IowaChuck

On 12/1/2015 at 2:39 PM, zoncom said:

Tie; Marco Polo and Norway.

Isn't the Marco Polo still sailing out of England with a different company?

The discounts are great with MSC Club membership but sometimes they can be slow in crediting your card with points earned. On my last MSC cruise in June on the Poesia, they correctly credited me with the 11 points for an 11 night cruise but I've had to wait until last week to get the 7 additional points for my on board expenditures (thanks to the persistence of my TA). I have the Gold card but still have a long way to go to get the coveted Black Card with its automatic 20% cruise discount.

The 20@ is no longer automatic. I tried booking some cruises with MSC. I was told the 20% didn't apply to those sailings. MSC will tell you it is 20%. Unfortunately it isn't always so.

Yacht Club cabins go fast. If you really want one (and I think you would be shooting yourself in the foot not to have one), you should book now. They will probably be gone soon. Having been in the YC many times, I highly recommend it.

Thanks for the offer Dan. But I have already signed up and paid for a St. Petersburg with the ship.

I appreciate the offer though.

Chuck

Hi there. I will be on Orchestra the sailing you mentioned. Which shore excursion did you want to share? I am a single male who only speaks English. Were you going to have the English language or German excursion?

Chuck

When you are on the ship, you can purchase a transfer from the ship to the airport (Miami or Ft. Lauderdale). You could also purchase a shore excursion that would take you someplace first and then to the airport.

smeesme, apparently not everyone is aware of booking a cabin "guarantee". If you booked with a TA or by calling them direct, you will have to contact them for the cabin number (though you won't know when it's assigned). BTW, there is no such thing as an "order". Either you're booked or you aren't.

 

I can't answer to where to look if you actually booked on the website. Not sure if you can see it or not. However, they won't issue your cruise documents till a cabin is assigned. That way when you get them, the correct cabin number will be on your luggage tags.

 

Bret

That is an interesting comment on when you get your documents. I am going on Orchestra in June. I have a guarantee cabin. And MSC has sent me the docs. The luggage tag says guarantee for the cabin number.

So in my case, it isn't true that MSC won't issue documents until a cabin is assigned.

Divina doesn't have a scale for the general public use. However, see Gabriel the spa manager. When I was on the ship the last time in March, I left him a scale to use. But it isn't for weighing luggage.

Just tell me Chuck sent you! And when you do, let me know how the conversation went!

I have eaten at the restaurant four different times. It is true that the chairs are plastic. But the staff is great. And the food is fantastic as well. It is unfortunate that the décor is what it is. I think that puts off a lot of people from eating there.

If you are on Divina, give it try. I don't think you will be disappointed with the food or service.

I have been on the Divina Yacht Club twice since the ship came to US. The first time was Thanksgiving in November. Then I came back again in March. Both times the service was excellent. From the butler to the dining room, the people went out of their way to make me feel comfortable. In fact, when I came back in March I was surprised how many people remembered me from before. They remembered me by name, not just my face. I was astonished. Of course, both times I was the only male traveling in the Yacht Club alone.

But in any case, the service is fantastic. The passengers in the Yacht Club are for the most part friendly. The food was great, the drinks always to my liking, and the entertainment delightful. I had the same butler both times (Bruce). He must be the best butler on the entire ship!

For anyone fortunate enough to be in the Yacht Club, you will have a great time. You have absolutely nothing to be concerned about ahead of time.

I have been on Divina three times now. I have purchased Pepsi from the ports. I never had any problem bringing it back on the ship. Only one time did someone question it. I told them I don't drink Coke and I tried to get the office in Miami to stock Pepsi for me but was told they couldn't do that. So the security man let me through.

If you don't bring back huge amounts of pop, I doubt anyone will say anything about it

Belonging to the Club isn't automatic. You either have to sign up for it while you are on a ship or on line.

So since you have already cruised, it isn't too late to sign up now.

Unlike other cruise lines, MSC doesn't hound you to buy a drink when you go to the shows. Even the photographers don't seem as obnoxious as they do on other ships. All of the cruise lines have to make money on items just besides your cruise costs. It is all a part of cruising.

The charge for the steam room/sauna is a new policy. It just started. Before that they were free. Now you have to pay to use them like you do on other cruise lines.

However, if you are in YC, they are free for those passengers.

There are bikes in the fitness center. They are next to the treadmills. They are on the other side of the treadmills.

There also is an aqua class where you can exercise in the pool. They have those on the days where the ship isn't in port.

Actually, there is an area where you can relax on Divina that is co ed. But there aren't steam and sauna areas in the locker rooms. You have to go through a hall way to get to them.

The steam rooms and sauna are separate for men and women. That is, each sex has their own.

No, they don't have a tux rental shop on Divina.

How can I see my purchase, Once I have booked. Can I book a transfer to the airport? Where?

 

I find the site of MSC very difficult to understand, compared a Carnival or Celebrity.

I totally agree. It is hard to figure out.

How do I see what cruises MSC shows that I have booked? Is there any way to access those from the web site?

Just to mention, if you are by yourself and you don't want to sit with anyone else, they will gladly put you at a table for one in the Yacht Club. They won't do that in the MDR.

When I was on Divina over Thanksgiving, I wore a tux on both formal nights. But most men just wear a dark suit.

$100pp

The $100 per person is only if you book in US. The deposit in other countries is different.

I can only answer your question based on my experience. I was on Divina over Thanksgiving in YC 2 cabin.

You can book custom excursions as part of the YC. MSC will book for you whatever you want. They have a whole listing of suggested excursions. But you don't have to follow that. You just tell them what you want to do and they arrange it for you.

For example, I booked a four hour tour of Miami with a private driver. It was $400 dollars including the tip. When the driver came, I simply told him what I would like to do. So he took me to those places. I was very happy with the tour. I wasn't rushed or crowded (went on a solo basis).

On the other hand, you can book the regular excursions through YC. You simply tell them what you want and they book it for you. When it is time, your butler will escort you to your bus. You don't have to stand in line with everyone else. You get on the bus before everyone else.

My advice would be to wait until you get on the ship to book. Unless you have a large party, it is unlikely you won't be able to get want you want. That way you can decide whether to custom your excursion or go with the regular one.

By the way, the YC is fantastic and I think you will be very happy with the service.

[/i] I would like to comment on the specialty restaurants. I was on Divina over Thanksgiving.

Unlike other cruise lines, they are open for both lunch and dinner. The Eataly Steakhouse is open from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. At night it is open from 5 to 11 PM. Ristorante Italia is open from 5PM to 11 PM. This is a small restaurant that isn't open for lunch.

La Cantina de Bacco is open from 12 noon to 3:00 PM. At night it is open from 6 to midnight. All three of these restaurants are on deck 7.

On deck 16 is Galaxy Disco Restaurant. They serve "Mediterranean Fusion dinner." That is open 10 am to 2 PM. At night it is 7 PM to 11:00 PM. Here you can order off the menu or a set price dinner. The fixed price dinner includes wines that go with your meal. The food there is wonderful.

I had a Yacht Club suite. I never ate off the buffets so I can't tell you about those. But I did like the other specialty restaurants even though I had to pay. So I can't say that I had anything but excellent food and service the entire 7 days I was on the cruise.

You won't hear any wining from me about the food!

Hi there! You can find a lot of information about the ship by reading the member reviews. From the reviews it looks like dining times are at 6pm and 8:30. I could not find US laundry pricing but the Divina was charging 25 Euros for 30 pieces of laundry whilst in Europe. I am sailing on her in one month so I will make sure and include laundry details in my review. I am in Yacht Club so I am curious if laundry is included.

I was on Divina for Thanksgiving cruise. I had a YC2 suite. Laundry was not included but the price was reasonable. You can send out laundry little by little with your butler. You don't have to do it all at one time.

If you have cruised with MSC before, you get a discount based on what your card status is. You just have to tell your butler the first time.

I wonder if the Yacht Club people don't spend more on the cruise than the average passenger. I was on Divina for Thanksgiving. I am single. But my bill at the end was $3,340. None of that was spent on alcohol. So I spent it in other areas. I didn't spend a penny on gambling. And I paid almost $4000 for my cabin.

Am I a typical Yacht Club passenger as far as spending? I don't know. But there must be some reason MSC is willing to devote space for fewer people. They have figured it out that in the end it is worth it.

You might like to read my review of the yacht club: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1951658

 

but also if you do a search you will get lots of info!

Hi neighbor. Have you adjusted to life again? I liked the ship so much, that I booked a cruise for January and then again in March. And in July I am taking the ship from Rio to Miami for 19 days.

So how are you and your family?

Chuck