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Buy combined Civitavecchia-Venezia ticket online from trenitalia.com They start selling 90 days from departure. The sooner you buy the better is the price (presently the cheapest category is Super Economy). Do not buy Cartafreccia fare as this card is for Italian residents. Total journey (with Roma Termini transfer) is around 5.5 hrs.

Without rushing I'd budget around 1 hr to reach to Civitavecchia station from the cabin (disembarkation, port shuttle & 15-20 min walk from port gate to station). Civitavecchia train tend to park quite far from Venice trains in Termini so another may 10 min walk is needed there

For one day stay take a tour and let someone else do the driving. Full day tours in Funchal are very affordable (22-25€ pp). Try to book West or North Island tour if possible. East is not that picturesque mainly dry landscape. For description see http://www.madeirahappytours.com/

It all depends on interests,budget and time. If flying is not an option then I'll second previous post & spend time in mainland Portugal. Its easy to get to Porto & do some day trips from there (Braga, Guimaraies & Douro valley). That should fill at least 3-5 days. I got links to my 2011 pics if anyone is interested. If plane is an option then everything is semi-nearby (1-1.5 hr flight). Lisbon has cheap flights (if purchased ahead of time) to Madrid, Barcelona, Madeira & Azores. Also there is an overnight sleeper train to Madrid which is not cheap but then it saves 1 hotel night so probably at par with flight cost.

Northern Portugal

https://picasaweb.google.com/104501985950388024465/NorthernPortugal2011?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Madeira

https://picasaweb.google.com/104501985950388024465/Madeira2011?authuser=0&feat=directlink

http://www.cuevasdeldrach.com/?lang=en

but they are about 50 miles from Palma

Can try contacting Madeira Happy Tour to see what they can offer to cruisers. I think this the best choice for seeing multiple places. Their regular full day tours that pick up people from different Funchal hotels are probably too tight for 9-6 schedule http://www.madeirahappytours.com/en/component/content/article/8.html

From centre of Funchal where ships docks its not that close to either Cámara de Lobos or Cabo Girão but still can ask cab driver for fare. For Monte local bus 20 & 21 can take you there in 15 min for a fraction of the cable car cost. #31 goes to Botanical Gardens which are quite nice See http://www.horariosdofunchal.pt/index-eng.php. There is a booth & vending machine that sells plastic transit cards that can be preloaded with desired # of fares.

Taxis are metered. My educated guess for taxi fare from Lisbon centre to Oceanarium is somewhere between 10 to 15€. Taxis have stands but can be hailed on the street; most official ones are beige colour. If public transit is used Oceanarium is located at Oriente metro. There is also shopping mall there (Vasco de Gama); good for resting & eating.

We left luggage in the cabin (of course let steward know), ate breakfast and left around 9am.

St. Maarten arrival for Divina is not different than to any other port. Its hard to predict when one can get off the boat but usually its pretty close to posted arrival time. My educated guess is its about 20 min walk from dock to Bobby's marina (if I read the map correctly). Upon leaving the security gate of port area turn left on the only road to Philipsburg.

Also can check departure times for other excursions that day. Its published in the daily news paper on the previous day. Its a good indicator what is the earliest time when one can leave the ship.

I wouldn't call $80 cab from FLL to POM "fairly inexpensive". Cheaper option are private transportation companies. They are slower than cabs (as other pickups are more likely) & most need advance reservations but then fare is in $15pp ballpark. We used MJS http://gomjstrans.com; no issues but cell phone is needed to arrange pickup. Other option is GO shuttle that is affiliated with FLL (was $25pp in Dec 14).

Can try this map http://www.mapquest.com/maps?cat=ATMs&city=Funchal&country=PT but I can't vouch for accuracy. #1 & 2 on the maps are probably closest to the dock.

Excursions are definitely there. One is Miami sightseeing, the other - Everglades.

We used MJS http://gomjstrans.com it's $15pp. Service is in 16 seater Sprinter van. One needs cell phone to coordinate exact time & place for MJS pickup. There is another one (I think its call GO) that is affiliated with FLL ($25pp). Tickets can be bought at ground transportation desk.

You should be able to see booking & cabin # (if already assigned). For booking drink & other packages they prefer TA to do it for non-direct bookings. Go to http://msccruisesgetforms.com/forms/packages.aspx, select type & market in drop down boxes. You'll see pdf form (can be saved) containing package code & pricing. TA can just refer to code when booking.

Yes, cigar/smoke lounge is there, BYO is ok. You can buy cigars in ship's shop that sells alcohol, they are reasonably priced and have good selection of Cuban cigars

Its $72 from website & $72+15%SC if purchased on board. Tipping is not expected unless a customer wants to.

That's correct. Shows precede 2nd seating and supersede first. I don't remember any shows at 10:45pm but there is a movie on open deck at around this time. One day there was an extra opera show at 4pm (to cater to both time slots).

If I remember wine starts at $5.50+15% per glass so prepaid $6 cocktail ticket still worth it. But if one wants only to drink wine or shots I wouldn't buy the package as savings are pretty minor. Beer is $5+.

We bought Coffee Cuddle on the website. It's worth it if frozen & specialty coffees are consumed (they are $4.50+15%) on board. Expresso & coffee are in $2-3 ballpark. We also bought 12 cocktail pack for $72 ($6 per drink). A slightly better deal is sold on board $84+15%=$96.60 for 18 or $5.37 per drink. I think it's called Maxi Deal & covers beer, wine & cocktails.

Banks have different procedures of deciding what might constitute possible fraudulent transaction. It's based on location, frequency, amount, etc. Lots of CC websites have some kind notification process that doesn't require calling. Personally I never bothered notifying them and rarely had transactions declined (I think Sears MC declined online transaction in Euro once - this card is issued by Chase bank). As far as MSC goes any pre-cruise transactions (TA & their own website bookings & extra purchases) are charged to MSC USA and final bill - to MSC Geneve.

Can leave as early as 6:30am if you carry your own bags (self-assist). Allocate another 20 min to walk to terminal F & clear US passport control. Guest services told us that maximum disembarkation time is 10:30am due to US immigration rules. Cabin has to be cleared by 7am but this is just a suggestion. We left around 8 after talking to our steward. We also had evening flight from MIA so we rented a car in Downtown Miami from Enterprise & returned it to airport. Unfortunately Enterprise downtown office doesn't pickup so its another $12 cab ride to their office.

Time was changed twice during Dec 13 cruise to reflect local port time. It was done prior to arrival to St.Martin (1 hr forward) and after departure from San Juan (1 hr back). So it's safe to assume that excursions are always on local port time

Most business in ports offer wifi internet as long as one spends some money there. Prices become more attractive further away from the dock. In St.Martin telecom shop in port area charges $3 for 15 min. In downtown Philipsburg (15-20 walk) same $3 buys couple of beers + non timed wifi.

Just returned from the cruise. Here is an update on drink packages that people may find useful. Some packages are available on website only, some - on board & some - on both. We booked coffee package (on website only); it includes all non-alcoholic coffee drinks (15 drinks including specialty & frozen) and cocktail package (12 drinks - available on both). Pre-booked packages can be collected in casino bar on the boarding day. Another package (better deal $84 for 18 any drinks including cocktails) is sold on board but not on website. Also $85 dining room house wine package is sold on website only but more expensive wine package are available on board.

Off topic we find quality of ice cream, cakes & frozen coffee cocktails very good. Buffet food was very good but one needs to look for certain items as they may be located in only 1 station in the whole buffet. Example will be ethnic food items, mozzarella balls, smoked fish, etc. Main dining room was hit & miss. I guess most of it is cooked from frozen and texture is not right.

Called 866-545-8088 but unfortunately got referred to TA. Filled out the request form on MSC website, asked for email confirmation/receipt but haven't received it. I would assume that it gets processed if the CC gets charged prior to sailing.

We went on this same cruise in the beginning of 2014 & I was able to pre-book wine & bar packages on MSC website, got coupons while on board & paid on the checkout as a part of the final bill.

This time around when I log in & go to "On board services/Book packages & excursions" I can only see wine & beer packages but not bar items (Allegrissimo Escape, etc). If I go to "Pre-Paid Packages/Book Special Services Packages" then there is form to enter pretty much any item & payment (CC) required.

If MSC customer service is reading this may be they can provide some guidance which is the correct way to go about it?