertised in the US, it is required that the NCF is combined with the base cruise fare.

Hope that helps some.

Bret

Does anyone know how I can find out if there is a bath in our cabin?

From a previous post of mine regarding the MSC Divina. Other ships may be different:

Based on the info I have, the following cabins (suites/YC not included) have bathtub/shower combos:

8112 8113 8114 8115 8116 8118 8119 8120 8121 8122 8123 8124 8125 8126 8127 8128 8129 8130 8131 8132 8216 8218 8220 8221 8222 8223 8224 8225 8227 8229 8234 8235 8236 8237 8238 8239 8240 8241 8243 8245 9128 9130 9131 9132 9133 9134 9215 9219 9221 9222 9223 9224 9225 9226

I find this funny because even some of MSC's own staff were not aware of this. Anyway, please use it only as a guide as I don't want to be yelled at if you don't get a tub. ;)

Bret

I would plan on doing the Self-Assist debark which should occur between 7:15 and 7:45 depending on CBP. That being said, I would think you would be clear of customs by 8:30 and grab a cab for the 20 minute ride to the airport.

Bret

Michelle,

Cabin 10239 has the exact same dimensions you quoted from my previous post.

Bret