pseudochicken

I was on this same cruise with my SO and we very much enjoyed it. We loved the classical music in the main lobby as well.

As you mentioned, the pool decks weren't any more crowded than any other cruise ship pool deck I've been on. Even in the middle of the day at sea we could find some available loungers.

I hope to get a short, single-post review out sometime this week too.

I felt it was most similar to Princess. Less intrusive than Princess, though.

I am! I was on this same cruise and look forward to see how fellow cruisers felt. We generally liked it.

My GF and I are going to write a mini-review of our impressions, hopefully posting it sometime tonight or tomorrow night. :o

I am curious, what did you think about the ship in terms of the following categories:

Decor

Interior Layout including buffet

Upper-decks layout (pool areas and open deck space, including public spaces to view the ocean)

Over-all design and passenger flow

OK, I will just grab a taxi then. Thanks!

Looking forward to hearing more of your review!

Thanks for the input everyone! I will be sure to do self-assist. I have done that in the past with Carnival and it was easy, so hopefully this will be the same.

I have one more question: Do you guys think it would be wise to perhaps reserve a private car for transportation to the airport rather than relying on a taxi (which is $24+tip, I believe)? I know it won't affect the time it takes to actually travel to the airport, I just fear over fighting over a handful of taxis at the PoM. If you think I should reserve a private car, can anyone recommend a particular service/company?

Thanks again!

Hello all,

I was curious if there was a way to secure an early disembark off Divina. We stupidly booked a 10:00AM flight out of Miami the day the ship arrives back in port, but the flight change fees are astronomical. I understand the port of Miami and Miami airport are a very hectic on a weekend, and I fear that if we get slotted into a later disembark time we will have no way of reaching the plane on time. At this point I am slightly worried we wouldn't make it unless we were among the first off the ship. We did not book Yacht Club. I am now tossing up booking a separate return flight, (and now showing up for the 10AM flight). Changing flights with the flight carrier we booked is $200+ a person! :eek: It would be cheaper for us to cut bait on that and book another return flight later in the day or even the next day WITH a night in Miami. I should stick with Southwest in the future :rolleyes:

Anyway, thanks for any insight!

Cheers

The fact that you use terms such as "common passenger" is being hoity toity. This isn't like 3rd Class steerage as on the Titanic. I usually cruise in Inside or Oceanview cabins yet I am no where near being a "common passenger". I'd simply rather spend my money on more days at sea than having a butler any day of the week.

 

If you didn't want to be hoity toity, then don't use words like common passenger or plebeian and just simply ask "what would the difference be between the YC and Inside cabins?".

I see what you are saying, however since I am considering myself as "plebian" and "common passenger", I would not describe me being hoity toity. If I were booking YC and referred to non-YC guests as plebian or common passenger, than yes, I would be hoity toity. ;)

Common passenger? How hoity toity of you. :rolleyes:

 

The Yacht Club is the same as the Haven on NCL. The fact that it is there doesn't affect my cruise in the slightest.

I do not see how I am being "hoity toity". If I book a cruise on the MSC Divina, I will be one of those common passengers.

Here are some recent review threads that give experience of the cruise from the perspective on non-Yacht Club members.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2038971

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2039057

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2048339

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2043622 (covers the Splendida which is also Fantasia class so very similar to the Divina - it has some fabulous photos of the different venues and is a great read)

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2044809

 

A common theme with all these reviews is that they are completely oblivious to the presence of the Yacht Club. It hasn't had any impact on their enjoyment of the facilities and the cruise.

Excellent. Thank you for these links.

There are other far more positive reviews of the YC. Compare multiple reviews and you will have a good view of the YC and will see how much weight to give the YC.

 

The vast vast majority of views are super positive with most passengers very happy with their choices.

Right. Well since I will not be booking YC, I am more interested in what the "commoner" experiences.

Thank you all for your input. Seems as though the general consensus is that it will not really affect non-YC guests from enjoying the cruise. Good to hear!

I was curious what the experience of a common passenger is like and how the Yacht Club affects the non-Yacht Club guests. Is the section of the ship exclusive to Yacht Club guests a noticeable fraction of the ship? Are the services devoted the YC guests at the expense of the enjoyment of the common guests?

I was interested in booking a cruise on the MSC Divina, however the whole notion of the YC (1st class) makes me a bit leery. I was wondering if any of you kind folks have experienced this either way and if you could chime in. Much appreciated!

Weatherwise, things might be a little different this year than previous years due to an El Nino warming of Alaska this summer through winter. However that will also probably mean more clouds too.

Will that mean more rain as well?

I gotta agree. It's like that children's game "telephone."

 

The linked article in post #2 above says the whale was "stuck to the front of a large cruise [sic] Sunday". It makes no mention of "rudders" and seems to indicate the mechanical issue was unrelated to the whale.

 

No one notices when a cargo container ship hauling all their Chinese imports strikes a whale, but hit one with a cruise ship and everyone loses their minds.

 

Well said.

The same basic rules applies to booking an AK cruise as any other... if cabin selection is not terribly important to you, you can book closer to the cruise date and maybe catch a break on the price. If cabin selection is important to you, book now and watch for price reductions. You can rebook later with the new lower price, with some limitations. You can always cancel (within terms) later if you needed to.

 

Personally, I book now. You said it yourself: Prices are reasonable now. Book it now... get the cabin type and location you want!

 

Also - the Jewel is currently in San Francisco sitting in dry dock. She is getting some work done with some new features added and will be shiney and be new for your trip in September.

OK, thanks for the info!

I am debating booking an Alaskan cruise for the September 13th sailing on the Jewel. My SO and I will be flying to the Seattle area for a wedding, and have been talking about going on a cruise together for quite some time. An Alaskan cruise considering we'll be there anyway makes some sense. I was curious, since September is shoulder season for Alaskan cruises, as to when would be the best time to book the reservations? Right now rates are reasonable, however I was under the impression that September Alaska cruises often get very cheap a few weeks out before the sail date. Would I be better off booking the cruise sooner rather than later? Any information on the matter will be much appreciated! :)

Just to rub it in...

I leave...today!!!!

Good to know.

Does anyone know when the MDR is open for breakfast and lunch? Is that just on sea days or just port days or both? And if so, what times? Thanks! :)

SON left Miami at 5pm Saturday (returning 7 am)

Tuesday was Ocho Rios

Wednesday Georgetown GC (tendered)

Thursday was Cozumel

 

In 1986 Labadee was added (Monday)

 

Bimmer09

Wow, it is just funny to see those same ports as the mainstream ones today, over twenty years later.

Yes. Same as the Voyager class too.

When I was on the Adventure, hardly ANYONE would ever go there, let alone knew about it.

My brother and I would go there and watch the people get on the ship just before departing each port. People would point at us, I guess thinking one of two things:

"Hey.... how the heck do you get over there!?"

or

"Passengers aren't allowed to be there! What gives!?"

But you ARE allowed there and it's the best spot on the whole ship in my opinion.