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hkto

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    MSC Divina Review Mar 15-22

    in MSC Cruises

    Posted

    Yes, I think they will allow 2 portions. Frankly if one orders each of the 4 courses that a lot as it is. The standard beef steak is quite big. Theme nights are a suggestion; no one is enforcing dress code there. Dinner attire can be casual within reason.

    MSC Divina Review Mar 15-22

    in MSC Cruises

    Posted

    Generally experience was positive. We liked the ship, food & service.We landed @MIA on time, around 2pm on the departure date. The best option to get to the port from MIA is by taxi which is $24. SuperShuttle is more (because price by pp & slower). Taxi ride is around 15 min. Upon arrival luggage can be picked & delivered to the cabin. This is one of part that we didn't like. Attendant was aggressively soliciting tips & somehow I got an impression that I may not see the luggage later if tip is not paid. But it was & luggage arrived at the cabin three hours later. That is too long especially if people get first seating at dinner. So my advice would be is not to drop the luggage if possible & just take it to the cabin yourself. It's allowed.

    Check in procedure is efficient for the ship that size (3500+ people); took less than 30 min.

     

     

     

    Cabin (we had balcony on the 9th deck) was good. Room had double bed, dresser, climate control, couch, and coffee table, balcony with 2 chairs + table & nice bathroom. Water was hot all the time & excellent water pressure. Sound insulation wasn't that great; we could hear people in next cabin if they spoke in above average volume. Ice was delivered every day & room cleaned more than once.

     

     

    Food

     

     

    We liked it but tastes differ; I've seen bad food reviews for Divina. Yes there were glitches. Sometimes appetizers looked liked they just got taken from the freezer but I guess logistics of preparing for 3500+ people are not that straight forward. Didn't go to any paid restaurants so can't comment. Buffet on the 14th floor is open most of the time. Breakfast is till 10:30am, then lunch from noon till 3pm or so & then dinner. There is always some food like pizza or sandwiches between services. Breakfast had usually good selection of hot & cold dishes, also fruit & cold cuts. Juice & coffee machines were also there (but get closed later), only water & ice machines are open 7/24. Lunch had similar good selection. On sea days we ate lunch in MDR; also quite good. Dinner was in two sittings and seats were preassigned. Times are 6 to 8, and 8:30 to 10:30. Menu structure always same, 2 appetizers, 2 soups, salad,2 pasta choices & 4 main courses (meat, veg, fish, pasta) + 4 fixed choices (steak, fish, chicken, pasta). There are 2 gala nights (with lobster tail on one of them) but dress code is not enforced.

     

     

    We also bought prepaid alcohol packages from MSC website before departure. They get booked to the account & get paid upon departure. Allegrissimo & beer tickets can be collected from the casino. Wine packages from MDR. We got basic $85 wine package which is Italian red or white house wine (actually quite decent). Next level is $155 which features a subset of a variety of mid-range wines. Minimum MDR price without package is $25+ plus 15% sc. Beer works out to $3.70 vs. $5.75 in the bar. Allegrissimo tickets are $4.80 (still below most bar item prices). Cocktail will be $6.50+. Entertainment was OK, not awesome but not bad. Performers are a mix of dancers, circus acts & singers. We went to 3 shows. Also there is a movie on the big screen every night. Gym was good but small for the ship size & always busy. Gym classes are paid ($10+). Other entertainment options (bowling, arcade games,3d theater) are paid. Internet is min $30 for 1 hr. Up from there. Casino was small for the ship size. Black Jack $5 min & up.

     

     

    Ports

    Divina was docking in St.Thomas & St.Juan & tendering in Great Stirrup Cay. Island belongs to NCL. Tendering was done on NCL vessels and was very slow (1.5 hrs+ wait). Getting back was faster. In St.Thomas we went to Lindquist beach located on the North East side of the island not too far from St.John ferry terminal. Most taxi rides there are $10pp o/w. Beach was great (probably the best one I've been to). Cost $2pp but no services there so I would advise to buy water or beer before going there. Lots of stores near the dock. Taxi driver picked us up 3 hrs. later. In San Juan we just walked around. Old city is clean & nice. City tour is $20pp by private operators outside the port (covers old & new San Juan)

     

     

    Disembarkation

    MSC asks people to leave cabins by 7am & ship - by 10:30am. Technically it's possible to stay in the room longer; we left at 8 when steward

    knocked on the door. Breakfast is open till 10:30am. Departures are timed (each cabin block gets its own color & time slot). Baggage carousels are tagged by color. Overall departure takes about 1 hr (lineup for luggage, Homeland passport control, etc.). For people know need to go early MSC suggests not to leave luggage outside & leave any time they wish (self assist). Which means no assistance. Outside port terminal there are lots of transportation options to MIA & FLL and taxis of course. Taxi to Miami Beach is around $30.

     

     

     

    Link is for pixs that cover ship’s interior, port stops & last day in Miami Beach. They are not labeled. I’ll be glad to answer any questions.

    https://www.dropbox.com/sc/d3oy9irdn95g67m/-hHJoYfj_n

    Divina Drink Packages

    in MSC Cruises

    Posted · Edited by hkto

    Thank you for the reply. After posting my question I managed to locate photos of bar menus. Looks like wine glass prices start at $6 & beer - at $5 (+15% added) so beer ticket for $3.70 and Allegrissimo carnet ticket at $4.80 (for wine) makes sense to pre-purchase in advance. Also MSC website is incorrect in quoting 7 bottle house wine package; it's $170 ($85pp & not per package). That the price in shopping basket when I tried to buy it. Works out to $24 per bottle; I guess still cheaper than bottle prices on board

    Divina Drink Packages

    in MSC Cruises

    Posted

    I gave a question on "Carnet of 15 vouchers entitling you on whole range of drinks included in Allegrissimo Classic all inclusive package". MSC website sells it for $72 which works out to $4.80 per ticket. We are only interested in beer & wine. Is it any wine or only select house wines? And for beer is good only for standard 33cl bottles or draft pints are also eligible? Their beer package is for 33cl bottles only.

     

    Also what packages are available on board? Same as on website with 15% added or something different altogether?

    lisbon car rental help - 10 days in Portugal

    in Other Mediterranean and Black Sea Ports

    Posted

    Typical Euro rentals include standard CDW but still have deductible that limits liability in case car is totaled. That deductible starts at €1000 and goes up from there depending on car class. Of course extra insurance can purchased to offset the deductible but it's not cheap (€15+ per day)

     

    Some rental brokers like AutoEurope sell "Fully Refundable excess" which covers everything except glass, tire or interior damage from the UK site but Portuguese will cover that if rental with "Reembolso total da franquia" is purchased. But claims have to be settled through them which means pay first collect later if they agree on the claim. Can buy from http://www.autoeurope.pt or http://www.auto-europe.co.uk There is Canadian & US site but I find Euro sites offer better pricing. BTW probability of car break ins & glass damage is quite high.

     

    Another option is to get coverage through Canadian credit card. Some will cover Euro rentals other wouldn't (even if they say that CDW is included). I think TD Gold Visa covers Euro rentals last time I asked.

    Street crime in Barcelona - why it's so prevalent, and affects tourists the most

    in Spain and Portugal Ports

    Posted

    I guess Barcelona gets singled out because of stats but pickpockets are everywhere where the tourists are. And they are pretty skillful. So the best defense is prevention; if there is nothing to steal nothing will be stolen.

     

    I've never had a problem (and we go to Europe every year). There is no need to carry original passports or driver license (photocopies are good enough), wear expensive jewelry, watches and carry large amounts of cash. For smaller expenses I have around 20 euros & change in my pocket and that gets stolen so be it. I have a shoulder bag (I think it's "American Tourister" brand) with two zipped pockets inside. I keep camera & CCs there. To get to them thief has to open main zipper and then the other one; too much work without attracting attention. BTW I was always asked for ID when using non Spanish CCs in Spain (even ones with a pin) so I am surprised to read that stolen CC's got used right away. Most CC's now (except American ones) got chips and require pin which is really no use for the thief. And merchants should know better & refuse to swipe the card if chip is there.

    Train from Civitavecchia to Fiumicino Airport

    in Italy Ports

    Posted

    "The Trenitalia on-line system doesn't show this option if you simply put in the airport as your starting point and Civitavecchia as your destination; you'd need to either know about it or, as in your case, have a ticket agent who does."

     

    Not true, goto http://www.trenitalia.com/ paste "fiumicino aeroporto" in box 1 & "civitavecchia" in Box 2; pick date & time & you'll see all available schedules. Connection is at Roma Trastevere. Ticket can be bought from a vending machine or attendant. Vending machine takes CC.

    Montserrat Tickets

    in Spain and Portugal Ports

    Posted

    Prices are here http://www.fgc.net/eng/bitllets_oci_turisme.asp

     

    Tourist office usually sells:

     

    TRANS MONTSERRAT - FROM Pl.ESPANYA STATION - Price 23,10

    Includes train + 2 metro + rack train + funiculars + audiovisual show

     

    TOT MONTSERRAT - FROM Pl.ESPANYA STATION - Price 38,45

    Includes train + 2 metro + rack train + funiculars + museum + lunch + audiovisual show

     

    For people who are not interested in the 2 on site funiculars COMBOS MONTSERRAT ticket (TRAIN + RACK TRAIN) is more suitable.

    Lake Como and Rome cruise

    in Italy Ports

    Posted

    It's not that hard or expensive to get from Milan Malpensa to Como by public transit. Takes about 1.5 hrs and 8.85 euros by train with transfer in SARONNO. To get schedules go to http://www.trenitalia.com/ paste "milano malpensa" in box 1 and "como nord lago" in box 2

     

    For return trip to Civitavecchia it'll take you under 7 hrs from Como with transfer in Milan. Unfortunately it's hard to make the 4 or 5 pm sailing. Only 8:12 train from Como will get you in Civitavecchia at 3 pm

    CHEAP WAY from FCO(airport) to Civitavecchia(Cruise Docks)

    in Italy Ports

    Posted

    For anyone interested in train schedules (trains are very frequent) from airport to port go to http://trenitalia.com/ enter fiumicino aeroporto in box 1 and civitavecchia in box 2. Buy your ticket in the airport train station, validate it (important) in yellow box on the platform, take FM1 train and change at Roma Trastevere (to line FM5). Map is here http://www.internet-conf.org/2009/piantinaMetRo.pdf

     

    Realistically the trip can be done in around 2 hrs (1.5 hrs for train + walk to port gates + shuttle).

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